Noticeable (huge) sound improvement on 3rd gen SR5

By just replacing my front tweeter speakers, I made a noticeable to say the least, sound improvement on my SR5 with the stock touch screen plus lackluster sound system.
After having changed all door speaker first on a previous Toyota vehicle and coming up disappointed on the bang for the bucks sound, I had the suspicion that the little front tweeters were responsible for the sound bottle neck. The suspicion was reinforced in a Utube video and verified upon replacement.
I made this install\review-write up for the benefit of those that might want to better the sound without breaking the bank and getting the most bang for the buck imo.

I was not originally set on replacing any of the sound components in my taco, but riding\listening my T4R ltd premium sound (w/factory stock sub-woofer & amp) and then jumping on the taco, well it made me just turn it off lolo!

After replacement, I now have better sound than the stock premium on the 4R, and I may now also have to up the ante on it (ugh!) sad to say, as I now feel cheated :/.

So if you looking for the least money for the bang, my recommendation for SR-SR5 stock system advice is start there first. As you can see by the attached pics, the sound crossover electronics on the stock are cheap and no comparison to the ones that came on the Infinity reference .075tx tweeters.

To gain access is easy. simply remove one bolt behind SR cover (use plastic trim tool) on drivers side )two at door handle on passenger side) lift out and done. Now just pry up with tool on speaker grill, up & done. squeeze tweeter electrical plug side, pull and done. To reinstall, just be mindful to alighted all the tabs on the passenger side and gently take your time, the drivers side is real easy.




Assemble, trim cut and solder wires, I used adopter plugs from ********* as I didn’t want to cut on any factory wiring.
I also used tacotune speaker mounts and trimmed to fit with dremmel 3000 grinder because I think their mounts are much better material at sound insulation than trimming/fitting factory metal mounts that may rattle or loose some of the sound to the surrounding area IMO.

You have plenty of room to bundle and hide & tie-up all the extra wiring and you’ll be delighted by the difference.



Notice the huge difference in the crossover electronics between factory on right top of speaker & Infinity replacement separate crossover on left sealed black unit.


Speaker box


What's inside the box


Hope it helps
Cheers!

 

I must of been in shity vehicles my entire life. I think this system sounds fine.. Guess sooner or later I will want to compete with Tyrone and tha home boys down the block

 

Do you think replacing the door speakers was helpful as well? I have already replaced the dash speakers and while it did make a big difference, the bass still sounds "muddy" with the factory speakers. Thanks!

 

are you guys saying its lackluster running on the regular or technology package?

 

Guy did a video on YouTube of just changing the speakers out. Said it was worth it.

 

I hear ya' I did that years ago trying to woo the girls with great sounding tunes buts that's over for me now TG!

I've not wanting to do that because having done it before, door speakers and updated HU, the gains made got me to puke for the money spent.
I'm no audio expert by far, but ever since then I knew there had to be a bottle neck and the only thing left was the tweeters and or an amp and sub. But my 4R has that and the sound is just better than my stock basic or more acceptable, but not great for the extra $$1.8+k spent.

I'm running regular plus sound, others with TDROR maybe running premium or JBL which should be better

Cheers!

 

I thought that, since the tires are the only thing that touches the ground, they are the only part of the truck that can make noise. That's what you kept saying in the diff howl threads right?

 

My overall sound is noticeably better and the only thing I can figure is that since the two fronts are run in series, the front doors won't work without the tweeters, the tweeter's electronics maybe somehow blocking too much signal because even that (lows) are better.
Makes no sense to me, but again I'm no sound expert other than I enjoy having top of the line sound at home, not in my vehicle. It just doesn't pay IMO, and yet here I am lolo!

Cheers!

 

Noise and music sound are two different things, just like tire noise is different than differential noise, but that's a subject for a different thread.

Hope that helps
Cheers!

 

You have stereo speakers in your tires? I know....jk

 

Wouldn't the off-road premium have the same speaker just different HU?

 

IDK Dc2tacoma, I haven't taken one (TRDOR) apart yet, but if its the same it ought to make a difference. I may take the ones on my 4R and take a look and if so I may replace them because after sounding better enuff to want to change the taco's now the taco sounds better.
Crazy if you ask me.

Cheers!

 

HEY!




Tyrones a nice lady.

 

The TRD models with the bigger screen Entune HU (but not JBL) indeed do have the same crappy dash and door speakers.

I agree with the OP here....changing the dash speakers to actual tweeters makes a HUGE sound quality improvement. Stock dash speakers are absolute garbage. I upgraded using Subaru/kicker tweeters in my TRD sport.

 

Does the new setup play engine sounds like the new Ford Raptor?

 

I think the new Porsche set up their exhaust to pump sound into the can.

 

Thought it was funny that the new Raptor plays engine sounds over the speakers to make the truck sound more ballsy.. twin turbo v6 fail. Sorry OP I won't hijack the thread anymore. I will however add some of these tweeters for those highs

 

Hmm I drove a GM 3.8L v-6 some years back with a nice roaring sound so i know it can be done or made to sound good on its own.
But its not just highs though, now i'm starting to hear some low distortion with HD radio & USB music, so it really shows the stock short comings and the reason for the sound dumming down
Oh well it sounds great anyway i"ll just keep it lower until i decide if i want to rectify it further
But prob yes!

Cheers!

 

Also the Subaru kicker tweeter upgrades plug and bolt right in. Usually $100 at dealer or Amazon

 

Nice work @The hammer !

Yeah those stock so-called tweeters are more like mini mids, not a tweeter by a long shot.

You got skills !

The Subaru mod might be for the easy swap but I bet those Infinity's sound a hell of a lot better and worth the effort...