Looking to upgrade the JBL "premium" speakers...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JonasB @ Sep 18 2007, 08:40 PM) [snapback]514593[/snapback]</div>

Nice! Thanks for doing the leg work.
It would be great if you could summarize the solution, perhaps with some pics,
and save it in the File section. This is certainly very good news.

 

Outstanding Info Banjoman. Thank you.

 

<div align="left">Here is an option I had not heard about here at Priuschat and can't find reviews on, but may make sense for upgrading the JBL "premium" system.

The "MTX RE-Q" (which can be found under $100): http://www.crutchfield.com/S-I6PRks8iaOJ/c...mp;i=236REQ#Tab

It hooks up to the speaker outputs from the stock amp and goes to an aftermarket amp. It's purpose is to boost bass as needed to deliver "balanced" sound to an aftermarket amp. Might this work to deliver a flatter and/or fuller signal to an aftermarket amp and speakers.

I wonder what you think.

Here is the official product site: http://www.reqsound.com/

Here is the description:
<blockquote>
Overview: The re-Q restores and enhances bass response intentionally removed from a factory stereo system.

Balanced Bass: Rather than just turning up the bass linearly, the re-Q senses the factory radio output and adjusts its boost level to balance the sound.

Smart Engage: An input signal sensing circuit turns the re-Q on automatically. There is also a remote turn-on input if you prefer not to use the Smart Engage feature.

Speaker Level Input: There are speaker level inputs for left, right, and subwoofer channels. The compatible input range is 250 mV to 30 V. If your factory system has no sub, the re-Q's sub output is taken from the left and right inputs.

Line Level Output: The line outputs for left, right, and sub are individually adjustable. The maximum output is 2.5 volts for the full range channels and 8 volts for the sub.

Crossover: The subwoofer crossover is continuously adjustable from 40 Hz to 200 Hz.

Subsonic Filter: The subsonic filter is continuously adjustable from 10 Hz to 40 Hz.
</blockquote>
EDIT, I have contacted MTX about this product to see how one would combine the front speakers to enter the re-Q as it only has Left -/+ //Right -/+ // and Sub in. I'll update with an answer when I get it.</div>

 

The MTX Re-Q won't work with "premium" front channels alone. Too few inputs. I guess one would have to run speaker wire from the amp to the Cleansweep CL-SSI and then to the Re-Q. That would sum the front and add bass before going to the amp.

 

You could always use the Audio COntrol DQL-8
See: http://www.mobileaudiocontrol.com/product....oduct_id=231512
I know I've heard it mentioned before here on PC, but I have yet to hear from anyone who's tried one in their Prius. I have the the Audio Control Three.1 in my Prius, but it's an 06 without the JBL....BTW works great
as a pre-amp & EQ in that arrangement.
I keep thinking the DQL-8 would be the answer for all those JBL equipped Prius owners who
want to go High-end with aftermarket amplifiers & speakers.
Cheers,
Matt

 

Here is what works for me. After testing an LOC and a JL Audio CL-SSI, (see previous posts) I ended up building my own device for about $10 in parts and the system sounds GREAT!

Front speakers are JL Audio ZRs and rear speakers are JL VRs. Doors AND door panels (inside) covered with Dynamat.

The speakers are mounted on spacers so they couple tightly with the grills in the door panels (like the original JBLs.) I'm delighted with the sound staging, presence, and freedom from rattles and distortion.

Dave (Happy with the sounds in my Prius at last!)

 

banjoman,

Great write up and photos. I almost think I could copy the effort from the photos. thanks.

Besides the cost savings and challenge of doing it, is there any advantages of this over using a CL-SSI or Scorche?

thanks.

 

I think we've got a sticky! Excellent work, banjoman!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(banjoman @ Sep 27 2007, 03:24 PM) [snapback]518665[/snapback]</div>

I have both Cleansweep units installed in my system, but I don't have any instrument to measure their performance. What I do know is that when I hit EQ Bypass on the DSP unit, the un-processed sound is pretty horrid.

I think the Cleansweeps are excellent high-end equipment, but for those who don't want to spend that kind of money, banjoman's solution is the next best thing, albeit with perhaps a small compromise in quality. But I think the tradeoff should be acceptable under normal circumstances. If I were to do my system over again I'd definitely try his solution first.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(noshortcuts @ Sep 26 2007, 05:22 PM) [snapback]518176[/snapback]</div>

Update: I'm thinking the cleansweep may not work to the Re-Q because that wouuld be a line level connection and I'm not sure it the Re-Q works with line level inputs.

UPDATE 2: From Re-Q support: Beginning in November MTX will begin shipping the Re-Q5. It has 5-channel inputs and will work directly between the JBL amp and an added amp to boost bass as needed at each volume level.

 

Awesome pics Banjoman. The ultimate DIY solution for summing those front channels. His post with the pictures should really be a sticky! His solution seems to definately be the best bang for the buck. Plus the amp fits under the seat so there is no compromise with any of the storage.

 

Thanks for the kind words.

Locating the amp under the seat does not compromise storage space AND keeps added audio cable lengths to a bare minimum. Incidentally, everything is easily restored to "original JBL" because all severed wires are fitted with bullet connectors which mate up correctly. Even the speaker connectors in the doors are intact.

As a postscript--I'm into continuous improvement. I noticed some interesting directionality in the JL tweeters causing a little loss of brightness where my ears are while driving. I'm thinking about either physically repositioning them or doing it electronically. Stay tunned.

 

So, this is from the thread on budget stereo upgrades:


"Blue tooth and the navigation voice does come from the left front speaker. Others have suggested connecting it to the center speaker, but I have not heard if anyone has done it."

This is interesting news to me. I'll have to check it out. One thing I have always wondered about is if you could splice the signal from the HU (that is UN-eq'd) into an aftermarket amp. Then, have a dedicated speaker (center channel maybe?) for the bluetooth function comming from the JBL amp. I don't have NAV so its just for the phone. The only thing I think I would loose is auto-mute, but I could eaisly press "power" on the stereo if a call came through.

So, one question is, would the JBL bluetooth feature work the same w/o the HU signal going to it? I can only imagine that it would since this function should be the same whether the HU is on or not.

The other question is, can you easily isolate the wire from the JBL amp that sends the FL speaker the bluetooth signal and re-route it to the center channel?

Any thoughts?

Jonas.

 

Ok, kind of answering my own question:

I just looked at the stereo schematic (for the 100th time) and the bluetooth signal must be internal in the amp. So, my last hope is that bluetooth voice is also sent to the center speaker. If it is I may be able to use that as a dedicated bluetooth speaker and have the HU go directly into an aftermarket amp.

I'll test it today!

Jonas.

 

Any chance for a nice summary write-up document (wiki or document section) of the JL Audio amp installation? List of parts, steps, etc. Photos are nice and the current thread is great, but a document like that would be easier to follow than bouncing through the tread.