To JBL or not to JBL... that is the question!

So I've seen numerous posts on here that the JBL system is a pain because you have to have a special $100 wiring harness to add an after market HU... I think I can live with that. I am about to buy a new 2010/2011 and plan to swap the HU first thing, so I don't care about the changer or any aspect of the HU, I just want better speakers and the amp/sub. The wiffer won't care if the new truck already has an amp/sub, but she wouldn't go for me dropping extra cash to add them.

So here's my question: the dealer has the truck I want WITHOUT the JBL. I will replace the HU anyway, but will I miss the speakers/amp/sub? Should I hold out for the JBL or just take the non-JBL they have in stock?

Opinions? Thoughts?

 

Speakers don't change between JBL/non-JBL. The only thing you get is the puny amp and the sub. You will save money by replacing door speakers with something aftermarket and end up happier. I only did the front speakers and faded everything forward, I don't miss the rears at all.

 

I'd be really interested to see the difference then, because non-JBL are worse than Radio Shack bargain bin.

 

Dont do the JBL, I am sure its a few hundred more atleast for the JBL and if you want the amp/sub/better speakers you can find some great stuff from sonicelectronix or techronics on ebay or their respective websites.

Door speakers are a breez to install as well and an aftermarket HU. Amp/sub take a little more time to do but I think its well worth the better sound.

 

it's going to be harder for him to swing an amp and sub. Boxes can be spendy and stuff starts taking up room, which is probably the two things the wife is going to complain about. If he does have the room for negotiation, I would pair a set of component speakers to a slim amp, such as an Alpine PDX.

 

This JBL speakers look as bad as stock, and that subwoofer looks like crap! Plus the specs only said it pushed 45watts. Please!

Even if you buy the lowest endline amp from say pioneer you will get better sound outta that then that JBL

I went all out on my sounds system for myself. I do not BUMP my music crazy loud and listen to minimal rap music so I am not going crazy with bass but my rock and classic rock sounds awesome!

If you dont wanna deal with mods yourself and think the non-JBL at the dealer could sound better then get the crappy JBL. IF you want to enjoy your music while driving and ignore the wiffer then do it yourself

 

Wow those look cheap as shit!

 

That's debatable...lol. I suppose BOSE an improvement compared to stock, but it doesn't hold a flame to a properly tuned aftermarket system IMHO.

I think everyone here is saying that don't do it because you will upgrade down the road... And really if you crunch the numbers, you could probably add a pretty good aftermaket system to your truck cheaper than the JBL.

Maybe wifey would be receptive to that argument?

 

Awesome opinions!! The TRD OR with JBL is about $1000 more than the non JBL TRD OR... However, FINDING one that has the non-JBL TRD OR package may be harder. But $1000 is a lot. I can certainly find an amp/sub for less than that.

The only other thing is that the JBL system includes Bluetooth with *bluetooth on the steering wheel* - that may be the deal breaker for me. I have an iPhone which I currently use all the time in the car via BT. The steering wheel controls would be nice. But still... $1000? Ugh.

 

for $1000 you can get 4 speakers, a sub with enclosure, and an amp and still have enough money left over to get a HU that has BT capability.

To be perfectly honest IMO I upgraded the front 6x9s to pioneer D series 6x9s and the magent on those things makes them a woofer. I have subs anyway but honestly do not even need them with a good quality 6x9 speaker.

So there you have it, Great Aftermarket HU with ipod and BT- $300 with wiring harnes and dash kit

Pioneer D series speakers for front and rear with amp another $500 and you are set and the install is easy

 

AND some Eclipse head units have been known to be plug and play because Fujitsuten makes the stock Tacoma head unit.

This was the case for my AVN6620...took about 4 minutes to install!

 

No I am basing it on experience I have them in my doors and they make the truck rumble on their own

 

Let's leave the Bose discussion out of this or it's going to get off topic real fast.

Let me take a step back, I got off on the wrong foot.

To begin, Don't let anyone talk you into something that you can't hear. Let your ears be the salesman, not your eyes. If you think the stock stuff is fine and aftermarket systems aren't that big of a deal, save the money!
I can tell you all day that carefully chosen products will sound better and possibly save a little money, but if you can't hear it, can't afford it, or live with it, what's the point?

Let's take this process:
1. Sit in the non-JBL truck. How does it sound? Listen to only one song that you KNOW how it should sound.
2. Sit in a JBL truck. It doesn't need to have the same options, just the same cabin and the JBL system. Listen to the same song. How does it sound?
3. Ask to listen to someone's taco in your area where they have done aftermarket, hopefully try doing this to several vehicles. If possible, look for setups close to what you think you will be doing. Same drill with listening.


Ask yourself what sounded best and what your pocketbook is prepared to do. #3 has a lot of variables so it may be hard to compare.


EDIT: Holy crap I didn't know it was a $1000 option. You can do a significant amount with $1000

 

If it looks like shit it probably is shit IMO, and the stock speakers that were in my truck looked like shit and sounded like shit so IMO they were shit

 

Unfortunately you can't go strictly off looks when it comes to car audio. Sometimes it's obvious, other times it's all for show. I used to have a picture of some competition level Rainbow components paired against my economy priced Infintys, wish I still had that to show off.

 

This is false.

The magnet is a key factor in sound quality and SPL.
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/speaker6.htm

Obviously there are many other factors in the sound quality equation, however the magnet is quite important.


Imagine a JL 13w7 with a small magnet on it... You think the sound quality would not be affected?

 

thank you!

 

The JBL package is not worth the money. I pulled mine out a couple months after I got the truck. It's okay, at best, for a stock system. It's not worth the money they charge.

Tell your wife you saved a 1000 dollars on the truck by not buying the JBL option. Then go to an audio shop and buy what you like with that 1000.

 

Absolutely, so depending on the type of the magnet, it's size, and many other things, the speaker will sound different.

 

strictly no jbl