JL Audio Stealthbox for 3rd Gen Install

I just installed my new JL audio Stealthbox into my 2018 Double cab. I thought I would share a few notes. This was my first time installing a car audio system.

I installed the Subaru kicker tweeters a while ago. This evening I installed some kicker front door speakers, a JL audio M600/1 amp, and the Stealthbox.

My abbreviated install process.
1. I bought a amp wiring kit at Best Buy, some high quality speaker wire, and a line out converter (which you must have to connect an amp to the oem stereo.

2. I put in the Stealthbox first and ran speaker wire from it to where I planned to place my amp under the driver seat. The wiring is really easy to get under the carpet behind the rear seats. I then fished it to the stock wiring loom location in the door sills. The stealth box requires cutting a tiny plastic tab in the storage box and that’s it. Literally a 10 minute install.

3. Tested my amp location for the movement of my seat. It would not fit under the passenger seat, but oddly enough I had tons of clearance under the driver seat. I removed the seat from the Tacoma lifted up the carpet and found the ground location near the middle of where the seat was under the carpet. I used that to ground the amp. I ran the power wire with a 50amp fuse from the battery through the blocked off hole in the driver side firewall near the master cylinder (a little rubber stopper is there). I then routed that wire above the clutch pedal assembly mounts and into the kick panel, and through the door sill to the amp.

4. My amp required a remote turn on so I removed the entune system (which is unbelievably easy). I tapped into the accessory wire in the photo below by stripping some of the wire and wrapping + soldering the remote wire on it.

5. I ran the rca cables from the amp to the gaping hole where the entune system was. I plugged that into my line output converter and then spliced the wires on the converter onto the highlighted wires in the below photo using the same partial insulation removal and wrapping/soldering as above.

6. I plugged everything in and tested for power at the amp. Check!

7. I ran the remote level control to near my right leg on the underside of the dash, but not in the way.

8. Following my amps manual I played a 50hz 0db rest sound from YouTube and measured AC Voltage at the subwoofer outputs on the amp. I adjusted the input sensitivity until it reached the 30 something V suggested by the manual for a 2 ohm woofer.

9. I plugged in the subwoofer and gave it a quick test!

10. Wire cleanup and reassembly of the Taco!

It sounds amazing so far! This audio system is far better than the one I had in my second gen. (Stock speakers with JL audio stealthbox). I set my voltage with the EQ at max bass so the kicker door speakers also make a nice boom, but not at all distorted. I love the tweeters, but I’ve noticed they are distorted at near max volume. I may have to decrease the treble and mids on my EQ a lot. And then drop the bass 1 or 2 to keep it well rounded.

I’m going to do some more tuning tomorrow. I’m a little worried about blowing the subwoofer even though I measured the output voltage. I may drop it by a shop just for a check up on my handiwork. Like I said this is the first audio system I’ve ever installed!

Here are some pics. Sorry they are mostly dark. It’s too hot here in Oklahoma during the day to work in a black interior.

I guess the vents will cool my amp The passengers will have hot feet though lol.



The difference between the stock and kicker speakers. (Note kicker speakers require a adapter bracket!) also an easy install though. Just keep track of your sail panel clips unlike me.

Lastly here’s a pic of the amp with the seat in my driving position. I will make a black aluminum cover to go over it and hide the wires there is no chance of someone stepping on it though. I also routed the wires all under the amp so they will never get pulled out.




I’ll have a more detailed review after I’m sure it’s tuned right. Right now its well worth the money though!!!

 

Nicely done! There’s a company that makes a harness to plug into the back of the entune that gives you line out and remote amp power, not that it helps you now. Good job though!

 

Thanks! If you have a link go ahead and post it. It might help the next guy out

 

Yup, like this guy!

 

Link it!

 

Sure, here you go:

$36 Add An Amp Amplifier Adapter Interface to Factory OEM Car Stereo Radio System for Select Vehicles - Add Subwoofer Bass Amp etc.- No Factory Premium Amp- Compatible Vehicles listed below

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CQUL240/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

How many speaker outputs come out from the factory headunit?

 

Look at the plug diagram picture I posted.

 

I’m really loving the stealthbox! Thought I’d give an update after a few weeks of it. It makes such a difference in the sound quality of the audio system. It was worth every penny. It can really bump. It’s amazing how much of the bass guitar we miss listening on systems without a subwoofer. On songs without a lot of bump it makes the sound much fuller. You can tell a huge difference when you you turn it off in the middle of any song.

I never put my seat down on the road now. The sub looks so good.


I also made a quick and dirty amp cover out of some scrap aluminum sheet I had from other projects. It’s bolted to the floor and the amp. No one will be able to damage a wire with their feet with it in place.

 

Sweet build man. Was telling everyone I would stay away from a sub in this truck but this may of changed my mind.

Are you concerned at all about the amp getting hot when it comes time to turn the heat on?

I'm not too familiar with the heating system yet on a Tacoma but most air comes out at 115-135 degrees Fahrenheit if I remember correctly.

 

That’s a good point being near the vent. I’m not worried as my amp has built in over heating protection. I had it in the same place on my 2nd gen with no issues. If it turns the amp off I will simply block that vent off. This is a marine amplifier so it can cool itself really well (since boats don’t have AC and are in direct sunlight).

 

Overheating protection is nice which i figured it had but it would suck to be jammin and the amp decides to kick off just because you're trying to stay warm. I also didn't make the connection that your amp was a marine amp even though it's white those amps can take a beating.

Marine amps do have an extra layer of protection over the circuit board which makes heat transfer more difficult some even have all the knobs and switches sealed too. But their chassis is where they shine. The only reason I mentioned it is there isn't much flow down there and was just looking out!

 

Sounds like you know your amps! I honestly can’t remember why I got the marine one. Maybe it was on sale and had the dimensions I was looking for 5 years ago lol. It has never shut off on me. I could probably make a little ducting modification to allow the ducts to bypass around the amp. I’ll probably do that this winter for kicks. It’s super easy to remove this seat. It’s nothing like cussing for 4 hours to remove the seat of my Opel lol.

 

Thank you! The harness diagram came in handy for my install.

 

I agree on the stealth box, I have it as well and I think it sounds pretty darn good for the size of the enclosure. I like the sub so much that I plan to purchase a 2nd one and do a custom box with 2 of these subs.

 

whats the dimensions on the stealthbox....length...width...depth at botttom and top?

 

Just curious why you say this?

 

Looks like an awesome job. Congratulations that is a nice ride. Oh and by the way Boomer Sooner!

 

Any reason you went marine for the amp?

 

It partners with the pro snorkel.