2019 SR5 build - Audiofrog GB 3 way, JL Vxi & HD amps, and JL Stealthbox

@Danimal86 As soon as I hit submit I had another thought and didn't want to add to the book above. Instead of the VXI that only has a single set of DSP controlled RCA outputs, you might look at the MV/800i, which is the Marine version of the VXI and provides 2 sets of DSP controlled RCA outputs and is otherwise the exact same, including price but excepting color. I'm not certain still, but going with the MV might let you drop the Fix and run only the MV800 plus a monoblock.

From the factory headunit into input 1/2 of the MV where EQ is applied to correct and flatten factory signal, out of the MV from rca out1/2 back into the MV input 3/4. Clean, full range signal is taken from input 3/4 and shared among all the speakers, and then MV rca out 3/4 would go into your monoblock amp. I keep saying i'm not certain as I don't know if the input EQ features of the vx or mv provide everything the Fix does. JL video re: input EQ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3Qv-v3ooJg

If you call or email JL and explain your setup and goals they should be able to tell you whether it would work or not. They're pretty great about quick answers to specific questions, and feel free to run any thought or questions by me. No promises but I'll try to give helpful input!

 

Its a decent discount but far from substantial. Discounted GB25 would still be $389 shipped vs $230 for the GS25 at full retail and around $1400 for the full 3 way GB series.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the price. aren't the bg's like $500? If i go that route, i'll try to hit that guy up for a deal.

I just need to decide how much deeper down the rabbit hole i want to go. I've seen a couple of the vx's come up online for the 6-800 range. If i can snag one of them for cheap, i'll definitely be happy going that route.
I need to run new wires to the doors and relocate my amp to behind the rear seat. Its gonna be a tight squeeze in there, but hopefully i can find some room on each side of the box.

I'll get ahold of jl and see whats what settings wise of the twk vs the vx. I thought the twk has the function to swap preset using the control knob. I liked the idea of having all the corrections for my head location on one preset and then dissable the corrections if there's another person in the truck with me. Not sure if its possible, but would be really cool.

 

I completely agree with attenuating the rear speakers or just turning them off. That free mod can really improve the sound stage. Derailing this thread to say that I just ordered a minidsp 6x8 and I can't wait to see how this improves my sound. My HU already allows individual TA for each speaker but a parametric eq will be the shit.

 

Truly is an amazing build. I'm thinking about switching over to Audiofrog. Where did you buy your 3 way components? I'm following your lead on this install. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

 

I believe the GB25 are around $450 usually, so not a giveway deal but still some decent savings. There's a few solid JL Audio Classifieds pages on Facebook that would be worth keeping an eye on, as well as the classifieds at diyma.

Vxi and TWK both do indeed have the preset selections, I think 7 available on the vxi with different colors to tell them apart. I currently only have 2 presets, one with all the time alignment dialed in for the driver seat and another tune with no time alignment at all for when I have other people in the car, or for some podcasts or audiobooks.

 

Appreciate the comments - I know I'm beyond happy with it! I bought my frogs from the shop that did my tuning, but you can get them from Crutchfield, a number of local dealers, or there's a vendor on diyma that I linked below that gives a solid discount off MSRP. If you give Audiofrog a call or shoot them an email they'll verify that Niebur3 is an authorized seller and is legit and what not.

Your location says San Diego so you should have some options for local dealers that might have a demo board or demo car available that you can listen to. I also saw on "Audiofrog Enthusiasts" group on FB, a guy recently posted requesting demo cars and someone in San Diego offered their car for a listen. Might be worth joining and shooting that guy a message? Good page with a lot of info and a lot of involvement from the owner of Audiofrog, Andy Wehmeyer.

https://www.diymobileaudio.com/members/niebur3.15470/

https://www.audiofrog.com/dealer-locator/

 

Why the XT60 Connectors?

 

Allowed me to prewire the amp rack and drop it in much easier and faster. Basically aiming for less time spent messing in a hot truck.

 

Do you have any speakers in your rear doors? I just ordered practically the same system as you and have a pair of GS60's already and I was thinking of putting in the back for rear fill. Also may I ask why you bridged your last 4 channels to power the front woofers? They are only rated for 100RMS, curious because if I should put rear door speakers in I would like to use the 6 channels for the front and 2 for the rear. Thanks!

 

I had rear fill in a a couple of the earlier builds, including a professionally tuned true rear fill with the rear bandpass filtered with a big delay, and was never a big fan of it. I much prefer the more forward and accurate soundstage of no rear fill vs the additional volume but somewhat worse off imaging with the rear fill.

On the fronts, the GB60 are actually up to 125w rms, but regardless, with not going rear fill I wanted to give the beefy GB60 as much power as I reasonably could. It seemed worth it to upgrade from the 6 channel to the 8 channel vxi to get the extra power for the GB60 pair now, and for more flexibility and options in the future.

 

Hi, new here, i love this post, i will take some reference for my Tundra 2019_

thanks for share and awesome system

 

GBs are no joke.

 

I just wandered into this thread, but coincidentally also just installed 3 way AF GB's in the front and the JL VX800/8i (built in DSP). Anxiously awaiting delivery of a tuning mic so I can attempt a formal tune, but just messing around by ear it's already obvious - as above, these GB's are NO JOKE!! My install was much more hasty so I won't shame myself with pics of the crude mounts etc., but roughly same process as aparker.

I'm in Kansas City and Hushmat is produced here so I installed that in the front doors and so far around / under drivers seat (impressed so far) - it's alot like the rubberized underlayment they use in floors. Part of the haste is it's been crazy cold here, and I can tidy up the install later - I have a CNC machine

My headunit is one of the big screen custom fit android radios - from Phoenix Automotive, which tho of course more or less generic Chinese tech, I will say has done a good job with all the vehicle specific perfect cosmetic fit and plug n play harness components in terms of keeping the steering controls, taking over HVAC controls (now digital on lower part of the screen), and with basic features (having the huge screen with Chrome / Android apps of choice is nice, and still have Wireless Carplay as well, and with simple bluetooth OBD connector can access alot of vehicle monitoring as well. All I needed was a little adapter so I could keep the stock GPS antenna connected. Ironically, the hardest part so far is finding a decent android music player app (besides Apple Music of course) since it has 128GB and I have all my audio files loaded onto it.

I also got a shallow mount Audiofrog 8" sub and mounted into the stock sub box, and with a JL JD250 amp mounted on top of the box. Obviously not expecting miracles and may not be the final choice, tho so far it feels impressive for what it is. I'm not a thumper, just want acccurate low end. We'll see after the tune...

I actually intercepted the speaker wiring from the output of the JBL underseat amp and got some reverse fit harness adapter from Crutchfield, thinking I was taking the easy route. The colors are random (tho this reference for the wiring scheme seems to have been accurate) and frankly may have been faster to run my own wire. I did need to run new wiring to the dash speakers, the stock JBL front dash corners are spliced into the door tweeters, and you definitely benefit from keeping the 3 ways on isolated channels or waste the investment of the DSP. I simply disconnected the center speaker. Interestingly the stock wiring to the tweeters works when I simply reconnected the front corner dash wire connector (4 way connector with wires to corner dash speaker cut), allowing me to use separate outputs to the front 3 ways for the all important speaker by speaker tune and staging - a no brainer if you're going to go to the cost and trouble of going with speakers as capable as the Audiofrogs.

I actually left the stock rears in for now and connected to the remaining two outputs just to help answer the staging preference question (which is what really drew me in to this thread), turning them on and off with the DSP making it a nifty way to compare with various music. Tho the AF's alone are of course awesome and even before tuning I can discern how amazing they are, but I think I probably will appreciate some backfill sound. I can harvest component Infiniti's out of my 2007 Tundra and will likely at least swap out the factory rears with it (2007 has only got 20 watt / channel Sony head unit). I am also wondering if the rear door tweeters will adversely impact the staging, but of course I can easily turn them down or off with the onboard DSP. I'll have to use the passive crossovers back there, but the infiniti has an attenuation button on the crossover so that may help.

Anyway have enjoyed reading thru this and even with just a very crude hand-tune of just inputting proper crossover frequencies in the JL "TUN" software (IE no timing adjustments / no EQ, no mic tune yet), the audiofrogs have already come alive and the staging and clarity is already beyond anything I ever expected.