Plug and play amp

I've been reading a little about options for a plug and play amp. Seems that there are a few out there but no really good reviews or opinions by someone who actually installed one. I've read about using a line out converter or sound processor in conjunction. I was hoping to just replace my amp with something and buy harnesses as needed to make the install easy.
So does anyone have anything to say about an amp swap or just adding a LOC? Is any of this worth it? I really don't want to get into replacing head units or speakers.

 

So maybe I could just start with a speaker swap? I'm looking for decent sound. Nothing crazy.

 

Lmk what you go with. As a jbl owner I'd like better sound too. I was thinking of replacing the head unit and it might sound better. Just not sure if an aftermarket head unit works with the stock amp or everything has to be rewired? Any jbl owners know?

 

I swapped out my door speakers, replaced the stock amp, and added an LC6i. From what I understand, adding a controller like the LC6i is necessary if you want add an aftermarket amp and keep the stock HU. I wasn't too impressed with the difference in sound at first. The amp and speakers were both Fosgate. Not top of the line models, but should have been better than stock. I decided to add another Fosgate amp and a small JL Audio sub. Sound was better, but still a little off for some reason. I took a closer look at the wiring my installer did on the LC6i, comparing it to a wiring diagram I found online. Installer had mixed up a couple wires. After correcting it, the sound was great. Nothing like the slamming 12's I used to have in high school, but more than enough punch and highs in the cab. The JL sub came in its own box, and it fit under the seat in my double cab (barely). If the wiring had been done correctly to begin with, it might have been ok without the sub.

 

I got all of my audio from Tech12volts. I have a JL 5 channel amp that he gave me a harness that made it plug and play. You do not need a LOC to make it work, just the harness. I believe any of the amps that can take a speaker level output can become a plug and play, you just need to get the harness that plugs into the factory harness at the factory amp. I got mine from Tech12, but I know ********* has them as well. I was all set to start ordering my stuff, harnesses from *********, speakers from one place, subs from another etc. Then I talked to James at Tech12 and he gave me a great deal and I saved a couple hundred bucks going through him for everything and he was great to work with.

 

This is what I have read a few places. Even that simply changing the amp, especially to a 5 channel which also powers the sub, will bring the stock speakers alive and that they are that bad after all.

 

I've also heard that one of the biggest issues was the fact that there isn't any power and that replacing the amp will help a ton. When I changed out the speakers though, the factory speakers felt so cheap that I don't see them lasting long with increase power. I changed everything except the head unit out. Front, rear speakers, amp and 10 inch sub and it made a big difference.

 

This is the harness that you will need. http://*********.com/shop/toyota-tu...ra-stock-amplifier-harness-interface-adapter/ With my amp, I would've had to cut the connectors off and added the RCA connectors to them. http://*********.com/shop/toyota-tu...wmax/speaker-line-rca-adapter-line-converter/ As you can see the harnesses can quickly start adding up. When I ordered from Tech12, he threw the harness in for free. They were very similar to the one I linked, but his own version of it.

 

I'm gonna shoot the guys at tech12 an email and see what they have to offer. I'm not sure I'll do anything but maybe I can add something to my Xmas list

 

Hmmm.

 

Tech12 is running a sale for the week, started today.
I ordered everything else I needed to replace everything but the head unit.

 

James already answered my email. Seems that not only does the JBL system suck, it also makes it a little more difficult to upgrade certain parts. James told me this..." Can't replace the amp with the JBL. It has to stay in. You can add a processor after the amp and then add an amp"
I emailed him back and will see what he says. I asked if he could put together a plug and play kit, processor, amp for all stock speakers within the correct wattage, and harnesses to make it all work. If he can come up with something maybe we can do a group buy or something for anyone looking to do something similar to me.

 

He said a full plug and play is worthless. Some wires will need to be ran and new connections made. I can deal with that. This guy seems great. I'm sure he thinks I'm an idiot for asking some of the questions I'm asking, but I wanna keep this simple and see if it's possible for me to keep my stock speakers. I feel like he's being honest with me and won't put a kit together that won't sound good. Hopefully I'll get a price and idea of what's involved in the next couple days. Once I get these answers and post them up here, I'll see who else is interested and talk to him about it.

 

@Pudge did you ask him if changing the head unit on a jbl would benefit from better sound? Can we even change our head unit with the existing amp?

 

I didn't ask him that but I will. I believe the amp on these trucks doubles as the sound processor, which is why it has to stay. I'm thinking a head unit is doable without much trouble.

 

Thanks. I'm hating the JBL system the more I find out about these stuff!!! Total garbage. I really dont want to rewire everything. I was looking to doing the oem plus since its pretty much pnp. But i want a different head unit for apple car play and hopefully better sound.

 

I beleive if you change the head unit you can remove the stock amp under the passanger seat on a JBL system. The stock amp is tied to the volume control for the JBL head unit. An aftermarket head unit will have better sound over the stock head unit.

 

Didn't realize you had the JBL system. I just had the regular system which from what I have read, the JBL does make it a pain in the ass to upgrade. He is very knowledgeable, and will work with you within your budget. Not sure how much more it was cost to over come the JBL issue though.

 

I'm a little disappointed as to the direction this has gone. I emailed back and forth with James Saturday night. He was very helpful. He stopped emailing me once I asked what I could do as far as a LOC and aftermarket 5 channel amp for around $500. Not sure if he was insulted by my possible budget but he just stopped emailing.

 

hmmmm

 

Try emailing him again. I know he's made comments before that there are times he gets so many emails that he may lose track of some of them. The experience I had with him, he always seem to try and find something that would work for you and I would think he would just tell you that's not possible if that's was the truth instead of just ending communication.

 

Will do. Thanks guys

 

I'll have to look at the wiring diagrams again, but I'm pretty sure you should be able to remove the JBL and replace it with aftermarket.

If you've decided to replace speakers anyway, I would try that first. The cheesy 20 watt paper cone speakers need to go with any upgrade in my opinion. And replacing them may just give you the upgrade you're looking for.

 

What @bsktball55 said, sometime James emailed me back within a few minutes, then there would be times where it was hours or a day for him to email back.

 

Both James at tech12volts and ********* have told me the amp under the passenger seat have to remain if you keep the head unit in a JBL equipped tundra. ********* said they tried unsuccessfully for months to remove the amp while keeping the JBL head unit

 

They are correct. I took a look at the JBL diagrams and there is a lot signal mixing going on in the JBL amp. The JBL HU does not put out discrete audio channel signals.

 

so lost....

 

Do you know if I can replace my stock jbl headunit and it work with the existing wiring and jbl amp? Without re wiring of course.

 

I don't know exactly what's going on with the signal generation and mixing between the JBL HU and Amp, But from the signal names coming out of the HU and the signals coming out of the amp, it looks to me like they are an "all or nothing" design. For the same reasons you can't just replace the amp, I don't think you can just replace the HU.

I do think you could replace both and still use use the factory wiring, but there wold be some research involved to build up the adapters.

 

Your knowledge amazes me @TundraTex , I look at a wiring diagram and damn near have a seizure. Your posts are so helpful and somehow you can explain things in terms I can understand. Thanks for all your help with all this wiring stuff.
I'm sure you've said it somewhere, but ehat do you do? Engineer? Electrician?