Subwoofer and Amp install Help for 09 Prius with JBL System

The JBL system already has an amplifier under the passenger seat, so I am not exactly sure how to go about putting in another amplifier. The only thing I could guess it use the OEM JBL amp with the wiring harness and then use the ports on the back of the new headunit that are for the aftermarket amp and subwoofer. In my Gen 3, I was planning on putting a subwoofer/amp combo underneath my passenger seat when ever I install a new headunit, but mine doesn't have the JBL system and amp. The JBL system is actually pretty easy to deal with when installing just a headunit. Some of the audio geniuses who have dealt with this more than I have will probably reply here pretty soon.

 

The real question is why anyone would want a sub-woofer in a car.

 

When you drive an Avalon with a JBL sound system and a subwoofer, you will know why. A subwoofer finishes out the sound system very nicely. I never knew why anyone would want one either, but when you hear the difference, you'll know. know some people like a subwoofer to shake the whole car; but if you have subwoofer set a certain way in the subwoofer settings of your radio, you can make it sound very good with not too much bass. Also, they make some subwoofers very small and compact so that it will fit underneath the seat. Its called a subwoofer/amplifier combo

 

I’ve only observed them in cars at stop lights where the idiot shakes the whole area. I have one on my home audio system for TV surround sound but as you say at a low level.

 

Even better (IMO) is the spare tire sub-woofer option. The two underseat powered subs I've tried previously don't compare.

A tremendous bang 4 buck is the high/self-powered rockville. YES, it can be adjusted to overpower the car (thumping, rattle stuff) but it has a hand controller to adjust it to "perfect" amounts of fill in low end bass that traditional door mount speakers fail to achieve.

The huge plus (besides being incredibly affordable) is it takes up zero extra room in cars with a spare tire or a spare tire area and is hidden from the bad people. It has quick disconnects when one does need to access the spare.

Rockville RockGhost Active 8" Car Subwoofer For 15"/16"/17" Full Size Spare Tire

My current setup in a Mazda 5 uses two powered 8 inch subs: a soundforce front underseat and this rockville spare tire sub for the rear setup. They are connected to the sub-outs from the Pioneer headunit. Comparing the two is a non-contest as the rockville makes the soundforce almost sound (pun not intended) like it's not hooked up or something. It's that big of a difference yet they are the same price. The only downside I can think of is size as the rockville is too big to fit under most seats (it wasn't designed to); maybe some trucks.

 

Crutchfield is an awesome resource for questions like these. Also, they can build, fairly cheaply and quickly, harness adapters to by-pass the JBL or any other specific need one has.

GOOD LUCK!

 

Audio level coming from the JBL head is fixed. The JBL head (steering wheel) has digital adjustments on a control bus to tell the remote JBL amp to volume up/down or the MDF to adjust front/rear/right/left and tone levels. Should be able to find mating connectors for the speakers to bypass the remote amp. Basically you will abandon the JBL system and rewire new head system and power amps. IMO, save the money for the HV battery...

 

Just put a line out converter in, I plan to try it in my 04, wire it to the rear speaker wires coming out of the head unit before the amp, you would splice it, they would go to jbl amp and LOC, then run your rcas from loc to amp along with remote wire (I wired it to cigarette lighter, and rewired cigarette lighter to have constant power) and power ground sound!
I don’t see why you couldn’t wire in a loc from rear speakers after the amp too, loc should be adjustable for sending power to amp, this is how I’m going to try it since idk what color the wires are for rear speakers

 

This what I did with my 08

 

How’s your hearing?