5th Gen JL Audio Stealbox

After using a factory JBL enclose with a 8 inch W1v3, I finally pulled the trigger on a Stealthbox. Just got it installed.
Oddly, after 6 months of using the W1 8 inch, it really started to sound good and got much harder. I was underwhelmed up until that point.

For quick reference, I have also installed a Pioneer 2700NEX, a 5 channel JL Audio RD900/5, and upgraded all my door/hatch/dash speakers with JBL club 6x9’s, Pioneer 2-3/4 dash, Kicker KSC650 rear doors(being replaced with Illusion Audio 6.5’s and some random Sony 6.5’s in the hatch(I want to replace those also.

Install was NOT smooth. The instructions differed from my 4Runner SR5 non third row. There are 5 mounting locations in which I was only able to utilize 3. I had to completely bend one tab in the lower middle section just to fit the box in. I also had to remove the lower right side mounting bracket on the Stealthbox because, again, there was no place to secure it at all for the M6 bolt. Furthest right side mounting tab also had to be slightly bent to get the box to slide in. I bent it back and secured it, but the tab got cracked partially. If there’s any interest, I’ll upload a diagram to show the points of reference.

And now for the sound! I’ll cut right to the chase, it sounds good, and definitely deeper than my 8 inch, which is to be expected, but I definitely expected more going from a 8 to a 10 with double the wattage.
It’s still a good upgrade, and I may need to keep making adjustments. That 8 inch made me a believer in a sub “break in period” as well. So we’ll see how it sounds in a few months.
I got the Stealthbox from Creative Audio. I actually like these guys even more than Crutchfield. I asked if they had any refurbished models or open-box models because $1500 was out of my budget, and they knocked they just told me no, but they could do it for $1,275 shipped. I jumped on it and had it in a week. They are an authorized dealer so I wasn’t worried.
I’m pretty happy overall. The $225 knocked off helped with the sting. And I do think it will continue to sound better/louder with time.

Edit: I have recently adjusted my JL amp and WOW!!! This thing absolutely slams!!!! I used a -10db 50hz test tone to set my gains and the power is unreal now!! I actually have to keep my volume lower cause it’s pounding my eardrums, not even kidding! I previously used a 0db 50hz test tone, and found out that even though it’s fail safe for distortion, it leaves a lot of power on the table after you go listen to actual music.

 

Great job. I agree, they sound very good and it's great how they just blend in. The worst paqrt for me was all the wiggling and twisting to get the enclosure to fit in the opening.

 

Thanks man, I really appreciate it! And yeah, that was insanely difficult fitting that! I almost gave up at one point. Thought I had some defective one that was out of spec. Lol!
I really do like the look, or factory hidden aspect of it. I didn’t want to give up cargo space.

 

Looks good. I want to replace my OEM Audio duals for this but haven’t done it.

 

Was always curious about the OEM Audio. Were they just ok? Seems like it’d be nice to have a sub on each side to help fill the sound.

 

I love it but there’s very little headroom. I had the single sub at first then upgraded to dual. It sounds great most of the time but play something like Nine Inch Nails - Down In It and it will get overwhelmed during the extended bass notes but kills the quick hits. I don’t want to melt the hardware of the acr next to me but sometimes I just want to feel the bass drum.

Also it limits your drawer capabilities if you were going that route since most use turnbuckles at the rear tie down point which need to be removed when the subs go in and the passenger side sub uses the nutsert in the body for mounting.

 

Nice! I was leaning heavily towards your setup, but I didn’t have the nearly $2k or more to buy everything all at once. I’ve built my system over the last 8 months. Otherwise I probably would’ve went with that. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the OEM.
Personally, if I didn’t care about cargo space, I’d have like 2 JL W6’s back there, but I couldn’t give up the space.