Stock speaker upgrade, what have you done? Hard to believe it sounds so good!

[fugereb]

Replaced the stock speakers in my 2018 4Runner Limited (w/ JBL) system. Here is what I installed and here are the results:

Front Dash: Hertz DCX 87.3 (3 1/2")
Front Door: Hertz Uno X 690 (6x9")*
Rear Door and Trunk Hatch: Hertz X 130 (5 1/4")
Subwoofer: Pioneer TS-SW2002D2 600W (8")

*Note: The front door 6x9" line feed is not full frequency (only bass), would probably recommend doing a 6 1/2" Hertz woofer instead as most all 6x9's are 2+ way, the Uno X 690 does crank out some nice bass though.

The Results: From audiophile perspective the sound is 5 times better quality. The loudness is about the same however, I can crank this thing to max volume and the sound is clear and really true for a stock head unit and amps. Very happy with my $500 estimated upgrade which I ordered from crutchfield. As a comparison it actually cranks harder than my Wife's Lexus GX460 base system.

The hertz speakers really run well with the stock setup and the Pioneer 2 ohm 2 channel sub cranks about 2x more bass than the stock sub. :guitar2:

Wish my system sounded this good from the factory. What have you done to your runner without breaking the bank?

 

[BaddaBing]

Pictures

Did you do the installation? If so can you post pictures? I wondered if it was possible to improve sound on JBL inexpensively without changing head unit.

 

[Jbellah]

Replaced the stock speakers in my 2018 4Runner Limited (w/ JBL) system. Here is what I installed and here are the results:

Front Dash: Hertz DCX 87.3 (3 1/2")
Front Door: Hertz Uno X 690 (6x9")*
Rear Door and Trunk Hatch: Hertz X 130 (5 1/4")
Subwoofer: Pioneer TS-SW2002D2 600W (8")

*Note: The front door 6x9" line feed is not full frequency (only bass), would probably recommend doing a 6 1/2" Hertz woofer instead as most all 6x9's are 2+ way, the Uno X 690 does crank out some nice bass though.

The Results: From audiophile perspective the sound is 5 times better quality. The loudness is about the same however, I can crank this thing to max volume and the sound is clear and really true for a stock head unit and amps. Very happy with my $500 estimated upgrade which I ordered from crutchfield. As a comparison it actually cranks harder than my Wife's Lexus GX460 base system.

The hertz speakers really run well with the stock setup and the Pioneer 2 ohm 2 channel sub cranks about 2x more bass than the stock sub. :guitar2:

Wish my system sounded this good from the factory. What have you done to your runner without breaking the bank?

do you know if the JBL in your 2018 is the same as the one in the 2019? I just got a 2019 pro with JBL. I think it sounds pretty good for factory. I went to cartoys and listened to speakers and when i left I cranked my speakers and thought well damn maybe I dont need new speakers just a new sub for more bass.

 

[Superjet]

The stock sub is very weak in the JBL system. I replaced mine with a Kicker shallow mount 8in sub and a Kicker mini amp to power it. Huge difference.

 

[Jbellah]

The stock sub is very weak in the JBL system. I replaced mine with a Kicker shallow mount 8in sub and a Kicker mini amp to power it. Huge difference.

Did you have to do any customization with the amp and sub?

 

[CManski]

My passenger dash tweeter just went out (maybe I listen to loud?)

I need to replace it but I took a look and it is hardwired in so it’s not an easy swap. I’m thinking of replacing both tweeters with aftermarket. Is that a good idea, will it sound off leaving the rest of the speakers JBL?

 

[jsun_2k]

My passenger dash tweeter just went out (maybe I listen to loud?)

I need to replace it but I took a look and it is hardwired in so it’s not an easy swap. I’m thinking of replacing both tweeters with aftermarket. Is that a good idea, will it sound off leaving the rest of the speakers JBL?

As far as I know from the research, the weakest links are the two dash speakers. Looking for a solution to maximizing the improvement with minimum effort:zoom:

 

[Darrow]

How was the install on the dash with the Hertz speakers? Any need for additional brackets or trimming the factory covers?

 

[Duuuuuuuude]

Pretty much anything you put in place of the stock dash speakers is an improvement. They're essentially potato chips with magnets.

Since I'm not an audiophile and wanted to keep a modest budget, I did Powerbass 3 1/2's in the dash ($30), and a Fosgate 10" sub powered by a Blaupunkt 1500w amp (about $65 ea).

When it came time to turn my attention to the door speakers, I could either spend $70 on some PB 6x9's or a box of sound deadener. I went with the latter and have no regrets. The door speakers sound better and the door no longer sounds like a tin can when it shuts.

Someday I'll get the door speakers, and someday I'll do a head unit, but now I'm really not in a hurry.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

I replaced all my stock door speakers with MB Quarts

Front doors

Rear doors

Rear hatch

I replaced the stock tweeters with 3.5" JBL Club speakers

And I added a JL 8" sub where the pocket used to be

 

[dumantrd]

Very nice! I just picked up a 2018 trd OR and want to do some upgrades to the sound. I have the premium sound system without the JBL speakers I believe. When adding the 8 inch sub did you guys add an amp or can the head unit push it without one?

 

[mailbox]

I finished my total audio replacement.

I put in Focal IS690TOY drop in speakers in the front door + dash. And then I bought the TacoTunes System 1 setup to replace the rest. After speaking with chat support, they annotated on my order to include 2 sets of rear door speakers instead of the fronts since I already had my Focals.

The system 1 setup sends 75W RMS to the front and rear speakers, and the subwoofer gets 350 RMS.

End result is pretty cool, I'm happy. Overall volume is much louder than when it was just the Focal drop ins (on the stock stereo these actually lowered the loudness of my speakers although the quality was improved). The 12" sub in the back makes a really nice difference.

I'll prob do a write up but I am too lazy for now

 

[deekoi]

Nice!

My touchscreen died so I ended up going down a slippery slope... Upgraded my head unit but before doing that researched and got pulled into changing out my speakers, all of them (front, rear, tail gate, and sub), dual amp system and ended up pulling all new wire to each speaker. Put 1 amp under each front seat.

Headunit: Android Pumkin
Front: Kicker 43CSS694 6" x 9" Component System
Rear: Kicker 43CSC54 5-1/4" 2-way Speakers
Tail Gate: Rockford Fosgate Prime R1525X2 5-1/4" 2-way Speakers
Sub: Kicker CompR 43CWR84 8" Dual 4-ohm Component Subwoofer
Amplifier 1:Clarion XC2510 50W x 4 + 300W x 1 Compact Amplifier
Amplifier 2:Rockford Punch P500X2 150W x 2 Car Amplifier

16 Gauge wire all around.
Sound dampened all doors and tail gate.

It was a massive project... but the results were amazing.

 

[57HotrodVW]

As far as I know from the research, the weakest links are the two dash speakers. Looking for a solution to maximizing the improvement with minimum effort:zoom:

Here ya' go then... [emoji3]

DIY 3.5" JL Audio dash speaker upgrade - Wow!! (detailed how-to)

 

[osugsxr]

I've been searching lately for new speakers. Currently focused on the front speakers and dash. Leaning towards the focals (speaker & tweeter) but itll be underpowered with stock head unit. Wife would prefer to keep the stock head unit, so possibly an amp.
Originally thought of replacing just the dash with JBL or infinity speakers 3.5".