What do you recommend for a budget speaker upgrade?

Hello all,

Recently purchased a 14 double cab. I love it. I do not like the idea that I am now in debt and I have car payments but it is a blessing to have a ride like this. I really do not like the stereo though. It is absolute crap. No bass. When I turn it up, treble hurts my ears. I've fiddled with it quite a lot but to no avail. I am a big time Spotify user so bluetooth music is pretty much all I do.

What do you recommend for someone who is on a budget? I really do not mind the head unit. It is an upgrade compared to what I used to have so that can stay no problem. I do not need loud I just need clean.

 

Check out *********.com

 

I do not have this and think to get real good sound you need to replace the whole thing but this could be what your looking for. http://oemaudioplus.com/toyota/tcm/

 

But... CrewMax only? Do you know if there's any reason this won't fit in a DC?

 

the make a system for the DC.

http://oemaudioplus.com/toyota/tdc/

 

Honestly, none of that equipment in the link looks very high quality. I would suggest piecing out a solid system if you can afford it. Just replacing speakers will get you minimum gains IMO.

 

You da bomb!


I'm tryin' to figure out what else I can ask you to research for me....

 

I agree with you! AND the stock audio is so bad, it'd be nice to have an affordable option I could install myself, without splicing and dicing. I'd like to put in premium sound but realize I don't feel comfortable doing it on my own. Especially not while my truck is still under warranty, and I could do something that results in problems. Sometimes plug-n-play is least scary....

Not sure I'd go this route-- probably more likely if I could hear it in someone else's truck first-- but I love knowing there's this option.

 

Replacing the speakers will get you minimum gains. The real problem with the factory system is lack of clean power from the head unit. That said several options have been posted so far that would work.

 

@71_340 has this set up. He likes it but its all what you are going for. If your going for better then factory this would do it. IF your going for the best this would not be it.

Replacing the system after market or replacing with this will have the same effect on your warranty. None except for the part you replaced. I replaced the whole system so i cant go to Toyota and say my head unit no longer works. I can still go and have everything else fixed though.

Mine is a total redo but i did a video with a comparison on the factory system, factory head unit with the rest new and replacing the factory head unit also. you can check it out here

https://www.tundras.com/threads/the-long-awaited-jbl-premium-system-sucks-video.20948/#post-492794

 

Will do!

 

I paid right at $1200.00 for my upgrade, it was expensive for what you get but to me it was money well spent because I like the way it sounds now and I wanted to keep my head unit because of the functionality.

I am fully aware that for just a little more I could have bought a Kenwood navigation radio (my preferred aftermarket brand), new door speakers and a powered sub woofer or amp and sub woofer. It would have been still and easy install but I actually do like the JBL head unit so the OEM AUDIO upgrade was a no brainer in my case. Still, it is ridiculous that we even have to upgrade a so-called factory premium system......Toyota could learn some lessons from any other pick up manufacturer in that department.

 

I sincerely appreciate everyone's input.

I do not wish to spend on a "complete kit" from someone with parts that have no brand name on them that they ordered from aliexpress. I know for a fact that they have a ridiculous markup. That contradicts with what I am trying to accomplish. I much rather buy a higher quality speaker for that amount of money. I don't know which ones are good though. That's what I am trying to find out.

I am also not keen on replacing the head unit because if I do, I'd want a good one and that is expensive for me right now. If it is a must, then I guess I will. I have been a programmer for 10+ years, I am certainly not the best but I know enough to assure you that all those android or tesla style head units I got msged about will get slower and sloppier in time and that to me is more annoying than anything else.

I guess what I am asking is if you were to upgrade your sound and want to do it a reasonable price, what would you do? Again mine is a double cab non JBL so it is pretty much a megaphone quality. I'd imagine it should not take much to have a better system.

 

Problem is that all your speakers are 2 Ohm instead of the standard 4 Ohm, that limits your choices, plus you will need and amp/signal processor which also expensive. There is no cheap way to upgrade a Tundra. Before I bought what I have now I contacted Crutchfield and they recommended some 2 Ohm speakers (forgot the brand, but it was well known) and a powered sub, it was around $700.00. Going that route I would still have the muddy bass from the doors which I hated.

 

You would think but unfortunately it does.
You have 2 options really. Replace the head unit. Your speakers while not the best will sound allot better.
Or
If you want to keep the head unit you need to Replace speakers. Add a Digital signal processor and amp.


The main problem is the head unit. you have to fix the sound from the head unit with a dsp or fix the signal with a new head unit. Just changing out speakers is not going to get you what you want.

I know its not what you want to hear but it is what it is.

 

Yes this is what I am after. Thank you for this info.

I've just watched your vid on the other thread. I guess if I can find something that will not look weird to me mounted to the dash, I will give it a go.

 

That’s the thing. There isn’t a cheap fix. If there was my truck would be sounding better by now!

 

Here is mine.

 

From the looks of it, that seems to be the case. Such a shame that competitors with the same price have way superior systems out of the box. I much prefer the dependability but still sucks a bit.

 

Mine allows the face to tilt. Without the tilt it looks funny because the dash is tilted. Mine allows you to compensate for that so look for that as a feature.

 

Yha my buddy's GMC Yukon sounds good for a factory.

 

In non jbl trucks you can swap out the stock amp and stick something in there that will push more power to your stock speakers. I added a jl powered sub behind my rear seats and put in a separate 400w amp for the rest of the speakers. It sounds pretty good to me after some tuning.. any now i have the option later on to install better speakers all the while using the stock HU. And even then i can do the HU even later for even better sound.

 

"after some tuning" As in with a DSP?

 

I did not go with a dsp, but I’m sure it would help. I meant the amp and sub settings and some experimentation with the limited stock hu controls

 

Have you set a budget, or do you just want to beef it up a bit?

For the budget friendly setup (that keeps your head unit):

$129 AudioControl Lc7i 6-Channel Line Output Converter with AccuBASS

AudioControl Lc7i $140
Pioneer DM-G9605 $200
Whatever brand you like 6.5" component speakers (front) $150
Whatever brand you like 6.5" coax speakers (rear) $100
Find a single sub/box combo $400
4ga amp wiring kit $40
Front and rear speaker adapters $30
Factory amp bypass wiring harness $30

Thats $1100 (its got a little fluff in those prices, could could easily shave some money).

There are plenty of build threads of varying prices to get an idea of what you want.

 

Honestly, I would just save money and do it right. That’s my opinion. I put 1600 into my system and gutted most all of the stock. I sold my stock head unit within a couple days.
You can piece it here and there and it will improve but if you want some serious quality you need to start from scratch.

 

I think you are right. I knew the stock unit is shit but I did not know that it is so bad that you basically have to get rid of it all and start from scratch.

 

Thank you for this.

 

I did a budget audio build for mine a few months back. It’s came out great and honestly just what I needed. I went will all Rockford I did speakers for all doors, and a small 10 in sub, with a 5 channel amp and and interface harness from *********. Spent $500 total on it.