Non JBL Upgrade (Amp)

Cant wait to get this done. Upgraded my speakers a while back but you cant tell... the stock underseat amp is utter underpowered garbage. TT has good install vids so I doubt I'll have any trouble but does anyone have any pitfall advice I should pay heed to?

 

Hi. I recently upgraded my non-JBL factory amp to an

$349 Alpine KTP-445U Universal Power Pack

Alpine KTP-445U. I had to buy factory wiring connectors and google the pinouts but it was super easy. I imagine your kit has a lot of that hard work done. Only catch for me - initially I thought my dash speakers quit working. Turns out my door speakers were just way louder. I had to turn the gain almost all the way down on the amp to balance out the dash speakers since they aren’t amplified. I still have stock speakers and am very happy with the difference that amp (and aftermarket head unit) made. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the post as I see it's your first!

Yes, Taco Tunes has a PnP harness for this amp and I got it along with the amp rack that'll bolt into the stock location. According to these guys, the amp shouldn't be used with stock speakers as they would probably blow so I'm glad I upgraded them. My dash speakers are definitely working, sometimes I think too well as I can't really hear my door speakers which is why I can't wait to pump up the juice to them.

 

I don't hear my dash speakers at all with the amp. The only problem I had with the install was the tuning CD. I tried 3 times to make one that would work. I gave up and just tuned by ear. I asked TT to send me one. They were no help. I don't think they even answered my email.

 

Weird. I always heard they're amazing on customer svc. As far as tuning goes, the warranty info says its void if the amp isnt tuned so you'd think they would have been more helpful for you. I've never tuned an amp so I'm definitely going by the video.

 

Yep I'm new here and new to owning a Tundra. Glad to see there's a community to learn and share ideas with!

Completely agree on the speaker upgrade. I'm certain mine will blow at some point However, that will be my justification to buy Focals or something along that line in the future. I had the same problem as you. I thought I didn't have door speakers until I put my ear down there! The amp completely reversed that though. I think the dash speakers need to be amplified to balance everything out properly. Keeping the gain down on my amp and upgrading my head unit gave me a decent balance but there still isn't much control there. Curious to hear your thoughts after you get everything hooked up. Good luck!

 

I think their CS sucks. Warranty sucks too. I would be more concerned with the speakers than the amp. As far as making the CD my high end Dell laptop does not even have a drive. A tuning CD should be provided in the box along with written instructions. I am a little old school and prefer written instructions over watching a video. I used Infinity Kappa xovers and put tweeters in the sail panels. I don't even care about the dash speakers. Some people upgrade them but probably only worth it with new headunit

 

After I upgraded the dash speakers I sure hear a ton of highs. I dont even need sail panel tweeters at this point... now to pump more out of the other speakers.

 

Welcome to the Tundra world!

 

What did you replace your dash speakers with? Did you do the center channel also?

 

Kickers and yes I did.

 

Couldn't tune it. Multimeter was wonky. I'm sure itll sound loads better once I can tune grrr still massive improvement over stock

 

Tune it by ear and be done with it

 

Never done a tune so...

 

Tuned mine by ear after trying 3 times to make a tuning cd. Got an error message on radio when I loaded them. Just tune it to by ear sound the way you want.

 

I've got the CD so I'll get another meter or just get someone to tune it

 

test tones are available online at SMD . And a SMD DD1 is much safer than doing this with a DVM. You have no idea where your head unit starts clipping at . And we have seen the same year trucks with same audio system have head units that clip at totally different volume levels

 

I have the test tones CD burned already - I'll look for an SMD.

Would this one work? Thanks James.

 

yes sir and if you do not want to buy one I have two I send to my customers that do not know how to properly tune. If you email me and give me a deposit I will let you borrow 1 of mine and when you are done you can send it back and I will refund you your deposit . 50 dollar deposit. I have found that helps people remember to send it back . Most tundra guys are honest so they never would keep it just to be keeping it. They just forget . tech12volt@gmail.com

 

This is awesome. I wanted to tune my setup, but the price for only using it once was a deterrent.

 

I have one sitting on my desk . shoot me an email and we can get it for you today

 

Awesome bro I appreciate it. Think I may go get it tuned as I have no idea how to use that device lol nor have I tuned before

 

Agreed.
Using a multimeter has its place but it can't detect clipping.

If you are wanting to set the amps gain to match a speaker that requires less power then what the amp can provide then a dmm works just fine.

There are actually some diy distortion/clipping detectors that can be made.
https://youtu.be/lAn4WGny-gEP
This guy is pretty respectable in amp repair and related aspects. I personally trust his opinions on these things.

 

Do you mind measuring the mounting surface of the amp rack? i was trying to find the dimensions. I am trying to mount a kenwood xr600-6dsp. Thank you.

 

I have the same rack - its approx 15 x 11.

You most likely will have to drill new mounting holes in the rack for your amp. I had to for mine.

That rack is hard to locate on their site as a stand alone order item.
I had to chat with Daniel to get one ordered.

 

https://*********.com/shop/toyota-t...ndra-2014-non-jbl-stock-amp-replacement-rack/

 

Installed mine a few weeks ago with some info assistance from purplenova- the rack was the only purchase I have been happy with from *********. Put Polk 6.5 w/ tweets in the sails, fosgate 6.5 in the rears and an IB Flat 10” in a small box behind passenger rear seat. I planed on adding an aftermarket deck but was very satisfied with the sound after install. I’m 45 so wasn’t looking for anything extreme

 

Awesome thank you for the photos and the help!!!

 

Some hardware stores sell abs plastic sheets. A lot of shops use abs for their custom amp racks, speaker adapters, and fuse mounts.

Easy to work with and not to expensive if you can find it.

 

So what's the verdict? Happy with this upgrade?

I'm throwing around the idea of upgrading all interior speakers and adding an amp for the doors as I already have a sub/amp installed.