Premium Entune vs Premium with JBL?

As I mentioned in the video I wish that Toyota offered a Bose system in the Tacoma. Since they don't and I feel like I already have an investment made in the JBL system I'm inclined to stick with it at this point. If I had the basic system I'd feel better about swapping it for something higher end. I haven't done my research to comment on good potential upgrades

 

The JBL logo is not a sticker. Trust me - I've tried to scrape that ugly organge thing off multiple ways. Seems it's etched onto the glass.

TL;DR: The only reason the speakers sound better in the JBL system is due to the additional power from the amp and addition of a sub.

I have a 2018 DCLB with JBL. My brother has the same truck but without JBL. So I've had an opportunity to listen to both and have drawn the conclusion that the JBL is better (louder and actually has bass) - but only slightly. Like others have said, the clarity of the highs and mids are lacking in both systems.

I've replaced the speakers in each truck now and can confidently say the door speakers in each system are identical. They're cheap, single paper cone, small magnet speakers. What more can I say? They're garbage. I would not suggest purchasing the "JBL speakers" as an upgrade to your non-JBL system. It will not sound like an upgrade...

The tweeters are slightly different. They're equally cheap paper cones, but the JBL has a slightly larger magnet and a different connector. If you upgrade the JBL tweeters (should be 1st on the list) the Subaru kicker tweeters do fit in the stock location, but you'll need to make your own wiring harness.


I think the perk with the JBL system is having the built in amp and sub. In my truck, I've dropped in new speakers (recommended on this post) into all 7 locations (including the sub (found a 2ohm 8'' Kicker sub that fits like a glove) but used the stock JBL amp and head unit.

I also added sound deadener to all four doors. The deadener, plus the upgraded speakers/sub and the JBL amp has resulted in a great sounding system. It does not have the deep lows a more powerful amp and larger 10-12'' sub or two would provide - but pretty solid for a $350 upgrade and minimal time (speakers + sub + deadener + roller).

Frankly, if you plan on upgrading your audio system, including replacing the head unit or adding a powerful amp + 10 or 12'' sub, the non-JBL is a lot easier to upgrade. No line out converters to deal with or another amp and wiring in your way.

In my brother's truck, we did the same speaker replacement, plus replaced the head unit, added an amp and a JL Audio 10" stealthbox. As far as subs go, the stealthbox is super expensive/overpriced.... but it was his money, and to him worth the convenience for an easy fitment.

The end result is a truck that sounds very very close to my modified JBL system. His bass is definitely deeper and hits lower, but his sub was $750. I paid $105

$200 Rockford Fosgate P3SD2-8 8" Dual 2-Ohm Punch Series Shallow Mount Car Subwoofer

for this Rockford Fosgate 8" sub. Also, my amp is driving all 7 speakers (I have no idea how much power the sub actually gets). Whereas my bro's setup his headunit is driving the doors and tweeters, the mono (class-D) amp drives the sub.

 

Thanks for this reply.

I'll take your advice and skip the speaker upgrade in favor of the tweeters instead. Funny enough, my other car is a 2015 WRX and I had upgraded the tweeters to the Kicker ones before ripping everything out and upgrading it all. I'm currently running...

Kenwood DNX771HD Head Unit
2x Kicker Hideaways (under each front seat)
2x JBL GTO629 (front doors)
2x JBL P662s (rear doors)

It sounds good but the bass is overkill, so I have the Hideaways set to 4 (They go to 11). Despite being only 8", they packed a lot more punch than I was anticipating when I bought them. I'm planning on transferring one over to my Taco and cranking them both a bit which should take care of the lows. Might be annoying/costly to hook up to the factory Entune unit, but we'll see. Somewhere, I have a box full of the old stuff, and I think it includes my old Kicker tweeters. I think I'll look for those and install them in my taco as well.

 

This has got to be the most hyped-up advertising language I have ever read!

TRD OR double-cab w/JBL system owner here, and the first thing a backseat passenger asked me on a road trip was, "Are the back speakers on?" I can't hear anything back here."

 

JBL premium over here. Loving it. Sounds great enough power for me.

 

All 2020 and 2021 PRO's have the JBL as their standard entune

 

Here’s a question. I don’t want my subwoofer anymore. Takes up too much space. It kills 60% of the internal storage. So I plan on pulling it... if I pull it out, will I lose the volume in all my speakers? Or will it just be the sub gone, and pretty much back to stock sound?