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2016 owners - How is your sound system?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Danny Troy, Jan 30, 2016.

  1. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    Sure it can if you haven't lost the upper frequencies and have it on full back speaker. my wife was complaining all the time as she only has good hearing in the right ear.:ROFLMAO:
     
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  2. glennonrp

    glennonrp Active Member

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    I am very happy with my sound system. I've had the car now for two months. Most music sounds great through it. I wish the equalizer had more bands but I can't call that a huge fault. Most of the time, I feel the sound is clear and detailed, especially considering which source I'm using. I have tried FM, XM, Bluetooth from Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, and an iPod. XM sounds the worst in my opinion. I don't know if it's the signal itself or their sources (i.e. what they are using to play like a CD or MP3). It almost always has compression artifacts that I can hear and it bugs me. I don't plan on subscribing unless it's very cheap.

    Bluetooth sounds really good to me. I have seen people complaining about it. I'm using an iPhone 6s. I suspect that it could have something to do with their source material too. I usually set both Pandora and Spotify to higher bitrates for streaming. I don't like to hear the compression. And this sound system can reveal it! iPod through the dock connector sounds great, too. In fact, if the stream were enough Kbps I don't think I would be able to tell the difference in a blind test.

    The iPod controls through the head unit leave me a bit unhappy. But it's not horrible. Or maybe I don't know how to use it well. But I have over 120gb of music files, >16K songs, and it can be cumbersome to browse. First world problem.

    I think that it's really good. It certainly could be improved. But I feel happy when my jam is playing and I'm running down the road on my 17's in my sweet Prius, turning all the heads. :) Haters gonna hate.


    iPhone ?
     
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  3. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    It rocks real slow and quiet for me.:LOL: Rocking with Beethoven
     
  4. Danny Troy

    Danny Troy Member

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    Now that I have the base Four, I am not all that happy with the sound quality. I miss the pillar mounted tweeters (which I upgraded) in my Gen II. I'm wondering if it would be worth the trouble to upgrade the tweeters in this car. Looks like it would be a major job to get to them though, since they are dash mounted near the windshield.
     
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  5. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),Highlander HYB Plat,B52-D,G,F,H

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    Those were nice on the 2009 Touring Four but the new system is fine for me.
     
  6. Gen 2 Tom

    Gen 2 Tom Active Member

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    My Gen 4, model 3 with the standard sound system, is better than my Gen 2. It's got power, clear crisp sound with a lot of base. I like it. Also HD radio which I never had on any car or radio. HD on some stations gives you multiple broadcasts.
     
  7. Danny Troy

    Danny Troy Member

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    After using it for two weeks, 1400 miles later, and after the addition of a small headphone amp, I am satisfied with the sound. I still miss the pillar mounted tweeters, but the sound is not bad and I can live with it. Even with tinnitus in both ears, I can hear the slightly improved quality when using a line out from my cell phone, to the aux input, as opposed to Bluetooth. Bluetooth is not bad, but the direct line is better, and I'm trying to eek every little bit of quality I can out of the system. I listen to jazz mostly, so I enjoy very high quality. I guess a classical music aficionado would feel the same. The small headphone amp I use is a DIY kit from eBay. I have actually bought 4 kits for different uses. They are fun kits to assemble, they sound great, and I have several uses from them. Here's a link, in case anyone is interested. Comes from China, so you must be patient, as it can take a while to get to the USA. Portable Headphone Amplifier Board Amp Module Kits for Classic 47 DIY with Case | eBay
     
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  8. jerpoint

    jerpoint Junior Member

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    I have requested upgrade to Premiun JBL audio system on my new Prius. Can you please inform me where exactly the 10 speakers are located. The dash speakers have a JBL speaker sticker on them but are the same speakers as on the standard Prius. Am suspicious that this is a con so hence would be really grateful to know where the 10 speakers are situated on the excel model. Thanks.
     
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  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    See attached PDF.

    It's 10 speakers in 6 locations. The rear door speaker has a full range and a tweeter. The dashboard-mounted speakers are a midrange and a tweeter.

    Edit: Also see Post #6

    2016 owners - How is your sound system? | PriusChat
     

    Attached Files:

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  10. Gen 2 Tom

    Gen 2 Tom Active Member

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    My model 3 its ok.
     
  11. Archimedes

    Archimedes Junior Member

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    Anyone know if the Eco two has an amp installed anywhere? If I'd like to upgrade it.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  12. MrMischief

    MrMischief Active Member

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    Where my spare tire is, maybe?
     
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  13. jerpoint

    jerpoint Junior Member

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    Would like to say thanks to member Tidelands Prius for his assistance. Very helpful PDF file.
     
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  14. RCO

    RCO Senior Member

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    Have only used my audio twice so far and even though it's not job, I still think the sound is rich and strong with sliders at mid point. Can't say I'm an audiophile, just an average Joe so not sure what this is worth to the aficionados.
    :whistle:
     
  15. Archimedes

    Archimedes Junior Member

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    I'm thinking of adding a 4 channel 400 watt amplifier to my stock system. Anyone think it's a bad idea?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  16. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    When its on, it will cost you about 1 MPG at highway speed.

    At 60 mph you are using about 300 watt-hours per minute of energy to run the car. 400 watts for one minute is about 6 watt hours which is about 2% of the driving energy so 1 mpg.

    JeffD
     
  17. Archimedes

    Archimedes Junior Member

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    Whatahell, so I lose MPG if I want to upgrade my audio system?

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  18. MrMischief

    MrMischief Active Member

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    Did you remember to factor in the additional weight?
     
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  19. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    Nope, just a quick energy use estimate. You also need to remember to keep a Prius in "ready" so as to not drain the 12v battery (dead in 1+ hours).

    JeffD
     
  20. BLITZ XW50

    BLITZ XW50 Member

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    For me the speakers are ok in my Prius 3. They're not great but not bad. The only bad thing i notice is when having anything in the door pockets (water bottle, extra set of sunglasses (passenger) or the random fork from a drive thru. (instant vibrating noise - drives me nuts, sounds like a blown speaker).