JBL audio and after market radio

I put a pioneer 4600NEX head unit in the 4Runner. I used the maestro and toy2 harness. Everything works great but the sound quality def isn’t as good as the stock unit. Highs are very tinney and the door speakers don’t seem to get enough juice. Anyone have this issue or have any good eq settings? I installed stereos at circuit city and Best Buy for 8 years, about 15 years ago… so I figured this would’ve been an easy job with IMPROVED sound quality. Also. Went with the metra dask kit and I found the quality to be junk.

 

Did the Maestro instructions say anything about playing the OEM unit at about half volume before removing? That’s how it was with the JBL in my Tacoma.

 

I did not catch that instruction. Let me go digging and see if that’s the case. Thanks! Good thing I didn’t put the old stock stereo on eBay yet!

I checked e maestro manual. All 288 pages for 4Runner with JBL and Tacoma with JBL and I don’t see anywhere the note to set the stock head unit to 50% volume before removal.

 

Ok. This was on my 2010 Tacoma and the interfaces were not as advanced back then but figured maybe it could be an issue.

 

That’s the way they are designed so not to hurt your hearing.

 

My 2006 Shower CD/Media Player Dock with analog tuning sounds better that yours. Maybe get one and mount on the dash?

 

Did you ever add a 5 channel amp or stick with new HU? When I add HU + amp that is the game changer. I'm getting ready to gut my 2021 JBL 'high end' 14 speaker setup. I may salvage factory HU since it has Carplay and just add amp/all new speakers. My question is this: Are the new HU in years 2019 so tied-in with the vehicle you up the risk. Crutchfield says no.

Welcome feedback

 

I did this solely to add CarPlay to my 2018. I bought everything crutchfield said to buy. 200$ harness. Maybe I’m just being too picky and can probably get the settings dialed in eventually. The EQ has about 10 times more configuration than the stock junk

 

its sad on EQ on the JBL high system. Just soon they leave a hole in dash along with holes in doors. The HU has low/mid/high as settings which to me us useless. I'm going to leave the OEM HU with Carplay and add Rockford Fosgate DSR1 sound processor you can operate via phone. My dilemma is do I really want to adjust sound from an iPhone? Probably not. Rather have 9-10" screen to select EQ on fly as driving as it's much safer. Plan be is new Pioneer 7600 or 8600 unit plus JL Audio amp. Had this setup in lifte Subaru Outback sound was excellent sound. Turn it up to 15 and doors coming off with clarity.

 

I installed a Kenwood unit in my 14 limited with Maestro with everything else factory JBL to get CarPlay and the sound was worse out of the box. Took some time with eq, loudness, bass, etc. settings and now sound is better than OEM JBL headunit. Very happy with setup.

 

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I’ve been constantly playing with it and yeah it is acceptable now.

 

2021 4Runner TRD Pro w/JBL 14 speaker, Navigation. Here's what I did:

• Left OEM HU w/navigation
• Ripped out all JBL speakers (front tweeters, front doors, rear doors, subwoofer)
• Ripped out 'high end' JBL amp
• Disconnected tailgate speakers and left them in door. (no need and takes away from sound)
• Installed JL Audio 5 channel XD700 /V5 75 rms per channel on sale $500
• Installed Rockford Fosgate DSR1 sound processor. (32 band EQ adjust gain , each speaker, all via iPhone bluetooth) $350
• Metra T harness (factory HU out-->DSR1 In-->DSR1 out via RCA female) $50~
• Used Crutchfield or Metra 20 ft speed wire 9 wire, 18 guage. Awesome quick solution for up to 75-100 rms. Beyond that install 12 guage. $32
• 12 ft male/male RCA harness $25
• New speakers:
  • Front doors/front corners: JBL 962c Stadium 6 x 9 woofers, 2-way, w/tweeters and crossover. You do have to fish the tweeter wires via grommet in doors to front corner dash. Wasn't too bad. $400
  • Rear doors: 6" Rockford Fosgate woofers plus tweeters (came together)$100
  • Subwoofer: 8" Kicker $200
• Subwoofer control: JL Audio knob in stalled right below push start button. (slot already there from factory so looks nice)$50
• Crutchfield: makes my 3 car redo (3 subies, Tacoma and now 4Runner)

Notes: the current floating 9 " screen solutions (Pioneer etc) simply didn't look right and covered part of my vents in dash. Further, the Metro face plate DOES NOT WORK for the factory emergency button as it's too small. As of 1/29/23 Metra didn't make a plate that works. I didn't like the hole left behind nor look of the aftermarket for this car (I typically prefer aftermarket). The OEM HU look overall much better and the new toys out here such as sound processors really are a great solution. 32-bands vs say Pioneer 7600NEX 15 band sounds excellent. What I learned is after about 2019 the factory OEM HU have vastly improved (with Carplay) so the addition of sound processors really make sense w/o dropping $1200 on new HU.

Overall happy with the finished result, sound configuration, punch, drive plus clarity. I hope this helps someone...