Audio Build Mix of modern & old school (2012 Double Cab)

Intro

I'm a tinkerer, like building stuff and love designing any type of system. Replacing my totalled tacoma with a 2012 double cab provided a blank canvas to engage those tendencies. My plan is sort of budget-conscious and highly pragmatic. I optimize the spending on where it logically makes the most sense (to me at least).

Head unit

The stock headunit provides all of the functionally required. As such I don't value any of the features provided by an aftermarket option. Plus I utterly hate how nearly every single one looks. Lastly, the stock headunit will not alert anyone with nefarious intentions that there is expensive audio equipment in my truck, and also will not be lost to insurance in the instance that I hit another deer.

Active Crossover - Digital Sound Processor

After lots of research, I decided to give the CDPS mini-dsp a shot because it has satisfactory specs, and fits inside the center console. As one who constantly tinkers, the easy access when needing to hook up a computer is valuable. It also has a 2 second start up delay which is essential considering the next component.

Amp

I just need pure amplification and nothing to mess with the signal. With an active crossover, there was no need for any processing capabilities. Those would just provide more bulk to try to fit under the seat, more heat and more circuitry to troubleshoot in the instance that something goes awry. Unfortunately, all modern amps have processing built-in. Fortunately, I lucked into what I view as the best car amp ever produced.

ADS PH15 was produced at the apex of the focus on sound quality over volume for competitions. It is 6 channels by 300 Watts which will allow my system to run on one amp. Front tweeters and midbass drivers each have a channel at 50W per and the subwoofer gets two bridged channels at 100W.

Mid Bass Drivers

Here is where I deviate the most from the mainstream. Car audio engineering would be mostly wasted on the soundstage set by my Tacoma. High end car audio speakers are by no means an inferior product, I just personally don't find the any increase in performance to justify premium prices. Instead I opted to go with a general-purpose speaker with the specs I desired: Silver Flute W17RC38-04 6.5" Woofer Wool Cone 4 ohm ($30 per)

Tweeters

Ditto to above: SB Acoustics SB29RDCN-C000-4 Neo Magnet, Ring Dome Tweeter ($60 per)

Bass Driver

Space constraints limited options. Marv designed the sub system in my access cab around my preference for hard rock and metal. I wanted a sub that was punchy enough to keep up with fast double bass drums. I was entirely happy with that aspect of the system Marv designed so I went with the current iteration of that driver, but with 4 ohm impedance: PIONEER TS-SW2502S4 10-Inch

This time around I wanted a little bit more depth which is more dependant on the enclosure design

Enclosure

I wanted to avoid removing any of the child seat anchors or clip receivers for the rear plastic storage bins while still providing adequate airspace for the sealed enclosure. There is not much more to say other than I took a TON of measurements, built a ton of cardboard mockups and had an excel spreadsheet to ensure all of my designs provided adequate airspace.




Conclusion

All in all, I'm into this project just north of $800 not counting tools and consumables (soldering iron, soldier, shrink wrap, saws, wood fasteners, silicone, sanders, etc). It is by far the best sound system that I've built and it has not yet been acoustically.





I'll post the install pics as time allows if there is any interest!

In the meantime here are some teasers of shitty phone recordings (volume/headphone warning):
https://youtu.be/pP_Kcp8x7c8
https://youtu.be/qQ932cARiAU