Officially Contacted Dealer about stereo!!

Very similar. Kicker brand instead of Sony, but similar levels of RMS output.


... it was a tight squeeze to get it into the dash, and an even bigger pain to calibrate, but so worth it.

 

If the HU outputs a distorted signal, attenuating the signal to a level compatible with the amp, then amplifying will yield a louder distorted signal.

I'm seriously wondering if some people preferring to add amplification have hearing loss.
Now don't get me wrong, I think if music, podcast, books read aloud, what have you is really important, well, I guess you have to spend some money.
I personally prefer receiving and being able to easily process road condition, weather/traffic/first-responder, nav-aid sound cues as I drive, so generally listen at probably more modest levels than a lot of other drivers.

Not to de-rail the conversation, but I still can't believe a 40K truck doesn't automatically come with floor mats, a front console tray, a gas fuel door gas-cap holder, pull straps for the rear seats, and a rail at the front of the bed. But here's the thing: those are more important to me, than a kick-a$$ stereo setup.

 

YEP!
Agreed, this is what I was asking earlier, OP never responded. I too am confused if OP simply isn't happy with the performance of the stereo or genuinely feels something is wrong with his or her particular truck's (in other words, did he or she compare the sound to another Tacoma with same setup?). Of course no reply.
It must be offical

 

I actually found that annoying at first... I was saying to myself, "Why did skynet change my sound settings?" when I realized I had changed inputs...

 

You better make time in your schedule, because you are not likely to get anything resolved via email. They are going to want to see it and that is if they even read/respond. Hell, you can't even get most dealers to respond if you are BUYING something!

 

There is a thread on hear (it's Friday) that describes what people have done to improve the sound of their stock stereo for $250 (not adjusted for inflation).

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/premium-audio-upgrade-for-less-than-250.510424/

It's long, so I'll save you the trouble.

1. If you have a "base" head unit, the only "cheap and easy" upgrade is the dash tweeters. The head unit doesn't have sufficient power to drive upgraded front-door speakers.
2. If you have a "premium non-JBL" head unit, you can replace the dash tweeters and the front door speakers. This unit DOES have sufficient power to drive upgraded front-door speakers.
3. If you have a "premium JBL" head unit, you have an external amp and subwoofer, and your upgrade path is different.

ULURU 2.0 has a "premium non-JBL" head unit, so I swapped out the dash tweeters with the Subaru Kickers, and the front door 6x9's with Kicker KS 3-ways. I also sound deadened the front doors. My sound is much improved over factory. The head unit I have does not put out sufficient power to the rear speakers, so I didn't bother. YMMV. Some may/will complain about excessive treble, but to each his own. There are ways to compensate / adjust.

 

How can I tell if I have the Premium Non JBL HU? For reference I do have the 8’ screen and on my options list I do see a no cost item called “Audio Plus”.

 

You can look at your build sheet. Set up a "My Toyota" account and add your VIN. If you have the premium head unit, the build sheet / options list will read, "Premium Sound".

Here are the differences:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-entune-radio-head-unit-comparison.682700/

Put your radio into service mode and google the part number or look above... I assume that the process hasn't changed:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...r-less-than-250.510424/page-236#post-27412928

Turn the car off/then on again to get out of service mode.

If you have a base or a plus, only upgrade the tweeters.
Premium will allow you to also upgrade the front doors.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...r-less-than-250.510424/page-237#post-27602529

 

I only see Audio Plus see the attachment

 

This thread reeks of Friday......

First, I would recommend sniffing some glue before listening to your stereo, that is sure to make it sound better....

Second, if that doesn't work, sniff some more glue, because why not? You already started down that road, you might as well ride it out.

Lastly, after you recover from your weekend glue bender, drive down to the dealership and simply ask someone in sales if you can listen to the base level stereo in another Taco like yours. Use your own phone with a reference song so you know what it sounds like. Put it at the "reference volume" and compare. If it sounds way better, then walk in to the service manager's office and have a rational discussion on what your findings are. If the vehicle on the lot also sucks like yours, invest in an upgraded sound system. Toyota will not give you anything for your standards being above what their budgeting was for that level of trim. Only if something is obviously defective will they throw you a bone.

After all of that, go back home and enjoy some more glue. You will have earned it!

 

You can also go out to the truck and get the part number off the screen once you put the radio into service mode.

If you only have a "Plus", it may not be worthwhile to upgrade the door speakers; only the dash tweeters.

On my 2018, the build / option sheet read "Entune Premium Audio w/ Integrated Navigation and App Suite".

 

Remember the vapors that would come out of the rubber cement jar?
Bet that stuff hits hard.

 

I have:

Entune 3.0 Plus (8" screen)
Manufacturer: Fujitsu Ten aka Denso Ten
Part Numbers: 86140-04230

Guess I should skip door speakers unless adding further amplification

 

It really seems like Friday that OP hasn't taken the first step to actually take it to the dealer and have them try and diagnose/fix the issue before sending official emails to the sales manager, but any day of the week can be a Friday after all...

All he's done is given the dealer time to unplug all of the front left speakers from every vehicle on the lot! (which is at most like 6 corolla's so it won't take too long)

 

I have the non-JBL premium system with the dynamic nav. It honestly doesn't sound bad at all to me. Is it a concert hall? Not even close. But it sounds fine and I listen to SiriusXM 95% of the time. I'll spend my money elsewhere on the truck.

 

@Rock Lobster is right.... the OEM speakers are nothing short of a Christmas miracle when you see how light/small the magnets are on the door speakers. One OEM dash mounted tweeter has a heavier and larger magnet then a front and rear door speaker combined for fuck sake!

I went with a nice 6x9 component speaker for the front doors/dash, and added a 2 channel amp/6.5" speakers I had left over from a touring moto to power the rear. Hooked that up via an add an amp harness to the stock non JBL 8" HU.

The down side is that the add an amp harness is tapped into the front speaker wiring, so no fade control. But the stock setup really didn't have fade anyway considering how shitty the output is on the rear speakers. The harness has gain control at the RCA connections, so I just balanced the system using those. Sounds FAR superior to the stock audio system.

 

Old anecdote comes to mind.

Patient: Doctor I think I am going deaf.
Doctor: Why do you think so?
Patient: I am ashamed to say it, but I can barely hear my farts.
Doctor: Well, here is the prescription, take this medicine 3 times a day.
Patient: Doctor, will I hear better?
Doctor: No, you'll fart louder.

 

I have the same part number and the radio has Pioneer on the sticker.

 

Again this was a long haul but wanted to share my experience. I emailed the GM and salesman yesterday and salesman call me last night. He told me " within reason find speakers or set up you want" call them set set up installment and they will do the install free and reimburse for the speakers and or amp. So from here within reason, any good packages out there that would include everything I need. Please understand that this is coming from someone who doesn't know anything about car stereos, so all of input on select package deals would be great and from where. Thanks in advance

 

Amazing. I'm curious to know what @Rabidpenguin87 paid for the truck. I'm not sure we all received appropriate context, but whatever. Good for you.