My review of the OEM Audio + Reference 450Q system

Does anyone have pictures of how the access cab sub installs? Have they fixed the issue with the seat belt buckles? Does it use magnets to hold the buckles down? I'd love to see pictures up close. I'm also thinking...is it the speaker quality that doesn't really deliver heavy bass? Or is it the fact that its just an 8" speaker?

 

I can't say for sure but I would speculate the limiting factor is that the 8" sub is only getting 100W rms. That's kind of weak.. on par with what most premium oem systems give to their sub such as the JBL. Most aftermarket systems are pushing 250W rms per sub at a minimum. Bigger systems can easily reach 500 or 1000.

 

Glad you are enjoying your system! I'm spoiled by mine now. My wife has a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland edition with 8" sub and "premium" sound. My system blows hers out of the water.

If you are slow and careful you shouldnt have any issue. I had a few of the tabs stay in the door frame but you can easily pinch them together and remove them once the panel is out of the way. They reinstall very easily also.

I debated on going with the system without the sub-woofer and even ran mine for a few minutes when doing the install before installing the sub - I can tell you that it is a huge upgrade over factory, but really feel that if you are not going to go with their sub you would probably be better served with a different setup. I feel that this system "complete" makes it as nice as it is. The door speakers aren't going to provide much thump to you at all and you aren't going to experience the improvement that you would expect/want for the money (if you are like me).

I feel the 8" speaker is very well made - its the same carbon fiber construction as the door speakers. I think the lack of wattage going to it and just the end goal of OEM+ make it lack the punch that some look for.

From reading your posts I think you would be disappointed with this setup from the bass standpoint. Its great for me, and many others. Someone earlier stated they felt that it is a "mature" system. I would agree with that. As I mentioned earlier this system blows away the "premium OEM" system that is in my wife's 2015 Overland edition Grand Cherokee and as I stated in one of my earlier responses on this thread, it blows the Tacoma's JBL system out of the water. One of my best friends has a 2016 Limited and he tried (unsuccessfully I might add) to get his wife to let him upgrade to the OEM+ system.

The best way I can describe the system is you can tell it was made/designed for our truck. I've had many "premium" OEM systems in the past and several after market ones. IMO it would rank as the BEST "OEM" system I've had and would be near the top in terms of "Sound Quality" when compared to the aftermarket systems. Is it worth $1500? Thats for you to decide. I know I've sat in vehicles with $1500 systems and couldn't hear the words over the distortion of the mids and the bass heavy response from the subs while I have sat in systems that were less than $1k that sounded incredible.

I can confidently say though (and I believe I said this in the first post) that if this system had came factory in my truck - I would have never looked at upgrading the sound at all. I am perfectly content with it now and dont have any regrets getting the system.

 

Thank you ChaseUA.

I appreciate your input and overall impressions. I am waiting for my '17 and will certainly consider this system.

I am a mature guy!!

Donald

 

Imba little confused. Anything under 200 hertz cant be heard but felt. Why wouldnt this specifically tuned 8" sub hit those frequencies? It would be more a problem of equalization than of power

 

I'm a little confused at your question? Per the website the sub is tuned to hit:

• Frequency Response: 20 -1000 Hz

So it would hit the frequencies you are mentioning?

 

Everybody says this system lacks bass. If its hitting all the frequencies, why would it be lacking bass ? Unless its just felt as hard in the sub 200 hz range ? Last i spoke to oem audio they told me i can have it set to more bass but most customers like full.

Congrats on an excellent system. Its on my wish list.

Thanks Op

 

As a product of the 90's, when car audio was huge with bass thumping systems, this system does not lack bass. It is a little different in that it is a more refined audio with crisp lows, mids and highs. The bass is there and is capable of rattling your mirrors if that is what you want. I had to turn down the bass a bit for my liking...getting old.

 

I think you are referring to the common statement that under "20" hz can only be felt, but not heard. That is a bit of a misnomer in a way...while human hearing is not sensitive that low, things vibrating around you will make additional noise at that frequency which means you often can hear frequencies below 20Hz, in addition to feeling them directly from the sound pressure itself. (Source, I had dual 2x 15" driver sealed subs in a home theater which were spec'd flat close to 12 Hz under relatively high output levels)

Regarding "lack of bass", often a cleaner/less distorted and not over-emphasized (e.g., EQ'd not flat) bass response will seem lacking to those used to uneven bass response. As OEM Audio said, if you like a little more thump, I bet you can add a few notches to the low end settings in the system and get a more tacticle low end. It might be akin to doing a "house curve" in a home theater...while it isn't representative of an "accurate" or flat-ish frequency response, many people simply prefer it because it is fun.

I would bet $5 that since this setup is focused on sound quality and not max SPL (loudness), that the bass is more well-balanced than many folks are used to. Often in cheap sound setups I hear seem like they have a lot of extra response around ~60hz, ~120hz, and ~250hz ish that tries to make them sound fuller and more robust (apparently), when they are really just lacking in many other frequency bands due to cheapness in product or design. But then when you hear something more balanced, one's initial thought is, "where did the boom boom go?".

I think of it this way: would I rather (A) hear just a drum kick pedal and two strings of a stand-up double bass really loud, and barely ever be able to notice the other two strings of the bass....or would I rather (B) hear all four strings and the kick pedal at the same loudness, and let the player of the bass and drum decide for me, based on their skill, which notes should be louder than other? Many systems seem to be A because loudness of kick pedals probably sells...while B is more subtle and requires more nuanced appreciation.

 

Thanks for the explanation. I would love this system just need to collect more water bottles

 

According to their video annotation the sub has built-in magnets for the seat belts, but they're not visible in the footage...?

 

Huh? Video doesn't work

 

Great review ChaseUA! I was considering speaker options from these guys for my JBL equipped truck, but I didn't want to replace the sub, just the component speakers and the amp that goes under the driver's seat. Not sure if they have an application for that, but they didn't answer phones Friday. The install looks pretty straightforward.

 

@flynnr my bad.. yeah that was just a screen shot regarding the magnets in response to @Cows Have Claws question I saw on the thread... Here is the link to the access cab install i found on youtube:

 

That's definatly more robust than the turds I just pulled out of mine. I had non JBL and the pictured ones look way different.

 

I made a few comments in this thread about the 8" sub in this kit and expressed concern about it not being enough. I now have the kit and just want to say its more than enough for me. I havent even pushed it really and its more than getting the job done. The 20-200hz range is fully filled and some if you desire. I mostly listen to bass heavy music too so..

This is a clean, balanced system. Huge upgrade over stock on all fronts.

 

Thank you so much for posting this. I have had my kit sitting in the box in my garage for the last 2 months... this gives me the motivation to install it.

How long did it take you?

 

About 6hrs taking my time. Its not a bad install at all, their video is great but it is alot to do so takes some time. Definitely get some trim remover tools if you dont already have some. They were very helpful. I got these from Amazon.

Motivx Tools 11pc Car Trim and Door Panel Removal Kit - Safely Pry Plastic Dash Pieces, Window Trim, Upholstery, Interior and Exterior Auto Parts Without Breaking Clips, Fasteners, or Scratching Paint

https://www.amazon.com/Motivx-Tools-11pc-Trim-Removal/dp/B01FPPOQ6I

 

Do you have a picture of the sub in your back access cab of your Gen 2? Only pic I've found is on their website and it's not a great one. Just wondering how large it's case and footprint over all is so be nice to see if you have pic?

 

I love mine! one of the best mods to do on the truck especially if you drive/travel a lot