Questioni have a 08 Toyota 4 runner that i love but the stereo sound is terrible. it's a base model vehicle with a one cd/am/fm factory stereo and speakers. do i need a complete system or just different speakers. i love quality sound and not afraid to spend a little to obtain a great listening experience. any suggestions?
AnswerHi Scott,
There's certainly a lot that can be done to improve an OEM base audio system. I'd suggest determining just where your existing system falls short, and installing upgrades to improve those areas.
Do your vocals and high frequencies sound boxy or unnatural? Then you might want to upgrade your front speakers with after-market 6.5" replacements. When installing them, it's a good idea to use some damping materials in the door to help the mid-bass and midrange output. Dynamat is an example of a damping material.
Does your system lack deep bass response, or do you find that your speakers sound strained or distorted when you turn up the volume? In this case, a subwoofer would help you. You can buy a sub and amp combo, or an amplified subwoofer that's designed to connect directly to stock audio systems. The sub will produce deep bass, and allow you to turn down the bass in the front and rear speakers, so they sound cleaner when you turn it up.
Replacing your head unit won't make a huge difference in the sound if you keep the stock speakers, but it will give you more flexible sound adjustment tools. Most after-market decks include some type of built-in equalizer that allows much more precise control than the factory bass and treble knobs. Also, an after-market head unit will give you the ability to add additional audio sources, like an MP3 player or iPod; or let you use your Bluetooth phone with the audio system.
Here's a plan for an upgrade audio system that will make a big difference for the price:
--A new head unit, single-DIN or double-DIN type. Your vehicle can accomodate a double-DIN after-market head unit, so you'll want to explore those options. You might consider an in-dash navigation deck, like Pioneer's AVIC-F700BT, for example.
--Replacement front speakers, 6.5" coaxial or component type. A component speaker system uses a separate woofer and tweeter. There are many of these available. Listen to some in the store, and pick the ones that sound most natural to you (not the "brightest" or "bassiest").
--A 4-channel amplifier, rated around 50 to 75 watts RMS per channel. Make sure it's bridgeable and includes a built-in crossover. Most amplifiers will have these features.
--A single 10" or 12", 4-ohm subwoofer in a box. For good results, pick a sub that's packaged with an enclosure from the manufacturer. Get a sealed or ported box design; avoid bandpass systems.
With this setup, you'd use two channels from the amplifier for the new front speakers, and bridge the other two channels for the subwoofer. The stock rear speakers remain in place, and are connected directly to the head unit. (In terms of sound quality, there's not really much advantage to upgrading or amplifying rear speakers, especially if you're adding a subwoofer).
On advantage to a system like this is that it can be easily upgraded. If you want more bass, you can add a mono amplifier and use a bigger subwoofer system. You can then use the 4-channel amp to run your front and rear speakers, and upgrade the rears if you choose.
One nice thing about car audio is that you can take it one step at a time if you want. There's no need to tear everything out and install a whole new system at once; you can start by upgrading the speakers, and add more components later as needed.
Hope this helps!
Brian
