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JBL Premium Audio Sound Fix

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#41 ·
Just want to say that I found this forum randomly after doing a search for terrible audio on my premium system. I recently purchased a used 2016 RAV4 Hybrid Limited with the JBL system and was horrified with the sound quality. I went ahead and got the speakers (same ones from Crutchfield) and am so glad I did: it turned this into a pretty decent system, all for an incredibly low price and about 30 min of work.

A couple clarifications, I also got the baffles but didn't know whether to get the slim depth or regular 3 1/4", I got the regular and they seemed to fit well. My main concern was with polarity during the install --making sure that the speakers would match the rest of the system. I just use the light grey wire from the new speakers attached to the lighter color wire on both sides. Hopefully that did it.

As far as to WHY this sounds better, while I do agree the speakers are softer (since they are less sensitive), I didn't find them to be THAT much softer. Testing during the install I A/B'd them with a new and and an old one. They were softer, but to my ears, the sound quality is also improved due to the expanded range of the new coax speakers (hi end and low end), and not as much emphasis in the annoying 1-3k range that the factory speakers were blasting. They seem to be better all-around full range speakers that actually compliment the system much better.

Regardless of why, I am indebted to RickPro for him sharing this fix. It has saved me from hating listening to music in my car, and for hundreds of dollars I may have otherwise spent to rectify. It really does sound so much better. Thank you!
 
Discussion starter · #44 ·
NikolaiAK said:
This is how you can get proof of your sub-woofer sound.

Do not buy Toyota Premium Sound (JBL Audio) - YouTube
Click to expand...
The Sub works in conjunction with the front door speakers which carry most of the bass, and only comes in to reinforce the lowest notes. One way to hear this is to play the introduction to "Try a Little Tenderness" by Three Dog Night. There are several long bass notes, I think from an organ. With the hatch open you can listen from the back and hear how it works. Be sure the fader is set towards the front so the front door speakers can do their job.
 
Discussion starter · #45 ·
dpatschke said:
Just want to say that I found this forum randomly after doing a search for terrible audio on my premium system. I recently purchased a used 2016 RAV4 Hybrid Limited with the JBL system and was horrified with the sound quality. I went ahead and got the speakers (same ones from Crutchfield) and am so glad I did: it turned this into a pretty decent system, all for an incredibly low price and about 30 min of work.

A couple clarifications, I also got the baffles but didn't know whether to get the slim depth or regular 3 1/4", I got the regular and they seemed to fit well. My main concern was with polarity during the install --making sure that the speakers would match the rest of the system. I just use the light grey wire from the new speakers attached to the lighter color wire on both sides. Hopefully that did it.

As far as to WHY this sounds better, while I do agree the speakers are softer (since they are less sensitive), I didn't find them to be THAT much softer. Testing during the install I A/B'd them with a new and and an old one. They were softer, but to my ears, the sound quality is also improved due to the expanded range of the new coax speakers (hi end and low end), and not as much emphasis in the annoying 1-3k range that the factory speakers were blasting. They seem to be better all-around full range speakers that actually compliment the system much better.

Regardless of why, I am indebted to RickPro for him sharing this fix. It has saved me from hating listening to music in my car, and for hundreds of dollars I may have otherwise spent to rectify. It really does sound so much better. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Glad you are now enjoying your music.
 
#46 ·
Just bought a 2018 rav4 limited, and like all of us, am disgusted with the sound.
Want to thank Rickpro for his info and advice on here. Hoping to complete this change soon.

Question for anyone, advice on where to buy the crutchfield speakers etc? I live in Ottawa Ontario (Canada)

Also, when you do make this change, is the overall volume of the system reduced? In addition to the lousy sound quality etc, I find the volume to be very low, even when turned up, but some of that might also be having to set the fade and everything so silly.

Thanks for any advice
 
#47 ·
Should have done my Google search first, of course crutchfield has a great Canadian website. Lol

Only other thing, the foam baffles? Where to get those?
You might tell this is new to me but going to try it anyway.
Thanks
 
Discussion starter · #48 ·
pvs1313 said:
Just bought a 2018 rav4 limited, and like all of us, am disgusted with the sound.
Want to thank Rickpro for his info and advice on here. Hoping to complete this change soon.

Question for anyone, advice on where to buy the crutchfield speakers etc? I live in Ottawa Ontario (Canada)

Also, when you do make this change, is the overall volume of the system reduced? In addition to the lousy sound quality etc, I find the volume to be very low, even when turned up, but some of that might also be having to set the fade and everything so silly.

Thanks for any advice
Click to expand...
Hi, You should not have a problem with volume. I have my fader set to just in front of the front seat headrests. My tone controls are centered. The rear speakers still won't do much but that is how the system is designed. Crutchfield has the baffles. Use the 3.5 deep ones. They deform to fit the space. Don't know if the baffles are responsible, but I seem to have more left right separation than before.
 
Discussion starter · #50 ·
pvs1313 said:
Thanks.
With the tone controls centered, do you not find it sounds like only the driver side is really on? At least for the vocals? I think the lack of a center speaker is really bad.
Click to expand...
Your talking about the balance control. A center speaker would be nice, but I can still hear both speakers so I really don't miss it.
 
#51 ·
Lol ya sorry balance, reading and typing at same time not my forte.
With the stock set up I find that vocals are very much on the right side, so I have set the balance about 3 steps to the left. And then with the lousy speakers, have the fade 4 steps to the rear. Hoping it will be better with your fix
 
#52 ·
Hi All! Have a 2017 Limited with the JBL system, and found this thread very interesting. Overall, I never hated this system... but always felt something was missing. For me, I never had a problem with the speakers being front heavy... I prefer my sound system to have better sound imaging versus the front/rear balance. However, two things I do find annoying are:

  • Dash speakers sound soooo tinny, and like everyone else is saying... no mids.

  • The other issue I have... I'm 6'3" so, I find at my height, I'm not hearing as much from the dash speakers as I would like. If I slouch down, then they come to life.


So, for those that have replaced the dash speakers with the Sound Ordinance, couple questions I have

  • Do the highs sound more clean versus someone jiggling aluminum foil?

  • Does the sound fill the front cabin (especially up in the clouds for tall folks like me)?


Also, while looking on Crutchfield, I noticed they have Infinity Reference available. Anyone try these? I had a Civic Si back in the day, and I installed Infinity Reference components in the front and 6x9s in the rear. They had awesome clarity and good midrange presence.
 
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#53 ·
ChaosShadow said:
Hi All! Have a 2017 Limited with the JBL system, and found this thread very interesting. Overall, I never hated this system... but always felt something was missing. For me, I never had a problem with the speakers being front heavy... I prefer my sound system to have better sound imaging versus the front/rear balance. However, two things I do find annoying are:

  • Dash speakers sound soooo tinny, and like everyone else is saying... no mids.
  • The other issue I have... I'm 6'3" so, I find at my height, I'm not hearing as much from the dash speakers as I would like. If I slouch down, then they come to life.

So, for those that have replaced the dash speakers with the Sound Ordinance, couple questions I have

  • Do the highs sound more clean versus someone jiggling aluminum foil?
  • Does the sound fill the front cabin (especially up in the clouds for tall folks like me)?

Also, while looking on Crutchfield, I noticed they have Infinity Reference available. Anyone try these? I had a Civic Si back in the day, and I installed Infinity Reference components in the front and 6x9s in the rear. They had awesome clarity and good midrange presence.
Click to expand...

Can't answer your question about being 6'3", I'm only 5'10" but if you go back and read the very first post you will see why the Sound Ordnance speakers were used. They have a sensitivity rating of 84dB while the Infinity have a rating of 91dB. According to everything I have read on this thread the way to make this JBL system sound better is to lower the dash speakers sensitivity rating.
I have a 2016 Rav4 Hybrid Limited with JBL and purchased the Sound Ordnance but haven't had time to install them yet. There was also someone on this thread that purchased three different front dash speakers and did a comparison. Don't know what page it is on but it is in there somewhere.
Also take a look at this thread.
http://www.rav4world.com/forums/124-4-4-interior/264897-premium-jbl-bass-improvement-hack.html
 
#54 ·
toyto44 said:
Can't answer your question about being 6'3", I'm only 5'10" but if you go back and read the very first post you will see why the Sound Ordnance speakers were used. They have a sensitivity rating of 84dB while the Infinity have a rating of 91dB. According to everything I have read on this thread the way to make this JBL system sound better is to lower the dash speakers sensitivity rating.
I have a 2016 Rav4 Hybrid Limited with JBL and purchased the Sound Ordnance but haven't had time to install them yet. There was also someone on this thread that purchased three different front dash speakers and did a comparison. Don't know what page it is on but it is in there somewhere.
Also take a look at this thread.
http://www.rav4world.com/forums/124-4-4-interior/264897-premium-jbl-bass-improvement-hack.html
Click to expand...



Apologies, I wasn't putting two and two together about the sensitivity piece, but that makes sense.


I did see the comparison post, using a combination of stock/replacement speakers and utilizing rheostats. He did mention that the Sound ordinance did not have good sound quality. Also, my main focus is not so much about the volume of the dash speakers, but the sound quality.




plusforce said:
I tested all 3 speakers from Crutchfield and 2 rheostats.
1- JBL Club 3020
2- Kicker 44KSC3504
3- Sound Ordnance P-35B
4- 5-ohm rheostats
5- 50-ohm rheostat.

Between those speakers, JBL club 3020 was the best only in terms of sound quality but the same as OEM JBL, they were too loud.
Kicker 44KSC3504 was not good at all.
P-35B, the sound quality was not that good but it solves the balance problem just a little bit!
Adding a 5 OHM resistor makes the OEM JBL speakers the same as P-35 in terms of sound balance, but the quality will be better.

But I did not like any of them. I thought dash speakers were still too loud and rear speakers were too weak.
So I made 50-ohm rheostat series with the speaker for each side (JBL OEM). I found that somewhere around 25-30 OHM, gives me the best result.
with this, I still clearly could hear dash speakers and they are still dominant vs rear but they are also in harmony.
I still did not solder things together, hopefully in a week or so. I will take pictures and I will post them in a new thread.
Click to expand...

If you ignore the volume of the dash speakers, how would you compare the sound quality between the Kicker, JBL and Sound Ordinance? Like... what made one better than the other?
 
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#56 ·
veza69 said:
hi
simple question, with those dash speakers replacement, I only put - and + wires together and then to new speaker(jbl club 3020)?
is there some danger about that?
Click to expand...
I open dash speaker grills and notice that there is only two wires per speaker, left pink and purple, right yellow and black.
Which one is negative and positive wires?
And how can I plug out that factory connector, with force or screwdriver?
 
Discussion starter · #60 ·
JL makes great speakers. The JL Audio TR350-CXI are rated at 83db so would work well in the JBL system. I have been happy with the Sound Ordinance as they sound so much better than the factory speakers, but if I were doing it again I would probably go for the JL. At the time the Sound Ordinance were the lowest efficiency I could find.
 
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