3rd gen access cab JL C7s sound system

Hey everybody,

long time lurker first post!
i have a 2017 access cab off road that I just paid off a few weeks ago. my brother in law is a car audio installer, one of the higher certified individuals in the PNW. So labor and install is covered.

I am always seeing the Subaru tweets or the other various upgraded audio builds but I have only seen one other person post a thread with some illusions that was SQ. So here I am because C7s are already hard enough to find write ups on let alone find a higher level audio build in the 3rd gens.

I am planning to do the following JL C7 system;

Kenwood head unit
Maestro (purchased)

dynamat

JL 800 vxi / 8 channel
JL C7 6.5” in the front doors (purchased)
JL C7 1” tweeters in the front (purchased)
JL C7 3.5” in the front
JL C7 6.5” in the back small Access cab doors (purchased)

JL 600 vxi / 1 channel
JL W7 8” sub in the rear access cab behind one of the seats

if you are gonna say that sub is big and it’s an access cab, I know and thank you for the concern, gonna do a seat riser and typically only my dogs ride in the back.

I will order the 8 Channel and a head unit next and get it cracking without a sub&amp and the 3.5”’s

 

Old thread but how's it sound?

 

I actually have everything but the amp and I am simply waiting for that to come in.
Because of COVID I am waiting til late Augusta for production to catch up.

for the head unit I went with a kenwood dmx1057xr.

will follow up late August early september when I get the jl vx8/800 in stock finally !

 

Side note.
I decided to get 3.5’s for a three way system before the sub and amp !

 

Hoping to put the 3.5” in the dash like previously done in another thread

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/dash-3-5-speaker-key-sub-install.661437/

 

Should have everything but the sub in by end of this month. Thinking about matting the doors as well! Will follow up later this month after I get everything installed.

 

July 23rd I have set aside to get it all installed minus a sub, will do the sub at a later date. I will follow up after the install with a review on the speakers, it’s really hard to find much info on the c7s at the moment. I decided to mat the doors as well to help with the cabin noise pollution and overall sound quality.

 

Well took a little longer then I anticipated to get everything installed. Tomorrow morning I get it back so will update how it sounds then. I wound up matting the 4 access cab doors as well to help with sound quality. Got the three way set up in; 3.5 in the dash where the stock tweeter was. Put the tweeters in the sail panel like many others have done. And replaced all access cab 4 door 6.5’s and got the amp in. Head unit replaced as well.

 

Install is done it sounds overwhelmingly good. Seriously the best sounding system I have heard thus far in terms of SQ. The kenwood deck is large however it fits pretty well into the cab surprisingly and has a ton of features I am still exploring.

I’ve had my share of sound systems in the past in previous Toyota’s. Had a 96 land cruiser with alpine type r’s throughout, a first gen regular cab Tacoma with a system as well and a few others over the years. I have not used any matting in the past as most of my previous vehicles have been dated and run down to say the least.

Snapping some photos shortly and will post what I can.

 

And the amp

 

sounds better then I could have anticipated to be honest and I don’t even have a sub in it at the moment. Wanted to see how everything sounded before I picked a sub.

I know it has been a significant while since you asked but I finally got it all in and wanted to answer any questions.

 

Did you end up buying a sub? I'm thinking of doing the same here soon.

 

We’re you able to mount the 3 inch C7 JL audios on the dashboard?

 

Rough work project shown on pictures!! bringing back the JL Audio C7 tweeters.
Showing the morels tweeters on A pillars; I just wasn’t convinced with the sound of them possibly due to the direction!
Weather bit cold and short days in Cali so I’ll be taking my time hope to have them moulding covered with alcantara upholstery!
So far the biggest challenge has been keeping the surface mount aluminum moulding ring intact while sanding down and shaping the bondo!
More to come soon!

 

Do you have any pictures of how you secured the 3.5 inch JL audio speakers on the dashboard?