Upgrading Double-Cab Speakers

I’m finally upgrading the stock stereo on my 2006 Double Cab . Step One: I bought a Kenwood Excelon 387 head unit. My default speaker choice was Infinity; I had a nice set of component Kappa's back in the '90's - but I am now looking at Focal seriously.

The rub is that my budget is tight. I started looking at the Focal IC 165, then moved to a component set (R165S2) that was similarly priced. Now I am considering spending a tad more and getting a better coax. I’m not nutty about car audio; I have two high end/vintage tube stereos at home but I want to stay fairly practical here. I’m just looking to get myself a nice sounding upgrade and with the ability to aim the tweeters the Focal 165AC looked like a good buy. I listen to Pandora some, Sirius (even with its crap compression), and the radio. I would probably get a good component set + amp later, then move whatever I buy to the rear, FYI. Maybe Focal is too much for a truck? Open minded to suggestions… TIA

 

I went with Infinity 6030cs component speakers and Infinity 62.11i 2 way speakers. I like the 2 way speakers, but the component tweeters were way too sharp. I could not get them adjusted as they were sharp or muffled - nothing in between. I ended up using the stock tweeters with the upgraded midrange. Going back, I woud buy the 2 way speakers for the front as well.

 

Infinity is known for having very bright tweeters.

Focals are one of the best out right now, expensive but worth it. I run Focal's and love them.

 

My vote would be a set of Hybrid Audio Imagines in a component set. I just installed them in my Tacoma and they sound very good on head unit power. There is no tweeter attenuation for -3dB (+3dB if you reverse the polarity) and I only find them occasionally bright in the stock locations.

To my ears, they sounded better than the Focal Access components I was looking at when I was planning on the upgrade for my truck. Focal's tweeter just sounded too metallic and tinny if you ask me. The Imagine tweeter sounds very natural and is aim-able as well.

Bonus - These can convert from coaxial to component and vice versa. Mine are going into the rear doors once I complete my sound deadening and decide on either the Clarus or Legatia for my front stage.

If you can find someone locally to audition them, I'd recommend checking them out.

 

Focal has a new set of components, the R165S2, that I have been eyeing at Crutchfield (right down the road from me). $150.00. I know I probably need to add an amp too - to drive any decent component systems. Not a clue as to who makes good amps these days... I used to have a Clarion HU and amp, in my 1994 Mustang GT. Had a set of Infinity Kappa separates... but I digress...

Crutchfield has a new store location, and, they no longer have very many speakers set up to listen to. They've gone to this "simulator" room which has a movie theater type screen, and is set up like a vehicle with various speaker stations. The whole thing is driven by a computer system which has been programed with all the speaker data and supposedly can play back whatever speaker selection you make accurately as if you were listening to the real thing. I couldn't tell the difference between Polk and Alpine at all. I can't see where there's not a whole lot of bias in their setup. It's a crap shoot, but I love that they are local and have a sixty day warranty.

 

I really enjoy my JL Audio speakers and amp, the tweeters on the C5s are silk and don't have the piercingly bright highs that many with metallic tweeters have.

 

Can you share the model #'s of your gear?

 

What is your budget?

 

Sure, this is what I picked up:

JL Audio Front Speakers: C5-650

JL Audio Rear Speakers: C5-650X

JL Audio Stealthbox sub

JL Audio Amp: XD700/5

 

I was down at Crutchfield again before I got AEmedic's response but I picked up this:

JL Audio TR650-CSi Evolution TR Series 6-3/4" component speaker system.

I have two vintage tube stereo systems in the house: McIntosh, Fisher, Citation products from the late 50's and early 60's. I needed to keep my truck upgrade affordable; I fly for a living so it sits a lot anyhow. Thanks to everyone for the input.

 

Steve, Just added this same set up to my 2014 Tacoma with the JL CleanSweep so I could keep the head unit for now. Sounds incredible. Toyota should be strung up for the crap they call stock speakers.

 

Meant Chris.........new at this.

 

Agreed, I hated the way the stock setup sounded!