Trying to upgrade this sound system is terrible.

[SpartanCaptain]

Sounds like it works exactly as advertised.... "Preamp" for a little boost.

It isn't as advertised. Since it is advertised as an amplifier. not a preamp.

Sponsored

 

[grwil67]

How many are old enough to remember the "mind blower" speakers? (70s and early 80s)

Speakers had its own Amplifier that required 12 volts @ each speaker.
Then you could simply add what you wanted @ each speaker!

THIS would work!

 

[m1keaveli]

first thing i hated about this truck was the audio. i opted for the none of the fancy packages, so i dont even have the overrated JBL setup.

limited space behind the rear seats doesnt give me much options to even run an amp and a single sub setup, utilizing the limited space under the rear seats would give up valuable storage space..i guess its just a waiting game until something becomes widely avail.

 

[Crazy Mary’s Husband]

I gave up on the crappy sound system and keep it turned off. Now I sing everywhere I go. Studies have shown that singing has a positive effect on a person’s mood. Try it the next time you go somewhere and just know that somewhere out there, I’m singing right along with you. 99 bottles of beer on the wall, 99 bottles of beer…

 

[Ron]

My Beatsonic does more than add volume - it sounds significantly better than stock. But the system is still impossible to tune using the factory head unit.

It sounds better but is hamstrung by the design of the factory system which is terrible given that it's the "premium" upgrade.

For me, beatsonic is good enough - only because i know this system cannot be fixed with bandages. Yes - beatsonic is a bandage.

 

[Zigity]

Waiting to take delivery on my Tacoma with JBL system. In my previous vehicles, I usually install a headunit (don't need to for this new truck) and door speakers/tweeters, plus a sub in a ported box powered by a monoblock amp. I wanted more bass when I test drove the Tacoma, but it's not like having an Accord where you can just throw a sub and amp in the trunk. I am considering living with the stock speakers, so the cheap mini upgrade of the beatsonic seems appealing to me. I do, however, need to figure out a way to upgrade the sub. I like the JL Audio Stealthbox that is available for 3rd gen Tacomas, I may wait until something like that is made for the 4th gen. But then I will be adding an amp, and while I'm in there, I know I'll want to do another 4 channel and run to the door speakers. Decisions, decisions... At the very least, I think I can get by with the stock JBL system and the beatsonic upgrade. I'll just be itching for some more bass.

 

[grwil67]

This group sounds exactly like a group of Superbike riders talking about how slow a V-Max is.

Or maybe not all the JBL systems in these Tacoma's were created equal.

Our 2024 Limited "stock" has an amazing sound, and has been noted as that by all of my (5) 28 to 35 year old children as well. Maybe not the loudest on the market, but to call it bad, trash or even not good shows that you are expecting a competition type system or just batsh_t crazy!

Which is why Toyota will not pay attention to this small crowd of naysayers.

Guessing the naysayers on here must of had 15" subs in their cars coming up or something as this is again CRAZY to say the least!

Or maybe just a bunch of rich folks who dropped down way low to even own a +50k truck.

Yep! I was PO AND YES, I WANT 24MPG ON THE HIGHWAY IN A DAMN TRUCK!

 

[maxx075]

This group sounds exactly like a group of Superbike riders talking about how slow a V-Max is.

Or maybe not all the JBL systems in these Tacoma's were created equal.

Our 2024 Limited "stock" has an amazing sound, and has been noted as that by all of my (5) 28 to 35 year old children as well. Maybe not the loudest on the market, but to call it bad, trash or even not good shows that you are expecting a competition type system or just batsh_t crazy!

Which is why Toyota will not pay attention to this small crowd of naysayers.

Guessing the naysayers on here must of had 15" subs in their cars coming up or something as this is again CRAZY to say the least!

Or maybe just a bunch of rich folks who dropped down way low to even own a +50k truck.

Yep! I was PO AND YES, I WANT 24MPG ON THE HIGHWAY IN A DAMN TRUCK!

18" actually

 

[Crazy Mary’s Husband]

This group sounds exactly like a group of Superbike riders talking about how slow a V-Max is.

Or maybe not all the JBL systems in these Tacoma's were created equal.

Our 2024 Limited "stock" has an amazing sound, and has been noted as that by all of my (5) 28 to 35 year old children as well. Maybe not the loudest on the market, but to call it bad, trash or even not good shows that you are expecting a competition type system or just batsh_t crazy!

Which is why Toyota will not pay attention to this small crowd of naysayers.

Guessing the naysayers on here must of had 15" subs in their cars coming up or something as this is again CRAZY to say the least!

Or maybe just a bunch of rich folks who dropped down way low to even own a +50k truck.

Yep! I was PO AND YES, I WANT 24MPG ON THE HIGHWAY IN A DAMN TRUCK!

I had a 22 GMC Canyon with a 7 speaker Bose Premium system that blows this JBL out of the water. Their recipe was: 4 door speakers, 2 tweeters- one in each A pillar and a midrange smack dab in the center of the dash just like the JBL but it didn’t overpower the other speakers. It had no sub but the bass was booming and didn’t distort at higher volumes. It also had a proper amplifier and everything worked together as a system should. That said, I didn’t buy my Tacoma for the sound system and I can live with it the way it is but I know that Toyota could do better.

 

[grwil67]

Oh DEFINITELY much better out there but the Toyota system is definitely not bad by any means of the imagination!

Not to the point that Toyota would care to do better as stated too many times before, IT IS A TRUCK!

 

[awpk03s]

I have the non JBL system, and I’ve put in the Beatsonic amp, and the TGP Alpines. I’m really happy with the sound quality/clarity and volume, but I wish there was more bass.

I’m putting a LOC and compact Alpine powered 8” sub in. I’m debating though whether I need to rip out the beatsonic and just put a Kicker Key 4 chan amp in there for the speakers.
Sigh. We’ll see.

 

[jci]

Here's a sneak peak of my work in progress...

Equipment list:
-Front Door/tweeters: Alpine type R 6x9 components
-Rear door: Alpine type R 6x5" coaxials
-Dash: Hertz 4" DCX-1003
-Sub: (2) JL Audio 10TW3-D4 wired to 1 ohm
-Amp: Kicker LX1300.7
-Custom fiberglass subwoofer box
-T-harness made using APH-TY02

I've been slowly upgrading my sound system in stages over the year and a half of my ownership. I've been waiting to make a full post about the details of my sound system, but I'm seeing a lot of posts about others trying to upgrade the JBL system. Figured I'd share what I have so far. I'm definitely not an audiophile nor am I a professional car audio installer. This is actually my first sound system i've installed that was more than adding a subwoofer. This time around, my goal was a decent SQ system. I wanted to be able to hear the vocals but still wanted bass. I'm sure I could have better results using the PAC AP4-TY14 amp integration interface, but I didn't want to spend the money at the time.

For starters, I used TechStream to disable ANC and the fake engine noise. Technically the 2024+ models aren't supported, but I selected the 2023 model and I was able to communicate with the ECU still.

It sounds better and louder than factory. Mirrors shakes. My only complaint is that the center jbl speaker (still on factory JBL amp) can overpowering/harsh at times. I'm using passive crossovers for the front speaker and tweeter connection at this moment. My next plans are changing the wiring to a full active crossover for the front speakers and putting the rear speakers back on the factory JBL amp. I have a set of focal tweeters I've been waiting to install but it's been too hot to pull the wire harness out and make changes. I'm also going to try to replace the removable JBL center speaker with a pair of JL audio 3.5" speakers I have laying around. Planning on wiring them down to 8 ohms so it's not as overpowering.

I don't have DB readings comparing factory to now. But TacomaBeast has a video showing their comparison between stock JBL and their upgraded amp at the same volume I normally listen to.
Skip to @30:12


Sound clips with DB readings. I think the file was too big to upload directly on here. Listen with headphones for best results.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Jc8OKUduIKegXyB6O9qK_cClR4psh370?usp=sharing

 

[smoothsurfer2000]

Here's a sneak peak of my work in progress...

Equipment list:
-Front Door/tweeters: Alpine type R 6x9 components
-Rear door: Alpine type R 6x5" coaxials
-Dash: Hertz 4" DCX-1003
-Sub: (2) JL Audio 10TW3-D4 wired to 1 ohm
-Amp: Kicker LX1300.7
-Custom fiberglass subwoofer box
-T-harness made using APH-TY02

I've been slowly upgrading my sound system in stages over the year and a half of my ownership. I've been waiting to make a full post about the details of my sound system, but I'm seeing a lot of posts about others trying to upgrade the JBL system. Figured I'd share what I have so far. I'm definitely not an audiophile nor am I a professional car audio installer. This is actually my first sound system i've installed that was more than adding a subwoofer. This time around, my goal was a decent SQ system. I wanted to be able to hear the vocals but still wanted bass. I'm sure I could have better results using the PAC AP4-TY14 amp integration interface, but I didn't want to spend the money at the time.

For starters, I used TechStream to disable ANC and the fake engine noise. Technically the 2024+ models aren't supported, but I selected the 2023 model and I was able to communicate with the ECU still.

It sounds better and louder than factory. Mirrors shakes. My only complaint is that the center jbl speaker (still on factory JBL amp) can overpowering/harsh at times. I'm using passive crossovers for the front speaker and tweeter connection at this moment. My next plans are changing the wiring to a full active crossover for the front speakers and putting the rear speakers back on the factory JBL amp. I have a set of focal tweeters I've been waiting to install but it's been too hot to pull the wire harness out and make changes. I'm also going to try to replace the removable JBL center speaker with a pair of JL audio 3.5" speakers I have laying around. Planning on wiring them down to 8 ohms so it's not as overpowering.

I don't have DB readings comparing factory to now. But TacomaBeast has a video showing their comparison between stock JBL and their upgraded amp at the same volume I normally listen to.
Skip to @30:12


Sound clips with DB readings. I think the file was too big to upload directly on here. Listen with headphones for best results.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Jc8OKUduIKegXyB6O9qK_cClR4psh370?usp=sharing

What harness did you use instead of the pac ap4???

Sponsored