Upgrading Speakers Only?

A very long time ago, I had a VW rabbit with a stock Blaupunkt stereo. I swapped out the stock speakers but left the stock stereo and wiring in place. The result was a MUCH louder and clearer car stereo system.

I now have a 2011 double cab Tacoma with the JBL audio system. I'm thinking of doing the same thing with the truck: get better speakers that can easily fit into the holes in the doors but leave the head unit, the subwoofer, and all the wiring. Am I high on drugs if I think this is going to result in a better sounding system? Are there speakers out there that are significantly better than the JBL that came with the truck that can be powered with the stock JBL headunit?

I know that ultimately I'm going to need to replace the head unit so I can get the expanded XM channel selection and HD radio that I really want but it'd be easier on the wallet if I could get speakers now and do the headunit/subwoofer down the road.

 

Before you upgrade give the jbl a good try with different types of music.

 

The JBL system is total shit.

With that being said there isn't a lot of speakers that would sound better for how much money you'll pay, at least in my book. You are better off replacing the stock HU and leaving the JBL then keeping the stock HU and replacing the JBL speakers.

I'd save your cash, get the HU first, then worry about upgrading your speakers.

 

keep in mind many stock stereos now have a bass leveling feature.....

As u turn the VOLUME up, the head unit lowers the bass output to help prevent distortion from lower quality stock drivers, and help avoid blowing a driver.

That said, I must admit I dont know ANYTHING about the JBL option. I am in process of installing some new 6x9's up front, a new head unit, and new 6.5's in the rear.

U will have to make or buy adapters for aftermarket drivers I assume, even for JBL system.

I am fabbing my stock brackets/adapters in the front and its saving some coin, giving me something light duty to do, and its fun. Finding out that the signal goes from the head unit wiring to the tweeter and THEN to the lower driver meant I had to trace wires and hijack the signal from the tweeter. Its been fun.

Buy from crutchfield, save money, get tons of FREE parts u will need anyhow, and also receive schematics, and access to their tech support.

 

I would also recommend getting a head unit before trying speakers. The JBLs would probably sound a lot better with a better head unit.

I replaced the head unit in my 2013 and it made a significant improvement with the factory speakers (non-JBL). After tweaking it for the last little bit, I can say that it's "tolerable" until I get the coin for my HAT Unity/Imagine setup.

 

This.. My buddy had a Pioneer HU and stock JBL, it sounded a hell of a lot better than the stock HU that's for damn sure.

Still, look at the JBL speakers when you take them out.. They are horrible. Hell the rear JBL speakers are about the size of the front tweeters.

 

^ What he said. I've had better results from replacing only the head unit than I have by replacing only the speakers.