Suggestions for speaker upgrades

What speaker upgrades have you done on your 2014? I’m not looking to spend more then $400 for everything. I know there is a thread for speaker upgrades on the 3rd gens. I want to keep the stock head unit and just replace all the door speakers and tweeters. Thanks

 

If I'm not mistaken, I'm pretty sure the ones listed for the 3rd gen will work in the 2nd gen (except for the tweeters). In fact, they were exactly the same as my 2009 Tundra. The only difference is mounting depth.

That said, are you using the stock head unit? Does the 2014 have tweeters in the doors or on the dash? Are you looking to stay consistent in brand throughout the truck?

 

Edit- just read through your full post. The ideal 2005-2015 stereo upgrade order is: head unit first, speakers second, amps/processors and sub last. The power output of the stock head unit is terrible, and it’s eq’d at higher levels to reduce bass.


JL Audio C5 line is really really nice (at the Amazon price, $350 to $400, not the ridiculous retail price). They sound great and clear, however they will need a subwoofer. These are German built and feature a cast aluminum frame/basket. Once you hear sound from a silk dome tweeter, it will be difficult to ever listen to music from any other material...it plays loud and stays extremely clear without hurting your ears. Unfortunately the C5 woofers cannot pound midbass.

However, I’ve read and heard that the C5 are only marginally better sounding than the C3 line- C3 might be an acceptable trade if you can get them at the street price instead of retail. These are China built and feature the current trend of polymer frame/basket.

 

Sub'd since I own a '14 and currently researching the components for upgrading the sound system. Has anyone dealt with *********? Ordering from them and getting everything for an easy install, speakers, brackets, adaptors, harnesses all from one place in one package seems like an attractive option.

 

almost anyting will make a difference. @alvinfromhawaii just updated with some infinity's he scored on BF. I was looking at some Focal's. A bit more money but awesome. I was lookin gat JL's as well. Not sure if I am going to add a sub or not. The old school bass head/car audio guy in me wants to but the use of space is holding me back there.

 

Yep, once you see how shitty build quality the stock speakers are anything of name brand will be better. I would highly recommend going component for the front. It’s a little more work but a better balanced sound. You’ll be amazed how good the head unit is once you get decent speakers in there. It won’t be car shaking good but listenable good. I eventually will add a new head unit, amp, and under seat sub.

 

I was about to order ********* speaker brackets and hardware back in July during their moving sale, but cheaped out at the end...I am very cheap, and capable of fabricating stuff like this and couldn’t bring myself to spend $120 or whatever just on speaker brackets. I made my own brackets out of 3/4” MDF and tweeter adaptors from 1/4” scrap oak plywood....but the amount of my spare time I put into them far exceeded $120, and delayed installation of my C5’s by about 4-5 weeks so I should have just bought them. Just make sure to research what speakers you want so that you can specify the correct cutout hole to *********.

I do not recommend those crappy and flexible Scosche or metra universal style speaker adaptors - it’s like mouthing a speaker to a trampoline - you want CNC’d or hand made adapters from ABS plastic or MDF in order to help seal the door and give the woofer a rigid mounting surface.

 

Well I got my new Kenwood DNX574S installed today and it's a big improvement in sound quality. And after listening to as many speakers as I could at local stereo shops I've decided I'll be getting JL Audio C1-690 and C1-650X in a couple weeks.

 

The C1's are supposed to be a great sounding speaker - and sound better than what something comparable sounds like at that pricepoint. I can't comment on how an aluminum tweeter sounds compared to a silk - but its preference. If they sound clear and natural, and sound like the original source recording location to your ear, then that's all that matters.

 

Thanks for the insight.