JL Clean Sweep

Wrong.
the Zapco 360.4 has processing, fully configurable. Would def NOT need a CS with the zapco... I've used the Zapco with a stock head unit, Jehnert subs and Rainbow profi components, was a phenomenal sounding clean system. Read up before you go trying to call people out... he could easily drive something like Jehnert XE200's subs off two channels, and drive front components off the other two.

my understanding is the OP wants better sound from the stock HU, it goes without saying that its not possible to keep stock speakers.

as an aside, rear speakers are a complete sham. the idea of a STEREO is to present the listener with a sound stage. try it out!

 

Ok, thanks for clearing this up for me. Looks like I need a new HU which brings up issue #2.

I like the Pioneer AVH-P3400BH but I have fit questions. I have the standard non JBL HU and crutchfield says it won't fit my truck. Am I S.O.L. and am I stuck getting a single din?

I need lots of help.

 

You may be right about the Zapco amp, I shouldn't have starting bashing the product without knowing anything about it. I have never hears of it, so maybe it will work, who knows

What I do know however is that rear speakers are most definitely not a "sham". And "stereo" does not provide a better "sound stage" than a more advanced 4.1 or 5.1 or 7.1 system etc. Stereo is exactly that.... stereo. 2 speakers which deliver LEFT and RIGHT only, and get nowhere close to delivering a true sound stage. "Stereo" is about the lowest it gets. You might be right about your amp you mentioned, and my apologies for coming off strong, but this whole thing about rear speakers being worthless and stereo making a true sound stage is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. This is far from valid information here.

Regardless however, the OP was still clarified in later posts that he did not want to change anything out, but rather just improve what's already there. Adding an amp and subs like you mentioned and speakers and all this is the exact opposite of that. I just get irritated when people give information that is completely opposite or irrelevant to what the thread is about, just so they can participate or share what that have. Of makes it worse with the information supplied is bad advice at best.

I'm not picking a fight here so please don't take it this way, I am simply making things clear for the OP. People who don't know anything about a particular topic are very gullible with the information that is suggested to them, so I just wish more people have more educated recommends rather than things that only confuse the OP more.

 

I don't know of a whole lot of music that is recorded and made available in a surround sound format, nor have I heard of any source unit that would be capable of processing true surround (5.1 or 7.1 channel) sound in a vehicle. With the right imaging, time alignment, and equalization, a "2.1" channel stereo is perfectly sufficient to meet even an audiophiles listening preferences. Furthermore, typically at live music performances, the artist performs on a stage which the audience faces, which is where the concept of "front stage, rear fill" comes from, I believe.

Anyways, now that we've gone off on a tangent which the OP in this thread has no concern of, I'm gonna get back on topic.

geoff,

There's no reason why that head unit would not fit in your truck. I know that for a while install kits for the 2012+ models were hard to come by, but I think that by now, they are becoming more available. Installing something like that in our trucks should be pretty straight forward. Make sure you get a wiring harness and a dash kit. If your truck has steering wheel controls, you will need a module to interface them with the radio. The easiest one to install for our trucks is the Metra Axxess ASWC. Follow one of the DIY head unit install threads in this sub category of the forums to walk you through the install. It should be pretty much identical to your 2012. Solder and insulate your connections properly for the best final result.

 

You are correct in that audio files are typically recorded in stereo, so making them 5.1, etc, may not seem "natural" in a sense. I understand how this is easily misunderstood. It is correct that the rear speakers do not do a great deal for your system, but they certainly are much more than "a sham" as mentioned before. To simplify the reasoning (because sometimes my explanations get very long) this is a quote from Crutchfields website:

The article is about nothing other than Stereo Imaging and Sounstage, so it is actually very informative. The Entire article can be found HERE


Also just to note, there are many many sound processors that deliver 5.1 sound in your vehicle, and can even be adjusted to deliver true 7.1 sound as well. Alpine, Audio Control, and more, all make DSP's with multi-channel surround sound. Many cars now come standard with center channels in their upgraded stereo system options, as well as Dolby Digital Surround Sound capabilities.

 

you've never heard of Zapco and you're citing Crutchfield as a resource.

this is a vehicle, not a living room. im going to step away from this thread. the op wanted ideas to keep the stock HU, i contributed my idea and experience.

+1 to everything Shane said...

 

This thread is so far off topic.

 

Don't do it. See my thread. It sucks. I tried to keep the stock head too.

 

And the Audio Controls unit does not work for 2012 Tacoma. I was on with Crutchfiekd tech until they sent me another unit, then on with Audio Controls tech over two days before they determined it is not compatible with 2012 Taco.

The JL works, but you can not use your stock head unit volume or steering wheel volume. This is VOLUME only that you lose. You must use the separate JL volume knob or you lose the benefit of the JL.

I don't know what qualifications these other posters have, and I'm NOT questioning them, but I am speaking from recent experience with a 2012 non JBL quad cab that I added amp, sub, all new speaker wires, blah blah blah.....before I finally ended up with a new aftermarket head unit.

Good luck!!!

 

this makes me nervious because i learned about the LC6i and read about it's success on this site. i wonder if the LC7i i bought (not yet installed) will have issues or if it's only the LCQ-1. strange.

 

I would call audio controls directly before you start the install and verify that they say it will work with your specific vehicle. The tech guy that I worked with there was Brandon Cook
brandon.c@audiocontrol.com

I did a SHITPILE of work making all my RCAs the perfect length from front to back and dropping them right in my glovebox, soldering all the stock speaker wires from the harness, and then ..... NOTHING.
I even went to the trouble of making sure that signal was getting to everything coming in by jumping in a small speaker on each and every input side... then rigged up an old aftermarket HU that i had so that I could verify my RCAs and amp wiring was all good... Everything into the LCQ was good, and everything out was good and there was nothing wrong with the unit... They even sent me another one to try.

Just hate to see another member go through the headache I did...

 

I orderd the LC6i and it got lost in the mail, Amazon refunded my money so I tried the speaker level harness that came with amp and it worked great.I never seen you mention a subwoofer, I might have just missed it. So the follwing goes for 4ch(just doors) or 5 channel(4ch w/sub) Alpine amps. Some other amps come with a speaker level input harness also. My 5ch alpine MRV-60($200 amazon) did. I tapped into the two rear speakers( at the pillars between doors) and ran it to the amp. I replaced the front with polk db 6.5 component($107 amazon) and sony 6.5 coaxials(had them sitting around 50$ from BB 2 years ago)and 10" kicker comp(23$ open box BB) I agree with the previus post that you need to change back speakers with a decent coaxial. You will not get any better sound out of the stock speakers than you have now.If you were to change just the fronts and power them with an amp they would overwelm the rears and not even get rear fill. I changed just one side and listened to check I could not even hear the stocker without putting my ear all the way up to it. For 50$ you can pick up some decent 2-way speakers for the rear from best buy ,crutchfield or sonic electronics. The fronts you want to get some quality components you know what you can spend, but remember the fronts are the bread and butter the way these trucks are shaped. save the $120-200 you will spend for this line converter(whicheverone) and put it into the rest of the set up that will stay with the truck for a long time. You know eventually you'll change the head unit at some point, and you did not waste any $. Hope this helps.

 

i emailed them yesterday after reading your post. waiting for reply...

 

Hopefully they figured something out to work with our trucks. I really wanted the Audio Controls unit, and the stock HU for that stealth look with great sound. When I had to go to the JL unit, I hated the extra volume knob, and EVERY time my wife rode with me, she Effed up the volume knob on the stereo. Can't blame her though, why the hell would you NOT assume that the volume knob on the stereo is how to adjust the stereo volume????

 

I find it VERY hard to believe that the Audio Control unit does not work with a Toyota radio, regardless of whether or not it is equipped with the factory JBL system...

 

I did too. So did Audio Control. Their tech walked me through about a dozen things to check. I don't install professionally, but I have done 18-20 systems and have a pretty decent understanding. The signal coming in was good, and the components after were good.... This happened with two units

 

So Beach, are you running the LC6i?

I bought the LC6i with the intent of using it to integrate 2 Amps and upgraded speakers with my OEM Head unit. Cantsitstill's experience has me all nervous. I have a 2012 non jbl set up.

 

I am not running the LC6i. Got lost in the mail and they refunded my money. Remembered that my amp came with speaker level input harness and decided to give it a shot and it sounded good. Will sound better when I get a new head unit in the next 6 months or so.

 

I dont see why it (LC6i) would not work. If I remember right it has a few different little what I will call "jumpers" and depending on which channels were bringing the signal in and were feeding different output channels the "jumpers" had to be in different formations to match the proper input and output.

 

Thanks for all the help again. Like I said before, looks like a new HU is the first step but now I keep reading that the steering wheel controls adapters don't work on everything in a 2012. What a pain in the ass. Never thought getting decent sound would be so fucking involved.

I don't have tons of cash to throw at this either. I have build on it slowly so if I go the cleansweep option, I'm looking at close to $700 with an amp and speakers to go with it at least. And that's if I cheap out. I can install a new HU for $200-$400 but lose half my steering wheel controls. I guess losing the phone options isn't a huge deal, but I kinda want to keep the features that I paid for in my brand new truck. On the other hand, quality sound could make me feel better.