sub & amp with stock headunit??

can or has anyone done this? i really like my stock headunit in my 2012 taco and dont wna change it unless i have too, but i wna change out the speakers and add a sub with a 5-channel amp, will it work and all??

 

Yep.

 

Yes

 

You'll need a line converter.

 

Yup, can be done.... I'd suggest an Alpine MRX-V60... it's last years model so Car Toys is clearing out for the new ones, and at $280, I think it's a steal (I may be getting one myself).

It does have speaker level inputs, so you don't NEED to add a line out converter and get RCA's, but I would suggest doing so anyhow, in case you ever decide to get a new head unit (which will really be one of the biggest upgrades you can do IMO - you just can't get good sound unless you start with a good source).

Good Luck and feel free to PM questions to me... I've been trolling way too much lately

 

I'm doing this now. I bought a PAC SNI-35 which will tap into the left/right channels of the fronts or rears and give you RCA outs. Since I have a reg cab, I'll just use the rear channels off the headunit to splice directly into the SNI-35's. Once you've got your RCA outs, its the same as an aftermarket unit. Set your low pass filter on your amp and away you go, you won't have any amp control through the headunit obviously like you would with an aftermarket system.

I also got a kenwood 350 watt 2 channel sub amp for 57 dollars off Amazon. FTW. I'm cheap.

 

I used this and it sounds great with a 4 channel amp.
http://davidnavone.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2

 

I would get a new head unit and door speakers first.

 

I would try installing a set of door speakers first. If you start being able to notice subtle differences in the music, then it might be ok to use the stock head unit.

My understanding is, that even by using a channel summing processor (which levels + combines channels and provides you a baseline source signal from a stock headunit), you may still have to deal with the articifial bass limiting from the stock head unit at high volumes, as well as the other permanent EQ tuning for the mated stock speakers. And then the cost of the processor vs. the cost of a new head unit is another consideration. I can't find a clear thread that states if the bass reduction without a summing processor is terrible or otherwise acceptable.

I'm holding off for now, as I'm dealing with some computer problems in my wife's 2004 corolla (which doesn't get a free ECU replacement), which I'm probably going to break down and pay the dealer $150 or so to re-flash.

 

I'll let you know, the parts for my setup should be here sometime next week. I do plan on going to an aftermarket head unit (App Radio 2) but it hasn't been released yet.

 

how will this amp be for the door speakers & a 12" sub??