Project: Full Frontal Frequency

Terrible thread title, but I digress..

Like many, I have the privilege of assessing the Premium audio package from Toyota, as a happy owner of a 2021 TRD pro. My assessment, you ask? Gah'bage. Straight junk. I wouldn't be so critical if it were the base model audio package, but even then I wouldn't call it decent. This mess is just awful, but here we are, and it should soon be in the past tense.

I've done Pro Audio/Live sound my whole life, and as a guitar player live, and a hack recording hobbyist, I really do enjoy well balanced music of most all genres.

Cue the music!

As you can guess, I hit up James @james@tech12volts and we started talking. He knew my preferences as I'd ordered some stuff for my 2014 (yet to be installed) shortly before purchasing the Pro. ((Seriously, the guy knows his stuff and is SUPER nice to work with. He definitely heard out my preferences and goals with the system, then got to the budget and provided an incredible package.))

Audiofrog components for the doors
Arc Audio dual 10s plus the Tech12 TRD box
JL 6 channel amp (5/6 for subs)
DSR1 for the standard processing, which James' gang flashed with Funk #49. Wait, i mean the firmware. My mistake.

See the pics for progress. The install instructions were pretty solid, but I can also see how someone who isn't familiar with the process could get confused on a couple of things. That said, I have no complaints. Its not possible to build specific instructions to every single manufacturer's component set. For example, I didn't anticipate breaking out the dremel for my sails to fit the audio frog tweeters. I also didn't anticipate them having 2 crossovers, instead of one, which provided leads to the mid driver and tweeter. Again, I digress.

I've got some pics attached, but after about 10 hours of Kilmat (everywhere I could reasonably get it), I hit a stopping point for today with the subs installed, front passenger door components installed and proven, the Amp and DSR1 installed and proven. Tomorrow I'll button up the first door and ensure everything looks tidy, then I'll proceed.

I'm gonna need to get creative on how to handle the tweeter for the rear doors. I may just find a way to mount them internal near the mid driver, but it certainly feels like a waste of the Audiofrogs, in that regard.

Anywho.. Happy reading! I'll follow up once complete on the install, then I'll follow up again after a couple of weeks of listening, tweaking, etc. Break in and my learning the system will take some time. I can say though, what I heard just proving the doors/amp/subs has me thoroughly convinced I made the right choice. We'll see how effective kilmat was, since I'm not doing MLV, or the like.

 

Looks like a great start!

I really like those G60S components. They have a nice warm sound.

 

I would have just left it at, "Full frontal." Just about every member would have clicked on this post then!

 

I debated leaving it as Full Frontal, but felt it screamed click bait and lacked total context. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Just finished up the fronts, and cleaned up my mess. Initial impressions are great. My BIGGEST concern expressed to James was my preference. This is the first audio build I've done, and I've only met one other system I enjoyed. Most guys tend to chase SPL and destroy ear drums, where I'm after a symphony and concert in the truck. I like clear vocals, tight drums, distinguishable bass versus kick versus synth tracks, depending on the genre.

I believe we've nailed it. The frogs sound fantastic. The tweeters are crisp, but not brittle or harsh. Mids are focused, and REALLy shine with drums, guitar, piano and vocals. Subs are full and punchy. Solid chest compression and air movement, without overwhelming the front stage.

I'll give it a few days and a road trip this weekend to mellow and settle in a bit, then I'll start tweaking. Not feeling like there's a lot to do from here, except notch a couple bands, and even that may not be necessary.

I'll attach a couple pics of the driver's side door, and how I approached the Kilmat/mounting, etc. A second post I'll talk about the kilmat and what I've noticed with the install..

TL ; DR? Hit up James, tell him your preferences and budget, then follow his advice. Dude knows what he's doing.

 

I'm going to attach a few pictures, and try to set them as thumbnails.

Wanted to show my findings from Kilmat. These are somewhat subjective tests, and all have variables including the human element. That said, I was pretty consistent with the medium used, and the app has been a trusted tool in my kit for years. Decibel X (paid version) which I use when running live sound and tuning rooms, finding problem nodes, etc.

The two screen shots with 71.9dB (tapping interior shell of the door) and 74.5dB (tapping the outer skin of the door) were both measured from the same spot. Note the resonance hump between 80hz-240hz. This is PRIME low-mid and venturing into sub territory. The resonance of the doors is what has ALWAYS frustrated me about car audio, and is a great illustration behind the WHY of sound deadening/dampening.
All that said, I ONLY used Kilmat, and no MLV or foam fill.

The second round of pictures were an identical test, measured from the same distance. Significant, and i do mean significant dB drop overall, but really what surprised me was the resonance change. it almost completely shifted to the low end range, which is great! This means you won't get those exaggerated honky mids that muddy up vocal fundamentals, the body of guitar and bass, and drums stay tight. This helps maintain clarity, and fully validates people saying treatment, even basic, helped the stock system sound better. In reality, the stock system sounds exactly the same, but what you've done is remove the natural resonance from the door shells, that are amplified into the cab.

Anywho... It was a great experiment, and cool validation I wanted to share. To me, this justifies the small inexpensive amount of the Kilmat (50 mil, Amazon) and says the labor is absolutely worth it.

The pictures of the door are just a couple progress shots. The fully matted door with speaker installed is where I wrapped it up, and re-installed everything.

 

Great choices in gear. I would love to have the opportunity to hear/install the Audio Frog speakers in my truck. The owner of Aiudio Frog is a legend in car audio and probably knows as much as one could know in the car audio department. They even put a bunch of effort into how cleanly they install. They amount of good things ppl have to say about them is extensive. Great choice and looking good so far on the install.

 

They really do sound incredible. I haven't done much in the car audio realm, but I'm glad I let James talk me into these. I'm a research analysis paralysis personality type, and when I started looking deeper at the frogs, it was abundantly clear that those guys know what they're doing. What I'm hearing confirms it. This build punches WAY above its weight class, pound for pound, and dollar for dollar.

 

Yeah, they are right at home in a sound quality audio system. You can find some youtube videos with the owner doing some audio builds. Its just a handful of guys and the owner who is one of the most decorated competitors in the sound quality competition scene.

 

How did you get the arc audio subs to fit in the tech12volt box? I bought a pair and they hit the back of the box, the height of the woofer is to deep.

 

Didn't have any issues at all.. My son and I tossed them (gently) into the box, and secured them with the provided screws. I measured, and knew it would be tight, but they fit. The box was also rather snug behind the seat, but fit, as well.

 

He may have made you a custom box then.

 

Hmm... Looks awfully similar to the one you have pictured. Same recess in the rear, to accommodate the magnet. Same fiber resin coating everything. It was his typical 2x10 box and had me pic Tundra, TRD, or toyota badge for the emblem under the carpet. How much of a gap are you experiencing? Though inconvenient, a spacer would be all that is needed, but I'd hit up James and ask if something simple was missed. Mine did mount right up.

 

I would say about a quarter of an inch gap on the short side. I even have the arc series which are less deep than the x2s. Oh well, I'm just going to return them and get some shallow JLs. I'd rather not put spacers in.