Has anyone put in the O+ stereo upgrade??

Hello all from sunny Hawaii... I will be ordering a SR5 4x4 DC from a dealer on the Mainland, for pick up in May. As some of you might imagine, the dealers here tend to not want to give a good price on their trucks.

As the title states, anyone put in the O+ plug and play system? What do you think? Since I will be on the Mainland, I was going to shop for stereo upgrades, but this advertised system looks pretty good for about $1500. I welcome any suggestions.

Aloha....

 

I'm wondering the same thing as well. Seems a little pricey, but very clean install. Here's the link for anyone wondering

http://www.shop.oemaudioplus.com/16-Toyota-Tacoma-Dbl-Cab-Reference-450Q-TYT-TCD-REF45Q-1600.htm

 

For the price of that thing, if your looking to get great sound, you can get some really nice aftermarket stuff that will sound a lot better and be made from a lot higher end materials. Just make sure you go to a professional shop and get a good install

 

I upgraded my tunes in my 2010. I basically did two tweeters, two 6x9 up front, two 6.5's in the back, A sub in the back, and a five channel amp. Just what this system has done. I paid way more than $1500, but I put in a new HU as well. So I don't think the price is bad at all.

 

Idk I've heard nothing but great things about there kits, and you don't have to go to a shop.... I don't understand how you can make a blanket statement like you did, seems like all you knew about this setup was the price

 

I worked in a stereo shop for about 5 years install high end stereo systems. Factory systems just don't compare. A factory replacement speaker usually ranges between 80-180 retail per speaker. Half of these are still paper coned junk. You can get a set of cheap pioneers at Walmart that are better than half of what you'll find in most factory sets minus a "premium" sound system. For $1,500 you could get a nice component set, with crossovers, good rear speakers and a nice subwoofer and sub enclosure. With either 2 amps a 4 channel and a mono block for the subwoofer and a 5 channel to do everything. It will sound a lot better, distort less, will be louder, and give a lot better fill (range). Hands down

Those may have "carbon fiber" cones but let's see the magnets. Prob about the same size as as the OEM speakers, the casings are still plastic, anything high end is going to use steel or aluminum, no seperate crossovers.

I'm not saying this kit is absolute junk, Is it better than a simple factory base setup? Of course! Can you get a better set up for the same money? Absolutely. That's all I'm saying

 

I do like that sub and box set up. Looks nice and clean, everything just fits perfectly in the cubby.

 

I agree that factory is not as good.

Lawfarin do you have any recommendations of exactly what components someone would need. With your experience you may have some Taco specific components and maybe links for us. I did aftermarket installs "YEARS" ago, and I am an audio nut, but I am WAY out of the loop. I have over 20 years experience as a Dealership tech, and I offer "some" advice on the few things I know, but could use some specific recommendations on audiophile ... I like 80s rock ... some country ... even some classical ... and love some bass.

I like the steering wheel functionality, and I am sure my "old" ears would be fine with the head unit. I need amp, speakers, tweeters, and good sub that fits in the Taco .... somewhere ... LOL .... thanks in advance

 

I'm about 8 years out of mobile audio. Work for an auto group installing accessories. Still do a lot of 12v but very little audio anymore. When the economy crashed car audio got ran over by a train. Sales dropped about 40-60%. While it has rebounded a little it's not remotely what it once was. And the manufactures finally stepped there game up. I started professionally in 04. Was hard to believe still a ton of cars only coming with Am/Fm and/or cassette players. I used to install like 5-10 CD players a day some days. Then once the MP3 player craze came about everyone wanted an Aux cable. Never got why it took so long for the auto manufactures to not atleast have that option. Still could buy new cars/trucks without cdplayers and auxiliary jacks then too. Now of course everyone wants atleast a USB and that should be standard on every vehicle.

As far as putting together some type of package that is hard. 1) because I've been away from it so long and haven't heard any of the new stuff. 2) everyone has a different sound preference.

The shop I worked for installed many different brands. (JL audio, MB Quart, Pioneer, Alpine, Rockford, TMA, and a whole bunch of other stuff we could get in of a customer wanted) my personal favorite was ALWAYS JL Audio. Always had a nice clean and crisp sound. The bass freaks never cared much for it, but I have built many JL audio systems that were almost as loud as some of these guys trying to do amateur sound competitions, and it sounded 100x better. High end MB quart stuff in the day was very nice as well, but extremely pricey. Once they got bought out by Rockford their stuff wasn't as good in my opinion. Even the post like 2005-06 Rockford stuff I always thought was junk. I've installed a few alpine type "R" systems and love them. I personally even preferred it over the more costly type "X" stuff. I think right before I got out of it they ended up revamping the type X line and it was better. But I always liked Alpine, especially for the money. Now that they kinda sold out to big box stores like pioneer I'm not sure of today's quality. And speaking of pioneer I never cared for their speakers. They used to make decent head units but I haven't liked any of those for quite some time either. Just not as ergonomic as they once were in my opinion.

All I can recommend is go to a good audio shop that has a nice sound board. Play with the equipment and the settings. Even that though has flaws as a open room will sound much different than a vehicle. But like I said almost any mid grade or better aftermarket audio components will be an upgrade over factory. Even the factory "premium sound" JBL stuff or O+ stuff

 

Thank You - some of the brands I have used you have listed. Alpine, JBL, Pioneer, Clarion etc. Up until about 10 years ago, I have always had a VERY high end stereo in my vehicles. Once or twice a year I take a 5000 mile trip and need my "tunes" for the long drives. I guess, I will have to bite the bullet and just go to a good shop and listen to what they have. Then I will have to see exactly what will work and find in the TACO. Very limited room for amp placement and subwoofer. I always like a CLEAN look.

The 0+ stuff looks like a nice drop in kit; albeit a little pricey perhaps? A few people on this forum have put in an after-market system and have had it installed professionally. Maybe I will get some quotes and ideas. If I get some in the next month or so, I will post them up what I find. Work busy; so will have to wait for a break to research and get EXACTLY what I want.

Thanks for your input Lawfarin!

So as this thread from OP asks - has anyone put in the O+ system into their Taco? If so how does it sound? How was the installation?

 

The good thing is a lot of newer amplifiers are a lot smaller and a few have incorporated a form of JL's RIPS technology. (Regulated power, even with difference impedance and voltage) the power supplies and internal components are a lot smaller and use less power than the did 10 years ago. A 200-400 watt amplifier that used to be about the size of a note binder is now about 50-60% smaller. You can easily mount them under a seat or maybe behind a dash or glove box depending on the vehicle. Lots of different options now.