Audio system upgrades

Im getting a new 2018 tundra (supposed to have delivered a week ago and is still sitting in huston) and im often making 10 hour drives by myself so one thing right away im upgrading the audio system. So what im looking at is a pioneer 4200next with maestro to compliment a sub system (undecided as i hate too loose all the storage under the seats). Is there any functionality that i would loose? Is the upgrade worth it audio wise and is it hard to install properly?

 

Welcome from SE VA....

 

Welcome from Texas

 

I recommend placing the sub or subs behind the back seats. Since the back seat doesn't fold down you don't lose any storage really. And because they don't fold down it's almost like an extra layer of security if you truck is ever broken into since someone doing a smash and grab wouldn't be able to get to the sub/s without removing the back seats. Here is the company I went with and some example of enclosures:
https://www.shop.tech12volts.com/category.sc?categoryId=125

********* has some similar enclosures.

I had originally only planed on getting one sub myself but since there was no real loss of storage behind the seat and the enclosure for 2 subs was close or the same as a single, and one more sub was only going to be $130-$150 more, I went with 2 and I am glad I did. By having 2 subs and with a bass volume level knob installed, I have complete control of the amount of bass being heard. While I don't drive around blasting the bass as loud as possible all the time, on certain songs that have a nice bass line I can turn up the bass and jam then turn it back down when that song is over.

 

I was worried about behind the seats as there is not much room back there but hay if someone has already done it then i should be fine, did you do two 10s or two 8s?

 

2 10" subs in box behind the back seat of a 3rd gen crewmax

 

Nice, where did you mount the amp, and is that a custom box or do you have a reference company you use.

 

The box and subs I ordered from tech12volts. The sub amp is under the driver seat and my door speaker amp is under the passenger seat.

 

I will have to give them a try, did you keep the stock head unit?

 

Yes I kept the JBL entune head unit. Have a JL fix86 processor because of the JBL stock system is horrible. I actually have a new processor arriving tomorrow that will replace the fix86 and allow me to remove the stock amp as well.

 

Hallelujah, i didnt think there was a fix for the stock head unit The low quality audio was the reason i wanted a new head unit.

 

Do you have the JBL entune system or the regular entune system? If you have the regular system, it is even easier to upgrade.
For the regular system, you can remove the factory amp and you are not required to install a processor.
For the JBL system, the factory amp has to remain even if you have an aftermarket amp to power the door speakers. The factory amp does not produce a good signal, so a processor is required to produce a flat full range signal.
The new processor I have coming tomorrow is brand new and has built in functions that will finally allow the removal of the factory JBL amp while allowing me to keep the factory headunit.
Note: there is a huge difference between actual JBL equipment and the JBL branded Toyota stuff.

 

Check out this audio write up by @TundraTex, he provided a ton of information about his install. I did not do a write up for my system, just some install photos. @Danimal86 @smslavin @Pudge and others have installed a full stereo system

https://www.tundras.com/threads/tundratex-2016-crewmax-audio-build.7394/

 

what did you get?

@Tankkiller308 i will write up some info later today.

 

Ordered this and the corresponding wire harness: http://maestro.idatalink.com/product/product/product_id/574

"Maestro/Rockford Fosgate 8 channel digital signal processor. The DSR1 combines the legendary Rockford 3-SIXTY processor and Maestro AR to simply replace many factory amplifiers."

 

I am no audio expert but the sound improvement i got from just a head unit from Phoenix Android was money well spent over the stock JBL system.

 

Has anyone ever tryed to modify a stock JBL head unit? Or from what I've heard, see what was changed from the older (2013) systems?

 

Thanks everyone, i have the system that comes with the TRD package which i have been told is the second of three tiers (getting any information has been a crap shoot about what it is or isnt). I was told it was the head unit and now the amp, lol. Ill have to swap amps when i add the sub amp see if it does the trick.

 

I have the Non JBL system so I don't know if that makes a difference or not, but when I ordered my amp, subs/box from tech12 I asked about the fix86, he said I didn't need one because my amp (JL RD900/5) already had speaker level input and the 86 didn't clean the signal up. He said I would need some sort of digital sound processor to do that. When I started pricing those out I found they were not much cheaper than a new head unit. I really wanted Android auto also so I chose to upgrade the head unit to clean up the sound and gain Android auto. I'm very glad I did now even though it cost more

 

You probably have the Entune Premium then, which is good.

I'm a little late to the party, and everyone has laid out some great information. I'd recommend getting in contact with James at tech12volts (there's an email address on his website), and let him know what you have in mind and he will give you a good price on it.

As far as keeping the head unit or removing it....its up to you. I wanted to keep the factory look and still have a baller stereo so i kept the stock head unit and added a fix86 (link to my build in my signature).

 

Im thinking ill be going with the fix86 then, and ill shoot him an email later today, im sitting in the dealership rn trying to figure out why my truck is 8 days past ship date when it was done on may 6th. Soon as i get it ill be ordering my stuff. Still gotta figure out what subs to slide in the box but i think ill be good to go

 

What speakers and amp are you thinking of going with?

The jl 10tw3's are a good option for subs. I went with the jl stealth box that has two of them and the thump!

 

any way to shove a 12" or 2 behind the back seat? Not opposed to moving the seat forward a bit, shouldn't be too hard to fab up. especially since there's a mile of room back there!

 

You can fit 2 12's behind there no problem....assuming they are shallow mounts.

 

Im not sure what subs i was gonna poke around the forums too see what everyone was using. I was going to try sticking my alpines from my old f-150 in there but it doesnt fit.

 

Have shallow mounts improved SPL? I haven't heard a thin vs regular side by side with similar power, but always just assumed they'd be sub par vs a regular sub.

I'd really prefer a 12" vs 10 or 8. but I suppose a few well powered traditional 8"s could work.

 

Fords usually have 6x8's....is that what they are? I ran 6.5" components in all the doors, just have to get speaker adapters.

 

I have JL 10w1 subs. I could not afford the price of the 10tw3. 12s can fit behind the seat, just have to be shallow.

 

Mine sound great. combined, they are rated for 800rms, i'm only putting probably 400rms to them and its enough to shake my side mirrors with the windows down.
I wouldn't go with 8's. Get 10's if you listen to everything, 12's if you listen to a lot of rap.

 

I would normally agree with you, but got a friend with a 3 or 4 8s and his truck pounds. Not sure of his power setup. 10's rumble, 12's hit hard. No rap, but do like some EDM occasionally. leaning toward shallow 12's