JBL 9 speaker audio- Not good- reception not good

Complaints about the JBL Premium Sound System abound. Many posts in many threads have addressed it. I suggest you look at the following threads for more info or run a search on the specific topic of your choice:

1. JBL Premium Audio System uncovered
2. Looking to upgrade the JBL "premium" speakers...
3. My official Prius stereo mods thread.
4. Want to add some bass and make your speakers sound better?
5. Please Post Your Stereo Upgrades
6. middle speaker on JBL
7. JBL Premium System w/ the '04 - something wrong - ear
8. New Stereo- goodbye JBL, hello pioneer!

Hope this helps!

 

Poke around some other threads.. I think someone replaced the stock speakers and was pleased.

 

You're welcome.

I know how you feel, though I still would rather have the MPGs and the other amenities. Even so, I had problems with the amp and the dealer replaced it for me (no charge, of course, as it was within the warranty period!).

 

The amp, and the speakers are better than most stock oem audio systems, and it's great for most people. Honestly, sound quality from the JBL was decent, and it has better speakers than the 10 cent speakers that other base systems have. It lacks power and punch, a need that can be rectified with some aftermarket purchases.

 

At the VERY least, replace the 1" tweeters with Infinity Reference tweeters (I've seen them for as little as $40/pair new on Ebay). I replaced all 4 door speakers with Infinity Reference 6 1/2" coaxial that I bought for $150 for 2 pair. I then added a 5-channel amp and Rockford Fosgate Punch 10" edge-drive subwoofer in a small, down-firing enclosure. My car did NOT have the JBL system, but I would have done the same thing if it did (and gotten rid of the JBL amp). See my post: http://priuschat.com/forums/audio-electronics/61011-2006-package-2-stereo-upgrades.html

 

They're the same as the coaxial tweeter in the speakers in my doors, and yes, they make a difference in the highs (in fact I didn't replace the upper tweeters yet since I have the Infinity's in the doors, but I would like to). You should hear a difference if you do replace just the upper tweeters IMHO.

 

I really was not impressed with the JBL system so I was happy to stick the the base model system when I purchased my car.

I htink the stock amp and stock deck are your major limitations. I ran the stock base model speakers on an aftermarket deck and subwoofers and was pleased with that for quite some time. The only reason I upgraded the rest of the system later was because I had a set of $1,500 mids/highs and a $1,900 2 channel amp sitting in the storage room at the shop and I finally said hell with it and installed them.

I'm not real familiar with the JBL system I cannot really advise you unless you feel like ditching the entire system and going with aftermarket stuff.

 

I have an 08 with NAV and the premium sound system is weak. It's taken me this long to figure out what to do about the lousy sound.

I wanted to keep full functionality of all steering wheel and bluetooth controls.

I will be adding:
AudioControl LC8 eight channel line output converter and channel summing
Pioneer GM-6400F 4-channel Amp (60W RMS x 4)
Polk Audio db5251 5 1/4" component system (Front and rear)
USA Spec iPod interface
Dynamat for doors, floor, trunk areas

This should provide me with a much better-sounding system.

 

I would look into a different amplifier and better speakers. Or at least go to a few reputable car audio retailers and listen to a few different sets of speakers. There is better sounding equipment out there.

Some alternatives for a bit more money would be:

JL Audio G4500 $349

Arc Audio KS 300.4

JL Audio VR650-CSi $299

Focal Access 165 A1 $299

I just think you are putting good money into other items and feel you should pay even more attention to critical components like speakers and the amplifier. The speakers especially.

Maybe do a small 8" or 10" sub for the rear and use a 6channel amp instead of the 4channel?

Arc Audio KS 900.6

JL Audio G6600 $499

 

Thanks for the tip on the JL amp. This makes a great replacement for my favorite 5-channel amp from Clarion Pro that I've used in the past (but which is out of production). I like 4-channel in amps so that my stock balance and fade functions work. My system uses Infinitys in the doors and a 10" Rockford Fosgate Punch sub in a small down-firing enclosure. I fully agree with your suggestion to use a multi-channel amp and add a subwoofer. I started with the speakers, then added the amp and sub because I wasn't satisfied with the result.

 

Aye, even a baby sub can really help round out a system and keep everything clean. Not having your mids work as the sole source of low frequencies is great and a small enclosure for a single 8" or 10" doesn't really take up that much room.

I swear our cars were designed to put aftermarket stereo system in. It just doesn't get much better that the equipment locations in the Prius and I've been doing stereo stuff since 1992.

 

True dat... if you don't mind losing cargo, the Prius could easily accomodate a 12" or even a 18" (in a car, why?). I love the cargo space of my hatch too much to add a sub, but I agree that that would make that awful sound system sound much better. The first time I heard my 9 speaker system, I wanted to take the car back. However, I already signed on the dotted line. Since then, I've made peace with the car, its stereo and its other faults. (I've learned to love its good things like it's cargo space and mpg.)

 

My sub box is about 12 x 14 x 10 deep. It isn't tied down so I can re-position it forward when the rear seats are down to get more stuff in back. Hadn't thought about this until now, but if I make the cable from the amp in the under-floor tray long enough I could move the sub to the floor behind the driver's seat if I needed the cargo area completely free. Hmmm....I might have to do just that. The extra cable can be stuffed back into the under-floor tray area when not in use. My amp is also installed with industrial velcro and the cables bundled in such a way I can lift it out of the tray and place it on the LH rear seat back (when the seat is down) to lift the tray out for access to the spare.

 

That is what I do when max storage is needed.