Best sounds for a 2007 Prius?

Simply replacing all four speakers with Polk Audio components will not improve the sound. Your JBL "premium" [sic] amp is rigged for Bluetooth, Nav etc. Bypassing it without sacrificing those functions will require major work (and money). My suggestions:

1. Unplug center speaker (free and absolutely a must)
2. Replace front tweeters ($100 or less)
3. Add a self-powered sub ($200 or so)
4. Don't touch any other speakers
5. Add sound-deadening to doors and floor if you like ($150 plus labor)

Of course, everything also depends on what kind of music you listen to and how loud you like your sound.

 

I agree with zen, defiantly unplug that crappy center channel. And defiantly if you are going to add any speakers, do your self a favor and lay down some fat mat, or dynamat, this is actually something you can do at home, it is time consuming, but easy to do.

 

Can you provide make/model #s for the tweeters and sub?

 

There have been numerous folks who have replaced the tweeters. There was a thread or two about that somewhere.

I have some Infinity tweeters in mine (can't remember the model #) as well as some full blown JL ZR components. My set up is quite a bit more complicated than the suggestions above though, so it's not a fair comparison.

For self-powered sub, many people (including myself) have installed the Kenwood KSC under the driver's seat (or in the hatch box) and found it to be quite satisfactory. Of course, if your car has Nav then you obviously can't fit the sub under the seat. Another one to look into is the Boss BASS600. I have not heard very good reviews of the Bazooka, so I can't comment.

 

PriusChick1,

I don't think such a beast exists. These amplifiers are very specific to the vehicle/manufacturer line and you already have the top of the line or "premium" amp. It's not difficult, per say, to add an aftermarket amp to the system from an installer's standpoint, but if you want to do it right, it isn't cheap. As I'm sure you've seen in your research, many owners opt for the JL Audio Clean Sweep product. I went with the Rockford Fosgate 3Sixty.2 integration device. After a lot of research and some experimentation I cut all the speaker lines from the premium amp and rerouted the rear speaker outputs to the inputs of the 3Sixty. From those two inputs it gives me L/R Front, L/R Rear, Sub and Center outputs. The whole system is controllable via pc, pocket pc, or a palm device via bluetooth. The front left woofer output from the premium amp is now routed to the center speaker so I still have all original audio from the NAV system and bluetooth phone handsfree operation. By using the fader control in the audio menu on the MFD and sliding the output all the way to the rear I don't get any music from the audio system coming out the center speaker. Both bluetooth handsfree audio and NAV audio have thier own volume level selections on separate menus of the system. A good installer should have little problem making these alterations. You'd still need a 4 channel amplifier to add some power to those components though.

The budget route, however is to put a LOC (line output converter) on the full range rear speaker outputs of the amp, and split that stereo signal to a four channel amp.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions, I've spent a ton of time researching this topic.

Weirdo

 

Sounds incredible! I'm afraid to ask.. but... I have to... How much did all this work & product set you back?

 

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How much did it set me back or how much will it set me back I've just started so right now the costs are still low. The RF 3Sixty.2 was around $500. I bought it from al-eds.com. It lists for $599.99 but the code google20 will save you 20% which brings it down to $479.99. Al-Eds is one of a very few authorized internet dealers so you still get Rockfords warranty. It can be found at other online dealers for less ($399),(Rockford Fosgate 3SIXTY.2 ( WITH 2 IN MODEL ) (3sixty2-TWO) Equalizers Sound Processors Car Audio and Video - Sonic Electronix) but you are not getting the manufacturers warranty. Besides a few crimps and parts, that's all that I've spent so far. For now I'm using a pair of Orion components in the front doors, rear doors are disconnected and I have an Orion enclosure with 2 Orion 10" subs in it all driven by an Orion 4 channel amp. However, future plans include:

JL Audio 300/4 V2 Amplifier
JL Audio 500/1 V2 Amplifier
JL Audio XR650 CSi Component Speakers
JL Audio CVS110RG-W6v2 ProWedge Subwoofer.

Not to mention the 4 and 8 gauge wiring and RAAMaudio sound deadening material I'll need to finish it all up. I'd say I have at least $1500 to go May take a while, but at least I'm not paying anything for installation!!

Weirdo

 

You can't go wrong with Polk Audio speakers. Sound clarity is good.