C’mon Toyota, You can do better than this. (OEM factory subwoofer teardown)

[motocrosser425]

Ever wonder why your JBL subwoofer sucks. I took out the subwoofer and it’s a piece of junk. Behind the subwoofer is an opening that vents directly out between the cab and the bed of the truck. The subwoofer enclosure is coupled to the
back wall of the cab via the opening. The subwoofer was full of dust from driving in the dirt. I put a piece of sound deadening material in the vent and I got more bass out of the subwoofer. Still sounds like crap though. I will be custom molding a fiberglass enclosure and installing my own system.
Seriously, why call this premium?

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[izzy]

I thought we figured this out by now, the whole quarter panel exhauster thing:

ie 1 way vent.

Was it really just an open hole to the outside? That's kind of hilarious.

 

[motocrosser425]

It would make sense if it were a vent to stabilize the cabin air pressure but the vent terminates into the subwoofer enclosure. The air doesn’t appear to have a way to escape through the speaker housing. I am guessing that there is another vent elsewhere in the cab to exchange the air.

 

[izzy]

It would make sense if it were a vent to stabilize the cabin air pressure but the vent terminates into the subwoofer enclosure. The air doesn’t appear to have a way to escape through the speaker housing. I am guessing that there is another vent elsewhere in the cab to exchange the air.

I guess this is the alternative to the previous gens ported sub cabinet thing.

All of these solutions are worse than a real box in the underseat storage (but then no more underseat storage).

Next best move is probably beefy doors (JLs or something) and a nice amp to drive them so you can turn stuff up without risking blowing out the factory doors.

 

[PNWkip]

I just popped a Rockford fosgate 8" powered sub under my seat and it SLAPS. Shakes my rearview mirror if I want it too.

But this sucks. Sorry man. I find myself lamenting the quality of all things as I get older. This kind of seems next level on an expensive truck.

 

[LincolnSixAlpha]

Had a 2018 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (JL), that thing had a fresh air vent somewhere below the dash that would open on its own on occasion, you had no control over it. Best part when you were offloading in 110 degree heat, dusty A/C blowing cold. Guess what would open up, and allow dust and hot air in? Garbage!

 

[LincolnSixAlpha]

I find myself lamenting the quality of all things as I get older. This kind of seems next level on an expensive truck.

I find myself doing that a lot these days...

 

[The Dude]

This is referred to as an “Infinite Baffle” or IB sub. The benefit of this design is there isn’t a need for an actual enclosure, as it uses the space behind the sub as a larger box, theoretically allowing for more extension. In THIS use-case is it everything everyone hoped and dreamed for? No, IB needs POWER to be truly awesome, and the JBL amp just isn’t it.

If you pay attention, most of the bass comes from the front door speakers. That allows the sub to do what I think it was designed to do, work the ANC functionality, freeing the rest of the speakers to produce music.

 

[stanleyhudson]

I just popped a Rockford fosgate 8" powered sub under my seat and it SLAPS. Shakes my rearview mirror if I want it too.

But this sucks. Sorry man. I find myself lamenting the quality of all things as I get older. This kind of seems next level on an expensive truck.

Could you provide a link to the model sub you have? My current project is find the most proficient way to add a sub but I thought the space under the seat was too small. Thanks!

 

[PNWkip]

Could you provide a link to the model sub you have? My current project is find the most proficient way to add a sub but I thought the space under the seat was too small. Thanks!

Sure thing!
I got this sub, the beatsonic harness, and the NXT 8 Gauge wiring kit. Ran the power through the passenger firewall grommet, speaker wire down the drivers side, and grounded to a factory ground location behind the trim on the drivers side c pillar. No remote wire as this sub can be set to power on when it gets an audio signal. I ran the bass (gain) control knob between the drivers seat and center console and used velcro to secure it there so I can turn it down when my kids are in the truck.
I love it. It's probably my favorite thing I've done to the truck. It barely fits under the rear seat though, and it fits best in the downfiring position. I did have to cut the fabric storage bin to get it to fit, but it was worth it. I had a kicker underseat powered sub in my last truck and I bet that would fit better, but this is leaps and bounds better.

 

[stanleyhudson]

Sure thing!
I got this sub, the beatsonic harness, and the NXT 8 Gauge wiring kit. Ran the power through the passenger firewall grommet, speaker wire down the drivers side, and grounded to a factory ground location behind the trim on the drivers side c pillar. No remote wire as this sub can be set to power on when it gets an audio signal. I ran the bass (gain) control knob between the drivers seat and center console and used velcro to secure it there so I can turn it down when my kids are in the truck.
I love it. It's probably my favorite thing I've done to the truck. It barely fits under the rear seat though, and it fits best in the downfiring position. I did have to cut the fabric storage bin to get it to fit, but it was worth it. I had a kicker underseat powered sub in my last truck and I bet that would fit better, but this is leaps and bounds better.

Thanks a bunch for detailed write up! But unfortunately I got the hybrid so there’s no storage under the seat. I was thinking you meant under the driver/passenger seat. I still may go with the sub and just leave it in the middle seat. Thanks again!

 

[Lando]

I find this is why I’m more about getting lower models. The over charging for “luxuries” is not worth the value you get. This goes for most all makes.
Overall I’m happy with my first Toyota, but I gotta say: I missed out on the legendary quality we heard about on 90’s and early 2000’s Toyotas.
The turning circle on a 6’ bed model, the cheap plastic that scratches way too easy, the stereo sound on all models, the transmissions over heating in 4hi on slow climbs - this is Toyota engineering? Quality?

Yeah this sub woofer issue is weak. Do better indeed!

 

[PNWkip]

I find this is why I’m more about getting lower models. The over charging for “luxuries” is not worth the value you get. This goes for most all makes.
Overall I’m happy with my first Toyota, but I gotta say: I missed out on the legendary quality we heard about on 90’s and early 2000’s Toyotas.
The turning circle on a 6’ bed model, the cheap plastic that scratches way too easy, the stereo sound on all models, the transmissions over heating in 4hi on slow climbs - this is Toyota engineering? Quality?

Yeah this sub woofer issue is weak. Do better indeed!

I'm pretty happy with my SR5. There are a couple things like the fabric under seat storage and fabric engine splash guard that seem a little silly, but it's everything these days. For $37K this truck was a great value. The last new vehicle I bought was an Ioniq 5 (lemoned) and it was close to 50K. Creaky, plastic interior, unreliable. It did have the same range as the Tacoma though

 

[izzy]

legendary quality we heard about on 90’s

They still had their own problems tbh. 3vzfe eating headgaskets, 22REs consistently chewing through timing chain guides by 120,000 miles...

It's just some other stuff was very overbuilt because the margins weren't so tight.

Average new car price is 52,000. No shot if you walk out of a Toyota dealer with a Tacoma for less than 40k are they making a fat rack on the margins.

On the TRD Sport and above they probably do ok.

 

[BasedGod]

JL 10w3 installed behind my rear seat. I had to cut some of the seat plastic and foam to get it to clear the grate but it works and sounds pretty good.

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