1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

JL Audio upgrade

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Doc Willie, Apr 12, 2008.

  1. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2007
    1,717
    144
    0
    Location:
    Out there, somewhere
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I had my audio system upgraded by Burt's Electronics of Kingston NY. I went in just to get a sub woofer installed, but after much listening and conversation I ended up with an entire system replacement with JL Audio components:

    A6450 6 ch amplifier
    CL441 DSP Cleansweep
    SSI signal summing interface
    TR650CXi 6.5' two way speakers (front)
    XR 650CSi component speakers (rear)
    CP 108G-W3V3 Sub woofer
    Dynamat speaker kits in the front doors

    Sounds awesome. Saying anymore is, as Frank Zappa said, "like dancing about architecture." Presently taking a day off from listening since my ears are ringing, a clear danger sign. I'll be good from now on, I promise.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Nice upgrade!

    I think you have the speakers for front and rear confused though. The XR component set are the more expensive (and nicer sounding) set and thus would have been installed in the front of the car. ;)
     
  3. KandyRedCoi

    KandyRedCoi S is for Super!

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2008
    860
    4
    0
    Location:
    SoCal/AZ/NV
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    sweet amp install!!!

    if i do upgrade, ive seen some members put 6" subs under the front seats, that would be sweet, and wont take up room in the trunk, since i use mines for work and carry a lot of luggage

    would love to hear an upgraded stereo sustem on a prius!!!
     
  4. davidtm

    davidtm Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2007
    180
    54
    0
    Location:
    TJ'ville
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Any loss of functionality through the MFD or steering wheel, including Nav or hands-free BT?

    And if I may be so tacky, what was the final cost?
     
  5. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2007
    1,717
    144
    0
    Location:
    Out there, somewhere
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    No loss of functionality. That was why the summing box was need, to allow the NAV voice and Bluetooth phone to play through the system.

    Total, including install, cables other parts, about $2K
     
  6. RobertG

    RobertG New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2006
    166
    1
    0
    Location:
    Northern California
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    That quote has also been attributed to Steve Martin.

    No matter, just put some Zappa in your new sound system and crank that Frank! I'd recommend the second disc of You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Volume 5.
     
  7. DT's_2008_Touring

    DT's_2008_Touring New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2008
    27
    0
    0
    Location:
    Huntington Beach
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Aha! I ordered the JL SSI add-on to the Cleansweep last night as I suspected as much, and I was relieved to read your post today.

    So...you removed the harness from the OEM amp and connected it to the JL SSI, then connected that to the Cleansweep, which then goes to the aftermarket amp from which all the cabin speakers and subwoofer are plugged into?

    Did you have to splice into any speakers (e.g., rear) to get the signal for the subwoofer? Or, hopefully this wasn't necessary as the Cleansweep provided the appropriate signal for the after market amplifier.

    My components are all being delivered this week, and I hope to do the install over the weekend, with my electrician buddy. I'm not well-versed in stereo equipment so hopefully I phrased the above correctly. Thanks.
     
  8. davidtm

    davidtm Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2007
    180
    54
    0
    Location:
    TJ'ville
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Good to hear of full functionality. :)

    OUCH!:eek: Hard to justify almost $2K, even though I've already invested $650+ in better speakers.
     
  9. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2007
    1,717
    144
    0
    Location:
    Out there, somewhere
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Doesn't matter how you phrase it, I do not know. The only tool I used in this install was my credit card. Burt's Electronics in Kingston NY did all the work. Burt is a cool guy, and if you call him and tell him I sent you, he would probably be willing to discuss what was done.
     
  10. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2007
    1,717
    144
    0
    Location:
    Out there, somewhere
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    You are correct. Can't tell my front from my rear sometimes.

    I had a problem with the system shutting off with a loud pop, then coming on after a few seconds. Would happen quite reliably with the opening organ note of Also Sprach Zarathustra (yes! this system can reproduce a 32 ft organ pipe!), but randomly at other times, even at low volume.

    Took it in to Burt and he switched the "on" detector to come on when the power came on rather than when it detected an audio signal. Appears to have fixed the problem.

    On another note, this install required leaving the original amp in place, because the phone and nav are routed through it. It meant that no other gear could be located under the passenger seat.
     
  11. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2007
    3,355
    300
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    I had the same issue and solved it doing the exact same thing (through trial and error). One thing to be mindful of is that now when you have the car turned on without playing the stereo, the new equipment will be turned on and drawing power. So take care to not drain your battery inadvertently.

    Where did Burt put your Cleansweep units???
     
  12. davidtm

    davidtm Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2007
    180
    54
    0
    Location:
    TJ'ville
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I had another question, Doc Willie - can you still adjust the low, mid, and highs with the onscreen controls? If you do use the JBL tone controls, does the added equipment try to compensate and undo what you intend?

    I realize that, although a good system may approach tonal flatness, the variation in music can be huge, and sometimes compensation is necessary.

    Thanks!
     
  13. priusenvy

    priusenvy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2004
    1,765
    14
    0
    Location:
    Silicon Valley, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    I'll reply since I have a CL441dsp which I installed and calibrated myself.

    The answer is no (to the second question). The calibration is static, and performed at a single fixed (head unit) volume setting.
     
  14. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2007
    3,355
    300
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Yes and No.
     
  15. davidtm

    davidtm Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2007
    180
    54
    0
    Location:
    TJ'ville
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Thanks to both priusenvy and zen
     
  16. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2007
    1,717
    144
    0
    Location:
    Out there, somewhere
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    It went into the cargo area bin with the amp and the DSP.
     
  17. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2007
    3,355
    300
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Do you have RCA cables run into the Aux ports on the Cleansweep for your external device (MP3 etc.), or do you use the console's Aux port?
     
  18. Doc Willie

    Doc Willie Shuttlecraft Commander

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2007
    1,717
    144
    0
    Location:
    Out there, somewhere
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    The aux input in the console is unaffected, so I guess one of those RCAs is what you are talking about. I think you can see them in the picture at the beginning of this thread.
     
  19. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2007
    3,355
    300
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Sorry for being unclear. Let me rephrase my questions:

    1. Do you use an external audio device such as an MP3 player?
    2. If Yes, do you plug it into the Prius's AUX IN port in the center console? Or do you plug it into the Cleansweep's AUX RCA ports?
     
  20. kmmbstreet

    kmmbstreet New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2008
    7
    0
    0
    Location:
    Chicago
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I have a similar setup w/ different JL speakers and no SSI. There is a lot of "static" and background noise so I tried to calibrate the Cleansweep. Now it sounds like the factory unit w/o the amp. How can I fix this?