JBL Worth it???

My dealer found the exact truck I want (TRD OFFROAD, tech/premium, factory tonneau), except it doesn't have JBL.

If I don't jump on this, I'll have to order one, and that will take months. Since I need to start designing parts for the third gen, I'd rather get it sooner than later.

I'm thinking that the sound improvement isn't that substantial, and I don't want to lose the space that the subwoofer takes.

 

I like it I think it sounds good but it isn't going to get people's attention at the stop light and it isn't as "loud" as some systems I have installed in my older vehicles when I was a younger man. When I heard one with JBL and one without, it made up my mind when I was ordering. Now let me say this because this weighed heavily on my decision to do a Factory "premium sound system"....I have had many aftermarket stereo systems installed in past vehicles and I will tell you my experience is that I never want any shop tearing the interior of my truck apart again and I certainly don't want to do it myself either. Nothing goes back 100% the way it came from factory, ever, never ever. I just think you're taking a huge risk that clips will be broken or misplaced, wires will come loose, shit just comes apart over time and it will never quite be as good as from factory. You'll end up with something rattling in the door panel, or the plastic lining /insulation being messed up. Not worth it after having it done half a dozen times in the past. Plus I just don't need stuff that rattles the back of my eyeballs anymore.

That being said:
After having my TRD OR w/JBL since late November I think the SR5 4x4 would have sufficed honestly... most of the stuff on the TRD OR is above and beyond what is necessary. I'm a bells and whistles guy and I like things loaded but I'm just telling you how I feel now after owning for so long. I'd like to have spent the extra 3k-5k on a bad ass suspension (not necessarily a lift) but just really good suspension system upgrade for offroad travel. I travel a lot on forest roads and unmaintained ranch roads for hunting trips. Sometimes hours at a time I am driving on these roads and the TRD OR suspension is much better than some vehicles but an aftermarket system would have been that much better and probably a better trade off for money than the Crawl Control, Voice Recognition and JBL crap that really isn't necessary. The locker is a nice add though I rarely "need" it.

I like the simplicity of the SR5, the grill looks better, and you end up with money leftover to do mods that will upgrade the truck instead of taking stuff off that you paid extra money for up front (bilsteins TRD OR suspension) then sell for pennies on the dollar later. Like I said, I am not one who wants a lift or mud tires but I do want comfort and functionality because I use my truck for hunting trips and as a hunting guide. Hours on unpaved roads will take their toll on your comfort.

 

I like it. It gets enough bass to rattle the shit out of everything and it sounds good enough..the sounds systems kicks my ass at around 25-30 percent volume and is loud enough at 10-15 percent.

If your an audio snob and want the best I would do a custom system, but if your not fussy it should be good enough.

 

I am very happy with my JBL system. I like loud music. I have had mine up to as loud as it can go the sound quality is excellent and it is more than loud enough for me and the bass will rattle the outside side mirrors too. No distortion at all.

 

And correct me if I'm wrong: JBL gets you nothing but better speakers, a sub, and an amp.....no other goodies, right? Nav is still the same without it?

 

That I am not sure about. I don't know if the Premium audio and entune is only available with JBL.

 

I'd suggest you go listen to it before you make the decision. It's a costly system for mediocre equipment. For some it's ok. For others (like myself) it's terrible for how much it costs. For how much it costs 3rd party equipment, even JBL, will sound better then what is installed from the factory. I've meet one person who put all JBL components into his truck, $600, and it sounded much better then the stock JBL setup.

The JBL system is super flat and has terrible high frequencies range. But again, it's all about what you like to hear. My dad loves his JBL system. He's also 68 and somewhat deaf in one ear.

Yup, it's just speakes/amp/sub. Better DSP then the stock HU.

http://www.jbl.com/content?ContentID=toyota-tacoma-us

 

I believe Nav is the same.

I am not too particular about sound quality but I will say I am disappointed in the non-JBL system in my access cab. Can't get JBL in access any but, the stereo in my '02SR5 access cab was better.

 

My truck came with JBL and I just ripped it all out for a higher end 'real' JBL system. The factory JBL is 'ok' for those who don't know what real stereos are. But it is an additional $3k that could be spent elsewhere

 

This^^^ I was in the same boat, what I wanted truck wise would not come with the JBL
said screw it and ordered it anyway and after hearing a few side-by-side, I'm glad I didn't
get it for the $$$$ they want for it. For a couple hundred more I replaced speakers & added a
10" sub & box - All JL-Audio and a nice Alpine amp running it all. Turned up less than 50% it will almost
shake the rear view mirror off the windshield.

 

Holy fuck it's 3k?

Answer to the question "is it worth it?"

FUCK NO. I thought it was 1k max. My stereo system was under 3k and it blows the JBL system away.

 

I have a DC with JBL and I like it. I agree with Smitty99 that after having a bad experience with 3rd party installers in the past, I would be loath to let somebody tear into the dash of my new truck, had I not gotten the JBL system. I can't tell you whether the non-JBL system is any good or not, but after being ambivalent about the P&T package, I am very happy I got it. I am amazed at how quickly I adapted to things like push button start, BSM, cross traffic alerts, etc. and how much I miss them when I drive my wife's 4Runner that doesn't have them. If you are a total stereo snob that has to have the best of everything, you can probably do much better than the JBL system for the money...but if you just like good sound with plenty of bass like I do, and don't really want some kid to tear up your new truck for $8-10/hour installing something new, it is worth it.

 

I'm a bit of an audiophile, but to me it doesn't really matter in a truck, and the standard system isn't terrible.

I'm going to pass on the JBL and take the truck that they have on the ground, rather than order one with JBL.

 

The JBL system is not $3k. It is something like $5-600. The P&T package with JBL is ~$3000 total, and ~$2500 without the JBL system.

 

That is correct.

And I just want the P&T package for the moonroof.

 

I think I've read a few times it's about $800 and $800 is the number
the dealer gave me. The $3k+ is the price for the Prem & Tech package,
that does not account for the JBL option.

 

Ok. I was going to say 3k for that system is bullshit. $800 is still high if you ask me. $500 would be a fair price for the sound it produces.

 

We were both close. The options cost thread in the stickies has the MSRP on the OR P&T w/JBL as $3035, and without it is $2330. So $705...

 

I would skip the JBL and do it your self. It will sound better and in the long run probably cheaper too

 

I doubt that I will even bother upgrading the stereo. I just need this truck so I can start designing parts.