2021 JBL Speaker Upgrade???

I think the factory JBL amp is too underpowered to get your moneys worth out of it personally, maybe if you added a small mono amp just for the sub like the guy that posted that recommendation in the thread I referenced it would be. It sounds better, but not by much.

 

Gotcha. Thanks for the follow up, and for the info. I’ll just stick with the factory sub for now. Thanks again!

 

I think yes. A good sub rounds out the overall listening pleasure of most any system. I install sound systems in boat rebuilds/retro-fits and the sub is the one thing I encourage to folks to invest in where they are mostly budget-minded. Cabin speakers without a sub only go so far, in particular if they are amplified from only the head unit. Thump is a secondary result of a decent system. I say that to say this; I typically install a sub-woofer gain controller as stand-alone and take the sub-woofer output adjustment away from the head unit, then add gain to the sub output as I please to actually remove the thump and merely add the right adjusted output for pleasurable listening; where the sub is not a dominating sound (thump) by virtue of pushing hard on the head unit adjustment to get cabin speaker output.

 

My issue with it is it feels/sounds like it's not getting nearly enough power. The specs of the fostgate's power are:

• Power range: 50-150 watts RMS (75 watts per voice coil), 2 ohm

The factory JBL amp from toyota puts out 55 watts RMS at 2 ohms per channel.
Could it be that I actually needed a 4ohm sub as opposed to 2 if the factory uses 2 2ohm channels?

If not, I think it may just be that it's super underpowered with the factory amp. I am looking at potential ways to up the power going to it (like a mono sub amp potentially to add on to the existing amp) so if you have any recommendations on that I'd appreciate it.


I think I may just do a full gut as I can't find practically any speaker upgrades that match the JBL specs except for other JBL speakers that aren't true 2 ohms (but are close). This guys reviews on crutchfield does help a bit and might be an option for some.

 

The pioneer shallow mount one is what I plan on buying when the stock blows. JBL/Infinity makes some component 6x9 which should work in the front doors.

 

I follow your concern. To your point, the current amp is super under powered relative to the capacity/capability of the 8" Fosgate. You are on the right track indeed. A dedicate amplifier to the subwoofer is an option as long as you have location to place the second amp. I use a Rockford Fosgate Punch 800 in my GMC 2500 and get the results desired, by virtue of the amp that can push the RMS wattage for the 8" RF. That amp is also serving the cabin speakers as well. The mono amp for you is likely the path of least resistance at this time for upgrading the sub-woofer output performance. There are tons of audio sites but I typically use Sonic Electronix dot com. One solution is mono; another is a new multi-channel amp that will agree with the setup by Toyota for compatibility with connections or possibly any adapters. I am not familiar with the Toyota setup per se. This is my third Toyota since 2012 and they have not changed one bit...thus my lack of user enthusiasm but I feel certain that there are audio gurus here that can advise to your needs. Best on the resolution. Keep us updated please.

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What's different in the 21 JBL Premium system vs the 2019 models... if anything?

 

Not sure but I definitely can tell a difference in my 2016 and the my 2021.. It seems underpowered to me. Sub is not as prevalent as it was in my 2016

 

https://oemaudioplus.com/toyota/tacoma-signature-edition-audio-package/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/oem-audio-and-jbl-info-pricing-released.697519/

 

Hard pass on that price, maybe if it was half the price tag I’d consider it. I’m pricing a full gut with extremely high quality speakers and it’s less than half that.

 

It’s a hard pass for most Taco owners out there, myself included. At least there is finally an option, and in a couple of years, we might see some used setup pop up for sale.

 

Curious if you ever swapped out your dash speakers and how you made out. I have a 2020 Limited with JBL and seeking better sound. Looking to start with my dash speakers.

 

No, I haven’t done it yet. I’m waiting on a custom sub box to be built for me. I’m going to basically gut the system and leave only the headunit and the factory amp (you have to leave that if leaving the factory headunit).

My plan is to put in an 8” Kicker sub and power it with a Kicker Key 500.1. Then replace the door speakers and dash tweeters with Kicker KS components up front, and 6.5s in the back. Those will be powered by a Kicker Key 200.4. I know what you’re probably thinking; why replace an 8” with another 8”? Well, my thoughts are that the new sub will be powered by around 2.5 times the watts, plus the sub box is being built to the new subs specs. So, the combination of those two things should give me what I’m looking for, and probably more honestly.

If you’re planning to just replace your speakers, I can’t say if it will really make much of a difference unless you use an amp to push more power to them. But if you do plan on only replacing the speakers, you will need to be mindful that (I believe) the stock speakers aren’t the normal 4 ohm. They’re 2-3 ohms. I don’t know exactly what would happen if you put 4 ohms in, but I believe you wouldn’t get the potential of the new speakers, and you run a high risk of burning them up/blowing them. Just my two cents.

 

Just curious if you got done doing this and how it turned out? Did you use the PAC Ampro? I have a 2022 TRD OFFROAD that I'm thinking about upgrading the same way.

 

I did!! Turned out great in my opinion. The single 8” isn’t gonna rattle the doors off but it’s enough for me and waayyyyy better than the stock sub.

 

Awesome! Do you happen to have any pictures of where you put the amps or how you mounted them? Also of your sub box? Did you use a PAC audio amp pro thing?

 

This is the only picture I could fine of it. The seats fit fine; I just took them off to have room. I didn’t use the pac thing bc my truck was so new they didn’t have the right harnesses and I would have still have to splice wires; they might now though. I ended up using the Rockford Fosgate dsr1, which is the little black box on the top left.

 

That looks really good! I was wondering about cutting off the bottom part where the factory sub was. Although I'm leasing my truck right now so they might frown upon that lol but I do actually plan on buying it at lease end so I should be good lol what kicker amp is that and what door and dash speakers did you go with? Sorry for all the questions lol I appreciate it though!

 

SO did you end up having to cut the factory wires going to the JBL amp? I had read that you need to keep the factory amp to retain the Entune features...???