Improving Stock System

[TampaTundra09]

I am getting a Tundra in a few days and was wondering what is the easiest and cheapest way to improve the sound in my truck. Would I need to change out all speakers and everything or would it be enough to get a new headunit and an amp. BTW i don't want to install a sub.

[4x4Balls]

first of all, lets start off by talking about if you are getting the regular one or the one with the JBL?

[TampaTundra09]

i am getting the regular non-JBL. I'm trading in my 4runner limited for the Tundra and I think I'm really going to miss the JBL.

[2008_CrewMax]

best thing to do is just change out the speakers

the non-jbl only has a few speakers so it shouldnt be too expensive


if you dont want to go that route, a new head unit will help a little bit, you could always try that first and then add speakers if you're still not satisfied


id recommend dishing the extra couple $$ for the JBL audio .. the speakers & bluetooth make it all worth it

[TampaTundra09]

i want to just get the jbl but the truck i'm looking at doesn't have it and i can't find a substitute so my choices are sort of limited. thanks for the input though.

[Son of Valhalla]

I made sure to get the 10 speaker JBL in my new 08 Tundra. What a mistake. Even my wife, who's never complained about a stereo in any vehicle ever, begged me to upgrade from it. It's more speakers, not good sound. We pulled the sub out immediately. Last week, I had an Alpine PDX-5 amp put in, and had Alpine 6 1/2" and tweaters put in front doors. We left the JBL back door 6 1/2" speakers. It sounded okay, but if the JBL head unit stays in, they have to route wiring out of the factory amp and everything sounded chopped, sloppy, and disappointing. It made the new speakers and amp feel like a waste of money. I went and put an Alpine head unit (9887) in two days ago and I am stunned at how much better it sounds. I don't know if the head unit alone would have improved the JBL speakers, but I'd do the head unit first if I could go back and do it again. You get cleaner FM reception, plus this way you don't start buying factory Sirius, or ipod controls for the JBL, etc., that might not work with a replacement head unit in the future. And you may not need an amp - a lot of newer head units sounds pretty darn good with 18 watts RMS until you're ready to buy an amp and go loud.
PS - now it sounds absolutely amazing. Crystal clear, loud, and I added a 12" sub since the amp is 5 channel.
Good luck!

[2008_CrewMax]

i first added 2 12's and the Alpine AVIC-D3 to my stock JBL speakers .. sounded awesome!

[TundraInsider]

You can use the stock JBL head unit and make it sound awesome but you need to buy and audio control - I still have the stock JBL nav unit in my truck and upgraded everything else. With the controller it sounds amazing. I think the unit is about 500 bucks. Here are some pictures.

[deuce48]

Originally Posted by Son of Valhalla

I made sure to get the 10 speaker JBL in my new 08 Tundra. What a mistake. Even my wife, who's never complained about a stereo in any vehicle ever, begged me to upgrade from it. It's more speakers, not good sound. We pulled the sub out immediately. Last week, I had an Alpine PDX-5 amp put in, and had Alpine 6 1/2" and tweaters put in front doors. We left the JBL back door 6 1/2" speakers. It sounded okay, but if the JBL head unit stays in, they have to route wiring out of the factory amp and everything sounded chopped, sloppy, and disappointing. It made the new speakers and amp feel like a waste of money. I went and put an Alpine head unit (9887) in two days ago and I am stunned at how much better it sounds. I don't know if the head unit alone would have improved the JBL speakers, but I'd do the head unit first if I could go back and do it again. You get cleaner FM reception, plus this way you don't start buying factory Sirius, or ipod controls for the JBL, etc., that might not work with a replacement head unit in the future. And you may not need an amp - a lot of newer head units sounds pretty darn good with 18 watts RMS until you're ready to buy an amp and go loud.
PS - now it sounds absolutely amazing. Crystal clear, loud, and I added a 12" sub since the amp is 5 channel.
Good luck!

This is the first thread ive seen on the 9887. I got it installed 3 months ago and it sounds amazing. what brand of double din dash did you use? the bottom slot on mine doesn't have a good fit/finish?

[tech12volt]

Originally Posted by deuce48

This is the first thread ive seen on the 9887. I got it installed 3 months ago and it sounds amazing. what brand of double din dash did you use? the bottom slot on mine doesn't have a good fit/finish?

I like the best kits DD myself. It fits like a glove.

[deuce48]

Originally Posted by tech12volt

I like the best kits DD myself. It fits like a glove.

do you have the brand and model number for the dash kit? thanks

[Siggman]

I have a regular cab short bed also. I kept the stock head unit and had a Kenwood EQ with sub-woofer output installed in the little space between the cig lighter and extra outlet. Then had Boston Acustics 6X9 3-ways installed into the doors. They fit with no cutting of the doors. Then had a Kenwood 800watt 4-channel amp installed under the drivers seat and a 12in Kenwood sub behind the console. The sub fits behind the console in the box EXACTLY. If it were a quater inch wider it would not. This way it sits in the middle and wont move around on me. All with installation was about $700 at a local shop. It sounds GREAT and didnt cost me an arm and leg. Still have plenty of room on each side of the sub for storage. The tweeters are still working in the dash. I can take a couple pic's if you interested.

[ramoine]

I'd like to see some pics of your set-up.

[Siggman]

I will take some pic's today and get them posted ramoine.

[ramoine]

ok thank you .