2015 double cab audio upgrade recommendations?

i'm sure this has been covered many times but I have searched tones and haven't found any definitive info for a good audio upgrade for this year with stock entune radio, excuse the newb, car audio isn't my specialty in any way but i'm handy enough and can get help for install if needed.

I don't need to go crazy but some upgraded speakers and a 8/10" sub that would fit behind the drivers side back seat would probably do it.

Do i really need to get rid of the stock radio to get decent sound out of this truck?

Please provide some options if possible.

have heard good things from polk?

thanks

 

Check out the audio video thread. Should get u started at least

 

https://youtu.be/HHJ95TTmFk8

Check out @boogie3478 youtube channel. good info there.

 

If you leave the stock head unit in you'll be amplifying from a poor source. It completely depends on your expectations on whether or not you'll be happy with the stock stereo. With that written, the bigger the amp you install the less you'll have to turn up your poor source and the less that source will distort the sound. Or go with the big amp and turn it up louder
https://youtu.be/rc6VANCNMjo

 

Ok things to think about....

• what is your budget?
• how much can you do your self? (youtube will show you how to do everything!)
• are you an audio head and like the best quality sound you can get or do you just want it loud?
• how much bass do you want?

Other things...

• After market head units will produce better sound signals, and will put out more watts to your speakers
• speakers with higher sensitivities will be louder with less volume
• ported sub enclosures help with low end bass
• shallow mount subs are your friend

 

I ordered a pair of Kicker 46CSS694 last night. They seemed like the best fit for my expectations and end goal of the system. It'll be my first vehicle in decades that I'm going to try and get away with no subwoofers, we'll see how that works out for me. $135.96 on Amazon and on Crutchfield. 6x9 component speakers, 4 ohm, entry level component, 90 db sensitivity (not bad and not great), 30-21kHz, 3 3/16" deep, poly cone (entry level), foam surround (entry level), tweeters come with various angled mounts, crossover is at 4,000 Hz (what I wanted with a 6x9 component), crossover is 12 db (what I wanted), and adjustable tweeter output is 0, +3 db, +6 db (what I wanted, technically it's not + anything as it is actually cutting output of the 6x9's most likely with resistors).

 

this is a great way to get better speakers, however if you have the stock HU then you will not get the full potential of the speakers.

The thing about OEM HUs is that they have built in settings to help prevent blowing those shitty OEM speakers. They actually will produce less bass at higher volumes to prevent the speakers from blowing so the audio signal will actually change.

I can personally say this is true from experience. I ran my stock HU for about 2 years on a SQL front stage setup, i recently installed an after market HU and the sound changed completely! WAY louder! Some of the songs that would bump before dont bump as hard, some bump way harder!

I also have a Digital Sound Processor, i didnt think that the HU would make that much of a difference, but im going to have to retune my DSP settings.

 

Component speakers are the way to go! More so for the front doors since the woofer and tweeter are mounted separately.

I have some hybrid audio 6x9 mid bass woofers and polk audio silk dome tweeters. This setup has been killer for me so far.

 

I just upgraded all my speakers / tweeters and added a 12" sub last weekend to my '12 DC. I went with 6 1/2" JL C2 components and a 12" Pioneer shallow mount sub w/ Pioneer 5 channel amp. I did not upgrade the stock head unit and all I can say is I'm very very happy with the outcome.
I know JL makes a Tacoma specific box with sub but I found out that if you can find a reputable audio installer you can get a custom box made with sub for far less than JL's ready to mount sub and box. I would also reach out to some local audio installers and see what options/ideas they may have.

This is what I went with:
GM-DX975 PIONEER Pioneer class D - 5 channel amp
C2-650 JL AUDIO 6.5" (165mm) Component Speaker
C2-650X JL AUDIO 6.5" (165mm) Coaxial Speaker System
Pioneer TS-A3000LS4 12" Shallow Mount Subwoofer
*custom made ported box behind passenger side rear seat

 

Yeah I'm doubting I'll like the Kicker aluminum dome tweeters but I gotta think positive, lol. I've built systems with no subwoofers before with great results but those weren't my vehicles. We'll see. Maybe those aluminum domes will help my old failing hearing, lmao. I'm willing to build fiberglass enclosures for the 6x9's if I need to, I've been there done that many times.

I plan on throwing in inexpensive 2 way speakers in the rear doors and an aftermarket HU eventually. The wife is freaking out on the ton of parts I'm ordering so I gotta put myself into check for a bit. In her defense, the CC balance was around $500 more than what I thought it was at so...

 

Yes you can get good sound with the stock HU for sure, but you will be surprised at the difference an after market HU will make.

 

FYI, you really dont hear the speakers in the back. The speaker placement is at the bottom of the door behind the seats... only people that would hear that would be your passengers but even then their feet block the sound...

I have only speakers up front and i have asked rear passengers if they have any issues hearing the sound. They also say no and can not tell there are no speakers back there.

I have been thinking about getting some 6.5" mid bass drivers to put back there to help fill in the sound a bit. Since bass is a non directional sound it doesnt have to be pointed and i think it may help a bit if you feel you are lacking in the midbass area.

I have been looking at these... they are more for home audio but i have heard people ranting about how good they are in cars.... for $30 its worth a shot...
https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.c...nsczGHuF2fm2-aLlpz2sqFtG7yxz1FIRoC2aUQAvD_BwE

 

I was a professional installer for 36 years. I'm going to come back later tonight to this thread and check those speakers out just out of curiosity. I've used home speakers before with great success.

 

Oh for sure, I just didn't have the dough to do it all at once. I'm actually getting the receiver next, Alpine ILX-207 with the truck accessory controller

 

I would start with the head unit , I upgraded mine and the stock speakers really sounded 10x better

 

Those speakers would definitely fit my bill on mid bass if I were going that route this time. 16 ohms could get me into trouble and I could end up with a huge system - again. Lol. I like the specs of them for sure. Great pick.

 

For a moderate to large system, Alpine is the only HU brand that I'll use in my own vehicles.

 

budget about $1500 but flexible for right fit...
I can follow instructions and pretty handy, have friends that could help i'm sure as well
i would say i fall in the middle of loud vs quality
more bass the better

i'm just really surpised that the sound on my 2005 with stock speakers and a pa15-toy was so much better thnd the 2015 setup i have.

i don't want to go crazy here but there are just so many options out there that its overwhelming, when it comes to other mods its easy to choose what i want looks wise and can usually do most things myself, ie changing lights, grills, plasti dip n all that but audio is a foreign world to me.

 

Imho if you’re not an audiophile just get a decent head unit and be done with it. It’s remarkable how much that alone will improve the sound.

 

the original link i sent i noticed was for 16 ohm, i reposted the link for a 4 ohm load speaker