Stereo upgrade question

Which speakers did you order? Good info to list so others viewing the thread will know they might have issues with them.

 

I’m just going with the factory speakers for now. I’m mostly a talk radio guy so I don’t need much. I was just sick of crappy signal through the fm Bluetooth device I was using to stream Sirius xm.

 

When I replaced my stock with a Panasonic from crutchfield, I stayed with the stock speakers too. Sounds fine although I’m considering swapping in aftermarket just to “hear” if they’re different. Was thinking the infinity reference series. Always have liked infinity speakers.

 

One of the biggest differences you can make in sound quality is adding sound deadening material to the doors.

80% coverage of the outer door skin is all you need. Plus a small 6x6” of Ensolite (or equivalent) on the outer door skin behind the speaker magnet (to cut down on the mid wave reflection).

Out doors, stock, are awful metal resonance chambers. Adding the deadening material to stiffen it up dramatically increases the sound, even out of stock speakers.

To upgrade the speakers without sound deadening is not doing the system any justice.

 

I've had various head units and speakers over the years. I just replaced my last Alpine (I think it was a 143BT) blue tooth head unit (single din) with a W650 (double din + touch screen). I've also added a backup camera to help with towing (or at least that's what I am telling myself). And I just wanted Apple Play to make life easier. I haven't had glare issues with either of the units. The touch screen is easy enough to operate. I do have an amp "Pop" now on turn off, which is super annoying and I am trying to figure out how to get rid of that. I, unfortunately, cut my wires when I did the first head unit in 2002 (it was a single din Blaupunkt with aux in, cause at the time that was the rage), so I solder things when I change the HU now. But none of the previous HUs had the pop with the same sub, so the only thing it can be is the head unit. Also run Infinity Reference speakers in the door. They've been great, but one of them is blown.. probably time for an upgrade after 20 years.

 

Double din I put in is fine. Was fairly straightforward installation. Glare not an issue for me but I ain't using it much while driving except changing radio channels. Was a bit overly bright at night but finally figured out the dimmer setting after about two years owning it! Back up camera is so so as far as situational awareness but at least I can see an obstacle back there now. Only complaint really is lack of speaker options in a regular cab.

 

Huge Crutchfield fan here. have got close to a dozen head units from them over the years. Great company to deal with!

 

x2
And surprisingly, Amazon's brand of butyl backed sheeting is the most cost competitive per unit of mass as of 6 months ago fwiw

 

Hi Joe,

Did you plasti-dip your emblems or did you get overlays somewhere?

 

I had them painted. The guy who did the job took them off and painted them separately. I’ve touched them up a couple of times since.

 

I installed the alpine head unit Monday. Everything went well with the exception of the trim. I can’t get it to fit back in place flush. I’ll work on it some more later but it got too hot outside to stay out there any longer. If anyone has experience with the trim not fitting back properly and advise please let me know. As soon as I push the bottom I’m the top pops out and vice versa. It’s almost like the size is just off by the tiniest bit.

 

You can see the gap between the pocket and the trim if you look closely. Sorry I hadn’t posted or replied earlier. I’ve been working some long hours.

 

Hey, does anyone know the size of dash fasteners a 2003 Tacoma needs? I ordered offf Amazon and the ones I got are too big.

 

Funny you should say that. I got the Infinity Reference speakers! All 4 took cutting up the speaker mounts to fit in 2004 Xtra Cab. They do sound nice though. The head unit powers them ok without an amp, but a small one would make them really good if you like it loud.