Aftermarket Speaker Suggestions

The JBL system has no subwoofer. Adding an after-market subwoofer substantially improves the sound.

 

I agree 100% with Vernon.

Adding a sub completely changed my opinion of the JBL system. I have no complaints whatsoever. A lot of people went with a Bazooka. I choose the Kenwood WOOX since it would fit into the under-hatch compartment and be out of sight.

Also, I you want to root around on this site, you'll find some people who swapped out speakers and had little to no improvement.


DGStan

 

From the hundreds of threads i've read on this.. the only things you can do that will really help is.... sub and replace the tweeters. if you want you can replace the center tweeter. we are not sure what kind of signal goes to it.. so no one has waisted the time. if you replace the tweeters, you may want to unplug the center speaker. it would sound better.

the current tweeters are almost like high mids. they don't put out really good high end sound like an aftermarket tweeter would. the center speakers is a crappy mid that muffles the high. it gives you the illusion that you are getting good highs, but you are not. try unplugging it. you'll hear the lack of high and think the system is crap after that. lol. i've done this. i wish i didn't because i don't have the money to put in new tweeter or a sub.

 

Center tweeter? I'd disconnect the center speaker entirely.

Actually, someone HAS done an analysis of the JBL output on ALL speakers. Turns out the center speaker is given no bass, but I believe it did have midrange.

Honestly, I think it sounds better without the center. Better stereo separation for one.

 

I've been very happy with my sub-woofer setup. I built custom enclosures for Panasonic 6" subs and put them under the front seats.

Put the amp in the below-floor "secret" storage bin in the back (above the spare).
I tagged the rear speaker outputs as they exited the rear doors, ran that thru a low-level adaptor, then thru a volume knob, then to the amp.

I now have a "Bass" knob on the dash to control bass. It has made a huge difference. I have the basic stereo (non-JBL).

Also check out the custom enclosure for an 8" sub that fits into the right rear hatch area. That may be my summer project, making my own fiberglass box. Do a search here for the maker of them. I want to say he was selling them as an empty box. You'd provide a sub and amp and of course the hookup, wiring, etc.

 

Hi DanMan32,

Did you simply unplug the front center speaker? And, if so, can I get to the connections without taking the dash apart?

All info greatly appreciated!

 

the front speaker lifts out. on the windshield side there are little hooks that "grab" the dash.. on the passenger side of the speaker there are little bumbs that secure it... we've posted pics a long time ago on this. not sure whre that post is now. get something to stick under the lip of the center speaker.. put your fingers under there and you'll soon figure out hwo it's secured.

i used a butterknife with a piece of cloth over it.

you may want to upgrade your tweeters before you unplug it. you'll had the sytem if you do this without an upgrade.

the center gives you the allusion that you have good tweeters. you don't.

 

sliding center screen out?... uhh.. no

it lifts out. that's it. any other way is a complete waist of your time.

it looks like 4 inches or so. it's not all that big. it's a weird size. maybe 5.25 or whatever the closest size to that is. it's mounted in there at an angle.. plus.. not sure what speakers you can put there. you do have a monitor right by it. the new speaker would have to be shielded. not sure if a mid or a high would sound better. *shrug* pull it out and play with it. unplug it.. set it back. see what you think.

 

http://www.cardomain.com/item/CLASRV303

i know it fits under the seat but i dont know how far its gonna extend to the back seats. it certainly wont extend farther than the back of the front seat, but people's feet wont be able to go under the seat without you putting this thing on the hump... i think.

i really wanna try it but dont get it from cardomain cause you can get it for 158 if you do a little search

 

flareak: nice link reminds me of the Bose sub they use in the cadillacs. Boss uses an 8 or 10 inch sub (haven't been in that car for a while) that's only an inch or so deep that rest on the back shelf of the car behind the passenger ( between the rear speakers) no inclosed at all. I can't seem to find it anywhere online though. maybe they purchased it from another company. *shrug*

 

Mike,

I hate to disagree with the custom sound shop, but I installed the WooX and it sounds fantastic. I tapped into the rear speaker outputs for the signal. I couldn't possibly be happier. I have the JBL 6 disc "premium" system. All the speakers are still stock (I read in other threads that upgrading the speakers didn't help the sound much), but I did disconnect the center speaker. The result is an extremely listenable system.

Pictures: Kenwood Sub Pics

DGStan

 

The center speaker need not be shielded. The monitor is LCD, LCD is not affected by magnetic fields like CRTs are. CRTs use electromagnets to deflect the electron beam to different positions on the tube. Also there are permenant magnets to align the 3 color beams so they hit the right color phospor, and also to help focus the beam.

LCDs address each pixel by number, like is done for memory.

 

can anybody tell me the color coding for the input
wires for the jbl system as they appear at the back
of the under seat amp?

 

Black, pin 2 of S15: L-
White, pin 3 of S15: L+
Green, pin 4 of S15: R-
Red, pin 5 of S15: R+
Pin 6 S15 shielding for above.
White, pin 1 of S15: mute from header

Note, these are fixed level outputs from the header. The amp controls the volume, fade, balance and EQ.

Did you also want the AVC connections?

 

thanks.

just need audio in. i'm going to try a double pole
double throw toggle to switch between an mp3 changer
and the head unit.

 

I would like the under-seat amplifier wire codings. Does anyone have the listing? Outputs and inputs?

Thanks

 

How about replacing the center speaker with a FAN. Notice how that monitor area gets really really hot all the time? You would think it was running a CRT based on the heat.