How do you rate 05-07 Taco Sound System?

I just finished installing the Metra Ipod adapter (which BTW was absolutely stupid simple) on my factory stereo and it got me thinking:

How do you rate the sound system in the Tacoma?

Im not interested in changing the stereo unit at all.

So specifically, how do you rate the sound quality of the speakers. Im not much of a sound junkie, so I dont know much about car stereo equipment/accessories.

Would spending a couple hundo on new speaks for my access cab really make a difference?

thanks for your time

 

i would say adding some speakers would add better sound quality stock speakers just dont compare, thats what im going to be doing in the near future.

 

I'm also planning on upgrading the stocks for more sound quality. However I would rate the Tacoma stocks above my previous 2 vehicles, BMW 328i and a Toyota Celica. Of course I think my Pioneer head unit is helping them but they were pretty good when the deck was stock as well.

 

I had the JBL system and I ripped it all out. It sounded like crap. I upgraded everything.

 

It's fine.

 

I'm like you....I'm not an audiophile.

But to answer your question - it depends.

#1) How important are 'new' speakers compared to other mods you want to do
#2) Are you bored and just want to 'do something' to the truck
#3) Finances.... again, back to #1
#4) How loud and/or noticable do you need the stereo to be?

Personally - I don't need loud music and the stock stereo is plenty loud for me (even with poor hearing in my left ear). Adding new stereo components aren't gonna improve the quality of the files on my ipod. And - I'd personally much rather put the money towards other mods first.

 

Ok, here's the real deal on the Taco stereos. I have not had nor heard the base sound system in the Tacomas, so all of my info and observations are based on the six disc non-JBL model. That said that head unit is capable of putting out plenty of power, and the power it does put out is good crisp and clean power if you have speakers that can handle it.

That said, the stock speakers are single coil paper cones and the magnet is about the size of a quarter. They are JUNK. However, I paid extra when I bought my truck to have the six disc in-dash changer with steering wheel controls, and I liked the look and function of that so I chose to replace just the speakers.

And here is the link to the DIY I wrote for what you need and how to do it.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/audio-video/3198-speaker-upgrade-basic-how-2nd-gen-access-cab.html

I now have more distortion free volume then I can comfortably listen to, I have a good deep bass response, nice sharp highs, and good mid-range as well, and it cost me $116 to do it all. (remember I already had the speakers, if you have to buy speakers it will cost you 116 plus the cost of your new speakers.)

Hope this helps, and re-assures you that unless you are a hard core audiophile all you need to do is put better speakers in your truck to be happy.

 

Its not horrible, but im definitely starting to upgrade.

 

thanks for the input.

very good points, janster. Buying stuff for your taco can get out of control.

Thanks for the tutorial, maverick, Ill def refer to it if I end up changing speaks!

 

I think if you want a better sound upgrade to a after market stereo and then go from there. The OEM Speakers are ok but you'll be surprised how good they sound with an upgrade stereo.

 

That's what I love about this place. You can find any opinion. One guy says keep the head unit and lose the speakers, another guy says lose the head unit and keep the speakers.

wheelieking, what head unit upgrade did you do? Was it a good deal? Are you happy with it?

 

well i didn't yet but a friend of mine did and he put an alpine unit in his 05 and the oem speakers didn't sounds bad at all. Its the crappy amp thats in the oem stereo thats sucks and makes the oem speakers sound so lousy. You will be suprised what a good amp does for your oem speakers. Then if you what get a powered sub and your truck will rock. Untill you blow up your oem speakers give it a try with a good deck. like this one that I will use.

 

I don't really want to belabor the point here, but realistically there is no way that an aftermarket head unit pushing the stock speakers is going to sound better than the stock head unit pushing aftermarket speakers.

Here's why. The stock speakers have the absolute smallest magnet that I have ever seen on any speaker ever. The tweeter magnets in the set of little bookshelf speakers I have in my garage are bigger. The stock speakers are a single cone. How are you going to get good midrange and highs out of 4 woofers? The stock speakers are a paper cone with a foam rubber surround, which means after you have put your new high end headunit in and crank it up a couple of time the stock speakers are going to be toast and you'll be replacing them anyway.

Take a look at the pictures of the stock speakers for yourself.

Front speaker...

Front speaker back...

Rear Access cab speaker...

Rear access cab speaker back...

So the final point here is if you are looking for better sound quality, then leave the stock deck alone, and just replace your speakers. I assure you that it will sound better than an aftermarket deck on stock speakers.

However, If you want to have the loudest stereo, and want to make sure t hat everyone for a 2 block radius can hear what you are listening to, then yes you are going to need a new head unit and new speakers. If you want a nav system or DVD player or something else fancy then you are going to need to go ahead and get a new head unit, but if you are spending the money on the head unit you may as well pony up the money for the speakers as well so that you really get what you paid for as far as sound quality on your fancy new headunit.

Ok I am pretty sure this horse has sufficiently been beaten, but like NDcouch, I like having the last word.

 

Wow, those are the smallest magnets I've ever seen. I still say they don't sound that bad but I guess I'll be upgrading sooner than I thought after seeing those pictures.

 

I'm personally really happy with my stock system. I didn't get the JBL upgrade but i have the Double Cab which has more speakers than the access or regular cabs. I have plenty of base and overall am very happy with it. I could use a little more mids but other than that, no complaints.

 

I've got to agree with Mav. The stock speakers are trash. I am a bit of an audiophile but I'm also a penny-pincher. That being said, the first thing I mentioned to my wife after the drive home with my new '08 doublecab with the 6-disc changer set-up (non-JBL) is that the mids are completely missing on the stock set-up. You can adjust the stock eq all you want but everything from around 250hz to about 2khz is muddy. There's more low end than i'd expect from the speakers in those pics but a good set of 3-ways is gonna make a world of difference.

I'm still trying to figure out which ones to get but that'll be largely effected by what the local Crutchfield outlet has on sale. I've gotten some wicked deals in the past there on some awesome speakers.

Anyone heard of anywhere that you can buy Bose speakers for your car/truck? My wife's G-35 has the best soundsystem I've ever heard in a car but I can't seem to find the speakers anywhere.

 

Good point. Maybe the double cab makes more of a difference than I thought. Is there anybody with a double cab who is sorely disappointed?

 

Absolutely. I just bought a set of JBL GT0627 6.5s after visiting my local Crutchfield outlet and will be putting them in either tonight or tomorrow depending on how my evening goes. I can't stand the missing mids but with the range that you can hear with the stock system I'm faily certain the speaker are the weakest link. Here's hoping...

 

When I got my dbl cab I was really dissapointed. Then I started adjusting the bass & treble and got it sounding decent.

I think the stereo sounds good, however I don't feel like I can really turn it up when I hear that song I love on the (radio/cd). I also don't think it is loud enough for when I am enjoying a summer day with the windows down without sounding distorted.

I plan on upgrading the speakers eventually but I don't want to change the head unit. I am all about things looking uniform and with as many bright orange lights as there are in the cab I dont want to have a head unit with bright blue, red, or green ones distracting me. I am also not totally sold on how the single DIN stereos look with the lower 1/2 appearing significantly recessed.

 

Did your local Crutchfield outlet include the adapter brackets like they do if you buy on-line?