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

2010 Overall Audio Quality

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by beejay, Jun 23, 2009.

  1. beejay

    beejay New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    9
    1
    0
    Location:
    Oakland, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Again, thanks to ALL who have replied to my post. I'm making some headway in getting the FM issue figured out and hopefully resolved. Here's the issue:

    The FM antenna in the 2009's and earlier was the tall thin roof-mounted mast. In the 2010's the shorter stubby mast is the satellite antenna. The AM/FM antenna is built into the rear window glass, and is clearly not doing its job properly.

    Toyota does not yet have a fix for this as they don't have enough information and complaint-cases yet. So, if you are experiencing the same problem - very staticky FM and losing stations on your 2010 Prius - PLEASE - go to your dealer AND call Toyota's Customer Experience Line, 1-800-331-4331. The more of us who file case reports, the quicker they'll find a fix.

    This is a problem with the design and configuration of the 2010 tuner/antenna system; changing speakers, using an iPod, listening only to CD's, etc. will not correct the issue. Please share any other experiences, solutions here.
     
    1 person likes this.
  2. Tuon

    Tuon New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2009
    17
    2
    0
    Location:
    Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    In general, I am absolutely loving the audio system. I am admittedly not a audiophile but in general its a amazing improvement over the 2004 system I had previously.

    The only complain is, when I'm bluetooth streaming from my iphone is when I shut off the car it resets my audio books!!! :mad2:

    I tried stopping it before turning the car off, and it will still reset it when the bluetooth connection is disabled. Grrrrr
     
  3. wvgasguy

    wvgasguy New Member

    Joined:
    May 6, 2009
    1,255
    185
    0
    Location:
    a
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V

    Hummm, my 2010 was shipped without the antenna mast and I'm waiting on it. However I currently have XM reception (without the mast) but no FM/AM (unless the stations are really close.)
     
  4. beejay

    beejay New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    9
    1
    0
    Location:
    Oakland, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Wierd, I'm gonna unscrew the mast and see what changes...
     
  5. duraace

    duraace New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2009
    44
    3
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I noticed a large difference in quality between FM and Satellite. Sat is suberb.
     
  6. beejay

    beejay New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    9
    1
    0
    Location:
    Oakland, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    ...and the results are - nothing changes. When I take the mast completely off, I still have AM, FM and satellite. What does the darn thing do?
     
  7. lauren80ryan

    lauren80ryan New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2009
    165
    26
    3
    Location:
    Tri-Cities, WA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    :bump: I wanna know too! No major issues but definitely NOT the quality I was expecting. Trying to get my MP3 player to work so I can test that one.
    And as for someone's comment on here....I would LOVE to listen over my iphone....But I refuse to EVER go back to AT&T (cingular...whoever the heck they are:p). I'm verizon and love it. And why should I have to spend another $300+ on another piece of equipment when I just spent $27k on a brand new car!?! :D
     
  8. cdw

    cdw New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2009
    10
    10
    0
    Location:
    Wilmington, DE
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I've only had my Prius for one day, but so far am satisfied with the base audio system. Radio reception is fine -- as clear as my other cars on stations 50+ miles away. CD quality is fine too -- no hiss or buzzing even at moderately high volume, and the bass is actually better than on my old Infiniti's Bose system.

    At this point, I am glad I did not spring the extra $$$ for the JBL audio system in the Prius III.
     
    1 person likes this.
  9. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2003
    5,341
    920
    251
    Location:
    Surprise, AZ (Phoenix)
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    The FM antenna is the diversity type with the mast and embedded rear glass antenna type.

    I agree that FM is more prone to static in this car, but I don't spend much time there (only for local news). Satellite reception is just fine in my area with the amount of terrestrial repeaters in the area.
     
  10. beejay

    beejay New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    9
    1
    0
    Location:
    Oakland, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Do you know why is there no difference in FM or satellite when the antenna is removed? Can it be replaced by a better mast antenna for FM (like my 2009 Prius had?)

    I don't like the audio quality of the satellite, but, more important, I prefer FM, like real-time, local DJ's, have worked in radio and have friends at the station I listen to. Never even considered "test-driving" the radio - I've never had a bad one before.
     
  11. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2003
    5,341
    920
    251
    Location:
    Surprise, AZ (Phoenix)
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    Satellite antenna is embedded in the base of the FM antenna on the roof. Unless you've removed the entire thing, there's little difference.

    I'm certain that the overall size reduction of the FM whip antenna didn't help performance. While windings may keep overall "length" (or orders of length), I'm pretty sure a longer antenna would perform better.
     
    1 person likes this.
  12. wvgasguy

    wvgasguy New Member

    Joined:
    May 6, 2009
    1,255
    185
    0
    Location:
    a
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    My antenna was missing and had to be backordered. Got it today. However for the past week I have been getting XM but the only FM I get are certain stations where they are close by transmitting. So there is a difference. Maybe not in quality but certainly range.
     
  13. jim256

    jim256 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2009
    317
    69
    0
    Location:
    Eastern NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    The diversity circuit on the antenna probably makes a lot of difference when you don't have nearby stations, but I bet it makes little difference in metro areas.
     
  14. Earman

    Earman CDN Prius III Technology Blue

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    78
    11
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I have a Prius III with basic stock radio. It has terrible reception with lot of static. Only a few stronger stations are received properly. It does look like the antenna is not connected properly but from what I read above it is likely a poor quality system! I am wondering if the Prius has an inline antenna amplifier already or if I could improve things by adding one. If so, where can I get a schematic to kwow where to insert it?

    If you have a Prius III with the basic radio, can you comment on the quality? What I read above was mainly for the JBL or for Prius II.

    On a related subject, how do you set the Prius to be on Accessory mode only so you can test the radio in a garage without having the engine start? I tried pressing start immediately followed by Parking but the engine still started...

    Thanks!
     
  15. jim256

    jim256 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2009
    317
    69
    0
    Location:
    Eastern NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Press the start once with you foot off the brake. My radio (JBL) has reception equivalent to my past and current cars, just fine.
     
    1 person likes this.
  16. Earman

    Earman CDN Prius III Technology Blue

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    78
    11
    0
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    If you live in Canada, the phone number for the Canadian Toyota Customer Experience Line is 1-888-869-6828.
     
  17. L8rnr

    L8rnr New Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2009
    38
    4
    0
    Location:
    Long Island, New York
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I too have found the same issue in my 2010. Impossible to balance the frt to backwithout loosing something. No soundstage whatsoever. Also, found the sat radio horrendous in lousy weather. Iphone tunes do sound great though..
     
  18. rrainwater001

    rrainwater001 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2009
    3
    0
    0
    Location:
    Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    We just upgraded from a 2006 Prius with the 6 speaker system to an 2010 with the JBL system. The audio quality of the new car is much better, but I agree that the radio reception is not as good. I am a public radio listener and notice that the low power stations are a bit harder to receive. Maybe an antenna upgrade is the answer.
     
  19. Sphyrna

    Sphyrna Priusite

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2009
    202
    180
    0
    Location:
    Miami, Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Audio Quality? What Audio Quality?!

    Just got my Prius yesterday and the radio just underwhelms. Compared to my basic GMC Envoy, (no Bose, no satellite) the Prius JBL Radio sounds noticeably inferior. Messed around for a while with the fader and treb,mid,bass with not much in results. I'm not about to spend money or anything so I'll live with it!
     
  20. billnchristy

    billnchristy Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2009
    924
    123
    11
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    Interesting...

    I find mine great, good soundstage for both the driver and passenger (you share half the dash), surprisingly clean treble for a JBL, good bass, a little midbass heavy but actually reproduces sub-bass unlike the 09 base system.

    For background I design and build my own tube audio equipment for home so I have a pretty high standard for sound.

    The only reception that sucks is my favorite morning radio show but it was that way with our explorer too so I am not surprised.