2012 Stock HU upgrade everything else

I've had quite a bit of experience in the past installing car audio, but never had a new vehicle (so haven't been concerned with keeping a stock look)

I plan on adding new door speakers & a sub along with 2 amps. My dilemma is I like the look of the factory head unit along with bluetooth/usb/satellite/wheel controls. Has anyone upgraded everything else but kept stock head unit? I know I'll be sacrificing sound quality for sure. I would just hate to put 1k worth of speakers/amps and have it sound like crap.

 

Anyone done this or have any insight to offer?

 

Yes, the output will suck, depending on the Line out converter you get. There are many out there, here's a thread on how to hook one up. http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/au...-converter-help-needed-harness-wires-tap.html
I'm partial to the Audison Bit 10. Here's a thread on that.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/audio-video/325874-dsp-2014-entune.html
With the Bit 10, you can connect your amps, and get the bass back that is rolled off at high volumes from the stock deck to save the stock speakers.

What you want is possible, but there are more things to add then just the amps and speakers. Start with those two threads, and come back with more questions later.

 

You can make a stock HU sound good with amps/speakers. However its going to cost less and sound better to ditch the stock HU.

What ZMan2k2 stated is correct. The Bit10 or Bit1 is a great device and will help out a lot.

 

There's also the Rockford fosgate 3sixty.3 and the jbl-8 I think it's called ..I'm running a sound processor ..I didn't really like any of the new head units coming out and the stock stereo has evrything I need..I'm runing a 4 channel for my front component set.and a 2 channel for my rear fill and a mono amp for my bass all off the Rockford fosgate 3 sixty.it sounds better then any head unit I've owned alot more control over sound..

 

The way I look at stock HU's is that they are a turd.

You can polish a turd, but its still a turd. If your HU is crap the rest of your system will be crap. You can only polish it up so much but your audio source is the key to a sound system.

 

It's still a turd but with a good sound processor .it sounds like a high sound quality turd..it sound better then any after market turd I've heard. Yea it cost around 500 bucks but it was well worth it..I keep my steering control bluetooth aux with out having to buy seperate modules and harnesses..

 

You must have not heard a lot of aftermarket HU's then.

 

I've owned a couple pioneers ,kenwood,jvcs, alpines,even jensen.I haven't heard alot of them.but none of those have the tuneability of a sound prossecor. He wanted to know if he can keep the stock unit and run speakers and amp sure you can.and if done right it'll sound better. There's ways to sound better with out buying a after market head unit, it is an option tho.but seein as how the topic is about keeping it stock..it all depends what your budgets like..and what equipment your goin to run Arkansas .

 

I have scoped the output on the stock 6.1 touchscreen is fine( better then most aftermarket radios in low/mid tier) to run a good active line level interface or a processor. I use the Arc ps8 for a lot of the larger systems I build when we are doing a active front stage or trying to accomplish really high quality sound from stock speaker locations because of its tuning capability. For my everyday upgrades I have been in love with the audiocontrol DQ-61 for standard 3 ch or 5 ch systems. Gives you good clean 6ch output, some eq and time alignment. You do not need to replace the radio just use the right parts and use them properly.