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DIY 3.5" JL Audio dash speaker upgrade - Wow!

Discussion in 'Audio & Video' started by 57HotrodVW, Oct 24, 2018.

  1. Apr 9, 2021 at 12:47 PM
    #181
    2016 4Runner SR5

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    They won’t last long without the capacitors.
     
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  2. Apr 9, 2021 at 2:38 PM
    #182
    j4unner

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    sounds good! still have the stock 6x9, I have not upgraded them yet. I ended up getting a muffler the other week so just got to save up some coins and purchases everything else.
     
  3. Apr 9, 2021 at 2:39 PM
    #183
    j4unner

    j4unner shootz brah..

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    yikes! ok thanks for that info. easy fix..
     
  4. Apr 11, 2021 at 10:00 AM
    #184
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    I noticed that you didn't originally use the two capacitors that come with the speakers. Did you go back and add those?

    Good writeup on this speaker install:
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2021
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  5. Apr 11, 2021 at 11:04 AM
    #185
    j4unner

    j4unner shootz brah..

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    def good info on the write up. I did not! I was not aware. Looks like I'll be ordering some on Amazon and re-doing the dash speakers. In a previous post reply someone said the 3.5's will not last without them.

    Would the capacitors be needed for the 6x9 and 6x5 speakers as well? So I know when I do those upgrades.

    ALSO side not the next day I went back and shaved down the speaker covers, LOL..I read in the thread by doing so, it will help project the sound.. not needed since it does fit but whatever to help make it all sound better.
     
    Last edited: Apr 11, 2021
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  6. Apr 11, 2021 at 12:34 PM
    #186
    2016 4Runner SR5

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    Caps are not needed for anything other than the 3.5” speakers. The caps limit the low frequency going to the tiny 3.5” cone. They don’t like bass so running without capacitors will cook them before long.
     
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  7. Apr 11, 2021 at 1:03 PM
    #187
    j4unner

    j4unner shootz brah..

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    thanks! I just ordered some capacitors..
     
  8. Apr 11, 2021 at 8:33 PM
    #188
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Did the speakers you ordered from Amazon not have the capacitors included? I was told by someone else who ordered them that they were included separately in the box.
     
  9. Apr 11, 2021 at 8:38 PM
    #189
    j4unner

    j4unner shootz brah..

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    yeah not at all in the box. dam, I hoping I didn't discard them, but I know I looked through the box pretty good.
     
  10. Apr 11, 2021 at 8:57 PM
    #190
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    Several reviewers on Amazon asked questions about the 'separate capacitors included in the box', so I was hoping they would come with them.
     
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  11. Apr 12, 2021 at 5:33 AM
    #191
    2016 4Runner SR5

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    JBL, Infinity include them. Most companies however do not include them so you’ll have to buy them separately.
     
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  12. Apr 12, 2021 at 5:56 AM
    #192
    21TOR

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    The capacitors for my Infinity speakers were included, difficult to spot as they were taped into a notch in the foam packing.
     
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  13. Apr 12, 2021 at 6:54 AM
    #193
    glwood54

    glwood54 Stop making me buy stuff!

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    I'll get the speakers, Red Wolf wire adapters, and an extra set of oem mounting brackets on order (just in case) as this seems like a worthwhile upgrade vs. the Kicker Subaru tweeter upgrade. A lot of 4R owners (not all, though) say it's more bang for your buck, and has much better sound, albeit a bit more work, than the Kickers.
     
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  14. Apr 12, 2021 at 7:25 AM
    #194
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    Subaru swap is still just a tweeter even though it’s better quality than the OE Toyota tweeters. The 3.5 is a much better upgrade.
     
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  15. Apr 12, 2021 at 11:58 AM
    #195
    Tricio69

    Tricio69 New Member

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    Just installed the Infinity Reference 3032cfx 3.5" in the dash, the Reference 9632ix in the front doors and Reference 6532ex in the rear. WOW, what a big upgrade over stock (still using stock headunit). Anybody on the fence about upgrading the stock speakers, DO IT!
     
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  16. Apr 16, 2021 at 6:32 PM
    #196
    j4unner

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    ok fellas thanks again for all the feedback.. got around to putting the caps in.. getting sound from both dash speakers so i believe i did it correct lol..

    70273BD7-E551-493E-A5D0-1AD4059E0448.jpg
     
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  17. Apr 18, 2021 at 8:53 AM
    #197
    21TOR

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    Looks good, how did it change the sound, any noticeable differance?

    I have disconnected my 3.5's, only using the Infinity 6x9s right now.
     
  18. Apr 18, 2021 at 6:49 PM
    #198
    Kyblack76

    Kyblack76 New Member

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    Meh....

    20210415_145642.jpg
     
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  19. Apr 18, 2021 at 6:53 PM
    #199
    2016 4Runner SR5

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    I love the high end Hertz stuff but I’m not a fan of their 3.5 What are your thoughts on them?
     
  20. Apr 18, 2021 at 7:22 PM
    #200
    Kyblack76

    Kyblack76 New Member

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    I had the 87.3's in for about 5 weeks, and liked them. Pass band at HP- 130hz- LP-18000. 24db slope (butterworth) both sides.
    They dug down nice, for their size, and pair well with my Satori Egyptian mids (HP at 60hz, LP at 700) and took the power fine, and sounded fine doing it.
    20210401_161212 (1).jpg


    I liked them so much, i moved up to the CX100's a couple days ago. I dropped their high pass to 110 (yep, 110hz on small dash drivers, no bullshit), same low pass as the 87.3's, with same slope.(ill stick the 87.3s in the ole ladys suby)
    The adjustable tweeters, helped with TA some, as well as opening the felt stereo separation, but, ive just started to mic and play with them. (Been on shift since i stuck em in. I just started to play with them)
    Ive been super happy with both sets. Hell, the entire set up. Helps with those rides to, and from work. Im huge music lover. Its something that truly makes me feel. Just your common music lover, like many of us.
    Some low end is already in the works (couple of 12s, on another Damore amplifier, in an enclosure i can quickly remove, if i need more space for camp/wheeling/ adventure).
    Pretty pumped.
    Happy listening my friend/all.
     
  21. Apr 18, 2021 at 7:33 PM
    #201
    Kyblack76

    Kyblack76 New Member

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    And sorry, aftermarket Kenwood, Satori mids in the doors, with pounds of second skin, D'Amore 400.4 amplifier, and dsp... i prefer active over passive.
     
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  22. May 2, 2021 at 8:49 PM
    #202
    aroyalsfan

    aroyalsfan The Owner

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    Pictures are worth a thousands words. See if you can follow along with my mod here on mounting the Infinity 6.5" speakers to the backdoor without having to cut on the door panels or drilling a new hole in the door. Door panel fits perfect with this method. You can throw that adapter ring that comes with the speakers away too. as.jpg bs.jpg cs.jpg ds.jpg es.jpg fs.jpg gs.jpg hs.jpg is.jpg js.jpg ks.jpg ls.jpg ms.jpg ns.jpg os.jpg ps.jpg qs.jpg rs.jpg ss.jpg ts.jpg us.jpg

    The L brackets I used needed to have one of the holes opened up to get the speaker holes to line up just enough. So I used the 5/32 and 11/64 bits to open up the holes.

    Infinity Reference 6532EX
    uxcell 40pcs Angle Bracket Metal 12x12mm
    Metra 72-8104 Speaker Connector
    Scosche SAT6
     
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  23. May 4, 2021 at 3:51 PM
    #203
    aroyalsfan

    aroyalsfan The Owner

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    Just finished up the rear hatch today with the same technique I used on the two rear doors. It was just as much of a success as the rear doors. No trimming the panel or drilling new holes in the metal. I can take everything back to stock (except for removing all the sound deadening) if I wanted to.
     
  24. May 4, 2021 at 3:54 PM
    #204
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    I used JBL GTO series 6.5" speakers. JBL and Infinity are the same company along with a number of other brands. The GTO series 6.5 fit the Metra speaker adaptors perfectly, no need for modification of any kind.
     
  25. May 4, 2021 at 4:11 PM
    #205
    aroyalsfan

    aroyalsfan The Owner

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    My thoughts typically aren't worth much.....

    Though I just completed the complete 8 speaker change over from stock to all the Infinity Reference speakers referenced (no pun intended) in this thread.

    Am I absolutely blown away? Well no...but I'm also not running an amp and I don't have a sub woofer yet.

    Am I happy with the outcome of this project? Yes..100% happy with how everything turned out.

    I went the extra mile and sound deadened the front doors, rear doors, and rear hatch (inside and outside door frames) at the same time I installed the speakers. So I can't tell you if it really makes a difference without, but I am guessing it does.

    What I can tell you is I am hearing all ranges of sound I wasn't hearing before and I am liking what I am hearing.

    I did the 3.5" tweeter swap first....instantly noticed a huge difference, but these over powered the stock 6x9's and I couldn't hear those anymore.

    Few days later did the 6x9 swap in the front door. They instantly balanced out the 3.5" speakers in the dash and complemented each other well.

    Few days later I did the 6.5" swap in the back doors. I couldn't really hear a big difference in the front seat, and thought it might not be worth it.

    Then today I did the 6.5" swap in the rear hatch and to me it made all the difference.

    Sitting in the front seat I was able to set the balance from dead center to one click to the back. For me this is the perfect setting for being in the captain's seat. Everything feels well balanced sound wise.

    Sitting in the back seat though...well you don't really hear the front speakers as well. I think a sub in the rear would help balance out the sound in the back. Perhaps..I don't know. Who cares though I am in the captain's seat and I am happy.

    Now I just need to figure out what to do about getting an amp and sub that will work with this setup. I liked the plug and play versatility OEM Audio sub and amp, but I have a feeling you can't run the rest of these speakers off of them since that amp is for 2 ohm and these Infinity speakers are 3 ohm. Maybe I am wrong, again I have never installed an amp in my life.

    What I would like to know is that since the 4 speakers in back are parallel and the 4 speakers in front are parallel does that make this a two channel setup? If so does that make running an amp off the stock head unit a little easier?

    I can Jerry Rig the crap out of anything to make it work....but I am lost in the world of advanced car audio.
     
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  26. Jun 11, 2021 at 8:32 AM
    #206
    ProDude21

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    Hey guys, first time posting on this site. There's a lot of info here but I do l have questions. I have a '21 Pro Runner with factory JBL and I can't seem to find any info on swapping out the dash speakers, what harness to get etc...Can anyone give me some direction please? If I didn't have factory JBL, I'd have all the info, but no one swaps out the JBL it seems. I'll do a full write up when I swap mine, but I need to know what to do first.
    Cheers!
     
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  27. Jun 11, 2021 at 10:25 AM
    #207
    2016 4Runner SR5

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    Same speakers used but no harness available for the JBL system to my knowledge
     
  28. Jun 22, 2021 at 2:56 PM
    #208
    spyder918

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  29. Jun 24, 2021 at 5:20 PM
    #209
    spyder918

    spyder918 501st Unit: GGG

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    So I was able to install the passenger side for the 3.5 in the dash today. I did the bracket mod and did you guys actually use both pieces? I barely got the 1 side to fit in there. Sounds damn clean now though and I haven't even installed the driver's side yet!

    [​IMG]
     
  30. Jun 24, 2021 at 5:25 PM
    #210
    2016 4Runner SR5

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    I didn't make brackets at all. I run the JBL GTO series speakers, drop right in after trimming the giant lip off the outer frame of the speakers. Same goes for my 2019 Highlander. I tried the JBL CLUB series speakers for the hell of it, stay away, they are absolute garbage. Factory Highlander dash speaker actually sounded better.
     

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