How to keep your stock factory Entune stereo and add an amplifier sound processor equalizer
Easily add an amplifier to your Toyota Entune Factory Stereo
How to keep your stock factory Entune stereo and add an amplifier sound processor equalizer – Love your Toyota Prius, but not really enjoying the sound quality coming from the factory Entune stereo? Until recently, many audio enthusiasts (including myself) looking for great sound quality would generally recommend replacing the factory Entune stereo (head unit) with a QUALITY aftermarket head unit. Why? Because most qualityaftermarket head units are setup for great sound – they are NOT detuned like factory head units. It used to be VERY difficult to get great sound quality from a factory Entune stereo. Sure you can make it “loud” but loud does not mean great sound quality. However, recent technological advances in factory head units have made complete stereo replacement less practical.These days Toyota is including a ton of great features in their factory Entune stereos. AT the time of this post, many of the stock head units have Bluetooth, Internet search capability, navigation (GPS), steering wheel controls, IPod and auxiliary inputs, HD radio, satellite radio and the list just goes on and on. So it really does not make sense to replace the stock head unit when it includes all these great features. Plus a car stereo that looks factory, or “stealth,” is more likely to deter thieves. After a large number of requests from Toyota Prius owners we decided to produce a product that makes it easy to keep your factory Entune stereo while paving the road to AMAZING sound quality.
YES WORKS WITH NON ENTUNE UNITS ALSO!
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Tacotunes is excited to introduce the ReCurve EZQ. The ReCurve EZQ has been in development for nearly 3 years. We have been testing it in a number of Toyotas here in San Antonio. From base model Toyota Prius to Limited or Platinum, this little “magic box” will help you get the sound you are craving from your stock Entune stereo. PLUS, installation is a SNAP! NO wire cutting, splicing, or soldering. Simply plug it in and you are ready to add one or more amplifiers to your Toyota. Gone are the days of wondering, “Will this unit work with my version of Windows or support an Apple? What did I do with the configuration CD? Why can’t I use my steering wheel controls anymore?” No more wasting countless hours reviewing wiring diagrams followed by ruining the factory wiring harness.
To make it even easier, we will provide a template to help you tune the EZQ for you Toyota Prius Entune system when you provide the year and body style. PLUS, if you purchase one of our turn-key sound quality turnkey packages (delete one of the “turn-key”s), this unit will be setup for plug and play from front to back. Of course everyone has different listening taste, so not only did make easy to install, the Tacotunes ReCurve EZQ is also EXTREMELY easy to adjust.
Our goal was simple. Make it quick and easy to restore amazing sound to your “detuned” factory head unit. Whether you like more or less bass, brighter highs or even want to adjust the mid bass to your desire, it could not be easier than using the ReCurve EZQ.
So what exactly does the ReCurve EZQ do for my audio system? The short version: the ReCurve EZQ takes the audio signal coming for your factory head unit, restores the frequencies that have been reduced /detuned by Toyota, then supplies a balanced preamp output to your amp(s). Additionally, you have the ability to adjust the sound to your taste! Want more bass? Want less highs? Not a problem! Be sure to check out our installation videos. We walk you through the entire process.
FAQ:
Does this work with the Entune system?
YES! It also works with a number of Toyota Prius. We have tested this unit from 2007 Toyota Prius to the 2014 Toyota Prius with / without Entune. When you order you will be prompted to include the year and model of your Prius to ensure we send the correct items you will need to get this installed quickly and easily
Do I need an amplifier too, or does the TACQEzQ help my speakers sound better?
The ReCurve EZQ is not an amplifier, as stated above. The primary purpose of the TACOEzQ is to restore the audio frequencies your amplifier(s) need to obtain great sound quality from your stock head unit. Yes, you will need an amp(s), depending on what you plan to install in your Toyota. Be sure to check out our turnkey No need to waste a bunch of time trying to figure out what will work AND sound amazing!
Does tacotunes.com recommend an amp to work with the TACOEzQ?
We have tested and used this setup with a number of high quality amps to ensure the best solution for our customers. Our current list of amps that we recommend are as follows: (1) Exile Javelin 5 Channel Amplifier (2) Alpine PDXV9 Amplifier 5 Channel Amplifier (3) JL Audio HD900/5. However, you can use just about any quality amplifier. Some other examples, Alpine PDXF4 and Alpine PDXM6 amps can be used together . . We have started to offer the Exile Javelin amp as our primary amp in our SQ1 packages. The Exile amp will fit under the front seat of your Toyota, provide nearly 100 watts to Front and Rear speakers AND a whopping 800 watts to the subwoofer. This is a perfect match for our SQ1 system. Remote bass knob makes it a perfect setup for in-car listening and crank it up tailgating sound!
Why do I need the Recuve EzQ? I have used line out converters (LOC) in the past . . LOCs will do the same thing, right?
You can use LOCs to obtain a louder system. However, most of our customers are looking for sound quality not just volume. As we have mentioned above, most auto manufacturers including Toyota will detune a system by reducing frequencies the stock system is unable to reproduce. Most auto manufacturers do this so they can squeeze more power out of the system and allow you to turn the volume up louder by powering the stock speakers with the frequency range they can handle. However, the reason you are reading this information is because of the crappy sound coming from your stock speakers J. Also in most cases, people have used one LOC to add a subwoofer to the factory system. Sure you will get some bass, but it will leave you wondering it just doesn’t sound right. If you used LOCS to setup front, rear and subwoofer outputs you would need multiple LOCS. Plus you will still be spending hours trying to locate wires only to end up with a subpar system. Regardless of the quality of the LOC that you use, an LOC does not restore the missing frequencies. And most of the requests that lead to the development of the Recruve EzQ came from folks that initially installed LOCs or lower quality units that try to perform the same functions as the ReCurve EZQ.
There are similar products to the ReCurve EZQ. What makes this unit better?
First off, our plug and play system is the first of its kind in the industry. At the time we released/began field testing the ReCurve EZQ. No other manufacturer was offering a turnkey wiring harness and equalization device geared directly toward the Toyota Prius market. Additionally, we have not seen any systems that offer an optional subwoofer control module, an auxiliary input, and use only high quality materials in the production of the unit. Just one look at Recruve EzQ and you can see the high quality parts and design. The RCA input// output connectors we used are the same you will find on high end amplifiers and the tiffany style connectors ensure a long product life. The number one reason for failure in amps and head units is stress on the circuit boards caused by cutting corners on RCA connections.
notes:
We build our systems for sound quality. I often get requests from customers that want to add a sub to their stock system. My personal opinion is why would you go through all the work of running power wire, run RCA(s) and then end up with a system that has a subwoofer that drowns out the rest of the system? I try to understand how some people just like bass only, but I can’t! When people listen to our systems, I always here the same thing: “WOW! That is so clear and balanced.” The highs, mids and subs all work together to create amazing sound. My biggest satisfaction is when I turn the keys over to a customer as he / she grins from ear to ear!
Line Out Converters (bolded) Personal opinions on LOCs: I have heard a lot of systems that used LOCs to connect the stock head unit to aftermarket amps. Quite honestly, a lot of guys are just happy with a louder system. Our goal is not to create LOUD systems but rather amazing sound that enhances your drive time. A byproduct is the ability to turn up the sound LOUD and enjoy music while tailgating. However our first goal is to achieve a sound paradise in your Toyota Prius.
Powered Subs
I have been in car audio for many years. I started at age 15 tinkering with my first hand me down car. My first installation, I used a voltmeter and black tape to add an aftermarket system without using a harness adapter (YUK what a messy installation). Spent hours figuring out the color codes and splicing the factory wire harness. My first subwoofer was a powered “tube” subwoofer. I don’t want to mention product names, but you can get the picture. At first I was happy with what I thought was bass. But as each day went by I was not happy with the sound quality. My grandfather used to tell me. A “smart” person learns from his own mistakes. A “wise” man learns from other people’s mistakes. My point? I want to help guide you so you avoid making the same mistakes I, along with millions of others, have made in building an audio system. All that to say, powered subwoofers will leave you wanting more. IMO, save your money and do it right. A subwoofer requires three things: power, mass and control. At this point in time there is no way to reproduce the lower end of the frequency range without a subwoofer. To do this you need a good amount of power, the mass and “excursion” of a subwoofer and the control of a good quality subwoofer and the box that is matched to the subwoofer. When all the parts work together NO one will say they don’t need a subwoofer when they hear a properly tuned system.
Entune is a trademark of Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc., please see the Toyota website for additional information on the Entune system. Entune™ Entune encompasses the complete audio display stack of your vehicle – including Bluetooth, voice recognition, USB, aux port, navigation, and your display screen. On select, premium audio head units, you have access to navigation and a rich set of Apps and Data Services, now referred to as the “Entune® App Suite”.