speaker refoam - do I need the OEM gasket?

[irreducible]

A few weeks back I took the front door woofers out and replaced them with some hertz dieci (crutchfield's recommendation) speakers. I don't like the sound and I'm pretty sure I'll send them back. Getting an amp in and all that seems like a ton of work, especially since dealing with the oem radio is prohibitively expensive.

I heard about the refoam kits after I pulled the speakers and unfortunately it seems I threw away one of the gaskets when I did my first install. Does anybody have any experience regarding refoaming without the gasket? SimplySpeakers told me that they're not always necessary but couldn't confirm.

 

[excessive]

the gasket that goes from the speaker basket to the doorframe?

 

[irreducible]

the gasket that goes from the speaker basket to the doorframe?

That’s right. Here’s a picture of the one I didn’t throw away accidentally.

Basically the audio just sounds off right now and I’m thinking oem will sound balanced if nothing else.

Then again, my daily driver is an 08 es350, and Lexus IME makes fantastic sound systems. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled and I should just stop being a baby and install an amp.

 

[Live to Ski]

also, consider the speaker resistances.

I believe the '04 (and all?) came with 2 ohm. that resistance is really hard to find. Most auto speakers are 4 ohm i believe.

Not sure if that affects the sound qulity, but I suspect it does (as me how I know).

 

[irreducible]

also, consider the speaker resistances.

I believe the '04 (and all?) came with 2 ohm. that resistance is really hard to find. Most auto speakers are 4 ohm i believe.

Not sure if that affects the sound qulity, but I suspect it does (as me how I know).

I think that’s the problem I’m having. They’re 2 Ohms and the aftermarket ones are 4 so they suck. Crutchfield made it sounds like they’d be passable on the phone but I’m not finding that.

It seems like putting in the aftermarket amp might be necessary. Part of me wants to try to refoam and see if it’s passable as is, but I feel like people on this forum generally think that the OEM sound is trash

 

[Live to Ski]

I think that’s the problem I’m having. They’re 2 Ohms and the aftermarket ones are 4 so they suck. Crutchfield made it sounds like they’d be passable on the phone but I’m not finding that.

It seems like putting in the aftermarket amp might be necessary. Part of me wants to try to refoam and see if it’s passable as is, but I feel like people on this forum generally think that the OEM sound is trash

Trash: hard for me to believe Toyota would lower their standard especially when buyers put emphasis on sound quality. Note the premium branding with jbl.

Plus, have not "heard" ( pun intended) much dissatisfaction in the ranks about oem sound quality especially in a suv environment (road/wind noise).

Believe me, since my speakers were replaced, though not the base out back, I have plenty to complain about.