Premium Audio Upgrade for less than $250

Thanks OP for the audio suggestions. It's helped kick the boredom with my 2020 taco.
I've tried Kicker CS 6x9's and am returning due to the lack of bass response/too much highs with my upgraded tweeters. The oem headunit can't power them enough so I'm just going to go to a powered sub instead.
That said, I do recommend at least doing the tweeters.

Taco tunes currently has a much cheaper option (~$40) than the Subaru tweeters.
Not sure how they compare, but it was a noticeable upgrade nonetheless & it's still plug and play

If anyone has a recommendation for a compact powered sub I'd greatly appreciate it!

 

Not sure how much power you want, but I'm running a 8" JL Audio powered sub that shocks everyone when they see it. It will let you feel and hear the bass running 80 down the road with the windows down!

 

Does anyone have the Taco Tunes tweeters? $40 is a great price, but I would spend the extra money for the Subarus if there is a notable difference.

 

Wow! I wonder If I can buy these kicker speakers at Best Buy. Going to probably try and get some this weekend!

 

I'm not an audiophile so take this for what it's worth. In my opinion it's a big mistake to put 6x9 coaxial speakers in the front doors. Component (separates) provide much more clarity and dynamic range to the ear. Tweeters in the dash and tweeters in the front doors is too much tweeters. All that is needed up front are good tweeters in the dash and good 6x9 mid-woofers in the door.

I installed the plug and play Focal IS690TOY speakers in the front which are specific for Toyota Tacoma. And installed in the back Focal IC165TOY which are also specific for Toyota Tacoma. The front is just two tweeters in the dash and two mid-woofers in the doors. The back speakers aren't very loud unless I adjust the fader.

These speakers have a housing around the magnet which other brands do not. This helps with the sound projection from the door. I also installed damping material on the inner outer doors and the metal around the speakers. Made my truck quieter going down the road and the doors shut with a solid sound. Very happy with that.

The sound is amazingly clear and distinguished in greater dynamic range to the ear. The head unit does provide enough power without distortion to be considered loud when turned up to 40 - 60 volume. I was going to get an amp but am pleased with the volume as is.

Back to my main point, I don't think coaxial speakers should be mounted in the front with tweeters going in the dash. Lot of out of phase treble high frequencies hitting the ear which could get exhausting fast.

Another good aspect about the Focal speakers built for the Tacomas is that they have 'crossover' built into the speakers so that the high and low frequencies are played in the respective speakers (tweeters, mid-woofers).

They are pricey but very worth it.

 

So the Focal IS690TOY comes with the front door speakers and dash tweeters? Just making sure it includes the tweeters since it's not clear from the sites I looked up. Between the Subaru tweeters and Kicker front speakers, you're in about $200 so it's not a huge leap to go to the Focals IMO. The rear door speakers (Focal IC165TOY), on the other hand, IS a huge leap. Is it worth the price difference for the rear door speakers?

 

Yes, the Focal IS690TOY comes with 2 woofers and 2 tweeters. As for the back speakers you can probably get away with some less expensive speakers because the main sound is from the front and it sounds phenomenally crisp, clear, and deep. Here's a link: https://www.focal.com/sites/www.foc...log/document/is690toy-specification_sheet.pdf

Before I started to research upgrading the speakers I hadn't a clue as to what "component" or "separates" meant but I read some person in the forum talking about it and the superior sound quality so I researched it and decided that's what I wanted. And, if you look at the stock speakers up front in the doors they are not coaxial speakers. They are just woofers with the tweeters up front -- components/separates.

The Focals have a high sensitivity at 92dB. Which means they have good volume with the stock head unit

 

Thanks to the OP for the great write up. I just did all six speakers today. The rear doors are a slightly different model, about ten dollars more as the speakers in the original post weren't available. I bought everything through Crutchfield. Felt it was easily worth the extra money as the adapters and Metra wiring adapters are included free.

It's a simple install. Took me a couple of hours as I took my time and wanted to make sure and get everything back together correctly. It sounds way better. Much more clear and less muddy bass. The most amazing thing about the whole deal is the original speakers. They don't weigh anything! I cannot believe the sound was even halfway decent with them. The magnets are about as big around as a quarter.

 

they're neodymium magnets so they're extremely strong for their size. they cost more to produce than regular larger magnets, but they cost much less to ship so it comes out cheaper. an that paper cone is so lightweight, it doesn't take much power to drive them

 

Finally put the CS kickers in all the doors and did the tweeters. I know nothing about car audio and was wondering with the stock head unit, what are the odds of blowing these speakers? I cranked em up to 50ish and they’re pretty loud but I want to be safe. Thanks in advance

 

You won’t

 

I have a question, my Kicker 47KSC69304’s came with a “must use” crossover.

Do I really need to use it or does the factory already have a crossover?

 

For those that replaced the rear speakers, you know it's not worth it!! Dont be foolish, reinstall the OEM speakers.......

Side note, where can I buy a set of cheap aftermarket rear door speakers?

 

I'm wanting to do add a subwoofer to my 17 pro, but Im not sure what speaker/box combo will fit with the rear window motor concerns I see. I'm not looking to spend a ton, but I want to find something that will fit. I was looking into this hoping it will fit:

$144 Kicker TCWC104 CompC 10" Subwoofer in Thin Profile Enclosure 4-Ohm

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MY6O73...olid=39IBT025R1R4Z&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

There isn’t a list of drop in boxes that fit, there options in a couple of different threads in the audio section.

Mostly 8” and 10” subs can fit, some required cubby modifications or removal. Depends on what your feelings are about the back plastic wall, space is extremely limited unfortunately

 

I was thinking of taking out the bigger passenger side plastic cubby and puting both the amp and speaker in there together. I haven't taken off that plastic piece yet, and I'm not sure how much more room there'll be with it gone

 

For a size guide use the Kicker CompRT 10” dimensions.
https://www.kicker.com/10-comprt-subwoofer-box-2-ohm


To answer your original question: the comp c box you posted, the top depth of 4” at 15” high it too big.

 

Anyone got a subwoofer set up they prefer for a 3rd gen that fits?

 

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-F0SQrggnhHF/p_13694654/JL-Audio-Stealthbox.html

Put one of these in our 2017 Pro Taco and it was awesome.

 

It looks good, but it's a bit more than I'm wanting to pay