A customer came in our door a few weeks ago unhappy with the way his new Tacoma sounded. He had done stereo upgrades in numerous vehicles in the past and this time decided to give us a try. He really wanted a nice sounding system and had heard that our work was first rate. So we replaced the factory Toyota radio with a Kenwood KDC-X994 CD player with built in Bluetooth and iPod and portable media control. We used a color matched install kit for the radio so the cosmetics looked factory. We ran the USB port to the glovebox so any of his portable media would be hidden from view. We installed the Bluetooth mic up high near the headliner to pick up his voice well.
Then we moved on to the front speakers. He was looking for very clear, detailed sound. So we installed a set of German Maestro EV-6908 front component speakers. German Maestro is one of the only companies that makes a 6×9 component set, and they fit perfectly in the front doors of this truck. German Maestro hand builds these speakers in Obrigheim Germany, not in a third world country. And you can tell that the first time you hear them. The 6×9 woofers have midbass that is extremely impressive, and the 20mm pure titanium tweeters have silky highs that bring an enormous smile to your face. We installed Stinger Roadkill damping material to eliminate any chance of noise or rattles in the front doors.
So now he needed an amplifier. We installed a JL HD600/4 amplifier to power both the front speakers and a Stealthbox subwoofer enclosure. The HD600/4 amplifier is the highest technology amplifier currently available in the automotive environment. The power supply uses a patented, switching design that is extremely efficient and incredibly musical. This power supply is also regulated so the customer gets the same amount of power whether there is nothing turned on or he is idling with the A/C on high and the headlights on. The amplifier also comes in a very small package measuring around 11″ x 8″ x 2″. This was easily hidden under a front seat. We used a JL power kit for the amplifier which extended his amplifier warranty by one extra year. We used Stinger Pro Series interconnects and speaker wiring.
Lastly, we install a JL Stealthbox in the rear of the center console. JL Stealthboxes are all vehicle specific and are designed to keep all the utility of the vehicle while giving a person unmatched sonic accuracy. In this vehicle, the rear of the center console gets trimmed out and the bulk of the Stealthbox fits inside of the center console. The part of the enclosure that is exposed is trimmed in a carpet that matched well with the interior of the truck. A JL 10W3 subwoofer comes in the enclosure and is protected by the supplied JL grille. The end result is low end bass that is powerful, accurate, and beyond the quality of most home theater systems in use today.
So in the end, the customer gained Bluetooth and iPod/portable media control, much improved sound quality and output level, all the while keeping the integrity of the vehicle intact. He can still carry the same amount of passengers as before losing none of the interior space, and lost none of the usefulness of the truck. I’d say that was mission accomplished.
