Crewmax / JBL system. Did they change them?

Have the JBL sound system in my 2016 Limited Crewmax. The reason for this post is that I just read a thread about a guy with a 2021 TRD PRO with JBL that he said sucks ass.

I changed the subwoofer in mine to one that was specifically made for this system by that guy James (found the link somewhere on here a few years ago). Other than that, the system is stock and I think it rocks.

The complaints about how awful it is makes me wonder if they have changed the specs in the last few years.

 

I have a 21 CM, yeah its pretty terrible

 

When I was test driving a new one in 2018 the sales guy was straight up with me that the JBL system sucked and wasn’t worth the upgrade (was asking about differences between the SR5 and Limited). Apparently the JBL moniker as it applies to our trucks has been trash for a while.

 

21' Limited here w/ the JBL 12 speaker system.......ain't nothing to write home about

 

That was probably me. I'm pretty vocal about how awful the audio is.

 

That's weird. I think it's pretty good. And I tend to listen to things pretty damn loud. Maybe it's simply a matter of getting the settings right?

 

What year is your truck? It sounds like pre-2018 was decent-ish but it's crap nowadays. The JBL system that was in my 2010 Camry sounded great, IMO.

 

I have a 2021 Platinum and I'm not a huge fan. Having come from an LX570 and GS350 with the Levinson sound system, the JBL set-up blows. And, to get it loud enough to really want to rock out to, I have to crank it all the way up to damn near max to really get it bumpin'. It shouldn't have to work that hard.

 

2016

 

Junk it and go all aftermarket. I just did a complete swapout in my 2020 SR5.

 

My hearing sucks when it comes to high frequencies, but sometimes lows are so loud to me that I find them annoying. The 12 spkr JBL system in my '13 has more than adequate volume, lows and highs. SOme passengers that have ridden with me have mentioned that the highs are very bright. Of course I can't hear them, so I've got them boosted all the way up. I've reduced the lows a bit. I think the JBL system got worse in two stages...one around '16, and apparently again a couple model years later.

 

In my '21 there are no lows. There's some music that hits the frequencies just right to affect the garbage crossover and I get a small taste of what could be, but it's short lived.

My wife's '15 4Runner with JBL pounds.

 

I doubt there are major changes to the speakers and amps since 2016 but it is possible that other components may be at the heart of the issue. Clearly some components have changed; the head unit is being capable of carplay/android auto, the antenna was also upgraded too.

When I pulled the speakers from my truck they were of lower mid grade speaker quality but I could see where you could drive them with the right equipment and get some fairly decent sound out of them within limits. The stock system isn't configured to properly to accomplish this which is the main complaint I hear about the JBL.

 

I'm thinking about replacing the HU first to see how far that gets me. I want wireless android so it'll have to happen either way. Systems are OOS all over, but I can get a Kenwood floating HU that people seem to like. So I plan to start there. I've read a few posts of how a new HU made all the difference to the stock speakers/sub. Wish there was a cheaper way for me to find out...

 

There are a few members who have posted about this approach and they seem happy with the results. Not sure if the specs of the stock speakers are posted anywhere, it will give you a good gauge of what the upper limits will be. I went the other way around and gutted everything but kept the head unit.

 

I've thought about that too, but the lure of wireless android auto is just too much, that and it seems like it could be year(s) before more DSR1 units are available to keep the stock HU. The company I work for is in the industry, we're getting lead times 6+ months for components, another supplier had a fire this past weekend. Ick.

 

I have my stock speakers in the garage. I can see what the markings are later tonight. I know the dash speakers are little 6 ohms.

 

I'm pretty sure they follow the same impedance loads on JBL as non-JBL, but it would be good to verify - dash corners are 6-ohm, center is 8-ohm dual voice coil, doors are 2-ohm. I can't remember what the tweeters are, but at the end of all of it, everything is wired back to be a 4-ohm load on each channel.

 

Talk to James first. The factory head unit will support new components, I'm pretty sure the components wont support (do justice) to a new head unit.

 

Yeh, he's out of stock DSR1 so either I replace the HU or wait until some day in the future. I plan to replace the HU anyway so... I've also heard that replacing the speakers but keeping the HU+DSR1 results in no turn by turn navigation in Google Maps. Something else I can't lose.

 

I think that turn-by-turn issue was fixed with a DSR1 firmware update

 

To those of you that get aftermarket Head Units:

How do you make vehicle (non-audio) adjustments that are accessible only through the HU interface?

 

From what I've read, on most of the high end HU, those options are available because of the maestro. I assume you are talking about like the beep counts, door locks, and such.

 

Correct, that's exactly what I'm talking about.

 

Like DerfM said, you either add on the Maestro RR module or you can use Techstream or another OBD2 module like Carista to make those changes.

 

Does anyone know what the specs on the factory amp are for the 2021 JBL 12-speaker system are? Thanks in advance.

 

Found it.

 

Stereo is the worst thing about the truck. Toyota should be ashamed. The only stock pieces I am using is the head unit and center channel. Everything else is new. Best thing I have done by far!

 

I'm confused how someone, anyone, at JBL has not owned a Tundra and taken it up the food chain to say "Hey, our name's on this shit". Probably already happened and the CEO just wiped the embarrassment away with fat stacks of cash.