Speaker upgrade

[Capemike]

Has anyone upgraded their sound system?
I don't have alot to spend, but I have to do something to improve the sound in the '26 Sport with stock 8" display.
I was looking at the Alpine speaker package offered by one of the business here, but would like to hear what people have done, the cost, and the results.
Thanks all.
MB

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[SoCalNinja]

I really like the sub by taco tunes but ahhh it’s so expensive…

 

[OkieCowboy]

I replaced the corner dash speakers in my 26 TRD Off Road non JBL yesterday with Kicker DSC40 from Amazon. I started looking to replace the front door speakers and discovered a caution from Crutchfield about installing these speakers in the Tacoma. Factory dash speakers are 8 ohm. Most replacement speakers are 4 ohm and can overheat the internal amp they claim. Front door speakers and dash speakers are wired in parallel. Most of the information I have read says I should be okay since I do not play at higher volume levels. Door speakers are also 8 ohm and replacements are 4 ohms. So I am not going any further until I’m confident the door speakers can safely be replaced with the 4 ohm Kickers.
Don’t want to install an amp and the wife is questioning why I am doing this. I’m 74, wear hearing aids, and can’t hear her most times. Selective hearing! But there is a definite improvement with just the corner speakers.

 

[bc510]

I put an alpine sub in the truck along with some alpine speaker plug and play. Very easy install for both. I have the 12” screen but it’s the base off road so no JBL package so I wanted to up the sound and I feel like it’s pretty good now

 

[Capemike]

I replaced the corner dash speakers in my 26 TRD Off Road non JBL yesterday with Kicker DSC40 from Amazon. I started looking to replace the front door speakers and discovered a caution from Crutchfield about installing these speakers in the Tacoma. Factory dash speakers are 8 ohm. Most replacement speakers are 4 ohm and can overheat the internal amp they claim. Front door speakers and dash speakers are wired in parallel. Most of the information I have read says I should be okay since I do not play at higher volume levels. Door speakers are also 8 ohm and replacements are 4 ohms. So I am not going any further until I’m confident the door speakers can safely be replaced with the 4 ohm Kickers.
Don’t want to install an amp and the wife is questioning why I am doing this. I’m 74, wear hearing aids, and can’t hear her most times. Selective hearing! But there is a definite improvement with just the corner speakers.

Thanks for bringing up the Ohm issue. When I was in my 30's I understood all of the speaker terminology, frequency responce, wattage, cut out, and such, but now at 65 I can't even remember what day it is. I will research that issue and hopefully you will post any updates as well. I have always been one to like the highs of cymbals more than the bass. Hearing individual guitar strings in a song clearly, is what I aim to do, but on a limited budget. Thanks again.

 

[Trixster22]

I note the posts on the speaker upgrades. Quick question....to get the full change and upgrade in sound, would you have to upgrade the head unit, too, in addition to the speakers?

 

[geonerdist]

I went with a beat sonic amp, Morel speakers all around and a JBL Bass Pro Nano. I’m impressed.

Impressed enough that the engine sound enhancement started making a noise that myself and four service techs thought it was a differential issue. It sounded so real and mechanical, but turned the ESE off and the noise was gone.

 

[The Dude]

I note the posts on the speaker upgrades. Quick question....to get the full change and upgrade in sound, would you have to upgrade the head unit, too, in addition to the speakers?

The headunit, or screen, is separate from the amp, which is under the driver’s seat. Doesn’t matter, JBL or not, that’s where the amp is, under the carpet.

 

[pchi]

Has anyone upgraded their sound system?
I don't have alot to spend, but I have to do something to improve the sound in the '26 Sport with stock 8" display.
I was looking at the Alpine speaker package offered by one of the business here, but would like to hear what people have done, the cost, and the results.
Thanks all.
MB

I replaced my non-JBL speaker system with a Beat Sonic amp, JVC dash speakers, and Morel MKII speakers for the doors. Spent roughly $600+ through a Beat Sonic dealer and Crutchfield.
Big difference in sound quality and very satisfied with the set up. I listen mainly to classic rock from the 70s - 90s.

 

[Capemike]

I pulled the trigger and bought this today.

 

[gmalkmus]

I really like the sub by taco tunes but ahhh it’s so expensive…

It's $399 - that is SUPER CHEAP for a custom box, subwoofer, and amplifier.

 

[gmalkmus]

I pulled the trigger and bought this today.

Surprised you went with 6.5" speakers - 6x9 and 8" speakers are a direct drop-in to the stock door panel. More bass with the added benefit of more sensitivity (louder with less amplifier power). Where are you going to put the tweeters? You could get JBL a-pillars that have the tweeter grille.

How will you integrate the dash speakers into this setup? Still keep them wired in parallel?

 

[Capemike]

Surprised you went with 6.5" speakers - 6x9 and 8" speakers are a direct drop-in to the stock door panel. More bass with the added benefit of more sensitivity (louder with less amplifier power). Where are you going to put the tweeters? You could get JBL a-pillars that have the tweeter grille.

How will you integrate the dash speakers into this setup? Still keep them wired in parallel?

I bought this as a package from Crutchfield. It was already assembled for the '26 Taco TRD Sport. They recommended the speaker set up.
The tweeters will go in the current dash locations. The only thing I didn’t do was to get the sound insulation for the doors. I thing while I have the doors apart, I will use some duct tape to seal all of the openings in the door. I don’t play music loud, so I should be ok with this package. I just like to be able to hear the bass guitar, and the cymbals sharply.

 

[gmalkmus]

I bought this as a package from Crutchfield. It was already assembled for the '26 Taco TRD Sport. They recommended the speaker set up.
The tweeters will go in the current dash locations. The only thing I didn’t do was to get the sound insulation for the doors. I thing while I have the doors apart, I will use some duct tape to seal all of the openings in the door. I don’t play music loud, so I should be ok with this package. I just like to be able to hear the bass guitar, and the cymbals sharply.

Definitely do not use duct tape on the doors man. Get some actual butyl sound deadening. Hopefully the tweeters come with adapter plates, because they will not just drop in to the dash speaker locations. Also, where do you plan to mount the crossovers? I guess wire it into the dash speaker and run new wires from the crossover into the door? You’ll need to run new wires anyway you do it unfortunately unless you want to cut and splice factory wires.

 

[gmalkmus]

If you want to seal up big holes on the door, you have to use something rigid like MDF, ABS, HDPE, etc. and straight up bolt that to the door - otherwise you are basically creating a passive radiator enclosure for the speakers with a completely unknown tuning frequency. Duct tape is not solid at all and will vibrate and flex just like a speaker would when you play music. You don't see speaker cabinets made out of flexible materials for this very reason.

Generally, car speakers are intended for free-air/open baffle use because car doors are not completely sealed (unless you are talking about competition level audio builds). You will be fine to leave the large holes open, as covering them with duct tape will likely result in a worse sound. Definitely use butyl sound deadening on the outer door skin to help tone down extra vibration.

I fear that you will be disappointed in this speaker change. You're switching from a high sensitivity, low wattage 7" woofer and 3.5" midrange to a lower sensitivity, higher wattage 6.5" woofer and a tweeter. It will not be as loud as the factory setup, it will have less bass, and you will probably have shrill/screeching highs because the tweeter will be firing upwards directly into the windshield and reflecting very high frequencies all around the cab. You also won't be able to make any meaningful adjustments because you don't have a digital signal processing unit (DSP).

People fall into this rabbit hole all the time and the fact of the matter is you need a DSP and an amplifier if you want to change out your speakers and actually make a positive difference. The factory sound system is tuned for the factory speakers - changing that up will result in a sound that is 99% more likely to sound WORSE - UNLESS you get a DSP to correct the signal and an amplifier to send those new speakers the power they need, you will be disappointed.

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