Stereo upgrades, what would you do first?

Hello Tacoma World,
I am looking in to upgrading my stereo. I would like to take it one step at a time. For instance, Deck, Component Speakers, Component Speakers Amp, Subs.

My question for Tacoma World is in what order would you upgrade your stereo, if you only could do it one step at a time? What will give me the greatest results the quickest (deck or component speakers first)?

Thanks

 

I would get a nice deck first, then speakers

 

1.New Head Unit
2.Amp you can run new speakers and subs off of
3.New speakers
4.SUBS

 

Head unit, sub, speakers. I didn't do speakers myself they sound good enough for me with the new HU and sub. I'm not audiophile.

 

I did the entire system. I had my speakers changed after blowing the stocks out playing the Transformers DVD too loud. With a new head unit, you will probably just blow out the stock speakers.

 

When i got my 2011 access cab the first thing i noticed with the stock set up was at high volume with any bass notes the speakers would sound like they were distorting. There was like a crack sound when the bass hit. I was pretty pissed.

I replaced the head unit with a kenwood kdc-hd545u and DAMN. Day and night difference. The speakers sound absolutely fine now and that distortion/crackling disappeared.

Since then i replaced the tweeters with rockford fosgates and built a sub box to take up the rear right passenger area. It houses 2 kicker cvt 8s that fire straight down. It shakes the entire truck haha. The bottom 6x9 speakers have remained stock at the moment (money) and it sounds fine. Im gonna do those in a few weeks when i start working for bmw

 

I would replace the speakers. the stock speakers are not very good. paper cones and the magnet on the back is really small. if you pull the speakers out you'll see how light they are.

the amp in the head unit is not very strong either but the speakers are more improvement for less $.

 

Speakers. I always do them first if I don't do everything at once. Your ears hear the sound emitted by the speakers so, logically, that would be the most immediately impactful upgrade.

 

I've done it multiple ways and now I will ALWAYS go head unit --> sub/amp ---> speakers.....

I've had so many cars sound like shit then put an aftermarket headunit and it sounds night and day different. After that you put a sub/amp in so you can have your stock speakers not have to play any bass and you have a badass sounding system. After that if you feel like you need to take it further new component speakers will make it perfect.

If you're going to do it step by step then I would definitely advise to go with what I listed above. It's amazing what stock speakers can be upgraded to with a new headunit.

 

Do what this guy said. Head unit is going to put out a better sound through your stock setup. Then you can add and amp. Upping the power to your doors will make them sound more clear and powerful. Then you can add components so you don't under drive them only running them off the decks power. Deck power is not enough power to run a reasonably good set of components the way that they were designed and you run the risk of hurting the speaker. Last but not least you get the sub and fill out your sound and ENJOY!

 

Thanks for the advice. I think I am going to change the head unit first. I will probably go with a double din head unit. Any suggestions?

 

I was never a big fan of the double din unless it's the big touch screen. The doubles are always a little funny lookin.

The single din also gives you the pocket underneath which is nice. But as always it's personal preference.

 

if you replace the speakers, do you have to power them from an amp?

 

I replaced the speakers only, because I don't plan to replace the head unit. If I was building a complete system, I would definitely go with a head unit first. Alpine S 6x9s sound great with an iphone hooked up.

 

No, but if you want serious volume, you may not be happy without one. If you replace the head unit, the replacement unit will probably (almost surely) provide more power and you can probably skip the amp unless you're installing subs.

 

That was my plan.

So far all I've done is the deck. Sounds A LOT better now, even with a 150 dollar deck and stock speakers. I'm not really an audiophile, so I might not ever do the rest. I do love the way a full system sounds, but I am lazy and don't really want to strip my whole interior out just to wire up an amp and subs.

 

I like your sub box. Do you have more pics, inside etc. What did you use for the covering?

 

can a new head unit be wired with the factory steering wheel controls?

 

Double din dvd head unit would be a great start.

 

yes. but you need an adaptor.