Changing dash speakers in 16 LE w/JBL?

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cbuchanan87

New member
First off, I've been trying to search this for a couple of days now and can't seem to find the info on this, so thanks in advance.

I've seen threads about swapping the dash speakers to Kappas, but it looks like the posters' systems are non-JBL systems. I want to swap the dash speakers in my '16 Limited with the JBL system. It looks to me like this is a 2 ohm system (please correct me if that is wrong). Can I use 4 ohm 3.5" speakers in the dash or would it sound bad?

Also, has anyone changed out any other speakers in a JBL system without changing the head unit?

Thank you all.
 
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cbuchanan87 said:
First off, I've been trying to search this for a couple of days now and can't seem to find the info on this, so thanks in advance.

I've seen threads about swapping the dash speakers to Kappas, but it looks like the posters' systems are non-JBL systems. I want to swap the dash speakers in my '16 Limited with the JBL system. It looks to me like this is a 2 ohm system (please correct me if that is wrong). Can I use 4 ohm 3.5" speakers in the dash or would it sound bad?

Also, has anyone changed out any other speakers in a JBL system without changing the head unit?

Thank you all.
Click to expand...
plenty of folks have swapped out the JBL speakers and not the head unit. yes, it's 2 ohm, and, sure, you can replace with 4 ohm speakers but bear in mind they probably won't have quite the same "presence" as they require more power to drive.

have fun!
 
sandcrawler said:
plenty of folks have swapped out the JBL speakers and not the head unit. yes, it's 2 ohm, and, sure, you can replace with 4 ohm speakers but bear in mind they probably won't have quite the same "presence" as they require more power to drive.

have fun!
Click to expand...

Thanks Sandcrawler. I went ahead and swapped my dash speakers for some JBL GX-302 speakers. They have an impedence rating of 2.3 ohms so I figured they would be close. JBL states they are compatible with 4 ohm systems as well so I figured they would still be good I I went to an aftermarket amp and speakers all around. I'm really happy with the improvement from just swapping them out!

It surprising. :shocked::lmao::bravo:
 
cbuchanan87 said:
Thanks Sandcrawler. I went ahead and swapped my dash speakers for some JBL GX-302 speakers. They have an impedence rating of 2.3 ohms so I figured they would be close. JBL states they are compatible with 4 ohm systems as well so I figured they would still be good I I went to an aftermarket amp and speakers all around. I'm really happy with the improvement from just swapping them out!

It surprising. :shocked::lmao::bravo:
Click to expand...

W/ those only being 89 db....how loud are they? I was looking at the JBL GTO329 b/c it is 91 db bit it is 3 ohms. I cannot decide which would be better.
 
cbuchanan87 said:
Thanks Sandcrawler. I went ahead and swapped my dash speakers for some JBL GX-302 speakers. They have an impedence rating of 2.3 ohms so I figured they would be close. JBL states they are compatible with 4 ohm systems as well so I figured they would still be good I I went to an aftermarket amp and speakers all around. I'm really happy with the improvement from just swapping them out!

It surprising. :shocked::lmao::bravo:
Click to expand...

W/ those only being 89 db....how loud are they? I was looking at the JBL GTO329 b/c it is 91 db bit it is 3 ohms. I cannot decide which would be better.
 
Neauxla said:
W/ those only being 89 db....how loud are they? I was looking at the JBL GTO329 b/c it is 91 db bit it is 3 ohms. I cannot decide which would be better.
Click to expand...

I can't give you a comparison since I haven't heard any other speakers in the dash (except for the stock ones). But I turned it up to 50 on the head unit with no problems. I think they sound good. I listend to Seether, Disturbed, UGK and Too Short at high volumes. No problems at all.

They mellow out the highs so I hear a more complete sound that blends together rather than really harsh and tinny highs and punchy mids.

That's my perception anyway.
 
Neauxla said:
W/ those only being 89 db....how loud are they? I was looking at the JBL GTO329 b/c it is 91 db bit it is 3 ohms. I cannot decide which would be better.
Click to expand...

Hi Neauxla,

I wouldn't lose any sleep over how much louder a 91 dB driver sounds compared to a 89 dB device, as one or two decibels (in audio engineering theory), is said to be The Smallest amount of an audible sound change that's perceptible to the human ear! So a 2 dB increase/decrease would barely be noticeable at all. However we do still use the dB unit to measure driver output under strictly controlled conditions:

An Anechoic Chamber
anechoic_chamber_testing.jpg


And to achieve a 3 dB increase in audible output would require a doubling of power input but even still the change in output would barely be perceptible! A small increase or loss in sensitivity like 1 to 2 dB's is considered 'Negligible!

Cheers
 
I had a few messages asking about using the factory brackets to mount the JBL GX-302 speakers in the dash. Here are some pics if anyone is still interested.

I removed the metal brackets from the stock speakers and cut off the ends with the the mounting tabs and speaker screw holes.

Here are the pieces I removed
7238A27B-45DA-487A-9F6F-6F74DF65B1B0.jpg~original


I screws the new speakers into the ends with the mounting tabs using the same holes as the stock were in, using the factory screws.

Drivers side
AFD2302A-B5F2-408E-9F18-6D873A2C6037.jpg~original


Passenger side
4DCD6972-CA83-4320-938E-08FB83B4A553.jpg~original


I also used a Dremel tool with a cutting disc to cut down the plastic ring on the underside of each speaker cover.
C7B303FF-4050-45B5-85DD-BD8B13F9FF73.jpg~original
 
cbuchanan87 said:
I had a few messages asking about using the factory brackets to mount the JBL GX-302 speakers in the dash. Here are some pics if anyone is still interested.

I removed the metal brackets from the stock speakers and cut off the ends with the the mounting tabs and speaker screw holes.

Here are the pieces I removed
7238A27B-45DA-487A-9F6F-6F74DF65B1B0.jpg~original


I screws the new speakers into the ends with the mounting tabs using the same holes as the stock were in, using the factory screws.

Drivers side
AFD2302A-B5F2-408E-9F18-6D873A2C6037.jpg~original


Passenger side
4DCD6972-CA83-4320-938E-08FB83B4A553.jpg~original


I also used a Dremel tool with a cutting disc to cut down the plastic ring on the underside of each speaker cover.
C7B303FF-4050-45B5-85DD-BD8B13F9FF73.jpg~original
Click to expand...

Hi, do you remember how you wired up the four wires into the two new speaker terminals? Any updates and/or new recommendations on speakers, bracket, etc? Thanks.
 
Desron65 said:
Thanks for the response but I can get the bracket off of the old speaker no problem but my wires coming off of the old one are yellow/black/green/red. Any idea which two can be tied together and then go on +/-?
Click to expand...

I'm guessing you cut off the OEM connector? Honestly I don't know the pinout. I bought the adapter to avoid cutting the OEM connector off.
 
Whippersnapper02 said:
I'm guessing you cut off the OEM connector? Honestly I don't know the pinout. I bought the adapter to avoid cutting the OEM connector off.
Click to expand...

My main concern is, which wires get soldered together and which pairing goes on the + terminal? I don't know why this is kicking my butt! :frusty:
 
Desron65 said:
Thanks for the response but I can get the bracket off of the old speaker no problem but my wires coming off of the old one are yellow/black/green/red. Any idea which two can be tied together and then go on +/-?
Click to expand...

Were you able to figure this out? I'm trying to figure out the same thing and would prefer to avoid having to buy another part since I've already removed the old speakers.
 
Turns out after I cut away the heat-shrink on the factory harness (the speaker side) that the yellow/green and the red/black were tied together. So I clipped the green and black wires. The yellow wire went to the (+) speaker terminal and the red wire went to the (-). The speakers I bought were the JBL GX-302 as shown above and they have some sort of bass blocker already wired in. I clipped the factory brackets as shown above to mount the speakers, but I did not have to modify the back of the speaker grills to get them back on.
 
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