JBL worth the extra $$ or not

I did not expect that out of my JBL.

I'm saying for $2,000 it is a rip off.

Well said!

 

The JBL system isn't that bad. My truck came with it so I'm happy. I guess people forgot it comes with engine and navigation......

 

Nav is no biggie to me & I like the Sport because of it's looks. My wife still likes the blue, so who's to say what will happen. What's the engine part of the JBL?

 

Meaning??

 

I just have the SR5 package but it came stock with an engine too.

 

All I'm sayin is for $2k it better be a massive improvement over stock, and it just isn't. It is an improvement, no doubt, but not worth 2 grand.

 

Same. I tried to have it removed out of the truck but they wouldn't.

 

IDK where people are getting 2k for the JBL? Maybe its gone up since 2011? Mine was a 1k upgrade which included more than just the JBL, also had step rails, paint protection (which is a rip off), and the front side windows tinted. It wasn't all as one package but it was roughly 1k more for all these things than I could've got w/o them, so it was worth it to me. Plus the fact that I got tired of fooling with aftermarket stereo stuff.

 

To be frank, you keep referencing other factory amplified systems as a comparison to the JBL factory amplified systems. This is like comparing rotten apples to rotten oranges. They are all rotten. Any factory amplified system, I don't care if its Bose, Mark Levinson, Bang & Olufsen, Harmin Kardon, JBL, "Alpine," "Pioneer," "Rockford Fosgate," etc... None of them are worth their added cost to the sticker prices because they are all plagued with the same issue;

They are tailored to the automotive manufacturers specifications and budget, and, therefore, are not up to par with what you would ordinarily expect from such prestigious brand names.

 

In my professional experience, I can say that the components used in the premium sound systems are tailored to the auto manufacturers budget. Break down the cost of each component that makes up a premium factory sound system, then outfit a similar setup with that same budget using aftermarket components from the same company that made the premium factory system for Toyota. Then directly compare the factory and aftermarket components which are in the same price range. You will notice very obvious advantages that the aftermarket components have over the factory ones.

They are not just dropping in JBL retail products into the vehicles and bumping up the cost a bit. They are spec'ing out the system they want for the budget they have. Achieving the best sound and volume for the price that they are charging is not their primary directive, and they are making a killing off of it.

The B&O system in Audis is definitely one of the best factory premium setups that I've heard, but it still doesn't hold a candle to the flame of what you could have for the same price, done aftermarket. Then again, most people buying Audis don't want their cars taken apart by some 10$/hr technician, which I don't blame them for, either.

 

AGREED!!!

What i have found is, People don't have enough experience listening to a variety of Properly setup systems in their performance environment. The switch board doesnt count. Each person has an opinion and i personally think, that opinion should come from a comparison to real life physically experienced events. Saying the JBL sounds Great.....is good and all but what are you comparing it to. Ill put a wager out there i can build as system with less than $650 that will Massively outperform the JBL setup in ANY way

 

I'm sorry but your really not ripping apart the truck,
Couple screws and a couple clips is pretty much it!

If you cant handle that you shouldn't have a yota just playing

 

Aftermarket or JBL aside, I think the biggest improvement was deadening the doors. It got rid of all the rattle and the deeper sounds sounded cleaner it's worth doing no matter what system you're running. All it takes is 50 bucks for the roll of deadener and a Saturday afternoon.

 

yes deadener does make a huge difference but if some one is not willing to simply swap a couple things out their sure as hell not going to deaden their doors lol

 

I truly appreciate everyone's input. This must be the Best Tacoma forum, I said hello & posed the same question on two other forums & haven't heard squat. Now if the frame rust hasn't gone past the 08 model, it's all good.

 

Do you have any pics, or at least some direction on what parts you applied matting to and how you went about getting it in the nooks and crannies? Im planning on doing this soon.

 

No I don't have any pictures of it but I bought a roll of Reckhorn aluminum sound deading foil on Amazon here.

Reckhorn ABX 21.5 Sq Ft X 80 Mil Thick Self-adhesive Sound Deadener Aluminium Foil + Butyl Based Damping

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JRZPMM?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00
I then used an xacto knife to cut it and jelly roller to get it tight. I used electrical tape to try to get the wires to be as snug as possible. For the nook and crannies I cut small pieces and just rolled them on there. It looks a little patched up especially on the front doors where there's more stuff to go around. A professional might remove all parts to try to get the stuff applied in the least amount of cuts possible my way of doing it worked fine. Just make sure you get it rolled on tight that way nothing will come off. And wear gloves when you do it because that aluminum will scrape the hell out of you.