Upgrade Options for Non-JBL

Since I use carplay, the HU is fine to me and at some point, I'll hide the wireless adaptor in the glove box or console. What I can't get over is the lack of volume and the inability to properly fade the speaker output. I remember my last Taco had the same issue. Not much volume and the fade was either all front, or all back. Nothing in between.

Can this be corrected without upgrading the HU?
Would an inline amp help?
Speakers?
Both?
Looking to not break the bank.

The lack of bass is noticeable so a sub would most likely be part of my upgrade.
Since I'm local, I have also thought about the Taco Tunes upgrade too.
Any advice would be appreciated.

 

What do you mean, you cannot properly fade the speaker output? Definitely does not sound normal. May be something to do with your wireless adapter?

 

Fade problems due to the “craptacular” deployment in the later models? Due to the “piezo” speakers in the rear?

 

This is a basic upgrade to do.

JL FiX
75W x4 amplifier
T-Harness
Not Kicker speakers

 

Don’t hate on my kicker speakers lol

I will agree NOT kicker DS or CS series unless you like getting migraines.
I’m happy with my KS series. But I also was an installer and got them way cheaper than retail so I may be biased ‍♂️

 

I know man, I know. Sorry.

I just say that because I see a lot of people run out and toss in some kickers, then come asking hat in hand on how to salvage what they’ve got. It’s not just here, it’s Reddit CarAV and I’m just like yanno what, don’t even start unless you know exactly what you’re doing.

 

Yeah unfortunately the $250 upgrade thread is massive, and people buy a Key and the CS with titanium tweeters and are surprised when it doesn’t sound like a high-end system. I push the KS pretty hard if they work with someone’s budget, but I try hard to set expectations.

can’t have champagne taste on a beer budget!

 

Does seem basic and glad to hear that it's not just me! What exactly is the T-Harness?

 

It’s Friday for 60 more seconds...

Miller High Life is the champagne of beers....

 

I’m in central time so another hour for me

 

I have an ‘18 with premium non jbl head unit, and just did the kicker ks upgrade. Didn’t touch the back doors, just the tweeters and the front doors. I deadened the front doors, too.

Sound is much improved over stock, but it’s not what I had in my old ride (premium sound w sub).

 

I would start by sound deadening your doors and rear cab wall, you’d be amazed what this cheap and simple mod can do for a stock system.

 

That's exactly what I've got!
It helps to run outside the mainstream

Dayton, peerless, and tang band tend to meet my needs most times

 

Personally, I skip every other 6-pack, occasionally I CAN have champagne!

 

A t-harness peels off the OEM radio’s speaker outputs and an amplifier turn on wire, and returns the output of your aftermarket equipment to the OEM harness to your speakers while letting everything else pass directly through.

It’s how you insert aftermarket components (processors, DSPs, amplifiers) into the factory system’s signal path.

 

Thanks! Any recommended brand?

 

Your fader control is acting like a volume control because the factory head unit sends almost no power to the rear speakers. As it comes from the factory, the rear speakers are pretty much just decorative. You can solve the problem without changing speakers, and without changing the head unit. You need to add a DSP. The popular solution to this issue is to add a Kicker Key 200.4 amp that has a built in DSP. They can be had for around $250, and the install isn't too complicated if you are mechanically (electrically) inclined. There are many threads in the forum about how to install these. Note that the wiring in the 2016-2019 is different than the wiring in the 2020+ models. Make sure you get the correct harness.

Another easy and cheap improvement can be had by swapping out the dash speakers. Search for Subaru/Kicker tweeter upgrade and you will find a lot of threads on this topic. The factory dash speakers have a built-in high-pass filter that kills most of the signal that these speakers receive. The filter starts attenuating the sound at around 18,000 Hz. There just isn't much audible sound that comes out of them. The Subaru upgrade is plug-and-play, and in addition to being a higher quality speaker, it has a much wider functional frequency range.

 

I was just looking at replacing the speakers in my '21 and was wondering if the rear door speakers are worth upgrading? I realize the front door and dash speakers seem to be a worthwhile upgrade. No, I'm not using Kicker either...

 

Without adding a new head unit or an inline DSP, there is no point in changing the rear door speakers. Grossly underpowered high-end speakers don't sound any better than grossly underpowered factory speakers.

 

You can if you drink Miller High Life, it's the champagne of beer don't ya know?.


Just called Crutchfield to swap out Infinity Reference for Kicker 6.75 KS - if you think KS speakers stink please don't saying anything for a week or two...I'm in a very fragile state of mind over here. Hopefully it works out. I'm just looking for an upgrade that I can plug my old amp into, the Reference speakers sound great except I can not deal with the piercing high end, it literally gave my ear drums muscle spasms, until I swap them out I literally fear my current audio set up because if there's one thing I can't do apparently it's turn the volume down even when it physically huts my ears. Also I'm thinking running 3 ohm speakers on the entune HU is not such a good idea - I noticed some strange behavior from the HU in terms of increased boot up time and hanging screens which I did not notice before. If I did not have an Alpine amp from my last car that I really liked I would have just swiped out the 2" stock tweeter for the $50 kicker upgrade at least until my warranty expired just for piece of mind (yeah my certified used 2015 Tacoma included a platinum warranty until 2025...some exec at Toyota cringes every time I say that, even the dealership does not believe me until they look it up).

Crutchfiled customer service is top notch, they're like a mental health hotline for DIY audio upgrades (and you'll likely need it). Seriously Crutchfield deserves a government subsidy. Assuming the KS speakers work out I think the KS should be the standard answer to the question of what speakers to start with if you're going the "budget speaker and amp" route. If your not doing an DIY amp (because you posses common sense) just do the kicker tweeter (based on reviews) or sit back and appreciate what you got, the stock system is not all that bad for mp3s on USB, the speakers are light because they use "advanced" neodymium magnets. If your brain needs something to obsess over I'd recommend taking up fishing and the quest for that perfect rod/reel and tackle combo, it's a much lower stakes consumer obsession.

For wiring harnesses I went with

$43 Wire Harness Compatible with 1987-2018 Toyota and 2016+ Subaru (Used for Amplifier or Subwoofer Installation)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y2DJFXC it includes a remote turn on wire which is nice...not sure where I'd use the extra ground lead provided but they give you one to hang yourself with (e.g. don't use the harnesses 18AWG ground wire to ground your amp).