Any interest in a writeup for 5th gen JBL nav system overhaul?

[Helix26404]

Hey guys,

I have a 2010 4R Limited with the JBL navigation package. Wanted to have new speakers all around, new sub and an aftermarket amp to power everything, but wanted to keep factory HU, navigation and bluetooth. I used several bits and pieces from this forum and others to make this happen, but there was no single source of info.

Anyway, I successfully completed this project several months ago. Is there any interest in me doing a writeup for this? I want to test the waters first as it was a challenging project that will take me a while to complete a write-up for.

Again, it's a JBL replacement, keeping factory HU and bluetooth, etc., with a completely new output stage (speakers, sub, signal summers, EQ cleaner and amplifier).

Thanks,
Preston

 

[sandcrawler]

i'd be interested. i've replaced all my speakers except the rear doors and subwoofer and have kind of stalled there; other projects.

i've been idly considering putting in the new Alpine iLX-007 CarPlay head unit, but it just came out and evidently it only has one USB input—iPhone only. so i wouldn't be able to use my loaded 160GB iPod Classic in the glovebox any longer. that's not an altogether appealing option at this point. for the money, i'm hoping they add another input on the 2.0 model.

 

[Helix26404]

Good to know...

 

[Ezlife45]

I would be interested. I would most likely settle for a little more low end.

 

[syndicate1]

I'm interested

 

[Maverik159]

Very interested. I'm a pretty serious audio guy and a member on a couple of forums- there really isn't that much decent documentation on installations on our vehicles. I can guarantee your efforts will be appreciated by myself and others. I will be sharing my build once I have something in progress......

 

[dekeman]

Interested. I like the sound and won't change the head unit or dash speakers, but think the door speakers, front and rear, might be better paperweights.

 

[rigtec]

"...Is there any interest in me doing a writeup for this? I want to test the waters first as it was a challenging project that will take me a while to complete a write-up for..."

Hi Helix,

Definitely! I hope you do; plenty of audio enthusiasts around here, self included! Best to you!

"...i've been idly considering putting in the new Alpine iLX-007 CarPlay head unit, but it just came out and evidently it only has one USB input—iPhone only. so i wouldn't be able to use my loaded 160GB iPod Classic in the glovebox any longer..."

Hi sandcrawler,

I love Alpine gear; I just started using their subs a few months ago. I can't believe they opted to pair only 'iphone' with their new HU through the usb port; which represents only about 35% of the "C/p community" but ignores 'Android, Blackberry, and a few "still in development stage" newbies. I'm still trying to decide what to replace my stock hu with; afraid to swap and create 'even more' functionality issues between the steering wheel controls, Bluetooth and cell phone connectivity... "I may not like the way the stock head unit works, but at least 'IT WORKS' and it's not costing me any money!"

Rgds

 

[sandcrawler]

I love Alpine gear; I just started using their subs a few months ago. I can't believe they opted to pair only 'iphone' with their new HU through the usb port; which represents only about 35% of the "C/p community" but ignores 'Android, Blackberry, and a few "still in development stage" newbies. I'm still trying to decide what to replace my stock hu with; afraid to swap and create 'even more' functionality issues between the steering wheel controls, Bluetooth and cell phone connectivity... "I may not like the way the stock head unit works, but at least 'IT WORKS' and it's not costing me any money!"

well, if by "C/p" you mean CarPlay, that's not true—CarPlay is solely Apple IP.

personally, i think it makes perfect sense to optimize the user experience by developing hardware specific to the OS. ultimately there should be best-of-breed Apple CarPlay and Android head units for consumers to choose from. forget about Blackberry, however. that company's a lumbering boxer who's dead on his feet—the fight is over except for the ten-count.

the "one-size-fits-all" approach invariably makes too many compromises and delivers a shoddy UX. from the ones i've played with, the Pioneer units—though offering more features—suffer from this to an annoying level. they're too spendy to suck that much.

i hear you on sticking with what "works", but i gotta put "works" in a set of big, heavy, bold quotation marks. BT on my JBL Nav works perfectly; Apple Maps driving directions and Siri work very well. thing is, although i love having my entire music library on my 160GB iPod Classic in the glovebox, the OEM HU interface just doesn't work. it's so clunky, slow, and prone to lock-ups that it's effectively reduced my iPod Classic to a giant-ass iPod Shuffle. i can use Playlists ok enough. but if i ever want to find a specific song? fuhgeddabboudit.
:drummer:

 

[Helix26404]

Sounds good. I'll get working on it. And I can provide advice if anyone wants to go a cheaper route or change things up. I'll be back soon.

 

[rigtec]

well, if by "C/p" you mean CarPlay, that's not true—CarPlay is solely Apple IP.

personally, i think it makes perfect sense to optimize the user experience by developing hardware specific to the OS. ultimately there should be best-of-breed Apple CarPlay and Android head units for consumers to choose from. forget about Blackberry, however. that company's a lumbering boxer who's dead on his feet—the fight is over except for the ten-count.

the "one-size-fits-all" approach invariably makes too many compromises and delivers a shoddy UX. from the ones i've played with, the Pioneer units—though offering more features—suffer from this to an annoying level. they're too spendy to suck that much.

i hear you on sticking with what "works", but i gotta put "works" in a set of big, heavy, bold quotation marks. BT on my JBL Nav works perfectly; Apple Maps driving directions and Siri work very well. thing is, although i love having my entire music library on my 160GB iPod Classic in the glovebox, the OEM HU interface just doesn't work. it's so clunky, slow, and prone to lock-ups that it's effectively reduced my iPod Classic to a giant-ass iPod Shuffle. i can use Playlists ok enough. but if i ever want to find a specific song? fuhgeddabboudit.
:drummer:

Hi sandcrawler,

By 'C/p community' I meant "cell phone community" hahaha! Never heard of CarPlay until now lol! You're right regarding the ipod (160gb) being reduced to a 'shuffle', and I shouldn't have to part w/it for alpine or any other electronics maker; especially when there are so many choices out there. With my stock hu, I can't use the Bluetooth feature w/ my ipod and utilize the touchscreen function at the same time; can only use this feature through the USB 2.0 port, which means I have to pull over, grab the ipod and manually search for what I want to hear... too dangerous doing that w/o stopping first (ask me how I know). I'm looking at "Clarion" nav systems as an alternative to the 'Boutique' brands; much cheaper, state-of-the-art technology and many models to choose from. Hoping to find something that I like that's perfectly compatible w/ Android, Best to you!

 

[The Waco Kid]

Just out of general curiosity, is there anything available that would allow replacing the HU without replacing any of the trim pieces around the OEM unit? Currently, I like the look of dash more than I care about the shortcomings of the stock unit, but I'm still interested in upgrading components.

 

[Cos4x4]

Very interested, I would love to do something like this to my truck.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Spencertron]

If any of you decide NOT to upgrade your speakers but sell your head unit instead, please pm me My touch screen became unresponsive about 2 months after buying the 4runner. ok, hijack over.

 

[Erkelbot]

I'd be interested in what options there would be for retaining the brain of the system and swapping out speakers. Has anyone done a speaker swap on a 14 or 15 (not sure if the speakers varied in earlier years)? If so, how much improvement did you hear?

I'm also curious to know if anyone has amplified the stock entune premium system -- or if it's even worth it. Typically stock systems stink for amplifying since they're so noisy, but changing out the HU and having to mess with the aesthetics of the trim and dash isn't something I am willing to do.

Overall, I'd like to change speakers and give them a bit more juice. I'm adding in a Kicker Hideaway I've had laying around from an old car I had, so I want to even out the sound. I think that'll be plenty for my old ears...nice, balanced sound.

 

[Helix26404]

I'd be interested in what options there would be for retaining the brain of the system and swapping out speakers. Has anyone done a speaker swap on a 14 or 15 (not sure if the speakers varied in earlier years)? If so, how much improvement did you hear?

I'm also curious to know if anyone has amplified the stock entune premium system -- or if it's even worth it. Typically stock systems stink for amplifying since they're so noisy, but changing out the HU and having to mess with the aesthetics of the trim and dash isn't something I am willing to do.

Overall, I'd like to change speakers and give them a bit more juice. I'm adding in a Kicker Hideaway I've had laying around from an old car I had, so I want to even out the sound. I think that'll be plenty for my old ears...nice, balanced sound.

This is essentially what I did on a JBL system, except I added a new amp (retaining the old one as well, tho). I'm working on the write-up now; holidays are slowing me down.

 

[transworldmoto]

Sub'd

 

[sandcrawler]

bumping this thread...

i'm really interested to see a detailed write-up of how to tap into the JBL system downstream of the JBL amp/DSP with a line-out-converter/CleanSweep kind of unit (and—if necessary—adding a better amplifier back there) to optimize/tune the soundstage and better drive aftermarket speakers (including an upgraded subwoofer).

i've already upgraded most of my speakers with high sensitivity, low impedance (2 ohm and 2.7 ohm) drivers. i know the system could use some adjusting, but i don't want to rewire my whole vehicle. and since all the "guts/brains" of the JBL system are back behind the passenger-side cargo area panel, it seems (in my head) like this is the natural location to insert this equipment and integrate it into the factory wiring.

correct me if i'm wrong. paging [MENTION=73441]Helix26404[/MENTION]...

 

[DiggetyDan]

I did something similar a couple years ago. Have a '12 Limited that came with the JBL system. In my prior vehicle I had a good aftermarket system so I noticed a big sound quality gap with the JBL.

I wanted to keep the HU stock. I added new Hertz speakers front and rear driven by an amp under the passenger seat. A separate amp under the driver seat for a new sub.

I didn't do the install myself (though I have done a few myself) but from talking to the guys that did it, it was not a straight forward project. The way the HU is designed you can't just run from the HU to the amp. They had to pick up one line out that had all frequencies and run that through a frequency splitter or something like that.

Caution - if you choose the rear line to pull your sound from you'll lose the voice of your navigation. After the install my nav went silent due to this. Helix I wonder if you ran into this?

 

[sandcrawler]

The way the HU is designed you can't just run from the HU to the amp. They had to pick up one line out that had all frequencies and run that through a frequency splitter or something like that.

if you're upgrading the sound (not the HU) i'd think you'd leave the HU entirely alone, and tap into the JBL amp/DSP located in the passenger-side cargo area, feeding your newly processed (&/or amplified) signals out to the individual speakers from there.



it'd be great if [MENTION=73441]Helix26404[/MENTION] responds, but it looks like he hasn't logged in since 12/31/14.