Audio quality on the 2022 ORP?

[Mark Linkous]

JBL is exclusive to the Limited and Pro models and their variants such as the Nightshade.

Now that I live in SoCal, I am planning to upgrade either F/R speakers or add a subwoofer. Kinda leaning subwoofer as a I doubt I can resist adding outboard amplification for the speakers thus will spend $1000s off the rip.

 

[RobS10]

On a side note, its because we listened to vinyl, had amplifiers, equlaizers etc and didnt chop music into MP3's.
Listen to Tidal app, with plugged in headphones, and hear the difference.
We listened to as close to raw music as possible. Not perfect master cuts.

Even CDs have gone down hill as far as fidelity goes. From what I've read, most of the new remasters of older issues are full of compression and overdriven volume than can clip.
Nothing better than old vinyl listened through a good pair of headphones. However, a car CAN be a pretty good environment if the source is good and the stereo system is well designed. Some cars spend a lot on it, some don't. Our 4Runner isn't awful, but definitely not great in stock form.

 

[Mark Linkous]

Even CDs have gone down hill as far as fidelity goes. From what I've read, most of the new remasters of older issues are full of compression and overdriven volume than can clip.
Nothing better than old vinyl listened through a good pair of headphones. However, a car CAN be a pretty good environment if the source is good and the stereo system is well designed. Some cars spend a lot on it, some don't. Our 4Runner isn't awful, but definitely not great in stock form.

Interesting points brought up. So many people have not been exposed to high quality audio unfortunately. Add in so much music being consumed on YouTube…

I used to moderate a Home Theater forum and one of my favorite ones to moderate and take part in was System Building where we helped folks spec out the maximum bang for buck setups.
Amen about headphones for SQ and ditto the Loudness Wars.

 

[RobS10]

Interesting points brought up. So many people have not been exposed to high quality audio unfortunately. Add in so much music being consumed on YouTube…

I used to moderate a Home Theater forum and one of my favorite ones to moderate and take part in was System Building where we helped folks spec out the maximum bang for buck setups.
Amen about headphones for SQ and ditto the Loudness Wars.

"Loudness Wars" was the term I was looking for, just having a little Part-Timers kick in .
The digitization and subsequent sharing of music over the Internet has been such a double edge sword. It's exposed us to so much I never knew existed, but has made it such a cheap commodity where quality is just an afterthought, if at all.

 

[2021nightshade4x4]

Even CDs have gone down hill as far as fidelity goes. From what I've read, most of the new remasters of older issues are full of compression and overdriven volume than can clip.
Nothing better than old vinyl listened through a good pair of headphones. However, a car CAN be a pretty good environment if the source is good and the stereo system is well designed. Some cars spend a lot on it, some don't. Our 4Runner isn't awful, but definitely not great in stock form.

Has anyone with Apple Music tried increasing the quality to compare?

Settings > Music > Audio Quality > Hi Res Lossless?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RobS10]

Has anyone with Apple Music tried increasing the quality to compare?

Settings > Music > Audio Quality > Hi Res Lossless?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I will say that based on only one time, I thought my old iPod actually sounded really good on the Toyota, at least compared to the FM radio or Satellite.

 

[Steve40th396]

The size of the lowest resolution FLAC file is ~3x bigger than the same file in even the highest quality mp3
Supposedly bluetooth has a new onr coming out that can play lossless.
To get old high quality audio in a car, you will need some higj quality pieces, parts and
coding/decoding equipment.
Spotify and Apples supposedly have lossless and Amazon prime.
It does no good if the system cant compliment it and reproduce sound.

 

[Something_Awesome]

As I've gotten older, I find I'm less picky and would rather not have to upgrade the Head Unit of a new Off Road "Premium" 4R to be decent for music. How's the "Premium Audio" on the 2022 ORPs? I know it's not the same thing as the 70 speaker JBL + Subwoofer system you get on the LTD or Pro, but is it reasonably decent? I know, sound quality IS subjective :eyebrows:.

I am big in to music. And I really wanted a 4Runner with KDSS as well as the JBL Audio. Couldn't have both. So I opted with the ORP with KDSS. I do not regret it. I am satisfied with the audio. I turn off all the software-based audio processing, and shift the power one tick to the rear since the speakers are bigger there. I leave the base at factory level and increase the treble by 1. Not ashamed to admit it, but I tend to listen to EDM or classical. Bass is important for EDM. It is good enough audio though. I am content and will not be upgrading.

In my experience, the quality of the audio files matter more if you have a crappy audio system. All my audio files are retail, studio quality. So that helps with clarity.

And yeah, I do not understand why the new generation does not care about audio quality. It's odd because so many of them love music. And if you love music, how can quality not matter?

I have the "premium" audio by the way.