bad sound systems

When you guys swap out speakers, are you just talking about the mains in the front doors, or do you swap the tweeters, etc. too? My '10 access cab has a pair of mains down low in front that seem to do most of the work, little tweeters up high in the doors, and then a pair of 'rears' that are in the headliner just behind the front seats, perilously close to one of the many airbag systems - anyone mess with these yet? Am just wondering how much can be gained by swapping these smaller speakers out...

My stock sound is OK but has very weak bass, and sometimes I just can't get anywhere near the volume I want - I have the fade set to R a bit but it seems I give away alot of the power from the front speakers when set that way. Am wondering if there's a post-amp I can throw on this stock HU, along with a moderately sized sub, or somesuch. I want decent sound but a low profile, and think the stock HU won't call attention to itself...

 

I really wouldn't bother with half-assing...audio systems need to be done ground-up to be done right...new HU, new speakers, sub, amps...just do it all. If you have a weak link in the chain, you're going to notice...

 

I would replace them all. I just got new 6 1/2 for the front and the rear, as well as new tweeters. I also got a 10" sub and a 5-1 amp. all are alpine. I will be ordering a new head unit after xmas. When i was changing the speakers out, i saw that the factory speaker are cheaply made, with a tiny magnets (if you dont believe me take it out..), and the surounds are made of paper. also swap the tweeters. right now i am waiting on my baffles from Mr. Marv, and my sub box from Mr. Marv. Hopefully will get them soon.

 

changing the head unit.....does it look good after....the radio are nice in the dash and are not standart no more...
and what about the nice feature of having the controls on the stearing wheel.
is there so pictures of head unit install in 2009 or 2010 tacoma???

 

Taco speakers are mostly garbage. They are full range paper drivers with whizzer cones. Circa 1970.

 

Ive heard that it can be twice as good if you put deadener mat in the panels. You can hear that theres alot of potential from the radio, but just not enough "back-up".

 

I gutted my audio system about 2 weeks after I got my 2010 DC. I went with the new Pioneer Avic Z110BT as the head unit, IMO its the best gps/video head unit out there. I've always been partial to JL Audio products, so I got their new HD900/5 5 channel amplifier (a 900W 5 channel amp, in a very small package that fits perfectly under the passenger seat). Hooked it up to the JL C5 6.5" components in the front door. The front door can handle a 6x9, but I couldn't find a good 6x9 with a separate tweeter and crossover. I put in JL C2 6.5" Coaxial in the rear door. and I put the JL stealth box in behind the rear seats.

All in all, I am VERY pleased with this setup. The sound is near flawless, and the install is clean and almost unnoticeable (except of course for the 7" touchscreen in the dash). The only thing I am unhappy with is the dash kit I got. I went with scoshe and the reveal around the headunit just isn't as clean as I would like it to be. I've been on the lookout for a Metra dash kit.

All said and done it was a massive undertaking of about 3, 6-7hour days and almost $3k in parts, but well worth it to me.

Anyone that is unhappy with the stock Toyota sound system should consider a more mild upgrade. A carefully spent, <$600 can get you a very big improvement. Consider a quality head unit and 4 door speakers as a good starting place, amplifiers and subs can be added on later.

 

Hé ptsimpso,,,do you have picture of the head unit install whit the kit....i would like to see how it look.

only the head unit.....the speakers ,,,we dont see them..

 

It's like there is no mid range audio. Recently, I turned down the Bass (to -1) and it sounds a little bit better but honestly, it's probably the worse sounding stock stereo I've ever had.

 

Sorry it took so long to get this posted, been busy. But here ya go.