Improve sound - 2000 Toyota Tacoma

[halfstepdown88 10+ year member]

Are these good components

http://www.premier-audio.com/Rainbow-SLX-265-Deluxe-6-5-Components-p/rainbow%20slx%20265%20d.htm

http://www.premier-audio.com/Rainbow-CSX-265-6-5-Components-p/rainbow%20csx%20265.htm

http://www.premier-audio.com/Rainbow-SLC-265-6-5-Components-p/rainbow%20slc%20265.htm

And yeah I'm probably looking to get a sub later on

EDIT:Would it be a good idea to get a kick panel q-form enclosure

 

[JAZN 5,000+ posts]

If you're going to get the q-form kick panels, then the largest speaker you can use is ~6 1/8" IIRC. I disliked the q-forms, but that doesn't mean you can't get good results out of them. You'll have to strengthen them too by using fiberglass and/or sound deadening to get good results because they are rather flimsy.

 

[enzowho 10+ year member]

I disliked the q-forms, but that doesn't mean you can't get good results out of them. You'll have to strengthen them too by using fiberglass and/or sound deadening to get good results because they are rather flimsy.

Agreed. Don't be afraid to fiberglass either, there are lots of good tutorials here. I wouldn't start out trying to glass your own kick-panels, but reinforcing some q-forms wouldn't be too bad. Expect to spend 40-50 bucks if you already have a mask.

Also if you can afford them, I would go with the Kickpass components found here. I have never heard that tweeter before, but I know that 6.5" driver is good. The actual midrange is average for that price (good), but the midbass is awesome. You can feel it hit you in your chest. Also, there are a couple of Rainbow dealers on this forum who might be able to give you some better advice. I know 6spdcoupe deals with them, might want to drop him a pm.

Edit: Also PremierAudio deals with Rainbows I believe, could pm him too.

 

[halfstepdown88 10+ year member]

Agreed. Don't be afraid to fiberglass either, there are lots of good tutorials here. I wouldn't start out trying to glass your own kick-panels, but reinforcing some q-forms wouldn't be too bad. Expect to spend 40-50 bucks if you already have a mask.
Also if you can afford them, I would go with the Kickpass components found here. I have never heard that tweeter before, but I know that 6.5" driver is good. The actual midrange is average for that price (good), but the midbass is awesome. You can feel it hit you in your chest. Also, there are a couple of Rainbow dealers on this forum who might be able to give you some better advice. I know 6spdcoupe deals with them, might want to drop him a pm.

Edit: Also PremierAudio deals with Rainbows I believe, could pm him too.

Wow those look good.

If I was to get those, put it in my front door speakers in the plastic baffle, would it sound good? Where would i put the tweeters and crossovers? would I have to do all this drillling and stuff? And would I need a new head?

EDIT: haha sorry for all these questions but on another site it says this

"System has to be used with an 80 Hz (12 dB/Oct.) high pass!

System needs approximately 10 hours running in time for optimal sound reproduction."

What exactly is going on there?

By the way I posted this in numerous forums and this one has helped the most by FAR thanks

 

[enzowho 10+ year member]

JAZN would be the one to ask about placing the midrange drivers in your doors. I think he suggested building some wood ones for better strength. I know my friend '02 Tacoma has stock tweeters mounted in the door, might try putting them there. The crossovers can be placed anywhere (under a seat, under the dash, etc.)

You don't need a new head unit. I'm sure your stock one doesn't have RCA outs, so you need to purchase an amplifier with high-level inputs. That shouldn't be a big deal, just something to be aware of. If you do get a new head unit, then get something with at least 2 pairs of RCA outs (non-fader and fronts).

All the Kickbass drivers must be high passed at 80Hz. This prevents the speaker from bottoming out (bad thing) on low frequencies. That is easily accomplished by setting your amplifier to high pass then adjusting the frequency to ~80 Hz. Just fyi, all midrange drivers need to be crossed over around 60-80 Hz, its not just these drivers.

As for the 10 hours break in period. That just means the speaker's sound/output might change in the first hours of operation.

 

[dleccord 5,000+ posts]

i didnt use MDF for baffles but usps boxes. pretty stiff if you ask.

 

[bwell 10+ year member]

My head unit is this massive cd player and tape player i could take a picture of it if you want. So buying a head unit first would be more important than new speakers?
And why are front speakers better and for the component sets are they hard to install? I don't even know how to access the speakers in the door, should I pay for installation or do it myself? And I would need to purchase an amplifier for it too.

I guess i'll just start out here. Thanks that was a really helpful post.

Just google search how to take your door panel off its a little troubling if you havent done it before.

I was in the same boat as you during july and I just starting looking and reading and got a start in the car audio world and what i have in my sig is what im running.

decent coaxials got for 150 for 2 pairs of speakers saved 50 bucks on crutchfield during a deal. I also got a custom fit box for my ranger (sealed) since i have a single cab and I didnt have the patience to make my own box but Im happy with my starter system.

 

[halfstepdown88 10+ year member]

Ok everyone is telling me its best to get a new head first.

My friend told me MP3 playback is awesome.

I guess I would want MP3 playback, iPod compatible, and excellent sound and be able to adjust bass levels and all that.

Any recommendations?

EDIT: My friend may be able to sell me his old head. The rainbow slc 265 kick component system, I listen to stuff like pantera, metallica, pink floyd, and occasionally some stuff with a lot of bass. That will be good right? And will the mounting depth even fit? It says 65/63 mm mounting depth, infinitysystems says its 2 3/4" depth

 

[enzowho 10+ year member]

My friend may be able to sell me his old head. The rainbow slc 265 kick component system, I listen to stuff like pantera, metallica, pink floyd, and occasionally some stuff with a lot of bass. That will be good right? And will the mounting depth even fit? It says 65/63 mm mounting depth, infinitysystems says its 2 3/4" depth

I know very little about h/u. Might want to try the head unit forum if you haven't already, sorry. The slc 265 should be pretty good for that genre of music. It won't do sub-bass very well, but that's not what its designed for. 65 mm is about 2.5 inches, so according to infinitysystems you should be fine. If they are too deep, build a Baltic birch plywood/mdf (if its going to get wet don't do mdf) spacer as shown in the previous pics.

 

[halfstepdown88 10+ year member]

I'm thinking i might want to get this

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-lRkAEgjqltR/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=286350&tab=essential_info&i=130DEHP780#Tab

This

http://www.premier-audio.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Rainbow%20SLC%20265%20Kick&click=35

And to power the speakers and tweeters in the front this amplifier

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-TtSV94k0Xz8/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=120&I=489AP600

Does that look good? I guess after a while of that i could get like a 10" sub but that would do for a while.

 

[enzowho 10+ year member]

Links don't work for me

 

[halfstepdown88 10+ year member]

Oh sorry.

Pioneer DEH-P7800MP

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-2yWi2YYMQcr/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=286350&tab=other_items&i=130DEHP780#Tab

Rainbow SLC 265 Kick

http://www.premier-audio.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Rainbow%20SLC%20265%20Kick&click=35

Amplifier for the Rainbow SLC kick

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-TtSV94k0Xz8/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=120&I=489AP600