Audio upgrade help

I have a 2013 dclb trd sport. I love the touchscreen system and don't want to change it but I want a better, and louder system. I'm not talking about adding in subs so I can be that guy at the intersection sharing his music with everyone around him, but I am used to driving nice vehicles for work with stock sound systems that kick pretty hard compared to mine (like the 2014 ram sport for instance). I don't want to spend much money on upgrades and I don't want to swap out my head unit. If I spend a few hundred on speakers will I see a noticeable improvement or should I just settle for what I've got it I'm not willing to swap out the head unit or trade in my back seat storage for carpeted speaker boxes?

Thanks very much for any feedback.

 

The problem with the Taco's sound system is the following:

Crap speakers
Crap Head Unit

Buying better speakers and running them off the stock HU is just like polishing a turd. It will be better, but still its a crap signal coming out of the HU. Plus the HU pushes very little power so you need to go with lower powered speakers.

Honestly, swapping out the HU and keeping the stock speakers will sound better than swapping out the stock speakers and keeping the stock HU. Since you don't want to swap out the HU and don't want to spend much go with some 'ok' speakers and it will sound better than the stock speakers. Don't spend too much unless you are planning on adding an amp and an LOC.

 

^agreed. I just did exactly that and the stock speakers sound a lot better with a little more power to them from a stronger deck. They still break up when you get over about half volume. have you seen the magnet on the stock 6x9 - I can't imagine them controlling anything, even if they're neo mag speakers.

 

I had the same issue with my stock HU in my 2014. I loved how it worked overall, but the sound was less than impressive. So, I started by replacing the speakers and went with

$119 JBL GTO938 JBL GTO939 GTO Series 6x9" 300W 3 Way Black Car Coaxial Audio Speakers Stereo

JBL GTO938 speakers in the front and JBL GTO 638 speakers in the rear, as per a suggestion from someone on this forum. The sound was much improved over stock. The stock speakers really are amazingly crappy. I was almost where I wanted to be but decided to stick a small amp (

$288 Alpine KTP-445U Universal Power Pack

Alpine KTP-445U) in the glove box. I used two Metra Toyota wiring harnesses (males and females) to connect everything and never had to splice a single wire, although I did run the power for the amp straight to the battery. My system really sounds good now and I'm pretty impressed. The nice thing is I only have about $300 in all the improvements, so the upgrade was very cost effective.

 

Anyone got any info on if the 2014 head unit will work in and 2009? Thanks

 

I run a 2014 stock nav unit in mine and updated the front and rear door speakers with infinity kappa's. I also added a line out converter, Rockford fosgate amp and 2 10" kicker subs in a custom box behind the rear seat and am very pleased with the sound.

 

How does the amp get signal? I talked to my local stereo shop about this very setup and they said a line out converter was a must and that supplying the amp with anything but RCA's from the LOC was going to result in crappy sound. I really dont want to add extra junk that I dont need tho, speakers and maybe that small amp only would be ideal for me. Also, did you just disconnect the factory tweeter in the front or wire it in with those new jbl gto speakers or what?

 

I simply cut the RCA's off and crimped the wires together. There is a switch on the bottom of the amp that you can toggle for either RCA connections or speaker level connections. Here's the amp overview from Alpine:

http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/ktp-445u

Note this paragraph:

"Configurable Inputs

Need configurable options for Speaker-Level or RCA inputs to the Power Pack? On the bottom panel of the Power Pack there are selectable input options to accommodate Speaker-Level (0.5V-10V) or RCA (0.2V – 4V) inputs. Selectable 2 Channel and 4 Channel options give you the control to determine source inputs, and can eliminate the need for Y-adapters."


Also, here's the install manual for your viewing pleasure

http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchfield.com/Manuals/500/500KTP445U.PDF

 

I forgot to answer your second question - I just left the tweeter intact. I honestly don't notice it at all and the system is so easily adjustable that it isn't an issue.

The system really does sound good and I didn't have to drill a hole or splice a wire. I attached the amp to the inside of the glovebox with a big piece of velcro and ran the wires over the top of the back of the box and to the radio. The only thing you'll have to get for the speakers are adapters to put between the doors and the new speakers. I made mine but ********* sells either wood or plastic adapters pretty reasonably.

Link - http://shop.*********.com/2005-2013-Tacoma-Speaker-Installation-Products_c9.htm

 

Cool, got a link for the metro harness you used to avoid cutting or splicing b the factory harness?

 

Sure, here they are. This is the Metra site but I just bought them on Ebay for something like 8 bucks each with free shipping.

http://www.metraonline.com/part/70-1761

http://www.metraonline.com/part/71-1761

 

Good thread here. I am probably the one that recommended the JBL GTO speakers and so far that is all I upgraded on my 2014 Entunes system. Now that they are broke in they sound very good. I did add some sound proofing to the doors not sure how much it helped. I think I will take a stab at adding an amp....thanks for sharing North222

Is the amp always on being you powered directly to the battery?

 

Yes, I'm certain you are the one that suggested the JBL's - and thank you! They are great speakers, especially when given a little extra power. The system is now good to my ears...so to speak. I no longer cringe when a crank up a tune, which is now possible, BTW.

Regarding the power, I believe that the amp senses a signal and turns itself on. It seems that I read that in the manual. I know that when the truck hasn't been on the amp is completely cool to the touch and when the stereo's on it is warmer, but not much. Great little amp for not a lot of money!

 

FYI, (update) I just added a set of these today to round out the sound -

http://www.jbl.com/estore/jbl/us/products/GTO18T/GTO18T_JBL_US

I now have JBL GTO's all around, paired with the small amp. These tweeters made a really nice addition. I was surprised! The factory tweeters really are about as bad as the other speakers, apparently. I think my system is really sounding good, better than I would have thought, given the relatively small expense in upgrades. I'm happy with the sound and think I'm done tweaking.