Audio Upgrade Help Needed

Enough caps - and learn to make a compelling statement with real details.

The reality on the upgrade:

JBL HU: To just replace HU in a JBL system makes little sense. As has been posted, sound quality didn't change much. This makes sense since you are only running a line level signal to the JBL amps. I can take a $20 CD player, and run it line-level into the JBL amp(s), and get comparable sound to a $1000+ HU... The reason to replace the JBL, is to get better functionality.

Non-JBL HU: If you are running stock/stock (non-JBL), replacing HU (hence HU and built in amp) makes a real difference with stock speakers (decidedly better sound). In addition, you add GPS and other functions for virtually no cost.

Tweaking the JBL system is very difficult. It's already been tweaked by Toyota et al. It's a proprietary 8 channel amp - with 2 ohm speakers. It seems your best course for a JBL upgrade is to swap the system (HU,amp,speakers), and sell it on Ebay (*big* $$ for the amp etc - it's used in other cars, and needed for many "Toyota" navs on Ebay).

TTFN,

Rolf



3.

 

With the Cleansweep you might need to use two of the SSI units in order to sum all 8 channels of output from the factory JBL amp. I know that there are Gen 2 owners out there with JBL systems who've used the Cleansweep with some success, but the system changed in the Gen 3 JBL. shawnb2 had no luck getting the Cleansweep to work in his Gen 3.

 

First of all if you read through all the posts in this thread you will see that I posted several replies to this topic among other members. I stand correct, he needs to replace the HU if he wants to get full sound quality. Keeping the factory HU and replacing the JBL amp & speakers is not the way to go, he will be disappointed with the results.

 

I would recommend that you just get the sub. I have a JL HD 750/1 mono block amp and a 12" W7 and it does the job.

 

Did you tap the rear speakers, or is there some line outs hidden somewhere?

 

Tap into the JBL amp wire harness under the passengers seat.

 

I'm not trying to be a smart nice person but you should have professional or someone else do this for you because you are not getting it.

 

So it sounds like JBL made the announcement in the last couple days that they are officially releasing their MS-8 processor....this could be another option for integration of aftermarket speakers & amplifier(s) into the Prius JBL stereo system.
Have a look at: The JBL MS-8 in-car DSP finally gets an official release date and price

 

The JL audio amp is a separate amp independent from our current JBL amp. You can have more than one amp in the car. I put my subwoofer in the trunk and screwed the amp on the back of the amp box. I got it professionally installed bc I know I would have messed up myself xD..
only problem is the whole car literally shakes, my rear view mirror is about to come off =/

 

Why would anyone spend $800 for a processor when you can get a very good new aftermarket HU & AMP for that amount? The new aftermarket HU & AMP will out perform the processor with the factory HU 10 to 1. Don't waist you money - do it right.

 

You have to realize too ajc, that having a V like myself and KM that having the NAV, back up camera, Blu-tooth, etc. is a bit involved to replace all of that stuff, not to mention adds to the cost of the overall install and making it look and work as well as the factory stuff. If I didn't have the tech package I would have replaced it all, but I need the factory HU. But not all are wanting to replace or happen to like the factory HU and just want to add better supporting equipment. I would have loved to have done it but at the time there didn't seem to be the right stuff to make things work. Now I have a separate HU installed in the center console. Major pain and expense to get it all to work. Especially to work it out so both units work off the steering wheel controls. It all works, but would prefer to have kept it all more simple. If there happens to be a processor that finally is capable of correcting all of the junk that JBL put into our systems then I may switch back. Not completely sure yet. It just sucks that JBL and Toyota make it so difficult to upgrade a mediocre upgraded system at best to begin with. Good luck KM. Personally I would give it a little more time and wait for the JBL MS-8 to come out to see what kind of reviews it actually gets. It sounds promising and who knows, considering they built the crap in our cars maybe they can fix it the best knowing what it is going to take.

 

You are so right, forgot about the NAV. I replaced everything and I use the HU remote which actually works just as good as the steering wheel controls. The JBL system is a pain in the as###. I don't know what I was thinking, should of got the II.

 

Keep in mind that the JBL MS-8 is MUCH more than a simple integration unit. Summing the signals coming off the OEM amp and flattening out the signal is just where it get's started. From there you can use it as a multi-channel electronic crossover, setting crossover points uniquely for each of the 8 channels of output, you can also use the 31-band equalizer to custom tune each of those channels of output.....and you can also adjust time alignment to correct for the positioning of the speakers relative your ear. It has an auto-calibration mode that will automatically do all of this for you (something that used to take a real time analyzer/o-scope/signal-generator/etc and days to weeks to custom tune)
The signal processing capability far exceeds that of any head unit/amp combo on the market today. I agree that $800 is a pretty penny, but there are home-based surround sound processors that don't do what the MS-8 does and cost much more.

All of that said, the MS-8 is probably overkill for most folks....but for the audiophiles out there, this is a very big deal....not just for the Prius, but in any car....so for someone in the market for an integration unit who is considering spending $$$ on units offered by Alpine, JL Audio, Rockford Fosgate, Audio Control....then you're probably already spending >$400.....this unit is worth considering for the added functionality.

I say all of this as a person who's first choice historically has been to put in all new stereo gear from the head unit on-back in every car I've owned (and there have been at least 10)....until my first Prius. The aesthetics of the Nav head unit and the integration with the Nav/USB/ Bluetooth/steering-wheel controls/4-disc changer/XM Nav-traffic make it very, very hard (for me) to swallow going with an aftermarket head unit and scrapping the factory head unit.

For the record, I'm not a big JBL fan....but for what it's worth, I plan to go with either the MS-8 or an Audison Bit One as the integration unit in my Prius. Apologies for the wordy reply.

 

I guess what it all comes down to - get the II if you plan on upgrading the audio system. I purchased the III and still upgraded the complete audio system, I could of saved some $$$ if I went with the II.

 

I have the VI and want to upgrade my system also, planing to do front/rear with MB quart , kicker 700.5 channel amp with Kicker 12" CVR . But after reading the thread make me feel there is gonna be some issue after upgrading. I would love to save some money by keeping the factory HU. If I keep the factory HU, what fuction will be EXECTLY missing? bluetooh? XM? anything eles? if not something crazy, I can live with it.