Speaker Upgrade Help

Hey all, I need some help. I'm looking to upgrade my speakers but keep the factory head unit. I don't know much about speakers, amps, adapters, etc. so please be patient. Can I just get new speakers and hook them up with everything else stock? I'm thinking of getting JBL rear and front speakers as well as tweeders. My Tacoma is a 2005. Thank you all!!

 

The short answer to your question is YES, you can simply replace your speakers for better sound. Stock speakers are JUNK!

You'll likely get better results if you couple your speaker upgrade with a H/U upgrade and/or an external amp. There are LOTS of threads on this topic. A good place to start reading is the Audio & Video forum. Searching for speaker info there will probably answer many of your questions. Whether you buy there or not, Crutchfield is another good source of info.

 

Yes. Pull the door panels and you'll see that Toyota used some of the crappiest speakers possible. Depending on what size speakers you go with you may need adapters/mounting brackets. Read speakers reviews to find speakers that should sound good with your preference in music. Definitely go with seperates for the fronts. An in-line amp will help a lot, upgrading to a modern head unit will make a huge difference as well. If you are going to pull the door panels you might as well put some sound deadening on the flat spaces behind the speakers, as little as 20% coverage can make a big difference. Lots of info out there on this and other forums and you can spend a little or a fortune depending on your wants.

 

A little bit of sound deadener in the doors will make a huge difference. I wouldn't bother upgrading the speakers without adding sound deadener.

 

I recommend a speaker with higher efficiency ... 91 db min because you are keeping stock head unit.

 

Thanks guys!! Anyone have recommendations on speaker brands and head units?

 

Go with the Kicker CS 6x9 if you're planning on keeping the stock headunit, or replacing with an aftermarket headunit but not adding an amp. If you plan on amp'ing anything, go with the Kicker KS 6x9's. I did KS all around, with an Alpine Power Pack, Kicker Hideaway sub, all going back to a Kenwood DDX9702S. Sounds better than any Tacoma around here, and didn't break the bank.

 

Do it. I have a '13 Access Cab, and the lack of audio performance was killing me. I mounted the Hideaway under the passenger seat, and the Power Pack under the glovebox area. I also added speakers to my rear doors (the Access Cabs only have fronts, and headliner speakers), as well as some Dynamat. Made a world of difference, and I constantly get comments about how good the audio sounds.

 

Okay here's another question - for a while I had a Sony XAV602BT head unit and all of my speakers worked. Now with the stock head unit, the back speakers work but up front, only the driver's side speakers work. Is that an issue with the head unit? Sorry again - not very speaker/audio savvy.

 

You don't know. Switch the speakers up front. L to R, R to L. If the Pass side speaker works in the Driver side then its not the speaker. If Pass side Spkr still does not work in the Driver side...then its the speaker.

 

Will do - thanks for your help everyone!!