A client front Sykesville contacted Westminster Speed and Sound about upgrading the stock stereo system in his 2015 Toyota Tundra. One of our team members did an audio consultation with the client at our facility so that we could spend time looking over the truck and getting to know him a little better. As we talked with him, we realized two things: He wanted to keep the existing Toyota touchscreen radio, and he wanted the system to sound incredible. After spending time in our sound room listening to equipment, a proposal was generated that he approved, so time was set to begin working on the truck.
Toyota Tundra Audio Systems Need Help to Sound Good
First and foremost, keeping the stock Toyota stereo system in the dash is just fine, but it needs some help to generate a good-quality musical signal. For that reason, we installed a digital signal processor to the outputs of the Tundra radio. It allowed us to remove the equalization that Toyota adds to the music, so we could get back to a pure, unaltered signal. It also allows us to have five dedicated output channels, where we have complete control over digital delay, crossover settings and final equalization. The end result is a sound system that can rival some of the best home audio systems. The DSP chosen for this system came with an outboard controller that we conveniently mounted in the sunglasses holder in the overhead console.
Hushmat Sound Damping Enhances Truck’s Acoustics
The next step in the process was to install Hushmat sound damping material in strategic areas. Our team applied it to the whole back wall of the truck to eliminate any rattling or vibration that could happen from the pair of subwoofers that were going to be mounted behind the rear seat. The team also installed it in the inner door skin for the same reason. The new door woofers put out a lot more sound, and adding Hushmat keeps the truck itself from coloring the sound in a bad way.
Audiofrog Speakers Make All the Difference
In this truck, the client wanted to hear every nuance in the music, so we installed a set of Audiofrog GB series speakers. The GB60 6.5-inch woofer was installed in the front door on a custom composite mounting plate. In the dash we installed a set of GB15 1.5-inch tweeters in the factory spot, again on custom mounts. The factory rear speakers were left in the truck and they run off the Toyota radio when the rear seat passengers need some background music for a long trip.
JL Audio Stealthbox Brings Home the Bass
Now it was time to give this Tundra some serious bass. For this solution, we turned to JL Audio and one of the Stealthboxes. This custom fit fiberglass enclosure tucks neatly behind the rear seat and gets bolted into place. It holds a pair of JL Audio’s 10TW3 10-inch subwoofers that sound incredible. The end result is music that now has real authority, leaving you thinking that you are still at your favorite concert.
Amplifiers Are What Makes the Music Come Alive
The final step was to install a pair of JL Audio HD Series amplifiers. We chose the HD750/1 amp to power the subwoofers and the HD600/4 amp to power the Audiofrog speakers. The end result is more than 1,300 watts of clean power, giving the truck an almost endless reserve of output capability. Now when the client wants to crank it up, he simply turns the knob and starts smiling, because he has all the power he will ever need.
Final Tuning Makes All the Difference
The last step in an audio upgrade is the final tuning of the equipment. At this point, our team members get out their laptops and start tuning the digital signal processor, with the benefit of their decades of experience. The difference between a properly tuned system and one where someone took a shortcut can be night and day. We figure if a client spends good money on an audio upgrade, they deserve every last bit of quality we can give them.
One Happy Customer
On the day our client was scheduled to pick up his Toyota, we were giddy with excitement to let him hear it for the first time. When he arrived, we began by showing him the installation, which he loved. But when we cranked it up for the first time, he was all smiles. At that point, we knew our team had hit the mark. He marveled at all the detail in the music and the almost limitless volume. And that made our day. If you would like to upgrade the sound system in your vehicle, we invite you to simply click HERE or stop by our 12,000-square-foot facility. Westminster Speed and Sound has been serving clients in Westminster, Maryland, since 1969. Let us show you why we are the most-awarded vehicle customization facility in the Mid-Atlantic.
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