3rd Gen non JBL sound system Upgrade Info

IDK... I just though of a way to possibly test this. I could just temporarily unplug the rear (channel B) speaker level inputs into the amp. In theory, then, the sub signal would come just from the front. So, any possible wacky OEM processing or phasing that might be in the rear would be eliminated.

 

I have a 2023 Crewmax with 8" screen no premium audio or JBL. What do I have in total ? 6 speakers? 2 in dash, 2 in front and 2 in rear door? 6.5 back ? 6x9 front?

 

Yes 6, essentially the same speakers used in the Gen 3 Tacomas. If you are browsing for replacements on Crutchfield, just put your vehicle in as a Gen 3 Tacoma, the adapter plates and harnesses are the same. They haven't updated their interchange system yet and any Gen 3 Tundra says they don't have information for.

 

Oh wow that is awesome as I love the Kicker set for the Taco. Which is the 6x9, 6.5 and the kicker tweeters but i guess in this case could run the kicker 3.5's?

 

I used the Kenwood Excelon

$207 KFC-XP6902C Car Component System Select Chevrolet/Toyota

KFC-XP6902C in my Taco which was a direct drop in and it came with the speaker adapters. The dash speakers bolted right in. Not sure about the kickers as you may have to use an adaptor plate to mount the tweeter

 

So this should work perfectly then ?
Kicker 6 Speaker Plug & Play Upgrade Bundle Install | 2016 - 2023 Toyota Tacoma (youtube.com)

 

Yup those will work

 

Thanks for the help! I didn't see anyone confirm this but the actual adapters for the front doors are 72-8109. Just did my system over the weekend. I used the 17ft Taco Tunes wiring harness to run from the head unit back to my amps. Good quality, good service. I just ordered their tweeter harness for the front speakers. I wish I had ordered their speaker adapter plates, the ones that came with the speakers (Kenwood for fronts and Kicker for rears) were pretty cheap (but I made them to work).

 

This JBL speaker is the saddest sub I have ever owned and I am it is an "upgrade"? Man I would hate to see what the non-upgraded Tundra has. My 2016 King Ranch with the Kicker upgrade, blows this out of the water.

 

ya, toyota really went cost cutting on that sub, good lord.

 

That's why I didn't waste my money on the JBL upgrade. Most OEM systems suck to start with, this is one area where you can always do better in the aftermarket.

 

I've seen tweeters with bigger magnets than that

 

Cracks me up when I hear “sounds perfect to me”.

well bless your heart

That “upgrade” is about as worth it as paying 800 bucks for floor mats or nitrogen in the tires.
All I thought when listening to the JBL in the test drive is summed up in this image lol

 

Has anyone actually installed this in the 3rd gen Tundra? I mean I believe everything I read on the internet..... but just curious if anyone has done this. @benca1 did you ever tackle this? Just a little skeptical because if the Tacoma mounts and adapters works just fine, its a little bit of an enigma why everywhere still lists there being nothing available for the 3rd gen Tundra. Seems like if the Tacoma stuff works then I would think places like taco tunes and Critchfield would have figured that out already and list those as being compatible.
https://trailgridpro.com/products/kicker-plug-play-6-speaker-bundle-upgrade-16-23-tacoma/

 

fair enough on TT....more curious if Tacoma speaker mounts, oem plug adapters, and speakers work in the Tundra then why wouldn't somewhere like Critchfield list the cross compatibility after three model years of the truck being on the market.

 

You would have to reach out to TT and/or Crutchfield.

I went the Crutchfield main store last week and not only do they not have anything on file for the 3rd gen Tundra, they did not seem to be in a hurry. I offered to let them use my truck, with zero expectations of discount or reward, to map it all out and they had zero interest. They did give me a link to a form to take pictures of my truck as I took it apart, and did the measurements for them, for a very small discount.

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-32I0YB42mSN/learn/research-your-car-the-crutchfield-way.html

 

I have not tackled this yet. I just don't get it. I mean I have the 9 speaker set up. I mean the only think needed is some speaker wire plug adapters and some door adapter plates. I do not understand what is taking so long. No reason someone doesn't have these simple things yet.

 

I can tell you that the Taco speaker sizes are the same as the Tundra. I had the Kenwood Toyota set in my 21 Taco and they were the exact same size and mounts in my 24 Tundra. All the harnesses were the same except for the 4 pin connector on the dash speakers. I ended up adding the OEM JBL A pillars for tweeters and went with a JBL 3 way set. If you have the crew cab with tweeters in the back doors, that's the only thing missing from the Kicker and the Kenwood Toyota exact fit kit

 

I thought the same thing, but Crutchfield is just behind. They are even offering discounts for people to take pics and do write ups for newer stuff they don't have information for. As soon as I started pulling my speakers and head unit out, I checked the plugs and sizes from the stuff I pulled out of my 21 Tacoma and it was all the same. The only plug that is different is the 4 pin plug on the dash speakers. Even my old amplifier T harness from my 21 Taco plugged right into my 24 Tundra.

 

Yeah I encountered the same situation, a lot of work for a little discount. I do know for a fact that the speaker sizes and adapters are the exact same from the 3rd Gen Tacoma to the 3rd gen Tundra. I've already replaced everything in mine.

 

Probably not as much as a high demand item as Tacoma is the best selling truck for Toyota and the Big 3 sell more full size trucks than Toyota.

 

I understand but It is not something that should not be out already. I mean speakers are speakers when it comes to JL Audio, Kicker, whatever so it really comes down to just plugs at this point. Trail Grid pro really needs to step up and be the first to get the right adapters at this point. Add in an AC LC and amp and/or subs and done. I mean in reality with door plates most all speakers will fit like 5 1/4 into a 6.5 cutout or 6.5 into a 6.75 cutout. I guess I will end up just giving the keys to my audio shop locally and then telling them to just bypass the OEM wiring run new speaker wire get taco tunes adapters and be done. My guys have built several of my JL audio sponsored trucks so no biggie but was hoping at 43 years old and now more knowledge I could buy something plug and play and just do it all in my garage.

 

But there is plug and play. I think Auto Harness House has the 4 pin dash speaker harness, everything else you can get from Crutchfield or Amazon

 

It would be nice if Crutchfield let us know the part numbers to order or would update their site with 3rd gen info.

 

Look at my very 1st post here #1, the part #'s are there. If you want to "cheat" the Crutchfield system, just put in a 2021 Tacoma as your vehicle. When you buy speakers they include the adaptors and wire pigtails for free as long as you have a vehicle listed.

 

I did nearly the exact same thing as MaxPayne3, pretty much used his playbook. The kickers for the rear doors didn't exactly fit, I had to drill a hole in the mounting adapter plate (not the truck) to make it fit but not a huge deal. I used the same Kenwoods up front. I thought the mounting adapters that came with (all) the speakers were flimsy but so be it. I should have sprung for the Tac0Tunes adapters. I did use the Tac0Tunes head unit harnesses and speaker adapters for the dash speakers. (the other speaker adapters came with the speakers that I got from Crutchfield.) As MaxPayne3 posted, just enter a 23 Tacoma into Crutchfield's website and you'll get the right speaker adapter harnesses. I also got the OEM A-pillars and hot glued some Kicker tweeters in there, love the look and the sound. And of course, as mentioned, the rear kicker speakers are coaxial so the factory tweeter (if you have them) location goes unused but I'm ok with that.

 

@MaxPayne3 do you know if the kicker subaru tweeters work ? I know most taco owners put them in and i assume almost same location as the taco. I have 3 up front as my tundra has 9 speakers. So idea would be to run 3 kicker subaru tweeters in dash, 2 coax speakers in front doors and 2 coax speakers in rear door and not have rear tweeters. is the rear door if running kicker 6 3/4 or 6.5 or 5 1/4?

 

So are people running 5 1/4 rears with adapter plates then? The sheet you sent over shows 6.30" as rear doors so 6 1/2 would be too big. Or is the hole larger and correct adapter plate from say taco tunes allow a 6.5 coax in the rear doors?

 

They should but depending on what your plans are for amp or not they are a different impedance than the OEM. If you just put tweeters you'll lose some sound as the OEM size is roughly 2 3/4 which not only covers the same frequency range as a tweeter but the cone size also allows for upper midrange frequencies as well. It's pointless to replace the center speaker unless you listen to talk radio exclusively. The center speaker really does nothing for your sound in terms of music.

 

Hey guys good job on the intel. I was wondering if any of you guys know someone who can pass on some knowledge on the 2018 tundra looking at the j145 non Jbl plug what is PIN number 3,8,9,10? I used it to connect it to the LOC epicenter but I’m getting some distortion at top volume. Maybe 3,8,9 and pins are not correct ? Can someone help plz ?