2013 Tacoma Radio question...

I have a 2013 Tacoma DBLE Cab w/the basic touch screen radio. I want to keep the factory HU (I live in a high theft area) but upgrade the speakers and possibly add an amp (no sub). Per other posts I understand the factory HU does not have enough power to run the speakers/amp (I’m not a stereo guy). I wanted to hear reviews on JL Clean Sweep and/or Audio Control LC7i (MS-8 is too expensive). I want to add Hertz High Energy Speakers/tweeters (front & rear) possibly combined w/the clean sweep and an amp (if necessary). Will this produce good sound w/the factor HU? I’ve read other post but they got off topic… Thanks.

 

Well, you can do a lot of things, but this would be my recommendation. Here is my story and recommendation.
I bought a 2012 tacoma with the new style radio, not touch screen entune or jbl. I decided it was defiantly ready for a speaker upgrade. I bought all polk audio 1001 tweeters, db690 6x9 for front, and db 650 6.5 for rear. I tested it out and got a wicked high hiss coming from the speakers. The sensitivity of the new tweeters and speakers brought out the poor quality of the factory radio. Drove me nuts. I bought 40ft of high quality 8 strand audio cable. I cut it in half to have 2 runs of 20 ft to the back behind the rear seats. I bought a Alpine F300 4 channel amp and mounted it behind the rear seats and ran power from the battery. I pulled the radio and cut the speaker wires coming out of the radio and connected one 20ft strand of speaker wires to the radio. That fed back to the amp. The output of the amp went to the other 20ft strand back to the radio and tied into the wires going to the speakers. Tested that out and still had hiss, but was much louder and all the power i needed. It was until i couldn't stand the hiss anymore i bought a double din kit when it came out by metra and installed a pioneer AVH p4400bh. No hiss and love the sound. Amazing sound. I've added a JL 500/1 and 2 JL CP108 micro subs running at 2ohm for bass. Sounds great. I did remove one 20ft strand that ran back to the amp and used 3 sets of RCA's front, back, sub. I added a pioneer xm tuner under the drivers seat and ran the wires to the radio. Also spliced into the existing xm shark fin antenna wire so i would not have to run a different antenna.


AVH-P4400BH, steering controls and park brake bypass, Tied into existing backup camera feed.
Alpine 300 4 channel
JL audio 500/1
2012 Metra kit
XM sat tuner tied to shark fin antenna
2 DXI690 polk front
2 DB1001 polk tweets front
2 DB650 polk Rear
2 JL audio CP108 micro subs with easy connect plugs for easy removal

 

sub'd

I'm also in the same boat as the OP. I actually like the stock H/U and would like some information/reviews on a way to hook up a 4 channel amp to power some component speakers without using an aftermarket H/U.

 

pm me with questions and i can help! yes you can keep the factory radio and run new speakers with an amp.. as far as the clean sweep or the Audio Control LC7i i really dont have any experience with them..

 

I would also sugest not to go with a clean sweep. but look into the audison bit ten.
http://www.audison.eu/index.php?page=product&id=42

 

I'm about to do the same thing to my 2012 Tacoma, it has the factory non-jbl radio in it. Did the Metra Axxess ASWC Universal Steering Wheel Control Interface also work on the steering wheel controls for the bluetooth? Or, do you just use those from the radio?

Thanks.

 

does on mine, but if it doesn't the axxess has a learning mode. you can program each button to do what you want.

 

Why are you buying a dsp unit?with any dsp unit you will have to do a amp. Hertz hi energy are good speakers but will require a good amount of power. What are you trying to accomplish? Are you looking for good clean sound? Lots of Bass? PM me and I'll help anyway I can.