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Redirecting NAV and phone output to tweeter

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by Ron K, Aug 2, 2004.

  1. Ron K

    Ron K Junior Member

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    Has anyone tried to redirect the Nav and phone output to the driver side tweeter? I think this would produce a much clearer sound, more like a human voice.

    Is it "doable"?
    Ron
     
    #1 Ron K, Aug 2, 2004
  2. Ron K

    Ron K Junior Member

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    not one thought?

    45 read this and not one could venture a thought?

    Do you think this is hardwired into the audio system (there is a special speaker wire that comes out of the back carrying just this information or is this electronically channelled and thus changing the wiring wouldn't do any good

    ron
     
    #2 Ron K, Aug 4, 2004
  3. V8Cobrakid

    V8Cobrakid Green Handyman

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    Either way, i would think for the tweeter and mid speaker to share the same channel. So to my knowlege ( completely guessing off of experience wiring up audio systems) there is a seperate audio feed that goes from the sterio to that speaker. Maybe that speaker is completely wired by itself. I'll look into it more. I'll most likely have to pull my door panel off. not a big deal. Test the current in the wires to see what's comming from where. Unless someone already knows.. then speak up. hehe If i can't figure it out. i'll ask the Toyota specialist i'm going to get to meet on thursday when i go to the prius workshop in sunnyvale. :mrgreen:
     
    #3 V8Cobrakid, Aug 4, 2004
  4. HTMLSpinnr

    HTMLSpinnr Super Moderator
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    The driver and tweeter are shared on the same channel only on the base model car, split by a passive crossover somewhere in the line.

    On the premium audio system, which is equipped with NAV, the front tweeters have their own channel coming from the amp (the back tweeters use a passive crossover at the door, however).

    The NAV unit has a left speaker in and out for the left "full range" speaker. When using the NAV or phone, it will fade the volume down on the left speaker or mute all sound (using the mute line to the amp) respectively, and then a relay switches the speaker over to the NAV's internal amp (no idea on power rating, probably only a few watts at best), delivers it's message (i.e. phone conversation, voice instructions), then the relay switches back and normal sound is restored if the audio system was on previously.

    If the functionality to reduce the sound was in the NAV unit itself, it may only be a matter of transposing some wiring after the amp. However, consider the following:
    • The tweeter's usable range is probably 1kHz-20+kHz - going much below that can cause overexertion which could yield in speaker damage
    • The "full range" ~6" woofer's range is probably well within 50Hz and 5-10kHz - the latter having a "slope" due to a (welcomed) lack of a "whizzer cone" - though I imagine for regular audio, the crossover points limit upper frequencies to a much more sane level.
    • The NAV unit probably delivers sound between 100Hz and 4kHz at best (considering an assumed 8kHz average sampling rate for phone compression, real values may vary)


      • Now if the sound were delivered via line-out through some smart electronics to the left-front channel only, we'd probably have the opportunity for "better sound". However, since our NAV unit is the same one found in other Toyota and Lexus vehicles, I imagine Toyota designed it to be more "compatible" with the most vehicles, which probably meant going with the signal intercept-and-replace method was the more logical choice.

        Bottom line to this wordy post, while it may be possible with some "hacking", it's probably not a wise idea in the end since the NAV unit really isn't pushing terribly high frequencies - probably partially by design.

        -Rick
     
    #4 HTMLSpinnr, Aug 4, 2004
  5. Eisenson

    Eisenson New Member

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    Rick, that seems like a good analysis. But maybe the goal (improved intelligibility) can be met without taking such a giant step. Apparently the NAV and PHONE go to the left door speaker (I don't know because I don't hear well enough to tell). From your description, it should be a simple matter to re-route to the center speaker atop the middle of the dash. I don't understand why that isn't done in the first place.

    I suspect that's a full-range speaker capable of broader bandwidth than that of the audio from both NAV and PHONE. And if it's not, it could easily be replaced by one that is.
     
    #5 Eisenson, Aug 4, 2004
  6. Ron K

    Ron K Junior Member

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    Thanks for these replies!
    Does anyone have instructions on how to remove the radio?
    Ron
     
    #6 Ron K, Aug 5, 2004
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