This Upgrade... Anyone have any suggestions for or against?

The wife informed me the other day that brand new truck sounds like a tin house... In fact, she insisted I fix this if I want to turn up the music. Well... Enough said. Considering the USB Port, Aux Port, Bluetooth, & Steering Wheel Controls, I am going to keep my stock Enture (non-JBL) Head Unit in my 2014 DCSB. Below is what I am leaning towards and was hoping to see if anyone had a reason for or against these options. Especially if you happen to know that something will or will not fit.

Front Door Component Speakers
Focal PS 165

$530 Focal PS165V1 6” 2-Way Component kit, RMS: 80W - MAX: 160W

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B004YPWW...UTF8&colid=PFK63WI9CNJY&coliid=I1HPXNPCK1RTSV

Back Door Coax Speakers
Focal Access 165 CA1

$137 Focal Access 165 CA1 6.5" Coaxial Speaker Kit

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000LPQ4...=UTF8&colid=PFK63WI9CNJY&coliid=I4OZ9KCL85D1W

4 Channel Amp
JL Audio JX360/4
http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B004MLXW...=UTF8&colid=PFK63WI9CNJY&coliid=I610WTWR26R78

AMP Kit

Lightning Audio by Rockford Fosgate 4 Gauge Ga Awg Amplifier Installation Wiring Amp Install Kit

http://smile.amazon.com/Lightning-A...wg+amp+wiring+kit&refinements=p_72:1248879011

Sound Deadening
http://www.raamaudio.com/package-1-...s-ofensolite-iuo-peel-and-stick-41-625-sq-ft/

NEED SOME HELP HERE PLEASE
Speaker Mounting Brackets - I was going to use Taco Tunes, but once their website didn't give an actual phone number, I started googling. Turns out lots of complaints. In fact D- on BBB. I finally found (x3) phone numbers, not a single one answered during business hours.

Low Level Converter? Not Sure what to get here, but these are used to take high level outputs from stock HU to low level (RCA) inputs for Amps.


Thanks All !!!!

 

Sub'd for suggestions because I too want to upgrade my sound system with facory HU in the future.
And THANK YOU for using Amazon smile!!! Hardly anyone knows about it.
Edit: @Overkill07

 

Here's a link to brackets
http://www.crutchfield.com/g_103200/Speaker-Adapter-Brackets.html?tp=2824

And this may be the type of converter you're looking for?
http://www.crutchfield.com/shopsearch/level_converter.html

You can always ask their customer service. They have helped me numerous times with any questions I had. I'd say check them out for speakers too, but Amazon smile is definitely a better cause

 

Let me chime in with my setup which is very similar. I have the same front a rear speakers, powered by an Alpine PDX V9. Used these harness so I wouldn't have to hack up the factory connector:

$10 Reverse Wiring Harness for 1987-2007 Toyota Lexus Scion Vehicles OEM Radio (71-1761)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0074VDYXI?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

$8 Metra 70-1761 Radio Wiring Harness For Toyota 87-Up Power 4 Speaker

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002BEQJ8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage
Used this LOC as I've had poor luck with passive LOCs
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002T4XR78?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00
I also deadened all doors and behind the rear seats.
Amp is mounted under the driver seat, grounded to the grounding bolt between the 2 front seat bolts
LC6i is mounted under the passenger seat, grounded to the ground bolt between the 2 front seat bolts.

The sound was great at moderate levels but once turned up, the speakers sounded terrible when giving the full range signal.
Next step was adding a dual 10 box and rockford P3 shallow mount woofers, crossing over the mid range speakers to take out some bass and now it's magical, at any volume. I also installed the remote bass knob to adjust bass on the fly.

$130 American Sound Connection Compatible with/Replacement for Tacoma 2005-2015 Double Cab Dual 10" Sub Box Enclosure

http://www.amazon.com/Toyota-2005-2...qid=1439317672&sr=1-1&keywords=tacoma+sub+box

$200 Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-12 P3 Punch Shallow Mount 12" DVC 2-Ohm Subwoofer

http://www.amazon.com/Rockford-Fosg...439317697&sr=1-1&keywords=rockford+p3+shallow

 

Thank you so much. I feel like I am so close, yet so far away from good sound

 

Awesome...

How do you like the door speakers?

I have 2 kiddos in the back seat that utilize the kid set strap. I don't think I'll be getting a sub for quite some time (although it would be soooo very nice).

 

I also have kiddos in the back. I added a mount to the sub box in order to attach the car seat strap. With the car seats, I can't easily use the behind the seat storage anyways so why not shove a sub in there? Win Win.

 

I have the exact same door speakers (fronts and rears) and the same exact amp. I love it! I also have two 8" JL micro subs behind the seats. I've gotten a lot of compliments on the sound of my truck and I am very pleased with it. Great sound quality and it allows me hear to hear the music well with the windows down at high speeds.

Only thing - I feel like you will want a sub for some bass...my doors are setup to filter the lows out so I don't know how they sounds for bass. But is imagine it will be lacking in the low end. If you are interested, take a look at the Jl micro subs. They come in a solid ported box and you can easily fit one behind the seat if you remove the plastic. They are pretty small and sound awesome.

Can't help much on your other questions...I had a local audio shop install mine. Anyways it's been a bit over a year now, no problems and still sounds awesome.

 

very very intersting...

 

I have a JL micro sub for sale if anyone is interested.

 

Hmmmm this thread seems to be missing something.....

 

Im still getting everything together and haven't installed anything yet, but my suggestion is you contact mrmarv on here, I'm in the same process as you and he's been putting me on the right track so far...I got my sound deadening from manethon, haven't installed it yet but first impression on it is good...

 

I have not heard those focal speakers in person, but I have read numerous thread posts where folks are saying they are bright and can be harsh at loud volumes. Metal dome tweeters are known to be a little more bright. You can probably correct it with level attenuation and some EQ, but with a stock HU I'm not sure you will be able to accomplish that. I think the crossover has different tweeter level settings to take down the volume a bit, but I can't confirm. Maybe someone else can chime in.

I also recommend you deaden the roof. It made a huge difference in my truck. Cuts down on wind noise and made in-cabin conversations a lot easier. I can talk to my son in the back seat without feeling like I need to shout at him.

I think our trucks could also benefit from some deadener in the kick well area. The tire noise definitely messes up the driving audio experience. I plan to attack this area when the weather cools down a bit.

 

Interesting thread. I'm close to being able to purchase a new Tacoma to replace my '02 tacoma that was rear ended and totalled. (That's entirely another story.)

I have been a fan of high end car stereo for years. My first component system was back in 1989. I outfitted my '02 Tacoma with an Alpine head unit with the charge / operate cable for my iPod Classic (loaded with Apple Lossless files, NOT MP3) >Alpine EQB >Alpine 3554 four channel amp (run in three channel mode; 50x2 + 150 x1). Infinity Beta 5 & 1/4 inch mids + Infinity Beta tweeters and Beta crossovers + a sealed sub box with a 10" driver. (Most of that system was carried over from a previous install, except for the head unit and sub.)

I was not happy to see that the late model Tacoma (as is the case with all new vehicles) has a factory head unit that is pretty much a necessity (with steering wheel controls, NAV, iPod /aux input, etc. I hadn't heard about the Audio Control LC6i, but it sounds like a nice unit that could interface the stock head unit with a component system.

I've only test driven the new Tacomas briefly and haven't listened to the factory Entune head unit. Would the Entune have good sound with this converter? Would it sound similar to a good Alpine head unit with preamp outputs?

I record / collect live music concert recordings and listen extensively in my truck. I wasn't happy at all to have my previous Tacoma totalled, because I had to remove the stereo system. I'm hoping to be able to reuse part of my old system in the new truck.

I do like the idea of keeping the factory look and retaining the factory steering wheel controls, etc. Plus, it wouldn't be immediately noticeable to would-be thieves that there was a component system hiding inside the truck.

It looks like the new Alpine stereos are crap, judging from their website. Sad. Alpine used to be a good name, long ago.

 

I too listen to a lot of live recordings. I'll let you know about the line coverter once everything is installed.

 

Yes, please do. I would be interested in hearing how it sounds. Is the output of the Entune head unit clean enough to amplify via downstream amps? It would seem, in theory, to just boost the distortion of the primary amp, much like the 'power boosters' of the 80s that amplified the speaker leads.

I'm still disgusted to have to start over again with a new truck and new install. My last system sounded so clean. I have over 2,600 live shows, mostly from trades but a couple a hundred that I recorded myself with my Neumann microphones. I listen a lot in my truck where I can be alone and concentrate on the recordings.

ONT-

 

I recommend Mr Marv's speaker brackets. Nothing but quality.

 

FWIW, you can make the steering wheel controls work with aftermarket stereos and retain all functionality. Everything works like a charm in my 2013 with a Pioneer DEH-80PRS, including the buttons for answering and hanging up bluetooth calls. I got an adapter cable to retain the factory USB jack. The DEH-80PRS has two USB jacks so I have the other jack permanently connected to my ipod classic which has my whole CD collection ripped as WAV files. Not as stealth looking as a factory stereo, but the sound quality is oh so much better.

 

in a box? if so, can you still access the child seat ring?

 

We'll see.

Getting close. Slight change of speakers, short story, but not worth going into.

Now going to use Focal PS 165V in the front and 165AC in the back. Also went with Alpine MRP-F 300 amp.Fingers crossed things will sound good this coming weekend.