Replace jbl front speakers?

Do yourself a really big favor....read the following thread!

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...05-jbl-premium-sound-front-speaker-blown.html

Then just go and buy the correct speaker from your local Toyota Dealer. You may save a couple of bucks at a Toyota parts on line place.
Just pay attention to the thread I referred you to. The ending says it all!

 

Hello,
I will start out telling you I have never replaced car speakers... but speakers you could say are up my alley. I have fixed many speakers in my life and am somewhat of an audiophile.

First thing is first: buying replacement speakers will be a big waste of money. When you buy a mass market audio product (anything at bestbuy or other big electronic store) for speakers there is a ratio. Usually it cost a 10th to make (sometimes less) so if you buy $1,000 of speakers they probably cost $100 to make... For somethings (like car stuff) brands can get away with more. So buying from Toyota would be an expensive route. Often the drivers (speakers) that major brands like jbl, B&W, Pioneer, and most brands out there are not that expensive.

I would recommend going to Parts-Express.com

I have bought from parts Express before and they provide good quality components and good service at a great price. You should be able to get new and better drivers for very cheap....

Just to tell you how much brands charge I saw a Sony Mini System (I have never liked the sound of one) it was $900!!! with 4 speakers I saw the legit Sony replacement drivers for under $2 each on parts express... Parts Express and Sony are both making money selling the replacement drivers at that price too!

Now one of the most important things about a speaker is the cabinet. (what is the density? material? is it ported? and most importantly how big is the enclosure?) When JBL made your Prius sound system they specifically designed that enclosure for the speaker. So you will want a driver (speaker) with similar specs. if you need help I may be of some assistance however the guys on the parts Express forums may be of better assistance.
Also even though a driver may not be specifically designed for the cabinet space if it is a higher quality driver it can definitely be an improvement.
Also your speaker most likely blew because your amplifier shorted. Many people make think (I used to a few years ago too) that if you have an amp that is 100 watts you should have speakers that can take atleast 200 watts so they can handle the power of the amp WRONG It is actually the other way around. If a speaker can take a 100 watts that means that if you give it more than a 100 watts it will not get any louder. You can put 800 watts into a 100 speaker and it will not damage it. It simply will not be louder than what it was at 100 watts. In reality you want an amplifier that is twice as powerful as what your speakers can handle. When people make cars they usually design the engine to go at about half speed. (a car that can go 120mph is meant to go roughly 60mph) If you are driving the car a 120mph or close to that all the time it will be very hard on the engine. Amplifiers are the same way if they are pushed hard all the time it will wear on them and it may cause them to short. When an amp shorts it sends raw heat to your driver which in turn melts the voice coil effectively blowing it.

If you don't push your system too hard just get speakers replacements however if you do push it you will just blow more and a more powerful amp may be in order. As far as DIY stuff goes most of those guys on the Parts Express forums are "DIY" crazy... I mean seriously they do everything from hifi speakers, to car subs, and whatever else they can think to do... (let me tell you they are a creative bunch!)

Sorry for the ultra long post... (sorry I like audio stuff...) anyways I hope I was of some help.
Shhalom,
Matthias

 

raw heat????? door designed for the speaker??? ok... so. forgive my ignorance on the effects of replacing the jbl oem speakers, but I haven't been able to even find replacement woofers in 2 or 3 ohm. I'm about one mm from sticking 4 ohm woofers in my new (to me) '06. and I am hoping some few of y'all might have replaced their jbl's with aftermarket woofers? anyone done it? how did it sound? anyone?...