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My Stereo Install, Tech 12 Volts Hertz Kit

Discussion in 'Audio & Video' started by Justbass, Oct 5, 2020.

  1. Oct 5, 2020 at 6:22 AM
    #1
    Justbass

    Justbass [OP] New Member

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    TRD Sway bar, Lomax Tonnueau cover, Bed rug, Havoc HS2 Steps, Tech 12 Volts stereo upgrade, Yakima bed extender, misc trim and bling,
    So much helpful information on here that I thought I would add another stereo install. 2020 Platinum and plan to keep the JBL head unit. After getting some estimates from local install shops, my cheap a$$ said 4k to 6k wasn't going to happen (stereo + some sound deadening). So looking at all the options that folks on here taken, I went with the Tech 12 Volts kit after reviewing the equipment. I went with it as is, because anything more wouldn't make me any happier. Once you add in sound deadening and a few supporting install items, was about $1800. I will state that the sound design material from James is a cut above products that I've looked at, just oozes quality when you start working with it. I also won't deny that some of my planning was influenced by what some folks have done on here and shared.

    The Kit:

    StereoKit.jpg
     
  2. Oct 5, 2020 at 6:26 AM
    #2
    Justbass

    Justbass [OP] New Member

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    TRD Sway bar, Lomax Tonnueau cover, Bed rug, Havoc HS2 Steps, Tech 12 Volts stereo upgrade, Yakima bed extender, misc trim and bling,
    Kit arrived on Saturday, about 10 days after order. This is because the Sub enclosure is built on order and the resin applied inside needs to cure and smell abate before it can be shipped. Speakers, AMP, DSR1, sub enclosure, mounting hardware, AMP tray etc. all included. Only thing in the pic above that isn't, is the heat resistant loom on the right.
     
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  3. Oct 5, 2020 at 6:29 AM
    #3
    Justbass

    Justbass [OP] New Member

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    TRD Sway bar, Lomax Tonnueau cover, Bed rug, Havoc HS2 Steps, Tech 12 Volts stereo upgrade, Yakima bed extender, misc trim and bling,
    Sunday morning, lets prep a few things. Put the subwoofer together and painted the the mounting brackets. Of course some Tesa tape for wires and a little (very little) sound stuff to bring the box resonance down a little

    IMG_0300.jpg

    SubDone.jpg
    PaintAdapters.jpg
     
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  4. Oct 5, 2020 at 6:48 AM
    #4
    Justbass

    Justbass [OP] New Member

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    TRD Sway bar, Lomax Tonnueau cover, Bed rug, Havoc HS2 Steps, Tech 12 Volts stereo upgrade, Yakima bed extender, misc trim and bling,
    The afternoon was spent getting the Sub installed. I can't claim this approach, but it made sense. Once the cymbal (aka access panel) was covered, then used the tap, listen and apply method for the rest of the back wall. Also cut the harness off the JBL sub to hook up the new sub enclosure. Took between 5 and 6 hours, start to finish. This is kind of it until next weekend, truck sits outside and don't want it out of commission, so it will be done in baby steps.

    TearOutBack.jpg
    DeadenBack.jpg
    PutBackTogether.jpg
     
  5. Oct 6, 2020 at 12:36 AM
    #5
    jwatt

    jwatt I heart men

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    Once I took my rear seats out in my DC so I could apply deadening material I left them out. It s so much better having all that room at my disposal.
     
  6. Oct 6, 2020 at 1:53 AM
    #6
    Zed

    Zed New Member

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    how much was everything if you dont mind me asking? I'm thinking about upgrading my stereo
     
  7. Oct 6, 2020 at 4:48 AM
    #7
    Justbass

    Justbass [OP] New Member

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    TRD Sway bar, Lomax Tonnueau cover, Bed rug, Havoc HS2 Steps, Tech 12 Volts stereo upgrade, Yakima bed extender, misc trim and bling,
    Some of it will depend on your needs and how you configure the 12 volts package. Since I'm keeping the JBL head unit there were some added costs to the advertised selling price. I stayed with the speaker package as is, so no dual sub. Breakdown of mine is as follows. $1200 for the package includes the DSR1. $450 for the sound design deadening material (as others have stated you are in there, might as well add it) this was 5 rolls because I also want to do some other skin work. This is also the most time consuming part of the install. Might get away with 4, but the back almost took 2 rolls alone. Then $150 in additional items, heat resistant/uv resistant loom, tesa tape, speaker gasket, a couple of tools I didn't own. So yeah about $1800 total. Still less than the 5k/6k to pay a business to do it.
     
  8. Oct 6, 2020 at 5:09 AM
    #8
    FISHN43

    FISHN43 New Member

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    Looks good and I bet will sound killer. I tried to get a hold of tech12volts (email and phone message) with some questions I had. Unfortunately I got no response. I’m moving on to something else. Will likely go with Oem Audio Plus.
     
  9. Oct 6, 2020 at 5:15 AM
    #9
    purplenova

    purplenova Not a new member

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    Pillar Tape, Bullet Liner, 20% Tint, Tyger Star Armor Kenwood amp & AudioControl LC7i Tech12volts JL Tweeters
    looks nice so far - keep us updated please
     
  10. Oct 6, 2020 at 5:22 AM
    #10
    Justbass

    Justbass [OP] New Member

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    TRD Sway bar, Lomax Tonnueau cover, Bed rug, Havoc HS2 Steps, Tech 12 Volts stereo upgrade, Yakima bed extender, misc trim and bling,
    Sometimes I got quick responses, other times might be a day or two. But he answered all my questions before I purchased. This is not Amazon, the service is good but at a small business owners pace. He means the best, but probably gets overwhelmed sometimes with the eCommerce portion of the business.
     
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  11. Oct 6, 2020 at 5:31 AM
    #11
    FISHN43

    FISHN43 New Member

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    I know he’s a small business and from all the info on this forum, sounds like a one man show. I’ve read a ton of great reviews about him and his business so I gave him try. Obviously my email and follow up phone call a few days later slipped through the cracks. I even mentioned the forum hoping to get his ear, but no luck. I’m sure he’s a great guy and runs a good business, but probably gets a little overwhelmed sometimes. It’s ok, I just have to move on.
     
  12. Oct 6, 2020 at 5:38 AM
    #12
    purplenova

    purplenova Not a new member

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    Thats to bad you are having issues getting in touch with @james@tech12volts.

    I've traded emails with him a couple times and have purchased his JL Audio Dash tweeters for my CM. Never had an issue getting in touch, but I was ok to wait a few days.
    Also - dont think he responds to any contact methods on a sunday. Think that his family day.
     
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  13. Oct 11, 2020 at 7:14 AM
    #13
    Justbass

    Justbass [OP] New Member

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    Well had a nice day yesterday to tackled adding sound material and speakers to the door. Roughly 10 hours of work, majority of the time was the sound material. So now all the new speakers are in and waiting for the AMP, most likely next weekend. Did it improve the sound, some but nothing I would write home about. To my ears, the dash and the AMP are really the issues to the JBL sound system. Dash is too bright and an over powering sound stage. And then the AMP, lack of power and signal distribution are just usable. So what I have learned not having done this in decades?

    Sound Material: Ok this stuff is cool, but a bunch of work. Also there is a point of diminishing returns. If you use the tap, listen and apply technique, you get to the point another piece is not going to make a difference. Is it good for setting up speakers to produce the best sound they can? Absolutely! In fact that is where I focused my efforts and rebuilding the vapor barrier because I did some outside door application. (You'll get a kick out of one photo, Toyota's version of sound deadening.)

    The JBL/Toyota engineers should be shot for this type of wiring. Sure it was based on cost decisions, but when you wire for new stuff, there are going to speakers that won't work because of how signals are managed and sent with the Toyota JBL AMP. May have more thoughts later, but a couple of pics from yesterday.

    Toyota sound deadening, rear door work...lol

    ToyotSoundDeadening.jpg
    RearDoorInProcess.jpg
    RearDoorReady.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2020
  14. Oct 11, 2020 at 7:00 PM
    #14
    jaflynn738

    jaflynn738 New Member

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    Make sure you're sending your email to this address for James, tech12volt@gmail.com. Thats the one I use to get hold of them. He was great in giving me advice and I ordered my last week from him.
     
  15. Oct 11, 2020 at 7:07 PM
    #15
    Kung

    Kung Dead sexy

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    This. The *MOST* I've waited is 3 hours to hear from him; the vast majority of the time, he responds within about 30 minutes to an hour.
     
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  16. Oct 11, 2020 at 7:28 PM
    #16
    G10dra

    G10dra Not a New Member

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    I can't say definitively but from the second picture, I think you have blocked your vents. This will cause moisture in your cabin.
    read all about it here on this thread.

    https://www.tundras.com/threads/moi...nd-deadening-to-rear-wall.60019/#post-1574793
     
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  17. Oct 12, 2020 at 6:18 AM
    #17
    PWMDMD

    PWMDMD New Member

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    I have been in contact with James via phone, text and email about 10x this past week including last Saturday night at 7PM while he was fishing - yes, when I told him to enjoy fishing and that my question can wait until Monday I still got a phone call 5 mins later. He is a small business and I do remember reading somewhere he typically deals with several hundred emails per day. He's not the loquacious type, but I have never not received an answer. Occasionally, I have waited a day or two but most of the time I get a response within hours. I do believe he takes off Sundays and will usually let everyone know on FB if he's not going to be answering phone calls or emails on any particular day.
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2020
  18. Oct 12, 2020 at 6:26 AM
    #18
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    OP do you have a a DC?
     
  19. Oct 12, 2020 at 7:50 AM
    #19
    Justbass

    Justbass [OP] New Member

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    Nope, Crew Cab - Platinum
     
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  20. Oct 12, 2020 at 7:56 AM
    #20
    Justbass

    Justbass [OP] New Member

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    No problem, its a Crew Cab. Only applied to back and didn't extend under the side panels. Truth is I wasn't looking for these so called events, but confident I didn't cover anything that looked like those pics.
     
  21. Oct 12, 2020 at 8:06 AM
    #21
    Justbass

    Justbass [OP] New Member

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    Now that all the speakers are installed, started looking at the NEW JBL AMP a little closer for setup and wiring. What an impressive design, almost 2 AMPS in one. The 5th channel (SUB) can put out 320/500rms based on the ohm setting, the other 4 are 50/75rms again based on the speaker resistance. So I have started working on the harnesses and planning the AMP installation, I hadn't looked closely at the specs until recently. Also Tech 12 Volts provides the settings for the installation to take out the guess work, they also flashed the DSR1, such service. I just trusted the package was well designed and haven't been disappointed at any point yet.
     
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  22. Oct 12, 2020 at 8:08 AM
    #22
    Tchase

    Tchase MostlyLurk

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    Ok because i was going to save you the trouble that the speaker box can't go in that way on the DC :)
     
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  23. Oct 12, 2020 at 11:53 AM
    #23
    jaflynn738

    jaflynn738 New Member

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    Thats awesome, I ordered the same package last week. Did that Amp come with bass control knob? I'm so excited to get mine and get started like you. I have been following your posts, so continue with the updates if you don't mind. Also if you have any additional advice, I would love the advice or anything that can save me from extra work.

    Also did you upgrade your 6 1/2's ? I see online it shows K-170 for 6 1/2's and you got the K-165 in the picture ?
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2020
  24. Oct 12, 2020 at 12:39 PM
    #24
    Justbass

    Justbass [OP] New Member

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    Yes, there is a bass control knob in the package, not going to install initially as I think the Perfect Tune app for the DSR1 will give me the balance I want in the system. For me not something I would fiddle with after the system is tuned to my preference, so I could use it, then just unplug. Time will tell if that choice was right.

    There is so little to no difference between the 165 and 170, the 170 is barely larger, but the specs are the same. So nothing to be concerned about. I will say with the stock AMP the music warmed a little (my preference), but until the dash speakers are killed off and clean power added I won't know for sure. I think the difference is for stock vehicle replacements and doesn't really matter with the custom speaker brackets from Tech.

    On a side note, I've been re-working the installation instruction James provided. Re-organized the information and steps. Sent him a draft last week and got a "You Rock" back from him. So as I'm testing his document I've been adding descriptions and tips as I go. Was easy enough to give back after working with him.

    Also really glad I got a single sub instead of dual, would not have been happy to bend or remove the jack tools holder for the sub enclosure. Also unless you really want to thump, the single will balance just fine in an enclosed space.
     
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  25. Oct 12, 2020 at 12:51 PM
    #25
    PWMDMD

    PWMDMD New Member

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    I use the bass control knob all the time. Oh and instructions? All I got was a box of stuff so consider yourself lucky!
     
  26. Oct 12, 2020 at 12:59 PM
    #26
    Justbass

    Justbass [OP] New Member

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    I just asked and he emailed them to me. So yeah they weren't in the box of stuff.
     
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  27. Oct 12, 2020 at 1:10 PM
    #27
    PWMDMD

    PWMDMD New Member

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    Lol...didn't think of that! :)
     
  28. Oct 12, 2020 at 1:43 PM
    #28
    jaflynn738

    jaflynn738 New Member

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    Any chance you wouldn't mind sending me the instructions so I can start preplanning or becoming familiar with what I have ahead of me? If not, I totally understand.

    Yeah i didn't think about the jack and jack tools. I have the Non-JBL system so I went with everything you got, but went with 2 10 JL subs in the big ported box.
     
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  29. Oct 12, 2020 at 10:08 PM
    #29
    jlewis44

    jlewis44 New Member

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    Good luck with anything beyond making an order from those guys. I’m local to OEM and tried to give them my business but their approach is very much, “trust us, it sounds awesome, totally worth it...no we don’t really have any way for you to hear it before giving us all that money...”

    It took a couple of calls to connect with @james@tech12volts but it was well worth it. Much better sound, for a much lower cost. My installer has done several OEM+ systems and said there’s no comparison between their stuff and what James sold me.
     
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  30. Oct 12, 2020 at 10:21 PM
    #30
    jlewis44

    jlewis44 New Member

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    Same....I thought it was dumb when I saw it in the box when it arrived but I use it all the time. Some music was produced with excessive bass, some not quite enough....it’s not “necessary” but really nice to have.

    I did the dual JL 10’s also with the JL amp. jack stuff fits under the seat no problem (and I have the ESP storage under the seat). I would love to hear one with the single sub. I’m tempted to say 1 would be enough because 2 is absolutely capable of being too much.

    Last thing I would say to anyone considering keeping the stock head unit is reconsider.....I initially kept the (non-JBL) HU in my 2017 Pro. Eventually upgraded to the Pioneer 7600 NEX and the sound quality is 1000x better. Could be partially attributed to moving from BT audio to WiFi with Android Auto but every source sounds massively improved.

    You guys are all going to be happy once the junk stock stuff comes out!
     

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