Difficult Car Audio Experience

Picked up a 2018 SR5 Double Cab with the Entune+ system. The stock audio sounds terrible. Car audio shop recommends upgrading front speakers to Focal components. We added a Fox Box behind the back seat with 2 10" Sony subwoofers and the Sony 5/6 channel amp with DSP. Full install was done today. Pushing the sound through the head unit, the subs are nearly non-existent and the highs are meh. If we Bluetooth directly to the amp and bypass the head unit, the sound shows up, both in the highs and lows.

Is the stock Entune+ head unit seriously this trash? If so, it has to go. What are my options for a double-din touch screen that will keep my backup camera, handsfree, and steering wheel controls? I have spent entirely too much money already for this system to sound so trash. I have never been so frustrated in my life with car audio.

 

I wouldn't spend that much money and not replace the stock HU.

 

Welcome to TW!!

I know nothing about the oem set-up. I changed out my speakers and it sounds 200% better. Check out the audio section of TW.

 

Thanks! I have been reading this forum almost non-stop for like 5 days. I see some posts that say the stock Entune head unit cuts bass out to prevent damaging the stock speakers, and then I see other posts where people debunk this. I can't tell what information is accurate and what is not. I just know replacing the head unit gets pricey for something that keeps all functionality.

 

Sounds like that's my only option at this point. It's actually a joke how bad the system sounds pushing through the head unit.

 

Focals are great, and so are Morels. Hope you replaced the speaker wires too, and added some dynamat (or similar sound deadening)
You should definitely replace the HU too.

 

Kept stock speaker wires. They used speedwire from the amp to the head unit. Put dynamat behind the subs in the back but not in the doors.. they want crack prices for that, lmao. I'll be doing that myself.

 

I hear ya. I kept my stock HU about 5 months maybe. That thing had to go.

Replaced it with a Kenwood and life is grand now. Of course second gen didn't have all the crap in the HU like the new one's do.

Welcome to TW too.

 

My Entune sounds wonderful. You apparently have never heard an AM radio with one speaker in the dash... it's all about what is being compared.

 

LOL! I have upgraded the sound system, in some way, in every vehicle I have ever owned. I am a man-child. I don't deny it.

 

Which Kenwood unit did you go with? Did you use the Maestro adapt to retain all of the steering wheel controls?

 

Replace the stock headunit with an aftermarket that has 3 rca outputs and buy a name brand 5 channel amp. Match rms rating on amp with all speakers in truck. Done.

 

I mean.. I think I did all of that already except the head-unit lol.

 

Not saying there aren't better quality solutions out there, but the Subaru WRX Kicker tweeters are direct plug-and-play upgrades over the stock tweeters and relatively cheap. It's still nothing to write home about quality-wise but it's undeniably much better.

If you're interested, there are threads somewhere on here discussing the install, otherwise Subaru P/N:

$119 H631SFJ101 - Genuine OEM

H631SFJ101

 

Just buy a aftermarket headunit. I have one and i retained my oem steering controls and oem backup camera

 

Thanks for sharing. I did watch that thread. We already went with the Focal's at this point, which I think are probably good speakers.. I just think the head unit is the weak link here and it's muddying up the music signal.

 

Sounds like that's what I'm about to do. More $$ of course. Which one did you go with? Did you have to use the Maestro deal to retain the stock steering wheel controls?

 

Amen

 

The Entune plus and Entune premium non JBL are very different power/tuning wise. I have 1 Audison 10" sub and it vibrates my windows off of the premium non JBL. Running off an arc audio amp, speedwire to the amp, using OEM wiring (for now).

I am swapping over to passive crossed over Morel Tempo Ultra 6x9s. The woofer drivers have ridiculous full body bass....

 

Sony stuff? Not the highest quality speakers in the first place.