$2k and no new head unit. Damn it gets expensive FAST.

Do you have pics of the finish install?

 

The beauty of being absolutely tone-deaf. I listen to the stock stereo in my Tacoma and think, "Sounds fine to me!".

 

not saying it won’t be better but the biggest culprit is the head unit itself. It’s like saying the worst part of the titanic is the wet hallways. While it doesn’t help - the real issue is elsewhere.

Pareto chart style. If you want the best bang for the bucks a new head unit will do a lot more than replacing the speakers first.

 

Correct. My issue is how much it is tied into the rest of the truck. Has someone figured out how to integrate all the OEM controls into an aftermarket stereo.

 

Putting $2K in a truck radio? Dropping you from the Boomer club

 

[QUOTE="ShadowX011, post: 25925118, member: 366656"

Around Christmas time I’m swapping my current door speakers to much more expensive Audiofrogs all around which will need a more powerful amp and putting in 2 Audiofrog GB12D4 Subwoofers which is going to need a decent amp…of course a box and more wires for everything.

So my next upgrade will be around $4650.00 or even higher because I still have not decided on which amp to get for my Audiofrog door speakers (well actually around $2300.00 because I already have both Audiofrogs with amp and box paid for) which is getting installed next Month but all in all this will be a $4650.00 plus upgrade (unless my numbers are way off)if not more price upgrade. I’ll just round that up to $5000.00 I know I will need more as I start my next upgrade. I still need to do sound deadening on my whole truck bed and doors so that may get a little pricey. So I’ll need material for that.
If my current Infinity Reference are still kicking hard by Christmas I’ll hold off on upgrading the door speakers but I’m really pushing them to the max.

I should have reasearched more about Audio equipment before relying on Crutchfield to sell me everything they thought I would want for my needs…but it’s okay I’m enjoying my current setup (except no Subwoofers yet) and I absolutely love the

$280 Alpine ilx-W650 7" Double DIN Touchscreen Digital Multimedia Receiver with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Alpine ilx-W650 headunit they talked me into…but I could have bought all Audiofrog door speakers from the get go but knew nothing of them and was told the Infinity’s were the best SQ door speakers on the market. I had the money for the Audiofrogs but again did not know about them Crutchfield went way too conservative with me.
. [/QUOTE]

AudioFrog? I guess I will have to research them. Never heard of them.

 

I can see that, LOL. But I have always had the Bose or Harmon Kardon upgrades on my trucks and cars. Stock non-JBL really stinks in the Tacoma. I’m just surprised how quickly replacement speakers and a small amp turned into a house pmt.

 

I'm gonna counterpoint this, and I'm pretty sure I have $4k in on speakers, amps and HU in my car, probably more on the wiring and labor that went in.

Bought it 10 years ago. Since then I have upgraded my head unit, so add another $1k after maestro and all that - everything else remains. And I've enjoyed it every single day I've driven the truck. I think that's about $1.20 a day as of now - worth it. Not everyones cup of tea, I know, but we all have our wacky things we spend too much on. Like our trucks in general!

 

That’s kinda my point of view. If someone is the sort to swap vehicles every few years, hard to stomach spending ten car payments or so on a stereo.

If I’m the other hand you’re like me and put 250-300k miles on a vehicle, it’s easier to justify those dollars spent making the truck what you want it to be.

 

Exactly. I forgot to add, the shop that put it in was invested in the quality of the system too - I put it in a competition for sound quality (sql) and it won it's category/division. Hybrid audio up front, JL stealthbox in the back. Hard not to win!

 

So let’s add this up:

$90 - Kicker cs 6x9 front doors
$90 - Kicker cs 6 1/2 rear door
$100 - Subaru dash speakers
$400 - Kicker CX 660.5 Amp
$250 - Kicker 10” CompRT Sub Box
$300 - other wire connectors RCA cables, heat shrink amp wiring kit, etc.
No sound deadening

I decided to install it all myself (with all of you and Destin Meeks guidance) I should have it all in and hooked up by the end of next week. I’ll let you know how it sounds.

Mike

 

AudioFrog? I guess I will have to research them. Never heard of them.[/QUOTE]

Arguably some of the best SQ speakers on the market…but pricey!

 

Yeah there’s a bunch. I actually saw a thread a few days ago in the clean CB installs - someone dropped the dual DIN and put a single DIN in and doesn’t even have the screen on theirs anymore tempting to say the least on my end.

 

I really love my Hybrid Audio up front. Local shop is carrying “hertz” now as their premier line. It was $650 for my fronts ten years ago, but they still sound amazing.

 

Polk Audio for all 4 door- $350 (they were on sale at $150 off)
Rockford fosgate P1 2Ohm- $220 (pair)
Sony Xplod 1200 Watt Amp- $300
Sub Box- $150
Pioneer DVD/No Nav/Sirus Touchscreen-- $350
Wires, adapters, Amp kit, etc.-- roughly $150

So $1520 in my setup. If i added Nav to it it would be another $200ish..

 

I'll have to go thru my phone for them. Nothing fancy about the install, just installed properly.

 

Stock Entune premium unit .....added OEM Audio + Reference 500 .... $1500

Then I changed my head unit to a Dasitia PX5 ...... significant upgrade $459

Then I changed my head unit to a Dasitia PX6 ...... very significant upgrade with wireless carplay built in $559

Then I changed my head unit to a Pioneer DHC-WC6600 ...... finally satisfied with the sound and overall functionality of the head unit with wireless carplay .... lots of money!

Lastly.....added the dedicated sub amp to the OEM Audio + setup ..... NICE punch to the base $349

NOTE: All previous head unit were sold along to way with minimal loss.

Additionally I have installed Soundskin sound deadening in all four doors, both on the outer door skin and inner door frame, as well as the rear deck and landing in back of the rear seats.

 

I've spent way more than I would care to admit to - but I think I am north of 5k, and I did all the work. That includes the following:

3 different amps

1. Amp rev 1: ArcAudio XDi 850.5
2. Amp Rev 2: AudioControl LC-6.1200 with MiniDSP
3. Amp Rev 3: JL VX1000/5i

Multiple speaker configurations:

1. rev 1: Kicker tweeter swap with PPI P65 in front doors and Kicker coaxials in rear doors
2. rev 2: Morel Tempo Ultra 692 components up front, Morel Tempo Ultra Integra 602 in rear
3. rev 3: Swapped Morel tweeters for Morel CCWR254 in the dash
4. rev 4: Removed Morel Tempo Ultra 602s and put in son's car
5. rev 5: Swapped CCWR254 for CDT Unity 8 widebands
6. rev 6: (coming soon) Swapping CDT Unity 8 for CDT ES-02EX Coaxials (in pods)
7. rev 7: (hopefully coming soon) Swapping Morel Tempo 6x9 drivers with Karma 6x9 midwoofer drivers

Multiple subwoofers:

1. Rev 1: JL 10TW1 in a Mr. Marv birch box
2. Rev 2: Swap out JL with Audison APS10D in same box
3. Rev 3: JL 12TW3-D8 in new Mr. Marv box

Head units:

1. Kenwood DMX905s
2. swapped out Kenwood with Pioneer DMH-WT8600NEX

Misc:

1. Noico sound deadener
2. add Sound Skins
3. misc wire, harnesses, tech flex, connectors, fuses, fuse boxes, shrink tube, crimp ferrules, wire terminators, soldering wire etc....

 

I'm in mine right around $3500, did the labor myself. Stock head unit, kept it completely factory looking.

 

Got pics?