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JBL System Mod - For Free!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Winston, Jun 5, 2007.

  1. Winston

    Winston Member

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    So, I was really dissappointed with the sound of the stereo in my '07 Prius with the JBL 9 speaker system. Mainly, no highs and the mids were muddy. So,

    1. Disconnect the center dash speaker. (as recommended on Prius Chat). Using just your fingernails, pry up the speaker from the side away from the front windshield. The side near the windshield acts like a hinge. Once you lift it up, simply unplug the speaker. Then replace.

    2. Go to the "sound" screen for the audio system. Do the following settings.
    -Make the front rear fader, one click to the rear
    -Make the treble setting to the max position
    -Make the midrange setting four clicks below center
    -Make the bass setting at the middle.

    To me, this sounds a million times better the "flat" settings with the front, center speaker installed.

    My 02.
     
    #1 Winston, Jun 5, 2007
  2. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Winston @ Jun 5 2007, 05:40 PM) [snapback]456056[/snapback]</div>
    Agree. Depending on the kind of music, you might want to adjust the bass up and the mid down some.

    Definitely the highs are not crisp enough. I'm thinking of replacing the front tweeters as a first step.
    Any recommendations? (I'm a jazz/classical music person most of the times, but occasionally I have
    a primal urge for some screaming guitars - a la Rundgren).
     
    #2 zenMachine, Jun 6, 2007
  3. emtownsend

    emtownsend New Member

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    Yeah, I wouldn't mind some speaker suggestions too. Are there any gotchas with replacing the speakers? No funny "amping" of the speakers or anything else? Just regular speakers as long as they physically fit?
    Thanks!
     
    #3 emtownsend, Jun 6, 2007
  4. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    In the JBL system, the left and right channels to the rear doors are normal, the cross-over between the lower speakers and the upper tweeters is a capacitor on the tweeter, IIRC. The worthless center channel in the front has its own amp output, as do the tweeters and full-range speakers in the front doors, i.e., the cross-over for the front doors is in the amp under the passenger seat. The amp is also the signal source for all the speaker beeps.

    Read the posts on this forum for lots of discussions of speakers and amp replacement. The steering wheel controls and Audio screen controls are integrated with the JBL system so you lose some functionality if you change the head or amp. Like many other Prius systems, they are really special purpose computers which communicate over their own LAN.
     
    #4 Bill Merchant, Jun 7, 2007
  5. spideyman

    spideyman Junior Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Winston @ Jun 5 2007, 05:40 PM) [snapback]456056[/snapback]</div>
    Wow!! Disappointed in the JBL 9 speaker system?!?! You should hear the stereo system that comes in my '07 Prius Touring. With standard equipment the stereo and speakers that come with it are nothing to write home about. For the amount of money that the Prius cost, you would think that Toyota could afford to put a 9 speaker JBL in all their models rather than as an option. My friend has the JBL system in his and it sounds a million times better than mine. :(
     
    #5 spideyman, Jun 7, 2007
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(spideyman @ Jun 7 2007, 01:17 AM) [snapback]457207[/snapback]</div>
    Then listen to the JBL Audio in the Camry.

    Our 02 Camry with 6 speakers (& JBL) sounded much better than my Prius.
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Jun 7, 2007
  7. wayne60014

    wayne60014 New Member

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    I have both a 07 Prius Touring Edition and a 07 Camry XLE both have the JBL system. But the one in the Camry blows the one's in the Prius out of the water. I think its becasue of a bigger and better Amp (440 watts) and DDS Speakers (Distributed Subwoofer System) :p vs Prius's 385 watt amp and no DDS speakers :( .
     
    #7 wayne60014, Jun 7, 2007
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wayne60014 @ Jun 7 2007, 10:42 AM) [snapback]457454[/snapback]</div>
    I'm pretty sure the quality of the speakers have to do with it too. I haven't heard the 06+ JBL Audio on the Prius though.
     
    #8 Tideland Prius, Jun 7, 2007
  9. jimmylozza

    jimmylozza New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wayne60014 @ Jun 7 2007, 12:42 PM) [snapback]457454[/snapback]</div>
    The Camry's trunk helps. It's hard to get that "full" sound in a hatchback.
     
    #9 jimmylozza, Jun 8, 2007
  10. Vagabond

    Vagabond Active Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jun 7 2007, 03:18 PM) [snapback]457637[/snapback]</div>

    My 07 JBL sounds exactly the same as my 05 JBL. Neither are impressive.
     
    #10 Vagabond, Jun 8, 2007
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    ok then lol.
     
    #11 Tideland Prius, Jun 11, 2007
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