Encore Alpha ENA-2S1 Amplifier Install: Toyota GR86 & Subaru BRZ
If you've ever driven a Toyota GR86 or Subaru BRZ and wondered why the stock audio sounds flat, underpowered, and lifeless even with the volume cranked, you're not imagining things. The factory head unit in the GR86 / BRZ pushes limited wattage to the speakers, which means vocals get buried, bass goes missing, and the entire cabin ends up feeling like the soundtrack doesn't match the car's performance. In this install breakdown, we're dropping the Encore Alpha ENA-2S1 power amplifier into a GR86 / BRZ using a fully plug-and-play harness. Our method has no cutting, no splicing, and nothing permanent, to show exactly how a bolt-on amp transforms a weak factory system into something that actually sounds like it belongs in a sports coupe.
Why the Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ Factory Audio Falls Short
The GR86 is a driver's car first and an audio platform second. Toyota engineered the cabin around performance, lightweight construction, and road feel, not high-fidelity sound. The result is a head unit that produces low-wattage output to the door and dash speakers, which limits dynamic range, headroom, and low-end response. When you're trying to hear music over road noise, tire hum, and the flat-four engine note, the factory system simply doesn't have the muscle to deliver. That's where adding a dedicated external amplifier makes the single biggest difference you can make to your car's sound without replacing a single speaker.
What Is the Encore Alpha ENA-2S1 Power Amplifier?
The ENA-2S1 is part of our Encore Series amplifier lineup. This plug-and-play power amp kit is built for drivers who want a meaningful audio upgrade without tearing apart their dash or hiring an installer. It taps directly into the factory wiring using vehicle-specific harnesses, boosts the signal with clean, amplified power, and sends it back to your existing speakers. No aftermarket head unit required. No speaker swaps required. No cutting, soldering, or permanent modifications.
Who This Encore Alpha Amplifier Is Built For
This install is aimed at GR86 owners (and drivers of similar vehicles with underpowered factory audio) who want to keep the clean OEM look of their dash, preserve factory features like steering wheel controls and backup camera integration, and still get a dramatic jump in sound quality. If you've looked at our broader amplifier collection and wanted a solution that doesn't require expert-level installation skill, this is the one.
Step-by-Step GR86 Amplifier Install Breakdown
Here's how the install goes on a Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ, from start to finish. The full process takes under an hour for most DIYers with basic hand tools.
Step 1: Remove the Factory Radio
The first step is to remove the head unit. On the GR86 / BRZ, the center dash trim pops off with careful prying around the edges. Once the trim is free, the radio is held in with a small number of screws, back them out and the unit slides forward. Disconnect the factory harnesses and the antenna lead, and set the radio in a safe place. This is the only step that requires any real patience, because you want to keep the trim panel clips intact for reinstall.
Step 2: Connect the Encore Alpha Amplifier
This is where the plug-and-play design pays off. The ENA-2S1 harness plugs directly into the factory radio connectors; one side plugs into the back of the head unit, and the other plugs into the vehicle's original harness. The amplifier module itself tucks cleanly behind the dash. No butt splices, no T-taps, no wiring diagrams to decode. If you can plug in a phone charger, you can connect this amp.
Step 3: Reinstall and Sound Test
With the amp connected, the radio slides back into place, the trim snaps back together, and power returns to the vehicle. The moment you hit play, the difference is obvious. Bass has weight, mids have body, and highs have clarity that the factory system physically could not produce. No EQ wizardry required, the amp does the work.
Before and After: The Sound Test Results
The best way to judge an audio upgrade is to listen back-to-back, and the GR86 delivers an honest comparison. Factory audio in the before clip sounds boxed-in and thin, especially on bass-heavy tracks. After the ENA-2S1 goes in, the same tracks fill the cabin with power and definition. Drums hit harder, vocals sit forward in the mix, and the whole system feels like it finally matches the car's energy. This is the kind of result that normally takes a full aftermarket rebuild, and we're getting it with one plug-and-play amplifier.
Why Plug-and-Play Amplification Beats a Full Rebuild
Ripping out factory audio and building a custom system is expensive, time-consuming, and often voids the clean OEM aesthetic that GR86 owners want to preserve. A plug-and-play amp like the ENA-2S1 gives you the single biggest sonic upgrade available, without any of the downsides. You keep your stock head unit, you keep your steering wheel controls, you keep your factory look, and you reverse the install in minutes if you ever sell the car or go back to stock.
What Vehicles Does the ENA-2S1 Install Work For?
While this video focuses on the Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ, the same plug-and-play amplifier concept applies across a wide range of vehicles with underpowered factory audio systems. We build vehicle-specific Encore Series kits for multiple Toyota, Lexus, Subaru, and other popular platforms. Browse our full amplifier collection to find the right fit, and check our newest product releases for the latest vehicle applications.
Upgrade Your GR86 Audio Today
The Toyota GR86 / Subaru BRZ is one of the most fun cars you can buy under $35K, but the factory audio has no business being in a performance coupe. The Encore Alpha ENA-2S1 fixes that in under an hour with zero permanent modifications. If you're looking for the easiest, cleanest, highest-impact audio upgrade for your GR86, this is it.