Conservative sound system build - Should I pull the trigger?

I'm not looking for anything cometition worthy, just an moderate upgrade to OEM with an OEM HU (2021 8" w/o JBL).

I know nothing about sound systems, so relied mostly on crutchfield and google:

Kicker 47KSC6504
Kicker 47KSC6504 KS Series 6-1/2" 2-way car speakers at Crutchfield

Kicker 47KSS6904
Kicker 47KSS6904 KS Series 6"x9" component speaker system at Crutchfield

Soundstream Reserve RS4.1200

Thanks y'all for the feedback!

 

I know a couple people with kickers. Sound decent. What is important is to match things up power wise. And get the setting dialed in appropriately. Look at RMS ratings rather then peak power.

 

Wont sound much better without adding an amp.

 

Yah, there are a lot of guys running the CS plug in play kickers, but this set is a bit more involved because of the crossovers. From what I understand, the amp works, but this one may over-complicate things for me. I wish there was a plug 'n' play solution for the amp setup at least.

 

That soundstream is an amp. Know if any nearly plug 'n' play solutions for an amp? I'm hesitant to cut several factory wires.

 

I'm in the same boat as you.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rate-my-audio-before-i-buy.765547/

I'm about done finalizing the cart for check out.

Front speakers - https://www.cdtaudio.com/main_series/wideband/wb_systems/wideband4d.php
Rear speakers (comes with mounting bracket and speaker wire harness) - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_091RCX165/Focal-RCX-165.html
Amp - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20647KEY20/Kicker-47KEY200-4.html
T Harness for Amp -

$14 RED WOLF Add AMP Amplifier Subwoofer Speaker Wiring T-Harness Radio Stereo Plug Connector Compatible with Toyota 2018-2022 Camry RAV4 Tacoma Corolla Non-JBL System

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09DTY8PMD?smid=A1LAPRHCR7XHF0
Amp wiring kit - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_007CK12/Crutchfield-CK12.html
Speaker wire - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_007CSW9W20/Crutchfield-CSW9W-20.html
Tweeter bracket -

$14 RED WOLF Tweeter Speaker Adapter Spacer Rings 1.5" Cutout for Select Toyota Tacoma 4Runner 2005-2023, Subaru WRX Forester 2015-2022 Replace Center Dashboard Audio Install Front Dash

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08JXH3ZPD?smid=A1LAPRHCR7XHF0
Front speaker bracket - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_120828146/Metra-82-8146-Speaker-Mounting-Brackets.html
Front speaker wire harness - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_120728104/Metra-72-8104-Speaker-Wiring-Harnesses.html
Tweeter wire harness - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_120728110/Metra-72-8110-Speaker-Wiring-Harness.html
Front speaker baffle kit - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_541FAST6X9/Stinger-Roadkill-RKFR69-FAST-Rings.html
Rear speaker baffle kit - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_541FAST6/Stinger-Roadkill-RKFR6-FAST-Rings.html
Sound deadening -

Noico 80 mil 18 sqft car Sound deadening mat, Butyl Automotive Sound Deadener, Audio Noise Insulation and dampening

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012B5EMGO?smid=AXJ5VNOZL83GP

I think that's everything...

I'm doing sound deadening in the area behind the speakers, speaker hole opening, and parts of the door panel. I have leftover felt tape I will use to put between plastic on plastic or metal brackets where possible. I should have some sound deadening left over to fill some of the rear panels. I don't believe in doing the entire area. I use a tap method with a small screwdriver and where it sounds tinny, sound deadening gets applied. I'll also pay attention to the plastic molding that sits on the rear panel, might be good to add some on that as well just like the door panels.

I will eventually upgrade the HU when there's full compatibility for features and I can keep the same size or larger while keeping OEM look

 

I'm not familiar with that Soundstream and whether it has software that allows you to "tune" it using pink noise. I went through a few iterations until I finally landed on a config that I like:

1. Kicker tweeters only. Meh.
2. Kicker tweeters, + JBL GT7 6x9 triaxials in front, 6.5 coax in rear. Still meh.
3. Added Kicker Key amp (45W x 4). Better, but too many tweeters. Just not clean sound, poor sound stage.
4. Replaced fronts tweeters and doors with Kenwood KFC-XP6903C components, switched Kicker Key to run in bi-amp mode to drive only front mid-highs and woofers. Now I am happy. Much cleaner sound and better sound stage, good volume. Rears just run off head unit power.

The Kicker Key has a program using pink noise and a mic that sets the proper levels. You can tell a difference when switching between the non-corrected profile and the corrected one. If the Soundstream can "correct" the sound coming from the OEM HU, it's probably fine, but if not, you might want to think about a Key amp.

For the last setup, I did have to make a new harness and run wires to the dash so I could power the dash and front door speakers separately, and dash cutting was required to get the fronts to fit (there is another Kenwood set that I think is direct fit, I just bought the wrong ones and made them fit). You might be able to make your own harness with the proper Metra harnesses, which is what I did. No OEM wires were harmed.

 

T Harness for Amp -

$14 RED WOLF Add AMP Amplifier Subwoofer Speaker Wiring T-Harness Radio Stereo Plug Connector Compatible with Toyota 2018-2022 Camry RAV4 Tacoma Corolla Non-JBL System

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09DTY8PMD?smid=A1LAPRHCR7XHF0
Speaker wire - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_007CSW9W20/Crutchfield-CSW9W-20.html

OP this is what i'm using so i'm not messing with factory wiring. I'm going to create my own harness.

I will eventually replace my HU to correct the poor power output for the rear speakers. I may not have to if Toyota made changes to the 2022 model. I'll test by changing the fade from F to R to see if the volume decreases or not.

 

Wow, that t-harness is a game changer for me. I was going to bag the whole thing simply to preserve OEM. Thanks guys! I'm also going with that kicker amp now. Will it fit under driver's seat?

 

Wires are easy to cut. Label both sides before the cut. Only work on one at a time and double check your connections before applying power and you’ll be all set. I solder all in-line and difficult to access connections.

 

the amp is tiny

 

Hey, I just memorized a bunch of words and their sounds, but I don't know what any of them mean!....guess I should have read the specs! So basically, I'll just need to cut one end of the harness to connect to the 8 wires from the amp? From there, I just plug the other end into the HU? Thank you very much OEM audio + for the detailed video...

 

No sub? Thanks for this - all very helpful and reassuring that I’m on the right track.

 

LOL, looks like that harness just plugs straight into a Kicker Key, but I could be wrong. If not, you can cut and splice into the harness that comes with the amp.

That harness gets your speaker-level inputs IN to the amp. You still need to get your signals OUT from the amp to the speakers. Here's where a Metra harness can help, but you'll have to make a couple of modifications for component speakers in the front. Easiest way is to just unplug the existing tweeters and use the existing front wires for the doors, and run new wires up to the dash for the tweeters.

 

Just use the ALPINE Power Pack it sounds amazing

 

what are your thoughts on using solder + shrink connectors? Do I have the right size? 16-14 guage

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_074102SS20/Accele-CR-102SS-20-for-16-14-gauge-wire.html?tp=61469

 

Me too lol lots of words that sound good together and yes to the OEM+ video.

to your question, yes, that sounds good lol that's the way I understand it as well.

 

I initially worried about them. Now I use them all the time. Even in wet locations fine. Took a little practice to get them right but I’m a strong proponent.

 

Like this? Hope this helps anyone installing | Tacoma World

 

Yeah, I think that is one good way of doing it and looks pretty clean.