Performance of different years of 2.5 gen JBL radios

My radio restarts several times a week, sometimes multiple times in a drive. I have the latest software to my knowledge and I'm fed up. I'm considering redoing my entire system mostly due to my hatred of the headunit. I've already changed out the speakers and subs through James and Tech12Volts. I would take some more bass but that's not the motivating factor.

Are the newer 2.5 gen jbl radios more stable? Are they backwards compatible? I don't see a lot of aftermarket headunits I like and am wondering if I should start by getting a newer factory unit. Thoughts?

 

On my 2018 Platinum I went the route of keeping the junk factory head unit and replacing the speakers / sub / amp. Sounded OK, but not great.

Then replaced the HU with the Pioneer WT8600NEX. Made a MASSIVE difference in sound quality. Looks great, kept factory steering wheel controls, and wireless CarPlay is so nice.

The factory supposed premium JBL HU, to put it bluntly, it garbage. Even with the best components downstream of it, it just produces such a garbage signal. Can’t make chicken salad out off chicken chit.

 

I threw all the JBL stuff in the trash...replaced HU speakers amp and sub. Call James @tech12volt and he will hook you up depending on budget.

 

Unless someone will drop an exact matching factory head unit on your doorstep for free, it's not worth trying to to get a factory replacement. Just go with aftermarket.

 

With the stock radio in my 2014 I was getting a reboot every other day or so. I pulled out all the stock stuff and put in new radio, speakers, amp, sub, etc. I still get a random reboot but only once per month or so. The guy at the stereo shop said that is is something in the ECU. The only way to fix it permanently is to put in a new relay and run power to the radio through it. I haven't gone that far...yet.

 

That h/u is a little big for my taste. Yeah I suspect better sound with a new head unit. Just holding on to fading hopes of trying to keep a stock look.

 

Yeah happy with the speakers I got from him. I think I've read something saying that factory speaker impedance doesn't match up with aftermarket stuff. Clearly this is my homework before I contact James.

 

Prolly not but it was a hope that Yoder got better towards the end of gen 2.5.

 

Interesting note. Is there a flash for the ECU?

 

I couldn't find anything. I had the most recent file from Toyota that supposedly "fixed" the issue. The guys at the stereo shop said they have seen and heard of the problem but they can't reproduce it, at will, to try and see what is going on. Mine just looses power while I am going down the road, and then reboots right back to where it was. Strange! The aftermarket stereo sounds 10 times better anyway, so I feel it was worth it but is was not cheap.

 

My wifes old 4runner with JBL would also reboot randomly while driving. Bottom line Toyota needs some work on its audio.

 

Mine reboots but will lose it's place in the usb audio. That's where I have my music stored. It's damn annoying.