Gen 3 stereo upgrade

Josh I've been into car audio for a very long time but I'm new to Tacoma. This new truck is my very first one. When I started looking for information on how to build my system I discovered that there were a lot of guys out there that were not car audio guys, but guys who just wanted a little better sound from the stock system. I also discovered that there were a lot of outfits out there just waiting to take the limited amount of money most of these guys are wanting to spend. I get that most guys are not looking to dump $6K or $7K for a sound system, but I've also been around long enough to know what it's like to be chasing that sound you want but not knowing where to find it. It's frustrating and expensive and made worse by unscrupulous vendors who pass around bad info.

I didn't intend to hijack the thread or call you out, but you are doing a disservice to these guys wanting a "good" system on a limited budget. The fact of the matter is the space in this truck is very limited, and a proper sub arrangement is going to take up the entire back wall. Even still the volume is going to be limited and the best sounding setup is going to be a single ten or even eights. Twelves are all but out. This is just reality. I am running a $6K system and I had to run eights. Not by choice but because that's what the space allowed me. And guess what they sound awesome not because they are big, but because they are right. So if you want to continue to defend this sub par design your peddling please go ahead. I'm just hoping those guys will now know a little better.

 

If anyone knows a good shop in the bay area, ca (near San jose) let me know. I have the JBL system and the signal strength fades in and out all the time no matter what weather conditions are. I tried changing the FM mode but no luck. I could use better surround sound too. Okay with the overall sound when it's clear..not looking for huge bass...just clear and more full I guess.

 

I've got 4 JL Audio 8W3s on a 750/1 and it rocks

 

@Dean724
Just proved my point as to us selling that small box.
Nowhere did I intend an argument
, just to explain a point.

@garyinok on our site we also offer a box like you mentioned that goes across the whole wall of the tacoma.
Anyways,
Always open to what yall have to say/ reviews.
Any questions concerns/ ordering etc
Email at
Tacotunesjosh@gmail.Com
Thanks

 

I'm honestly glad to see there is a rep here to act as a voice of *********. Regardless of what occurred in the past as there have been ups and downs, at least it's an effort and offer of service that has been put forth. It's easy to rip and trash on a company as anon poster #123, but lets try to keep our comments and ideas constructive for new owners looking for ideas within their budgets.

Hopefully as time persists tomorrow I will have everything wired up. I'll report back my findings knowing the sub I have isn't designed for this box. (that is on me as it's stated on the ********* site what is recommended for this enclosure) Once I install the CompRT I'll report back with any difference in sound quality. Josh could easily say "fuck it, I'm out", but he's offered his email to answer any questions going forth. ********* is not the devil in the audio or Tacoma world. At the very least they do offer quality kits specifically fit for Tacomas that no other company makes. I'll commend him for that as comments can be brutal at times toward vendors without repercussion.

 

I'm currently in the process of putting together a system for my double cab. The system will be geared towards sound quality vs. earth shattering bass, while retaining the factory head unit.

I will be rolling the dice with JL's 10tw3 shallow subwoofer (3.25" top mount depth), which will hopefully provide decent range/accurate bass. I am in the process of building a sealed enclosure @ .44 cubic ft. Recommended is .50 cubic feet...If anything, I will lose a little range down low, but I think that I should be alright.

Equipment (prices are rounded estimates)

-JL C5-650 components (front) = had them laying around, but paid $220
-JL C2-650x coax (rear) = $90
-JL 10TW3 = $260
-JL HD900/5 amp = had laying around, but paid $660
-JBL ms-8 dsp = TBD...waiting for a good deal. I do currently have a JL -- CleanSweep, but looking to upgrade.
-Noico + carpet insulation pad to dampen the doors and behind the rear seats = $100
-misc. wires, cables, etc.. = $60
-subwoofer enclosure = $75 + times

This currently puts me at an estimated $1565. So about for about $2000 total, I should have a pretty decent system in the New Truck.
A lot of the stuff, I had laying around from previous builds.

 

I am located near the M.D./P.A. line, approximately between York P.A. and Baltimore M.D. Can anyone recommend a good trusted spot anywhere near me for audio installation. I know nothing about car audio, other than the fact that I am very underwhelmed with my stock entune premium setup. I am coming from a 2010 camry with the JBL which I was happy with. I would definitely like to keep the stock head unit, while adding at least new door speakers, possibly an amp and sub that fits without much alteration. I dont want to break the bank, was hoping to get something decent for around 1k? Just interested in something louder and clear. Any advice on a spot to work with, or just a general idea of what I might need and how to not get gouged somewhere would be greatly appreciated.

 

Got the same response. My guess is he probably knows the guy, had some prefab work already complete, or had some discount agreed upon.

 

I'd like to hear that.

 

Nope, none of the above. Never heard of them until a month ago when I started looking around.

I had nothing done, brought my truck in just as it was ordered.

 

********* is Exactly that. The devil in the car Audio and Tacoma world. That's the whole point. He's not going to say "fuck it I'm out" cause he's too busy making money off people who don't know this this stuff. Look at the position he's got you in. Had he been honest and said "ya know a Tacoma is pretty limited on space, and that Twelve is not the best option" you probably would have done something different. But that's not what he did. He took your money like he did to the 5000 other users he talked about, and then all but admitted that it should sound "okay". And you're going to let them off the hook because it's not the ID sub they recommend for that enclosure? Even the ID literature says that box won't work with this sub. The stuff they sell is crap, their service is crap, their knowledge is crap, and I hope through this thread and just the stuff the guy himself had to say will make people think twice about buying anything from them.

 

damn! After what I've read elsewhere and here, I'm happy as shit
they never replied to my email.

 

Well shit. I stand corrected haha.

 

haha! I didn't even ask for specific equipment as I'd never done it so I relied on their knowledge to
guide me along with a few guys here like garyonik. Everything he installed met my price range
and was decent quality so I went with it. Price was good and it sounds friggin amazing.

NOW>......I want that monster sub box Jkilpatrick357 has up above....cot dam!

 

i just wish i mad more local people interested in audio in their taco's. I have some many variations id love to play with from 2 8s ported to 4 sealed to 2 10s all with good amount of power

 

What he said, but for Tampa Bay, Florida. There's lots of shady shops around, but I'd like someone who's most importantly going to do it right and hopefully without breaking the bank.

 

ha! we wish that too!!!

 

Jeeze I spend much of my life mixing live sound for union IATSE concerts and engineering in studios. I dabble in my own studio now that I am retired,

I will step out on a limb here and call the stock JBL system in the Tacoma plenty good enough for most people who want an honest representation of a 320 VBR MP3 file at worst and don't want bass rattling the doors on a car a block away. People get out of hand with this stuff.

Most major Studios don't have the kind of transducers that auto sound enthusiasts use. Back in my day we mixed entire albums on Yamaha NSM10s. Today you won't see many Studio monitors over $2000 in many studios. WHen you know your monitors ,you can mix anything correctly.

Car audio does not represent the accurate recorded sound in as much as it amplifies the worst frequencies. The bass frequencies cover up most of the sound wave and eliminate any dynamic range. I have heard the worst sound coming from "upgraded car audio systems" I am not sure what they use as a measure of "good" Power? Booming Bass? Ear busting midrange? I don't get it. People who make good money spend a lot of time achieving the perfect mix only to have it bastardized by "competition" car audio systems.

I am not sure what is measured in Auto " Audio competitions" Likely who has the most SPLs with the prettiest systems. Certainly not accuracy at those high SPLs. Maybe how pretty the rig looks as well?

 

Generally, Those Competition systems aren't Geared towards accuracy but strictly spl- Burp fart cannons. they usually don't even play music of that matter but a simple 30-60hz sine wave depending on their peak freq.

The SQ competitions is a completely different story but that takes 2000hours plus of hours tuning and getting it dialled in perfectly. Limitations will eventually be the install and the acquistics of the vehicle. Everything is measured and scored on a RTA setup

There is now some new platforms that is a combo of SPL and RTA scores but run separately as there is no way you can have any form of RTA SQ analysis when your playing 20-40hz @ 150-160dbs

 

I have a JL stealthbox with C5 components in the front and C5 coax in the back and dynamat going in. OEM head unit. Hope it is worth the change.........