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2018 JBL Premium Sound Upgrade

Discussion in 'Audio & Video' started by 71_340, Nov 14, 2017.

  1. Nov 14, 2017 at 12:12 PM
    #1
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    Like most around here I am not overly impressed with the JBL system in my new Tundra. 12 speakers and a 440 watt amplifier should sound different. I probably read every thread about possible upgrades and the inherent difficulties do to the signal for the 2 Ohm speakers.

    I will upgrade eventually but definitely will keep the head unit. I like it and there are just to many vehicle features integrated to loose them.

    I found this today and it looks really promising, although pricey. They have a great install video on YouTube as well. Obviously, before spending that kind of money I will try to find some reviews and contact them to find out if their system works on the 2018 Tundra.

    http://oemaudioplus.com/toyota/tcm/
     
    Kilos likes this.
  2. Nov 14, 2017 at 12:51 PM
    #2
    Diverguy

    Diverguy Breathes under water

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    My 2013 was at least 50% louder. I am going to have dealer investigate when I get my first oil change...I don't think my sub is firing, and I had someone tell me there was some sort of internal amp fuse that was bad on theirs
     
  3. Nov 14, 2017 at 12:51 PM
    #3
    smooosh

    smooosh This place costs me too much $

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    $1,500 is a good amount of money but not really alot when it comes to fixing the audio system. I got a couple quotes and they where right around $5,000.

    Quickly looking that this system I personally would pass. If you are keeping your head unit you need to have a unit like the JL Fix to clean and level out the signal before it goes to the amp or you are just amplifying bad sound.

    What are you using as your source? I was using spotify and could not hear the radio well with the windows open and it turned all the way up. Yesterday i used a different input for the first time and it was louder/fuller. I found I had to change a setting on spotify and the stereo sounded a lot better. I'm still not a fan and still might redo the system but its better then it was.
     
    Eclipsed & Floating likes this.
  4. Nov 14, 2017 at 1:00 PM
    #4
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    That is my experience......can't hear the sub-woofer. Let us know if there is a fuse.

    Also, I just received a call from OEM Audio Plus and got some more info. If you have the JBL system you can only use this: http://oemaudioplus.com/toyota/jup/

    It comes with a separate bass adjustment knob which isn't shown.
     
  5. Nov 14, 2017 at 4:54 PM
    #5
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    I mostly use the integrated Sirius tuner as a source, I also used a USB drive and Pandora (via Bluetooth). They all sound kind of flat now.

    Just wondering, why would you pass? I did find some reviews and they are positive. I am sure for 5K you can get a better system but that is not what I am looking for. I don't listen to music really loud but like to have clear sound with distinct high and low frequencies unlike the muffled and flat sound the factory "premium" stereo provides now.
     
  6. Nov 14, 2017 at 4:58 PM
    #6
    Jsena

    Jsena Trend setter, not a follower!!

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    JBL surely isn’t Bose ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
     
    Runnerstrom28 and Viper3G like this.
  7. Nov 14, 2017 at 5:04 PM
    #7
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    I used to own a Cadillac Seville STS and a Mercedes S320, they both had a Bose system and they weren't all that great either albeit better then the Tundra JBL set up.
    Lets not forget we are in a vehicle here where sound has some serious obstacles to overcome (road and drive train noise and a lot of sound absorbing materials).
     
    Wvmoonshiner and Jsena like this.
  8. Nov 14, 2017 at 5:11 PM
    #8
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    If/when I buy the system I will do it myself. It is easy.
     
    GNTundra likes this.
  9. Nov 14, 2017 at 5:15 PM
    #9
    Jsena

    Jsena Trend setter, not a follower!!

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    I dont know , I don’t have JBL in my truck but I had Bose system in 2 other vehicles and they sounded awesome!! I didn’t even think of upgrading when I had those , but that’s just me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
     
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  10. Nov 14, 2017 at 5:30 PM
    #10
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    Yes, it is convenient. You are probably correct that I could save some money by piecing together individual components.

    Problem with that is that I don't really know what I would need and then to properly match stuff. I have been a certified mechanic all my working life but I am not an electronics technician.

    With all that said, what do you have in your truck/ I am always open for suggestions and willing to learn, especially if it saves me money.
     
    GNTundra likes this.
  11. Nov 14, 2017 at 5:53 PM
    #11
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    Jsena and GNTundra like this.
  12. Nov 15, 2017 at 4:29 AM
    #12
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    Question for you proud JBL stereo owners. Can you actually hear the sub-woofer?

    This morning I turned the volume all the way up (played different songs too), opened the back door and raised the seat. Put my ear close as possible to the sub-woofer and never heard a sound coming out of it, put my hand on it and couldn't feel anything either. Odd!!!


    I am asking because before I spend any money on sound upgrades I just want to make sure that my system is at least working as intended.
     
  13. Nov 15, 2017 at 4:42 AM
    #13
    G-man

    G-man New Member

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    I can hear my sub-woofer. Like you I'm disappointed that the "premium" sound system is not really premium.
     
    NCinCO likes this.
  14. Nov 15, 2017 at 4:56 AM
    #14
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    It might just be better if my sub-woofer would work. I will check fuses and if they are all good ask the dealer about it, maybe there is actually something not working. After reading all the complaints I will not expect to much though.
     
  15. Nov 15, 2017 at 6:42 AM
    #15
    smooosh

    smooosh This place costs me too much $

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    The fix the flatness you need to have to fix the signal with a signal processor like the jl fix or you will just be sending the bad equalized signal to better speakers. This system that you posted did not have one from what I can see.

    Since you use pandora try this. Settings > advanced > higher quality audio. See if that fills in your sound at all.

    Also try playing a high quality song off your phone to see if it’s any better. It’s still not great but once I made some tweaks to my source it sounds a lot better than before.
     
  16. Nov 15, 2017 at 6:45 AM
    #16
    smooosh

    smooosh This place costs me too much $

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    You should be able to see the speaker move. If you don’t on a higher bass song it’s not working. It does not push a lot and a lot of the bass is sent to the door speakers instead of the sub.
     
  17. Nov 15, 2017 at 8:44 AM
    #17
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    I will try it one more time with the fader all the way to the rear which should eliminate the front door speakers. From what I can tell up to this point the sub-woofer isn't working, I will check all the fuses as well (if there even is a dedicated fuse for the woofer).
     
  18. Nov 15, 2017 at 8:47 AM
    #18
    Danimal86

    Danimal86 Looks clean even when its dirty!

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    I'm not sure where the speaker terminals are on the factory jbl sub, but if you can get in there with a multimeter and see if any voltage is getting to the sub.
     
  19. Nov 15, 2017 at 9:29 PM
    #19
    A-A-Ron

    A-A-Ron Done messed up

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    Not a proud JBL owner, just a JBL owner. My sub is definitely working and the sound far from impressive. Even the bass is drowned out on the freeway and will distort if pushed at all. Years ago I had a factory Bose system that was much better than this.
     
    NCinCO likes this.
  20. Nov 16, 2017 at 4:40 AM
    #20
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    I was being sarcastic when I wrote "proud owner". I did complete my Toyota purchase survey today and then I wrote them a long email complaining about their "premium" system. I will probably never get a reply.
     
  21. Nov 17, 2017 at 8:07 PM
    #21
    A-A-Ron

    A-A-Ron Done messed up

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    Oh I know! I felt the sarcasm, just stacked a smart ass comment on top. Good to hear that there is some real feedback going to Toyota, maybe I should do the same.
     
  22. Nov 17, 2017 at 8:55 PM
    #22
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    I think everybody should so they know there is a problem.

    To add insult to injury. I drove our shop truck today, a 2013 F-150 XL regular cab (the cheapest model the government could buy) and the POS base stereo sounds much better then my JBL setup. Sometimes I think that can't be real and that there is something wrong with it, it just can't be that bad. Might have to go to the dealer and complain about it. I can't even hear or feel my sub-woofer when I put my ear right next to it with the volume on 60.
     
  23. Nov 18, 2017 at 6:55 AM
    #23
    PNW_Husky

    PNW_Husky New Member

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    Just picked up my 2018 Platinum CM last night, and I️ can attest that the audio system is anything but premium. A real shame. My wife’s Kia Sportage is much more crisp than the Entune premium.
     
  24. Nov 18, 2017 at 8:37 AM
    #24
    A-A-Ron

    A-A-Ron Done messed up

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    Based on your description I don't think your sub is working. If I crank up the stereo while sitting in my driveway I definitely feel the bass, it just gets easy drowned out while driving.
     
  25. Nov 18, 2017 at 1:14 PM
    #25
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    I checked all the fuses today under the hood and under the dash and they are good and, unless there is an inline fuse somewhere, it should work.

    Just ticks me off to no end!
     
  26. Nov 18, 2017 at 6:07 PM
    #26
    Cuzican

    Cuzican New Member

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    I like you, thought that my sub wasn't working either. I had to basically shove my head in between the C-pillar and the rear seat to even hear it, so unfortunately it is working and it is just that sad. I don't know who designed the sound processor in these trucks, but they should have a hot nail shoved into their ears, because they have no idea how music should sound. They have basically set the front door speakers set up to run as the sub and the sub doing nothing. My wife's Yukon Denali with the Bose system is what I would expect a premium system to sound like.
     
    71_340[OP] likes this.
  27. Nov 20, 2017 at 4:31 PM
    #27
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    I did get an email reply from Toyota today, They basically told me that they appreciate the feedback and that they take all feedback into consideration for ongoing product improvement.....what a bunch of BS.

    I also stopped by the Toyota dealer today and the service advisor admitted that he can't hear the sub-woofer either; I have an appointment on Wednesday afternoon. I can't wait to see what they come up with, I will update here once I get their assessment. Would be nice if they get it at least working to the point it is supposed to work, I am hoping for the best but don't expect any miracles.
     
  28. Nov 20, 2017 at 4:39 PM
    #28
    PNW_Husky

    PNW_Husky New Member

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    That's a shame. I can hear mine, although its not that noticeable. Even my wife's Kia Sportage sounds much better. After driving around more this weekend in my new Platinum, I have found that the sound quality is far superior, and even much louder when listening to HD radio vs playback over my phone via Bluetooth or tethered USB.

    Has anyone noticed that when sitting in the front seat, it sounds like a majority of the sound is coming from the center dash speaker? Its ridiculous that there is no adjustability of this!
     
  29. Nov 20, 2017 at 5:27 PM
    #29
    Diverguy

    Diverguy Breathes under water

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    I pulled out my window sticker, and did some research. There are 3 systems available. The high-end system is now only available on the Platinum. The Limited sound system does not have a sub...just a grate where one could go. I have my custom guy doing some research to see if there is any way to do an inexpensive upgrade. It was quite a let-down compared to my '13 Limited sound system.
     
  30. Nov 20, 2017 at 6:02 PM
    #30
    71_340

    71_340 [OP] The German

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    You are grossly misinformed. The JBL Premium stereo is available on the Limit as a stand alone option (765.00) or as part of one of the Limited Premium packages. Mine has the Limited premium package. Every JBL Premium stereo has 12 speakers (including the sub-woofer) and the amplifier.

    I see you have a Tundra Limited, maybe yours didn't come with the premium package. If you do have the Premium stereo it will say JBL on the head unit's face plate and you will have a sub-woofer, not an empty enclosure with just a grille.
     

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