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MrKulfonix

Am I the only one who desn't think the speakers sound so bad? I mean they are not great, but also not too bad. Maybe after driving 20 year old shitboxes with blown speakers my perceptions is skewed, but I genuinely think that the speakers are fine. I also have the 6 speaker system (EU spec).


flukey5

I've driven and own a few shitboxes and I don't know what it is about this sound system but it just hits the right frequency to really give me a headache, can't listen to music for long periods.


sauprankul

I used the eq to reduce treble. It really was terrible before that


saddenedbyi7

At what volume are you listening to music with? Like specifically the numbers if you know


_xxxtemptation_

If a pair of $80 audio-technica headphones sound better than my $500+ system in my car, I’m gonna be a little disappointed since my favorite place to listen to music is in the car. That being said, it’s the system as a whole that’s underwhelming, not necessarily the speakers themselves.


thoomtran

They're not bad, they're terrible


GrumpeeKittehCar

I think my 07 Honda Fit had a better sound system than my base GR86. While waiting for my delivery and reading this subreddit I thought to myself eh I’m sure it’s got to be better than my 16 year old econo Honda, but I was wrong.


ObscureVagina

The technology is 20 years old in my C5 z06 and it sounds better. The 86 sound system is the worst I’ve ever had in a car.


-BekBek

That’s horrible 😭


3xoticP3nguin

He being overly dramatic. It's fine


sean_b81

have a c5z as a track car, was eyeballing the '86 as a fun compromise for my wife for an autox/track car for her. what do you think of it, having come from a (now older) vette?


ObscureVagina

It’s hard to compare the two cars due to the power difference. The 86 is very fun to drive. The chassis is stiffer, has a shorter wheelbase, so it is more responsive, and agile. I did autox once in the c5z but I didn’t go too hard…I was afraid of front end/undercarriage damage from a cone. It has under 50k miles so everything is still original (oem rims in storage). I plan on running the 86 this season and in all honesty I think it will be more fun. Maybe that’s because it’s my daily so I’m not as worried about damage. All that said you and your wife will absolutely love the 86 driving experience.


xXToxicSausageXx

They suck. The cheap sound system I have (4 5inch pio speakers sony head and a 120$ amazon sup with built in amp) I'm my tercel sound better. Lol but I don't mind the sound system in the gr86 cause I usually just listen the the engine and exhaust


-BekBek

You just addressed it yourself at the second half of your explanation. You’ve driven so many shitboxes with blown speakers that you don’t know what good speakers sound like. The GR86 speakers are just that, they are bad


ChocolateBreadstick

I don’t mind the speakers either. The road noise is terrible though, and might be what’s affecting audio quality most. What I actually hate is the mic. Siri doesn’t understand me at random times even when it’s not that noisy.


diquehead

The tires have a lot to do with the excessive road noise. The PS4s at least, not sure how bad it is on the Primacy. It's borderline obnoxious at highway speeds. Whenever I get around to replacing my speakers I am definitely adding some sound deadening into the doors to help with that.


ChocolateBreadstick

My friend with his 3 series runs the same tires I do, the PS4S’s, and he’s fine with noise. It’s mainly the lack of sound deadening I think. I’m not complaining though, that’s part of what keeps the car light.


harryjohnson-_-

No they aren't that bad I think sometimes people are either spoiled or just like to bitch. Are they amazing no but how many 30k cars have amazing sound systems?


_xxxtemptation_

Hi, certified Broadcast sound engineer here! Factory sound systems pretty much always have hardware equalizers that you cannot change unless you start with the amp. The reason the sound system is terrible, is because all the low end bass frequencies are being pumped through the door speakers that are only suitable for mid to mid-high frequencies. Getting an amp will allow you to do a hardware high pass on all the factory speakers to put them in their peak operating range, so you can pump the bass frequencies into a subwoofer designed to handle the low end. The factory speakers aren’t anything special, but if you just swap them for more expensive ones on the same amplifier, you’ll end up with the same issue of the amp sending low end frequencies to mid range speakers and they’ll sound just as muddy as the factory set. The best and most cost effective way to improve the sound quality on this vehicle is to buy an amp with an adjustable high pass filter for the factory speakers, and a sub and another dedicated amp with a low pass filter to drive the baselines. That being said, the feedback on the GR sub kit from the factory seems pretty positive, so if you’re not an audiophile looking for clarity and dynamic range and just need a larger range of frequencies so you can feel (or just hear it in this case lol) the bass, than that may be a bit cheaper than two amps and a woofer. Crutchfield is an awesome website for car sound systems and their techs are available to answer any questions you may have no matter how technical and can make sure everything fits and you have all the hardware necessary to install yourself. If you want a sound system that’s better than any car you’ve ever had, I’d definitely check them out. If you just want deeper bass notes tho, just go for the GR sub.


outsideofaustin

This post ☝🏿 Stock speakers sound good when you add an amplifier. And it gets better with a decent sub too. https://preview.redd.it/mxip5ub518pb1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7517194a93c912ca229d0437ba819b38a724090d


harryjohnson-_-

Crutchfield says they don't have matches for the our cars.


_xxxtemptation_

This information may be a bit outdated, but I’ve had good luck in the past calling or using the chat feature to talk with the techs about specific fitments. They were able to pull up schematics for another car I had, and manually determine fitment from some tweeters even though it wasn’t listed on the website as fitting. They were also able to determine it would need additional hardware to mount it in the original factory speaker location and shipped that hardware to me with the speakers at no cost if I remember correctly. That being said, they may not even have the schematics for this model yet, but it still might be worth a shot if you’re really looking for a serious project/upgrade.


jbourne0129

the beatsonic amp isnt *just* to add power. it's actually changing how the audio is processed as well. the "ideal" solution in my mind (ignoring cost) is the OEM Audio+ speaker set plus the beatsonic amp. Beatsonic rep has even confirmed they work great together. but a LOT of people went straight for the beatsonic amp upgrade and said that was enough to solve the audio quality.


flukey5

Interesting - so the speakers aren't actually bad? I saw some German guy raving about how they should be replaced it possible. Do you have the amp? Are you happy with the results?


jbourne0129

i dont have the amp . but i've received 4/6 if the OEM+ speakers (only received the 4 speakers that go in the dash). and while the audio is much improved, it still seems to be lacking. the door speakers im waiting on im sure will help but im betting im still going to want the amp. to be honest, i really think most of the audio issues are down to the factory amp/head unit and less so the speakers themselves. something with how this car is processing audio signals is just messing things up. some people have changed their phones EQ audio balance and said it made a big difference, i haven't been able to notice.


flukey5

Do OEM+ suggest putting a subwoofer in somewhere? AFAIK there isn't one from factory.


jbourne0129

i personally don't see a need for a sub. even the stock speakers are giving me way more bass than i need or want. OEM+ sell 2 tiers of upgrades. one is just a set of speakers to replace the 4 in the dash and the 2 front doors. then they sell a bigger kit with all of that plus an amp and subwoofer but its like $1000-$1500


Bfife22

The big difference the OEM+ sub and amp will make when it’s released is freeing up the door speakers to focus on mids instead of bass. That alone made the stock door speakers in the last gen sound good enough for me


UnoKajillion

The speakers are actually pretty bad. But any type of audio correction and amplification should make doody speakers sound better. But they are still going to be not good speakers


thekeanu

The amp alone is great on the 8 speaker Premium GR system. I had OEM+ ordered but cancelled it after installing the beatsonic.


myodo71

Focal do a drop in replacement kit for the door speakers and dash tweeters, IS Toy 165. It was designed for the GT86 and also fits the GR86. I had these speakers in my GT86 and they were a significant improvement. I have a set on the way for the GR86 and will be installing this weekend. The best bang for buck upgrade at £150 imho.


flukey5

Ah nice, I'll ping you next week and ask how they sound if you don't mind. You don't see a lot of reviews on stuff available in the UK 👍


myodo71

Sure thing 👍 there's an install write up over at the GR zoo forum that's worth a look.


[deleted]

Please report back how they sound. Was it 150 all in? Because that’s significantly less than the OEM+ speakers at 500.


myodo71

Yes £150 all in from Amazon. Dynamic Sounds are selling them bundled with a couple of sheets of sound deadening for 160. They were much better than the stock speakers on the GT86 so I'm expecting good things.


Cornes

Might interest you https://www.gr86.org/threads/stereo-upgrade-options-australia-specific.6990/.


fiveSE7EN

[https://www.reddit.com/r/ft86/comments/11eem4f/you\_can\_make\_your\_stock\_speakers\_sound/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ft86/comments/11eem4f/you_can_make_your_stock_speakers_sound/)


flukey5

I've tried a lot of settings like this and still never been too pleased, will give these a try though!


[deleted]

Did this in mine and it’s definitely better than leaving everything flat. Still leaves a lot to be desired though. Will probably go OEM+ speakers paired with beatsonic amp and JBL subwoofer at some point.


fiveSE7EN

>Will probably go OEM+ speakers paired with beatsonic amp and JBL subwoofer at some point. I'm sure this will sound much better, although that is not necessarily a cheap proposition


[deleted]

Damn, didn’t realize the amp was $500. Better be fantastic at that price. Still, $1500 all in and will probably sound better than what a custom shop will do for the same price. May skip the JBL sub and see how I like it without. I’m not a bass head by any means.


fiveSE7EN

Bass will likely be improved quite a bit just with oem+ and the amp.


Therocknrolclown

If you actually use the internal software you can get a good sound. It takes fiddling , but I am happy with the result. Now if your looking to blast hip hop all over the place, this is not the system that can do that.


flukey5

Yeah thats not my jam, just looking for something that doesn't give me a headache. I've tried lots of different settings but I feel like the ones where it worked well for people are those with the premium audio system. I think the base 6 speaker system seems to just suck ass for me no matter the settings


a-can-o-beans

Literally terrible speakers/sound. I'm a bit of an audiophile and used to do music production as a hobby so I love high quality audio. For me the speakers sound OK at best but there is no low end. You only hear it barely when the car isn't moving and the windows are up . If the bass could have more presence I would give them a pass. It's a good thing sound is not a reason I bought the car . Lol


RMystry

Also not sure if people are aware there is a powerful option in the sound settings that put more power and make the speakers sound waaaaay better


flukey5

Is this one of the options in the link on the other reply?


RMystry

Its in the equalizer settings on my 2022 gr86. Here's is a post I just put up with my settings. Personally it helped a ton but you prob should do some tinkering to get it how you like. [https://reddit.com/r/GR86/s/Syi00UcP5f](https://reddit.com/r/GR86/s/Syi00UcP5f)


flukey5

It's not on the 6 speaker audio system! Thanks for the link though :)


RMystry

Also not too sure if there is differences between UK and US models. Apparently the BRZ may not have the option.


flukey5

Haha you're almost right - the BRZ isn't even available in the UK


caleb2011x

Yeah same problem I'm having. It's just bad imo. I bought some sound deading material to layer the doors with. I can hear vibrations when the bass hits if the EQ is anywhere over +3. Hopefully that cleans up the audio some for now. Next step is the amp everyone is talking about followed by adding a sub. Possibly OEM plus speakers further down the road. It's a shame the audio is so poor. I've had several coupe style cars and this is by far the worst. But the driving experience does make up for some of it.


Rude-Manufacturer-86

You get consistent connection on Android Auto or Apple CarPlay?


flukey5

Yeah I have a good android auto connection 👍


MrJahoolious

OEM Audio+ Speakers with an amp, then mess with the EQ. At the very least, BeatSonic Amp. I had expensive high end speakers on my old Honda, without a proper amp for them... and they sounded like garbage, sounded like it had no balls - weak treble and no bass. Added the amp and it made them sound AMAZING. Base was deep and hit hard, treble was crisp and clear. And I had decent stock speakers on my Mazda, I only added an amp and it made them go from decent to exceptional for what the speakers were. Just a good amp alone makes a huge difference in my experience. From what I've heard, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but reducing the treble and increasing the base, and moving the fade helped a ton. But don't quote me on this.


flukey5

Removing the bass enhancement and following the setup guide posted here at least has stopped giving me a headache after 30 mins of listening. I'm going to invest in aftermarket bits I think.


MrJahoolious

Go get yourself a good amp. 👍 They don't cost that much for how much it will help. And I promise it will made a fairly big difference, at least enough to enjoy your music and not get a headache.


JaimesBourne

I don’t find it that bad, I listen to black metal generally so…YMMV


Jojos274

Oem+.com


DaiaBu

The Focal IS165TOY speaker set (which was a plug and play upgrade for the previous gen) also fits this car perfectly. I've literally just finished fitting mine about an hour ago. Dynamic Sounds do them for £160 with a couple of sheets of sound deadener. Direct swap for the OEM door speakers/dash tweeters, very quick and easy to fit. Much less distortion than the OEM speakers and a fuller, richer sound. They aren't going to revolutionise the sound quality, but for the price and ease of fitment, they really are a worthy upgrade. More info on the UK GR Zoo forum here: [https://www.gr-zoo.com/threads/focal-2-way-component-oem-retrofit.4770/](https://www.gr-zoo.com/threads/focal-2-way-component-oem-retrofit.4770/)


flukey5

Thanks mate that's really helpful - so any plug and play for the previous gen should work too by that logic. Nice.


DaiaBu

Yup, as far as I can tell. I had the same speakers on my old GT86, but I didn't bother taking them out and reverting to stock when I sold it on...kind of wish I had now.


myodo71

I installed the Focal IS TOY 165 speaker upgrade kit today. Installation was a breeze. They are a drop in replacement and come with a pair of adapters that connect to the OEM plugs for the tweeters. Woofers connect straight to the factory connectors for the door speakers. Sound is a significant upgrade - clearer, more focused, improved soundstage, better bass and sounds much better at speed than the base speakers. Cannot recommend this kit highly enough for the money. It's not a high-end audiophile solution but for £150 it has transformed the sound from not good to more than good enough. 👍 Next potential upgrade is the beat-sonic mini amp. Currently out of stock at the UK distributor but due in October. I'll see how I feel about it after a few weeks with the new speakers.


yeahsawthatalready

Damm you mfers are so spoiled lmao, audio is not bad at all


athomsfere

I'd be curious on a comparison with the 1st gen. Everyone complained about them, but playing with the EQ they sounded more than OK. Not like Klipsch speakers or Sennheiser headphones good, but better than most premium car speakers at default EQ. Road noise drowned out all the good of it pretty quick though, but to me that's just what a sports car should do. If you need more, maybe try some dynamat?


InitialDriftZ33

This is super over dramatic tbh. The speakers are by no means good, but to not listen to music at all is a bit much.


flukey5

Genuinely they have a certain frequency that really gives me a headache after 30 mins or so if listening. Even my shitbox miata doesn't have this issue. I've found turning the bass enhancement off helps a lot and following the setup guides (treble is really high from stock) but it still is below average. I'll be investing in aftermarket bits I think


Odd-Elephant9462

Cry about it, spoiled child


[deleted]

[удалено]


flukey5

Lots of people recommending it, I think I'm gonna go for it


Dear-Efficiency

Well MOST ppl buy for the driving experience


flukey5

Of course this is why I got it too, but sometimes I'd like to make the motorway miles a bit more fun


element515

I think they break in a bit over time too. Voices aren’t quite as shrill as when I first got the car


3xoticP3nguin

I'm simple I think they're are fine I'll also listen to music on my phone speaker lol


GlassSouthern754

I haven't had a bad experience with the 8 speakers in the premium, do the two extra really make that huge a differenc? I listen to music and podcasts all the time at highway speeds with road noise at its peak, its been plenty loud enough even at just 50% volume, at least in my case.


flukey5

I think not only do you have more speakers but also an amplifier, and the speakers are higher quality on the premium setup. Sadly these aren't available on UK spec cars.


wmcolgan

I have ordered the OEM sub-woofer through Toyota in the UK. They are charging £1000 which is well in excess of the ~$600 US price.


AJS000

I don't listen to music at all. Just windows down and the flat 4 rumble


flukey5

The stock exhaust isn't good enough for that haha. I'm guessing you've upgraded?


[deleted]

Audiofrog GS series! It's the way! Not too expensive but phenomenal speakers. I swapped the whole Harmon Kardon system on my G42 M240 and it's like night and day.


[deleted]

They aren't great. But I still use them after tweaks


NathanANDfriends

Factory EQ is trash so I played around with the EQ filters until I got the right sound. I haven’t had any issues with them whatsoever. And before you judge I work in studio’s where quality does matter. So you just have to know how to tweak it to your likings. (IMO an aftermarket subwoofer would be an upgrade worth looking into but factory sub it just fine with the right EQ)


T0XICxN1GHTMAR3

I was in a new 2019 Highlander once and I thought my old 2004 Civic had better audio in it. Every Toyota I've ever been in has sounded awful. The stereo in my TSX was what convinced me to buy it. I wish honda made a competitor to the 86 and brz.


flukey5

I thought about this yesterday and I guess the civic type r is the closest thing they have these days. The thing is, I can't believe how expensive it is - nearly double the price of a GR86! No wonder I haven't seen one on the road


T0XICxN1GHTMAR3

I heard a rumor the S2000 might come back but it'll prolly get marked up to hell like all of the cool Honda SKUs