Input needed. Sound system upgrades and mixing brands?

[Ferd_4R]

Hi guys. Need some input about speakers and head unit.
Currently I have the stock head unit and the OEM Audio+ speakers. But it’s been a few years and now I just need a little more bang.
I see that a lot of people when upgrading speakers stay with the same brand all around. What are your on mixing brands?
For head unit I’m thinking about

For the front door speakers I’m thinking JBL 145 watts RMS

And for the rear door and hatch I’m thinking Morel 100 watts RMS

So what are your thoughts on mixing JBL with Morel?
Any input is much appreciated.


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[osugsxr]

Hi guys. Need some input about speakers and head unit.
Currently I have the stock head unit and the OEM Audio+ speakers. But it’s been a few years and now I just need a little more bang.
I see that a lot of people when upgrading speakers stay with the same brand all around. What are your on mixing brands?
For head unit I’m thinking about

For the front door speakers I’m thinking JBL 145 watts RMS

And for the rear door and hatch I’m thinking Morel 100 watts RMS

So what are your thoughts on mixing JBL with Morel?
Any input is much appreciated.


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Would recommend adding a 4 channel amp or new head unit. I had a sony 8100 for awhile and it did increase output for the speakers. After switching to a 2022 HU output decrease. I keep telling myself Ill add a kicker key 200.4 amp but I'm in no rush to do so.

Mix and match as you want but without an amp or upgraded HU you wont get what you want.

 

[justxroro]

I agree with the need to add an amp... that's a healthy budget for speakers, personally I'd rather spend a bit less on speakers (and definitely something cheaper for rear fill, if at all) if it meant I could add an amp. If possible I'd look into adding a DSP as well.

If you don't want to go the DSP route I suggest at least running a passive component set with widebands (instead of traditional tweeters). CDT actually has a promo right now on 8" mids, widebands, and crossovers CDT Audio Wideband Component System 4G

The 8" mids will require a custom ring, but the added midbass/low end extension when amp'd adequately is worth it!

 

[Ferd_4R]

Thank you!!!


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[97BlackAckCL]

Your stock speakers in the rear are 6.5" not 5.25" curious what is leading you toward that specific brand/model?

 

[Ferd_4R]

Oh thank you!!! My bad.


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[Whippersnapper02]

Did you get their amp as well? I have the full system with dual subs and it sounds great but I want more bass so I was thinking about ditching the subs for the side JL 10 inch.

 

[Ferd_4R]

Did you get their amp as well? I have the full system with dual subs and it sounds great but I want more bass so I was thinking about ditching the subs for the side JL 10 inch.

No I just did the speaker upgrade.
Maybe I should have [emoji2957] the speakers are great expect one on the hatch that is blown. I just want a little more not much.


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[Whippersnapper02]

No I just did the speaker upgrade.
Maybe I should have [emoji2957] the speakers are great expect one on the hatch that is blown. I just want a little more not much.


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I use their speakers only for a while because I had an issue with the amp but just the speakers sounds much better but I do have an aftermarket headunit.

 

[Ferd_4R]

Maybe when I switch the head unit it will be better.


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[osugsxr]

Maybe when I switch the head unit it will be better.


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it will be better with an aftermarket HU, there is a nice Alpine Halo9 set up for sale in this forum from a reputable member [MENTION=51033]97BlackAckCL[/MENTION] .

I previously had the sony 8100 from TGP and enjoyed it on a 26 hour road trip with car play. The wife didn't care for the floating HU, I could've adjust the mounting to make it more flush but I found a good deal on a 2022 HU that I couldn't pass up.

Aftermakert HU will offer more EQ settings, higher output and better quality sound. The focals I have installed were LOUD CRISP and HIT hard. I do miss that sound now when the windows are down in spring/summer.

 

[Ferd_4R]

it will be better with an aftermarket HU, there is a nice Alpine Halo9 set up for sale in this forum from a reputable member [MENTION=51033]97BlackAckCL[/MENTION] .

I previously had the sony 8100 from TGP and enjoyed it on a 26 hour road trip with car play. The wife didn't care for the floating HU, I could've adjust the mounting to make it more flush but I found a good deal on a 2022 HU that I couldn't pass up.

Aftermakert HU will offer more EQ settings, higher output and better quality sound. The focals I have installed were LOUD CRISP and HIT hard. I do miss that sound now when the windows are down in spring/summer.

Yeah!! I’m really hoping it will help. I’ll start with the head unit. And if that’s not enough I’ll move on to the speakers.
I need to drown out the noise from the tires hahah
It’s not that bad. But going from a C load AT to an E load MT I can definitely tell [emoji2957]

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[Ferd_4R]

Well I’m all over the place with this upgrade [emoji2957]
Just can’t make up my mind.
Head unit- ALPINE ILX-F509
Dash speakers- Audiofrog GS25
Front doors- Audiofrog GS690
I’ll probably just leave the OEM Audio+ speakers on the rear doors and hatch.
Still haven’t decided on what amp. [emoji24]
Any help, opinions, suggestions or recommendations are much appreciated!


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[justxroro]

Dash speakers- Audiofrog GS25
Front doors- Audiofrog GS690

Still haven’t decided on what amp. [emoji24]

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Great choice on the AF wideband setup... If you're open to having the GS25s outside of the stock dash location consider putting them in valicar pods. You'll get extra top end extension from having them fire at you on axis.

That said since you're looking at the GS series I'm assuming you're going full active instead of passive crossovers, meaning you'll need a DSP...

So many to choose from, I guess recommendations will start from the more budget side (e.g Sony XM GS4 amp with a Dayton 408 DSP) or the integrated amp/DSP offerings from Helix, Mosconi, Zapco, Audison, and Arc.

Also consider if you like to tinker and willing to tune yourself (using REW or Smaart) or if you'll have someone to tune for you. I like to tinker but went with the MiniDSP 8x12 with Dirac because Dirac live helps take a lot of the guess work outta tuning, not fully but gets you pretty darn close.

Oh man, down the rabbit hole.... let us know what you're leaning towards and we'll gladly send suggestions your way.

 

[Ferd_4R]

Thank you!!!!!
I’ll take a look at the amps/dsp you suggested.
I had not even thought about running [emoji2957][emoji2957][emoji2957]


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[justxroro]

I forgot to mention if you're open to straying from the big brand HUs look into some of the android offerings. I'm currently using a 10.1" HU from Joying and it has everything I need it to do (optical output to my DSP, provisions for rear/front cam, dash cam, real gps receiver for offline maps, works with cheap bluetooth OBDII readers, etc)... and for less than half the price of the Alpine ILX509 you're considering.

To make sure the SQ wasn't being hampered by "cheap processing" I did a back to back comparison with my now retired Pioneer 880 (the gold standard in SQ HUs from yesteryear) and didn't hear any difference.

 

[Ferd_4R]

I forgot to mention if you're open to straying from the big brand HUs look into some of the android offerings. I'm currently using a 10.1" HU from Joying and it has everything I need it to do (optical output to my DSP, provisions for rear/front cam, dash cam, real gps receiver for offline maps, works with cheap bluetooth OBDII readers, etc)... and for less than half the price of the Alpine ILX509 you're considering.

To make sure the SQ wasn't being hampered by "cheap processing" I did a back to back comparison with my now retired Pioneer 880 (the gold standard in SQ HUs from yesteryear) and didn't hear any difference.

Damn I didn’t even think to check the type of output for the DSP. Well when I started thinking about this upgrade I was just going to get the Alpine power pack from trail grid pro KTA-450 hahaha
But now you’ve given me so much to think about
And down the rabbit hole I go [emoji2957][emoji2957][emoji2957]


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[Ferd_4R]

Would this Amp be an option?
It has DSP and it’s very very affordable!!!
It can’t be true ,can it?!

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[justxroro]

Would this Amp be an option?
It has DSP and it’s very very affordable!!!
It can’t be true ,can it?!

I can't say I've read too much about that amp/DSP, I checked my usual go-to (DIYMA) and couldn't find anything on it. I guess in general it's recommended to download the DSP software for the unit you're thinking about getting so you can at least test drive the settings before buying.

I don't have experience with the Kicker Key stuff, specifically if it has all the DSP controls/flexibility you'll need, but it's another unit that is pretty popular on the 4runner forums.

If you're open to buying used definitely consider a Helix M4DSP or M6DSP which is regularly found in the classified section of the DIYMA site.