JBL Sound System
- Thread starter inhawaii
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
sandcrawler
Senior Member
info should also be available on JBL's website, but the 4Runner page is mistakenly linked to the LandCruiser information.
Audiophiles with say it is sub par but honestly it is more than adequate for 95% of us.
I had a bose in my previous car and it is as good if not better than that system IMO.
I will say at low volumes it isnt as impressive.
Thanks for the info and input.
I stopped buying aftermarket car stereos in my 20s ever since i could afford to buy a new car. I've always opted for the OEM "premium" car stereo and for the most part have been happy. I think i will be with the 4Runner/JBL system.
I have the weirdest taste in music, from Albert Khaskey to America, from Coldplay to Cozy Cole, from Gnarls Barkley to the Glenn Miller band, from Santana to Steely Dan.
2 more weeks! I can't wait!
I stopped buying aftermarket car stereos in my 20s ever since i could afford to buy a new car. I've always opted for the OEM "premium" car stereo and for the most part have been happy. I think i will be with the 4Runner/JBL system.
I have the weirdest taste in music, from Albert Khaskey to America, from Coldplay to Cozy Cole, from Gnarls Barkley to the Glenn Miller band, from Santana to Steely Dan.
2 more weeks! I can't wait!
It's actually a really good system.. Maybe not the most powerful or the clearest at loud volumes for parties but it will damage your hearing just fine if you're into that kinda thing. If you still feel underwhelmed after purchasing I'm sure you could amp the speakers to get it louder. Id say its better than most all stock car stereos, definitely better than a bose system but not quite at the level of a logic 7 or comparable aftermarket options. Congrats on the purchase
Hawaiian4runner
New member
I'm also in Hawaii. Welcome aboard. I wanted the TE and SERVCO only brings them in with moonroof and JBL Premium with Nav. Ended up paying over $4000 more for stuff I did not want. The stereo is decent but not exactly "premium" in my opinion. Can make significant improvement by just upgrading the dash speakers although the tune between the dash and door speaker become unbalanced. I ended up changing all the speakers, adding a DSP and a couple of amps but I think I could have done pretty well by just adding a 2 channel amp to either the front door speakers or the dash and using the amp gain to balance the dash and door speakers. Probably cost you no more than $300 and minimal work. Oh and don't forget to mat the doors. Improves sound a lot, quiets the cab and get's rid of the tin can sound when closing the doors.
Besides that, I think the deck looks really nice, functions well and has good controls. Not sure about the Nav. Most people don't like it but I've never used it so I don't know.
RainCityShecks
New member
It's a good solid system if you want to keep everything inside stock, as I do. I'd say it's about as good as the Bose system in my old A4 (symphony I think) but not nearly as good as the system in my old A3 (concert I believe). Overall no complaints, I like it, and I'd recommend it.
eddie333
New member
I love the way mine sounds (I use to be a SQ competitor back in the days, and it holds its own). I am glad I chose it over the Entune option.
I am having a problem with the touchscreen not working once the unit gets hot (typically after 30 minutes of driving). It is almost impossible to use the buttons at the bottom of the screen. I am going to have Toyota swap it out under warranty and see if the next unit does the same or not. It sucks when I am trying to use the map and scroll on the map, nothing works. I flipped the unit open and felt the inside and it gets terribly warm with no visible way to dispense heat. I am sure the screen is a multilayer something-or-other and the layers are losing their sensitivity when warm?
I am having a problem with the touchscreen not working once the unit gets hot (typically after 30 minutes of driving). It is almost impossible to use the buttons at the bottom of the screen. I am going to have Toyota swap it out under warranty and see if the next unit does the same or not. It sucks when I am trying to use the map and scroll on the map, nothing works. I flipped the unit open and felt the inside and it gets terribly warm with no visible way to dispense heat. I am sure the screen is a multilayer something-or-other and the layers are losing their sensitivity when warm?
GreyhoundGuy
New member
I really enjoy the JBL system. When I stream from my phone using bluetooth, the audio is always crisp. At lower volumes, the system sounds pretty good. At loud volumes, it sounds even better.
The only thing that bothers me is that the subwoofer isn't on a different line that the rest of the audio. In a higher end system, the sub would be separate. That way you could adjust the bass of the sub independently of the rest of the system. So you could turn the sub up a bit, then use the fader to send more of the sound towards the front of the truck.
But in the 4R, the sub is tied in to the rest of the system on the same lines, so if you use the fader to send more sound towards the front of the truck, you end up losing the subwoofer.
Does that make sense?
Anyway, even with that as a minor fault, I think the system sounds GREAT for a stock system. I do plan on upgrading, but this will work great for me for quite a while.
-Joel
The only thing that bothers me is that the subwoofer isn't on a different line that the rest of the audio. In a higher end system, the sub would be separate. That way you could adjust the bass of the sub independently of the rest of the system. So you could turn the sub up a bit, then use the fader to send more of the sound towards the front of the truck.
But in the 4R, the sub is tied in to the rest of the system on the same lines, so if you use the fader to send more sound towards the front of the truck, you end up losing the subwoofer.
Does that make sense?
Anyway, even with that as a minor fault, I think the system sounds GREAT for a stock system. I do plan on upgrading, but this will work great for me for quite a while.
-Joel
Lolrax
New member
No it's never happened to me once. Also, my mothers old Lexus LS430 has the exact nav/audio system we do, and the touch screen never struggled in the heat or after long trips either. Glad it's being replaced under warranty for you.
eddie333
New member
I had a Venza with the same system and never had the problem either. I get really pissed too when I am trying to find something and nothing works on the screen. I may or may not have wanted to punch it a few times
Steamfitter
New member
In Canada, it's only available as part of the Limited package. I don't understand why.
