Speaker and audio upgrades for 2023 DC

I am not a car Stereo king but sound is sound! when it is crappy it is like a nagging wife!
Most everyone here calls the tacoma a TACO!
I take it if you have the JBL Taco system you have the factory TACO sauce included ?
Well My TACO has no sauce! So it is a meat and beans thing??
Rear Speakers that do not speak are worthless so why did the TACO Manager put them in?? As a Filler? mono-sodium-glutamate??
I WANT My TACO to be just right Not BLAW BLAW and not Hell no that fire hot sauce is to much, I need to drink a gallon of water to put the flames
out in my mouth!!
A Street TACO with everything With MILD SAUCE!!!
I can Tackle an old Car with no problem is the stereo Dept. but this new fangled Taco Sauce Needs to be done ONLY once! so the sauce needs to be right! and not removing the door panels 2 or 3 times!!

This amp bolts onto the back of the Head Unit
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_500KTA450/Alpine-KTA-450-Power-Pack.html

• 4-channel car amplifier
  • 50 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms (45 watts RMS x 4 at 2 ohms)
  • 100 watts RMS x 2 bridged at 4 ohms

now there is this combo a HU and Amp in one
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_700407450/Alpine-iLX-407-and-4-channel-Amp-Package.html

to me this looks like a no fuss, no big wiring mess?

So what about a Head Unit that put out 20 watts per channel ?? would this put out enough power to push kicker or JBL speakers? Then all you would need is a Idatalink Interface module to keep the steering wheel controls?
So what TACO SAUCE Is Right?

 

A good amplifier will help...I don't know about those kickers.

I have Rockford Fosgate Power series 6x9s all the way around.

The rear door speakers...Are not even wired up. ( they are kickers) LOL!

 

Yes, I believe you are correct. My Sony 5-ch Dolby Surround System sends VERY little volume to the speakers to the rear of the listener. It is enough for me to perceive a wider sound space, and action happening behind me. I believe the same is true in the truck. By listening to the Crutchfield presentation for the Alpine Amp, now I know what bridging is. I suppose that's going to drastically reduce the dimensions of that sound space, probably to nothing. A vehicle is a pretty compromised listening environment. I imagine it drastically improved with sound deadening material in the doors and the cabin wall behind the back seat.

 

Kenwood also makes a 2 way component set up that's designed to work with factory head unit.or jbl system power that's pretty much plug and play as its deigned for the front door and dash tweeter setup.
I believe they also have a setup for the rear.doors that's also plug and play

When I had my 2010 trd sport access cab to get a little more clean low end I put.in a kicker self powered 150 watt.8" sub and it fit perfectly under the driver seat so was hidden took up no extra space and with the included bass control knob I could adjust it to my liking.
Worked out great.

 

For anyone on this post, did the visual quality of the backup camera improve when you changed HU at all?

 

@TacoTaco-BurittoTaco I'm not sure how that would be possible. I think the limiter to the quality of the image on the HU is the sensor and it's quality. Now if only there was a pin-compatible replacement for the sensor.

 

The only thing I thought of was if the new HU had a better display pixel rate than the OEM.

 

no, it won't. the resolution is in the camera, as well as the protocol being used. the camera and head unit could be improved, but tghe end result would still remain the same due to the protocol used-- composite video. there are no workarounds for this.

 

Good point about protocol.
https://retrocomputing.stackexchang...onnection limits the,×400 pixels (monochrome).

 

Just found this. Do you still have the tacoma with the fosgate power speakers installed? I’m curious if you’re still liking them, and if you’ve made any other changes/additions? I’m looking at doing the Power series in 6-3/4 for my ‘23 tacoma. I have a Fosgate

$200 R2S-1X10 Single R2S Slim 10” Shallow Subwoofer Loaded in a Wedge Enclosure with 200 Watts RMS / 400 Watts Max

R2S-1X10 is a single 10” shallow enclosure that’ll go behind the rear seat. Interested in your opinion after another year with the power series.

 

Very nice. I've got the 8" under there and am quiet impressed with it. I can only imagine how much nicer the 10" is...

 

Please post a pic of the fitment and an update on the sound when your done - I am in a 2023 DC and am in the process of updating the sound a bit and was looking at the

$200 Rockford Fosgate Prime R2S-1X10 Single R2S Slim 10” Shallow Subwoofer Loaded in a Wedge Enclosure with 200 Watts RMS / 400 Watts Max

R2S-1X10 as well.

 

Will do. Hoping to install this week.
I’ve had that sub in 2 other vehicles though. A JK Wrangler and a Tundra. I’m generally happy with it’s performance. Fills the lows pretty well. Only when I’m really getting nostalgic and reaching for 90’s hip-hop do I find myself wanting more. But that’s because when I used to listen to that style of music more I was running around with 2-12” Cerwin Vegas. Lol

 

Got the sub and amp installed the other day. Still want to clean up the install with some sound mat and then cover the back wall with some outdoor carpet or felt, but it sounds pretty damn good for what I’m looking for.

 

I have that sub in my closet if someone needs it $50 but you gotta pay shipping. Like new. Tacked that wood on so it wouldn’t hit the storage box but it easily pulls off. I went with a JL 12” box instead.




just don’t need it I 3 good subs in my closet. lol

 

Thanks a lot for sharing. Think I’ll follow your lead.

 

I think you’ll be pleasently surprised at the output.

 

I wonder what people have experienced with under the seat sub-woofers. There certainly seems to be a lot of them.

 

I think it all comes down to your expectations and wants. If you’re looking for the sound to be a little “fuller” then the underseat subs are probably the best option for that. The route I took is definitely more than just “fuller” sound. Depending on the song, it’ll vibrate my mirrors, but it isn’t Earth shattering bass.

 

I have one. I never expected miracles out of my truck, and I don't need to wake the neighbors. Mine is used to simply balance out the sound spectrum and it does exactly that. There is a small bit of punch, but only because the thing sits six inches below my ass. And that's great, because it doesn't even disturb my passenger seat, let alone anyone outside of the truck. Even with it firing directly upwards towards my nethers, it still doesn't rattle eyeballs like a proper enclosed box would. Great again, because I don't want that. I just want to hear the full range of music, and I'm not willing to give up backseat storage to do so. It simply hits the lows better than what a door woofer can do, and that's perfect for my needs.

For the sound curious, reach out on your regional. I'm sure someone nearby can demo theirs for fun and socializing.