Upgraded Sound System Sounds Bad (Except Head Unit)

I've combed through all kinds of posts on here and don't see anything on this topic, sorry if I missed it though. I upgraded all the speakers in my 21 Tacoma TRD Sport Access Cab, added amps and a sub. But I left the head unit (non JBL) 86140-04230. I'm no audio snob but it does not sound good at all. I don't see anyone on here indicating that the OEM head unit being the problem in terms of sound quality.

Any insights on this specific head unit's sound quality even when speakers and an amp has been added? Do I need to replace the head unit to achieve better sound? It's murky sounding.

Head Unit: 7" OEM Radio (Non JBL) 86140-04230

Dash Corner: Kenwood Excelon KFC-X2C

Front Door: Kenwood Excelon KFC-XP6902C

Rear Door:

$77 Kicker 46CSC674 6.75" 6-3/4" 600w 4-Ohm Car Audio Coaxial Speakers CSC674

Kicker 46CSC674

Sub Woofer Rear: JL Audio Stealthbox SB-T-TACACG3/10TW3

Amps: Wavtech Link 6 and

$220 Alpine KTA-450 4-Channel Power Pack Amplifier with Dynamic Peak Power 45W RMS x 4, at 2 Or 4 Ohms

Alpine KTA-450 4 Channel Power Pack

 

If you have your gains set, it’s in the way you have the switches toggled.

 

I did a similar upgrade on my non JBL and it sounds great. I'm not an audiophile but I've dumped some money into my home setup. I prefer what I've ended up with compared to the JBL in my co-workers Tacoma as it's got more range, clarity and volume.

I'm also using the Alpine Power Pack and would recommend double checking the settings. The dip switches and instructions provided aren't user friendly.

 

I changed the front door speakers and tweeters. Kept the OEM head unit, not JBL.
Sounds much better for me but i don't need it so loud with bass that makes my heart skip beats, LOL
I did sound deaden the door panels, that was a big part of it. before the door panels would vibrate and sound like a blown speaker. Any objects in the little cuppy by the switches on the door panel would rattle.

 

You have mids in your dash and component speakers in your doors? Where did you mount the tweeter? Did you use the original speaker wiring? The connection between the HU, tweeter, and front driver is different as they are a serial connection with a passive filter in the tweeter

 

Kicker 6x9 components in front and 6.5s in rear, Kicker sub with 5 channel Kenwood, stock non-JBL HU and sounds fantastic.....did have to crank the gains on the amp to get it to come alive.....

 

Welcome aboard!

You may want to consider a Digital Sound Processor (DSP) or a new head unit with a built-in DSP. Read my comment from another thread.
Also, sound dampening makes a significant impact on sound quality (and makes the cabin quieter too).

 

welcome!

there's an audio section further down that i specifically have highlighted some of the output issues of the oem radio.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/audio-video.12/

specifically it uses a custom hard-coded eq curve to 'enhance' the oem speakers deficiencies. the issue is once things are changed, those settings no longer apply. the kicker key amps are extremely popular for their input equalization feature that cancels out this issue.
while i don't at all care for the oem radio's eq processing, it should not have caused a dramatic difference in the overall audio quality that you're indicating.

so i think the best place to start is a few questions, and a gentle suggestion to move this discussion to the audio section, where all the audio nerds like me tend to congregate and can likely help you more.

we really need more details on how the connections were made.
how is the wavetech getting it's signal(s)?
have you verified that you don't have a speaker or two that are getting a reversed signal?
did you run all new wiring, or are you using the factory wiring to any extent?
what, if any, are your crossover settings?
are there any passive crossovers installed?