Upgrading OEM speakers?

Has anyone replaced their OEM speakers without replacing the radio? I'm looking for better quality sound in my 2015 DCAB and if so what did you replace them with I have a Non JBL radio. Looking for options.

 

Yes. Do a search on this forum for options.

 

Lots to read, but most folks seem to swap out the head units too. I also wonder if better speakers would be worth if I kept the factory unit in my access cab. Is the crappy performance the fault of the factory speakers alone, or is the amp under-powered too?

 

So I'm in the midst of doing a full system in my truck but due to a broke tab on my dash kit, I had to hold off on the installation of my head unit / leads to amp and sub. So now I've got new speakers with the factory head unit - long story short, it sounds identical / slightly worse than the factory garbage speakers.

It's not worth the money, do it right the first time.

 

I hear you. If you don't have an unlimited budget, do some research on the Alpine Power Pack amp. I added one behind the factory head unit and upgraded all speakers to Rockford Fosgate Prime. It's definitely better but the factory EQ leaves much to be desired.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-speakers-did-you-upgrade-with.391026/

 

I replaced the factory speakers, which were powered by an external amplifier, and added a subwoofer - all while keeping the factory head unit in my 2014.

I have since replaced the factory head unit and went aftermarket, but it can be done and will still sound MUCH better than stock!

 

Can you tell me what brands and perhaps model numbers for the components used for your OEM upgrade?

 

Absolutely:

Amp - Alpine mrv-f300
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-vEGeh5lUjxW/p_500MRVF300/Alpine-MRV-F300.html

Subwoofer - JL Audio w3 8 inch - fits behind the larger rear seat.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_136931...22649&awat=pla&awnw=g&awcr=47439186625&awdv=c

Components - JBL P660c

$48 JBL Stage 8602 360W Max (120W RMS) 6" x 8" 4 ohms Stage Series 2-Way Coaxial Car Audio Speakers

http://www.amazon.com/P660C-160mm-2-way-component-system/dp/B001GKAIFU

Used Mr. Marv on tacomaworld for the adapters

 

Thanks I'll look in to this, was this upgrade a plug and play?

 

Not exactly... You'll have to install the amp (which requires running power from the battery as well as remote turn on and tapping into speaker signal from the head unit) and run wires from the amp to your speakers and subwoofer.

 

Do an alpine power pack and some alpine components up front. I did the alpine sps650's in front. It has a built in crossover so no need to find the space under your door for it. Once they broke in they sounded great. Also just did some alpine 6.5 two ways in the rear doors. Sounds really good overall and only spent like $350 on all.

 

i just installed and alpine power pack, and replaced all 6 speakers with MB Quarts 6.5" components up front and 2-ways in back. Highs and mid range sound really great now. You will lose most all of the low end doing this. At least I did. I will install and under seat sub woofer next to get the low end back.

 

https://www.memphiscaraudio.com/products/speakers/power-reference-component-speakers/15prx69c/

+

http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-rs100-4-4-reference-full-range-driver-4-ohm--295-378

 

How about this?

http://*********.com/car-audio-vide...to-your-stock-toyota-tacoma-stereo-head-unit/

 

I think that would work fine - my gripe is that the stock head unit is so underpowered, just replacing the speakers is a fruitless endeavor. What you have there would solve the problem I had and would probably sound just fine.

 

I have a '14 Sport DCSB 4x4 Entune, non-JBL, non-nav. At first I replaced the factory speakers with Sony speakers up front and Kickers in the rear. The sound was actually worse than the factory junk speakers. I then added an Alpine 445U, the sound was much much louder, but I lost all of my bass. I played with the amps settings for both front and rear speakers but anytime I turned up the bass it was like it was a "puck" noise instead of it being bass. Sounded like crap even when the bass was turned up less than half. I left it like that for a year. So, I then decided to remove the new speakers and put the factory ones back in until I could figure out something better. Well, I'm shocked! I hate to say it, but just with the amp and everything else factory, the stereo is night and day from the factory sound, it actually sounds awesome - for just adding the amp. I will upgrade the speakers some day to something worthwhile, but honestly, for crap speakers going through my Alpine amp, I'm "somewhat" impressed. If I upgrade the speakers, I'll probably upgrade the HU as well. Good luck OP, there are many choices out there, and most of the good choices aren't too cheap.

 

i have no idea what you people are doing where sound gets worse after installing aftermarket speakers.

i am running off the stock deck and it sound awesome. also i don't have people singing to my ankles anymore.

 

To use the stock head unit; the aftermarket speakers need to be very efficient, 91 db or better. It also depends on what you call better. The stock head unit will never be able to drive a SW.

 

if you have that level of limited knowledge you do not need to be doing anything yourself. find a reputable car stereo shop and have them do the work.

no one with any stereo experience or reading would try to power a subwoofer with a factory radio. i am running a 3way front end off the stock deck and getting well over 100db over most of the frequency band with the stock deck. this is more then enough for windows up highway listening.

i carefully chose my replacement speakers after tons of research. i paid little attention to efficiency, it can be adjusted with resistors.