JBL System tweeter upgrade - Better than Subaru tweeters

Am I reading this right @TacoManOne? You replaced the JBL dash tweeters with a 2-way speaker?

Looks like a nice install but also like a lot of work and something I would surely screw up! So nice job. Just wondering why you went the two way speaker route vs. just finding 2 to 2.5 ohm tweeters that will fit?

 

Correct. That's what fit without making some custom bracket and they were cheaper than the Subie option.

 

Nice! Im at the age where plug and play is convenient (to me).

Good write up though sir.

 

Me too! I wish there was an easier path to upgrading the JBL system. None of it seems plug and play (at least from what I have found). 2ohm speakers are not easy to find.

 

I used JBL speakers. The real ones. They are 3 ohm.

 

I just did this on my 23 pro, felt good to dremmel on a brand new truck

 

Did you find it to be worth while with the newer jbl systems? I have a 22 Sport and I've been hesitant to do it. Dramatic difference in highs and mids? Clarity?

 

Highs and clarity most of all, it does sound better. It took me a couple hours to do it, but I like them. I also did the rockford 8" sub upgrade and have some Infinity 6x9 mids coming for the doors. If you don't mind cutting stuff up and have patience, I'd recommend the upgrade.

 

Audison Prima 2.5 speaker I run this with the factory JBL as a drop in and play and can also add an amp to bring them alive if your willing to to go that route no need to cut or trim the dashboard. Under $200 price not a bad option at all
For the audiophiles the next and best option is the Focal M 3 inch with very little trimming for $600 per speaker
I’m guessing that’s going to be my next move but you must have an amp with DSP for this option

 

Just installed

$70 JBL GX328 3-1/2" Coaxial Car Audio Loudspeakers

JBL GX328's. What a huge improvement. Had to cut a bit on both driver and passenger side but it was pretty easy with a Dremel and a razor blade.

 

This is awesome. I installed 3ohm Infinity 307F speakers and they sound amazing. Thanks for the write up.

 

You’re welcome. It’s amazing how a simple change makes that big of difference.

 

Been following this thread for a long time and its resurgence has me ready to make the switch. Found the gx338s on eBay but haven’t pulled the trigger yet because I’m stuck overthinking the install.
I’m concerned about being able to identify the + and - wires to properly hook up the harness to the new speakers.
If I hook it up backwards and it’s out of phase, is it something that a tone deaf idiot, like me, is going to be able to notice? So far my plan is to try the leads from the harness both ways before soldering, see which one sounds better. Isolate the sound to F/L or R, whichever side that I’m working on

 

If you have the speaker face down with the leads on the side by you as opposed to away from you and you put the aftermarket one in the same orientation, you should be good on the +/-. I think most speaker mfg put the +/- on the same side as everyone else. If they are out of phase they sound strange. You could do a test switching wires just to see. When out of phase the sound levels are much lower.

 

You can use a multiple meter and set it to millivolts DC, connect the leads to your harness, and crank the volume. You'll get a positive or negative output so you can identify the correct polarity.

 

The JBL’s are marked. If you buy the adapter harness the polarity is already figured out and marked.

 

Just a warning I bought the red wolf harness and I did have to reverse one of them because my factory harness polarity was different on the driver side and the aftermarket harness's have the same configuration for both. Always best to check the polarity coming from the vehicle, just to be sure.

 

Wish I had found this sooner I'm waiting for a set of cdt 2" coaxial after trying kenwoods 2.7 and the others I could get my hands on , tweeter looses mids on jbl system, mid needs a tweeter.. the pains I've been through just trying to make it a bit brighter.. hoping these work as I'm not exactly wanting to buy the pac ampro thing to hook my amp and sub up.. I don't know if I even would have bought the truck if I knew the trouble or cost of fixing the sound in it .. I've done all the other things I've got cdt mid/ sub 6x9 in the door though they want more power they do sound better than the jbl did.. if the 2" wideband don't sound good i may just stick some cheap hu under the seat and install the rest the way I know how.. to think how many people have struggled to get past jbl security for lack of a better word. . I guess the nice stuff I have will never really shine unless I get the ampro loc when you consider what has been spent on other stuff 329 isn't that much I'm just tired of spending on something that .. well you guys know where I'm coming from I'm sure.

 

The Subaru tweeters are a huge upgrade. The soundstage opens right up and the best part is that they are plug & play.

 

Anyone else still buying 3rd gena and trying.. cdt makes several 2" wideband mid/tweeters that should do better than the 2.7 jbl and a 2" coaxial. I don't know if anyone has tried them in the taco dash but I have a set of their coaxial on the way.. I couldn't (not yet) cut up my dash but.. I'll report back when I get them in and see how they sound. I know theirs are better than the jbl 2.7 . The coax can plays from 500hz up to 28k and the wideband mid/tweeter from 250 up to 20k so (i don't know for sure) should work in the tacoma dash . They handle power if given a high pass of 500 but I've read they can play lower. I'm not sure what the jbl 2.7 is hp@ but I would imagine it's in range. i will know for sure next weekend as they are in the mail. I'm trying the coaxial i believe es-02exx. There is a model of it on special right now for 99$ but does not have a cap on the tweeter this model for a little more does . The cut out for them is 2.01 inch so it will be easy to mount in the dash with a cheap tweeter adapter cut to fit a 2" . I tried tweeters but i felt for me it still needed a midrange and with a midrange in the dash it still needed a tweeter . The biggest problem with the jbl system to me is lack of a tweeter in the front as the mid/tweeter they used just isn't as bright as many of us would like. They ate 4 ohm but I didn't notice a real big volume difference using the Kenwood 4ohm 2.7" i just didn't like the sound of them though there was enough power difference for it to make the 6x9 a little more prominent rather than the dash being so loud compared. The 6x9 mid/sub 6x9 from cdt does sound better than the jbl or the kickers do. I tried the ks before I knew about the low pass filter on them from the jbl amp. I was planning to amp them as the jbl isn't the power they want yet still sound is better than it was. My hope is the 4ohm 2" coaxial will brighten it up some .I'm wondering now if my phase is off and that's why the Kenwood sounded so bad but I didn't think to check i just wired up the plug from amazn which I know was right just didn't check it against the factory wiring. Its been 20+ years since i wired up a car stereo. I found the color scheme since .. so I will check it this time before I give up on the cdt's.