My 2013 Complete Stereo Upgrade with costs

I bought a 2013 Limited Tacoma with the JBL system. I was happy with the head unit, but not the speakers. I started with the door speakers, then added a real sub and amp, then replaced the HU as well.

I started with lining the doors with GTMAT (everyone seems to have a sound deadening product they love, I chose this based on reviews and price on Amazon).




I bought 50sq feet and have about 10 sq ft left. I did all 4 doors (inside the door cavity and on the outside of the door cavity) and did the back of the truck. It went pretty easy and I only cut myself on a scrap I was picking up off the floor.

Next I made my own speaker installation inserts (I like the ones from Taco Tunes, but I made my own from an $8 board). I took the factory speakers out, sat them on the board, and traced them with a pencil. I then cut them out using a drill and jigsaw. I then used the guides that came with the speakers to align and cut the openings. Here is how they look installed:


The new speakers and matting sounded ok, but you could really hear how under powered the speakers were, so I decided to get a 5 channel amp and a sub box. I bought this box on Ebay, but I should have done more research first.

This box was $89 shipped, but is 1.2 cubic feet of sealed space per speaker. Most sealed 10" subs like .6 to .8 cubic feet. There was another one on ebay for $99 that fit that description. BTW - both of these boxes are on Amazon, though you have to pay extra to ship them (just search Tacoma Sub Box).

See you on the next Post

 

I was going to install the amp on the box, but there would be no room for adjusting the amp, so I went under the passenger seat, which is a very easy spot to run wires:


I ran the power wire through the center console to keep it from the speaker wires:


I ran the power wire from the battery to the fuse and through the firewall where all the wires go (in front of the driver). I found an empty place to put the wire through (under the big spot of wires), but I could not fir the 4 guage wire in the hole, even with grease so I ended up pulling the plug/gasket out and running the wire through, then put the gasket back in. This could leak over time I guess, but no issues (or light can be seen through the edges) now. Here is my ground:

It seems to touch metal here and all over the structure.

Next I ran the sub control module. I wanted to have one, but not where everyone can see it and not where it is hard to reach, so I mounted it in the center console, where I can turn it right from where my hand lays anyway:


I think this turned out well:


See you on the next post

 

Easiest part of this installation was the head unit. I piggy backed on to the power, constant power, and illumination wires from the stock system ( I used a test light to figure out what was what). I did connect the steering wheel volume kit and it worked perfectly. The channel change buttons below volume more one by one (so if listening to Sirius channel 34, up goes to 35 - not to your preset). The phone buttons on the right side of the steering wheel jump presets or folders if on a USB). I was able to tap an existing satellite antenna wire (no idea which one, I just cut them all and kept wiring until one worked). I was very glad to not have the ugly sat antenna showing. Here is how the HU came out:




I bought this deck because it worked with an Android phone. Because of this I had to run a cord to attach to my phone. I ran it through the area all the way in front of the cup holders:

Again, the goal was to keep it hidden.

Now, lets get to cost and what I used for this.

Wait wait, I want to show you my favorite tool for this job. It helped me run the wire through the firewall, the wires into the doors and under a little bit of carpet under the seat:

This tool has been on my garage wall for 5 years and done almost nothing until it saved me unknown hours here on this job.

Now to prices.

 

Where are the prices?

 

Kenwood 10" subs $99.98 (Amazon)
R/T 10" Sealed Speaker Box $89.99 (Ebay)
Metra 95-8235 dash kit (make sure is DOUBLE DIN one) $30.55 (Amazon)
Pioneer AVH-8500BHS Blue Tooth Radio $470.92 (Amazon)
Axxess metra Steering Wheel kit ASWC-1 $48.41 (Amazon)
SiriusXM SXV200v1 Tuner $37.99 (Amazon)
Samsung Galaxy S3 Dongle for App Radio $22.00 (Amazon)
Aurum 14 guage speaker wire 150 feet $22.99 (Amazon)
Alpine MRX-V70 class D 5 chanel amp $279.95 (Amazon)

$38 Alpine RUX-KNOB Remote Bass Level Control Knob for PDX-M12 and PDX-M6

Alpine RUX-KNOB Bass COntrol knob $17.98 (Amazon)
KnuKoncepts 4 guage wiring kit $31.98 (Amazon)
Infinity 6030cs component speakers $93.69 (Amazon)
Infinity 62.11i 2 way speakers $104.00 (Amazon)
GTMAT Sound Deadener 80mil 50 sq ft $115.98 (Amazon)
Pioneer CD-AH200 App Radio wires for Android $59.99 (Ebay)
3/4" board 2' X 2' $8.00 (Lowes)
Misc wire connectors $20.00 (Wal-Mart)

Total Price $1,554.12 (GASP!)

I did get $400 back selling my JBL head unit, so that helped some. I could have recovered more if I had not destroyed my JBL stock amp

 

I love every part of this system, except for the tweeters on the 6030cs. They were wicked sharp or muffled - no in between no matte rwhat adjustment i put on the HU or amp. I ended up putting the stock tweeters back in the truck and it sounds much better. With no gains added on the amp, it goes louder than I can take, yet with the sound deadening stuff, you can hear little outside the cab.

I have not played with the app radio since I just got the wires yesterday. I will update when I know more.

 

How has the sound deadening changed the day to day ride?

 

The doors have a much more solid "thunk" vs the factory "clank", but otherwise I do not notice it (especially now that the stereo fills the space so much better).

 

Good luck with those Kenwood subs. I had a 10" and it sucked, then it blew.

 

Choices were limited for subs that had a max depth of 5". I did not want a flush mounted one and this had the closest stats to the infinity subs I wanted.

 

are your AC controls originally black or did you paint it black to match the black double din install kit?

 

Nice write up! I love my Alpine setup. Sound deadening material really helps. I have it in my front doors and the difference in the way they shut compared to the back doors is night and day.

Try holding down the steering wheel track up/track down button, it should skip to the next pre-set, at least it does on mine.

Here's the thread Fletch made, Funny how we were installing the same system at the same point in time.

 

Those controls are factory.

 

I wouldn't worry about the box airspace; there's no way it could be 1.2 per sub. According to my quick and dirty calculations, that box would barely be over 2 cubes total even without the center amp rack and cab brace cutouts.

 

How well is that box put together? Any leaks? I found one that looks just like it but is $149 on a didn't website. Id rather order through Amazon if it's a good box.

 

So you bought a limited Tacoma only to waste money on a better sound system? Wow.

 

^
Hater

 

I am really impressed with the box quality. I was concerned about quality given the price, but it feels solid and the interior corners look well sealed. I bought mine on Ebay (same company sells it as on Amazon, but it was $5 cheaper last time I looked). I could not build that box for the price.

 

Awesome, thanks

 

For what it is worth, I now have the hood with scoop as well... and a TRD Sport sticker