Wanted to give my input here since I think I've found something that works for me. First 4Runner, 2022 ORP, 1 month old; I'm coming from a 2014 Ford Fusion so I don't have much experience with "high quality" audio, just what works for me.
First and foremost: I think the most noticeable difference was turning the automatic sound leveling option up to "high." Default I believe it was "medium."
Audio apps I use: Spotify (main), Apple Music, Sirius (only for the free trial). Primarily bluetooth but also some wired apple carplay (until I get a wireless dongle), not sure if I hear a drastic difference with either.
Music preferences: primarily rap and edm + a bit of everything else
For Spotify, I set the equalizer to R&B and the audio quality of streaming and download to "high" (I have unlimited data, YMMV).
For the 4Runner sound settings, I have:
- Treble +2
- Mid +1
- Bass -2
- +2 fade to the front (no change left and right)
My thought process is to have the bulk of the quality come from the device itself and then fine tune, if you will, on the stereo settings. This sounds good to me, bass is still existent and full but not completely overpowering and you can still hear lyrics/vocals on folk or rock without it being muffled out.