Polk DB651 speakers in rear liftgate? Anyone install these?

drdevon

New member
Thinking about giving these a go - and not the 651s. I have tried the search feature and found little help so I thought I'd ask.


:music:
 
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FWIW I installed these exact speakers in the rear doors of my previous vehicle( 2011 Tacoma). Honestly I felt like it was a waste of money. I even had an aftermarket HU pushing it, which typically puts out more power. When I traded the vehicle I took out the entire stereo except for those db651s.
 
Also, I have a 5th gen now and I replaced my lift gate speakers with some 6.5 DLS components I had laying around from said Tacoma. They sound a little better than the stockers. But they aren't receiving much power ( stock HU).
The only time you can even tell is when you are outside the back of the vehicle with the lift gate opened.
 
"...The only time you can even tell is when you are outside the back of the vehicle with the lift gate opened."

You're 100% Correct [MENTION=103639]bigswoleone[/MENTION]... those rear tailgate speakers are a waste of amplifier power consumption (IMO)! A few years ago I did a audio mod that involved reconfiguring the 'Party Mode' system, and so I fixed it so the rear door speakers will continue to work with the party mode on or off: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/171794-party-mode-tweak-non-jbl.html Additionally, I've disconnected the tailgate speakers (Jumping them out); which redirects that wasted amplifier power up to the second row passenger area, and allows the headunit to run in a 4ohm parallel mode as opposed to the stock 8ohm Series mode! Plus I'm using a sub back there so they really don't need any help from the "cheap plastic factory specials" anyway!

rig, Cheers!
 
Thanks, but I have some cheap Kenwoods in mind for the rear doors which fit easily. I don't think the rear door speakers are much use for me.

I like the DB651 speakers because they are approved for marine use and i run the stereo in Party Mode (and like it) quite a bit. Just wondering about fit here.

So, any advice?
 
Got them installed last night by a mobile operator. Pretty awesome difference (component Polks in the front, cheap but nice sounding Kenwoods in rear door, and the DB651 in the liftgate), especially in party mode.
 
You're 100% Correct [MENTION=103639]bigswoleone[/MENTION]... those rear tailgate speakers are a waste of amplifier power consumption (IMO)! A few years ago I did a audio mod that involved reconfiguring the 'Party Mode' system, and so I fixed it so the rear door speakers will continue to work with the party mode on or off: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/171794-party-mode-tweak-non-jbl.html Additionally, I've disconnected the tailgate speakers (Jumping them out); which redirects that wasted amplifier power up to the second row passenger area, and allows the headunit to run in a 4ohm parallel mode as opposed to the stock 8ohm Series mode! Plus I'm using a sub back there so they really don't need any help from the "cheap plastic factory specials" anyway!

rig, Cheers!
in my case, i keep the rear seats folded flat 99% of the time, so i'd prefer to disconnect the rear door speakers and redirect/save that power for the tailgate speakers (i installed the 2.7 ohm Polk MM651 in that location).

ive been meaning to do this, but always thought simply disconnecting the speakers would redistribute the power. how do you "jump out" the speakers? i have the JBL, for the record.
 
in my case, i keep the rear seats folded flat 99% of the time, so i'd prefer to disconnect the rear door speakers and redirect/save that power for the tailgate speakers (i installed the 2.7 ohm Polk MM651 in that location).

ive been meaning to do this, but always thought simply disconnecting the speakers would redistribute the power. how do you "jump out" the speakers? i have the JBL, for the record.

Yes, I would also like to know how you "jump out" the speakers?

Did you notice a sound improvement? and if so how would you describe it? ...I also have a sub in the rear area and have found the hatch speakers to be the limiting factor in the factory system, Non JBL..
 
"...how do you "jump out" the speakers? i have the JBL, for the record..."

Hi sandcrawler,

I've never modified the JBL version of the party mode system. Even though it does have a 'Party mode' button on the dash (2010 to 2013), it also has a separate power amplifier and integrated subwoofer which works somewhat differently than the conventional (NON-JBL) party mode system; here's a wiring diagram of JBL's version of that plot:

JBL 'PARTY MODE'


...and here's the NON JBL Party mode configuration below:

rigtec-albums-%26quot%3Bgentilmen+prefer+redheads%26quot%3B-picture26800-latest-cell-phone-pics-304.jpg~original


The NON JBL party mode system (above) uses a set of EQ relays (upper R.H. corner) to reconfigure the rear second row passenger and tailgate position speakers from 'series to parallel'; which disconnects the second row speakers when in party mode. I've arrested that relay function altogether, so as to permanently disable the tailgate speakers. Doing this has allowed me to install a set of jumpers (or a "Pass-through") in the tailgate speaker position, maintaining a 'ridged' (permanent) 4ohm rear speaker door only configuration!

This link (#2) will explain more thoroughly>>>: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/1730718-post2.html

rig, 'Best to you!'
 
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JBL 'PARTY MODE'
thanks, Greg.

yeah, the JBL "Party Mode" doesn't work like the base stereo; just changes the EQ and both the rear door and tailgate speakers continue to function. the JBL rear doors and tailgate speakers are not wired in series like the base stereo, they are discrete, independent channels off the DSP/amp.

there doesn't appear to be any need to do any jumpering if i just want to eliminate the rear door speakers from my JBL configuration. without speakers actively connected to those channels, the DSP/amp will just have that much more juice for the remaining active channels.

if i've read any of this wrong, and missed anything in the JBL wiring diagram you posted, please let me know. many thanks. :cheers:
 
if i've read any of this wrong, and missed anything in the JBL wiring diagram you posted, please let me know. many thanks. :cheers:

Hey sandcrawler,

What you've posted was exactly right... although I wish that I could've been of more help. I've never even heard or been in a 4R with the 'JBL Audio system'. And your statement regarding a parallel wiring configuration is 100% fact; that if you choose to disable the tailgate speakers that are wired together in parallel with the rear door speakers, then all you need do is just unplug them at the speaker's connection block and it's done.

Now in a NON JBL (Panasonic) standard factory system, the EQ RELAYs will automatically switch the wiring system from a series wiring config (with the 'Party mode' turned off), to a 'Parallel wiring config.' (when party mode is active)! So... if I want to run just the rear passenger door speakers w/o the tailgate speakers, EXTREME CAUTION must be taken to make certain that the EQ RELAYS can never be (accidentally) switched from the default series wiring configuration, to the 'Active' parallel wiring configuration with the (In-Series) wiring jumpers connected in place of the tailgate speakers or a catastrophic amplifier output stage burn-out is irreversibly inevitable!

And, for those of you who may not know... The tailgate speakers and the second row, rear passenger door speakers are wired together 'In Series' (when the party mode system is inactive)'. So just disconnecting the tailgate speakers from their harnesses WILL NOT achieve 'Rear Door Speakers Only' audio operation; as it will with the JBL system. If you want to have the second row speakers operating alone, with the front speakers, then a L & R jumper wire MUST BE added across the tailgate speaker connector harness:

rigtec-albums-%26quot%3Bgentilmen+prefer+redheads%26quot%3B-picture26816-latest-cell-phone-pics-301.jpg


Thank you for your thoughts and comments [MENTION=29376]sandcrawler[/MENTION] ...and to our T4R.org family, 'Best to you!

rig
 
Hey sandcrawler,

What you've posted was exactly right... although I wish that I could've been of more help. I've never even heard or been in a 4R with the 'JBL Audio system'. And your statement regarding a parallel wiring configuration is 100% fact; that if you choose to disable the tailgate speakers that are wired together in parallel with the rear door speakers, then all you need do is just unplug them at the speaker's connection block and it's done.

Now in a NON JBL (Panasonic) standard factory system, the EQ RELAYs will automatically switch the wiring system from a series wiring config (with the 'Party mode' turned off), to a 'Parallel wiring config.' (when party mode is active)! So... if I want to run just the rear passenger door speakers w/o the tailgate speakers, EXTREME CAUTION must be taken to make certain that the EQ RELAYS can never be (accidentally) switched from the default series wiring configuration, to the 'Active' parallel wiring configuration with the (In-Series) wiring jumpers connected in place of the tailgate speakers or a catastrophic amplifier output stage burn-out is irreversibly inevitable!

And, for those of you who may not know... The tailgate speakers and the second row, rear passenger door speakers are wired together 'In Series' (when the party mode system is inactive)'. So just disconnecting the tailgate speakers from their harnesses WILL NOT achieve 'Rear Door Speakers Only' audio operation; as it will with the JBL system. If you want to have the second row speakers operating alone, with the front speakers, then a L & R jumper wire MUST BE added across the tailgate speaker connector harness:

rigtec-albums-%26quot%3Bgentilmen+prefer+redheads%26quot%3B-picture26816-latest-cell-phone-pics-301.jpg


Thank you for your thoughts and comments [MENTION=29376]sandcrawler[/MENTION] ...and to our T4R.org family, 'Best to you!

rig

Thanks for your interesting contributions to this thread.
So do you happen to know the "Jumper Mod" work the same for a 2016 Non-JBL Entune with out Party Mode? Thanks!
 
Thanks for your interesting contributions to this thread.
So do you happen to know the "Jumper Mod" work the same for a 2016 Non-JBL Entune with out Party Mode? Thanks!

To all that may be interested in GEN-5 speaker system wiring diagrams:

I will be posting ALL speaker wiring diagrams (Post 'Party Mode') from 2014 thru 2016, JBL and NON JBL, front and rear speaker systems in a new thread; it's title will be relative to the subject! I just need time to print these diagrams, NOTE: Mitchell manuals (my electrical library provider) is able to prevent these pages from being shared electronically e.g., Copy/pasted or emailed..., but the work-around is to print them, then scanned into my documents, then uploaded to photobucket, where they are converted from documents to images...etc! Perhaps by late Friday 9/2/16 afternoon; hoping you will find them helpful!

rig, cheers!
 
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So do you happen to know the "Jumper Mod" work the same for a 2016 Non-JBL Entune with out Party Mode? Thanks!

Hi tpetsch,

My most sincere apologies to you brother... you asked me a legitimate question about your NON JBL, post 'Party mode' speaker config and I never answered it! In 2014, Toyota decided to annihilate that awful PM system that did nothing but make it more pleasurable to listen to your 4Runner's audio system from the cargo area then from the driver's seat..., except that if you were sitting back there with your groceries, you weren't able to hear any of the music above 900hz (CPS/cycles per second) because the tweeters were way up front on the dash lol!

Your 2016 4Runner's rear speakers are wired together 'In-Series', so if you disconnect either set of the rear speakers (Tailgate or second row door speakers) they will all shut-off. So just like the rest of us who had the PM button, if you wish to disconnect the tailgate speakers but maintain the rear doors you'll need to add-a-jumper to the harness that you remove from the speaker. What this does (for those of you who may not understand the purpose for this), is provide an electrical path for the current to travel from the RED amp output terminal, back to the NEG amplifier terminal.

So if you remove a speaker from a series wiring circuit you must provide another means for current to travel through... make sense? :yo: Sorry for the delayed reply to your question [MENTION=144093]tpetsch[/MENTION] , been having a lot of SENIOR MOMENTS lately!

rig, cheers!
 
Hi tpetsch,

My most sincere apologies to you brother... you asked me a legitimate question about your NON JBL, post 'Party mode' speaker config and I never answered it! In 2014, Toyota decided to annihilate that awful PM system that did nothing but make it more pleasurable to listen to your 4Runner's audio system from the cargo area then from the driver's seat..., except that if you were sitting back there with your groceries, you weren't able to hear any of the music above 900hz (CPS/cycles per second) because the tweeters were way up front on the dash lol!

Your 2016 4Runner's rear speakers are wired together 'In-Series', so if you disconnect either set of the rear speakers (Tailgate or second row door speakers) they will all shut-off. So just like the rest of us who had the PM button, if you wish to disconnect the tailgate speakers but maintain the rear doors you'll need to add-a-jumper to the harness that you remove from the speaker. What this does (for those of you who may not understand the purpose for this), is provide an electrical path for the current to travel from the RED amp output terminal, back to the NEG amplifier terminal.

So if you remove a speaker from a series wiring circuit you must provide another means for current to travel through... make sense? :yo: Sorry for the delayed reply to your question [MENTION=144093]tpetsch[/MENTION] , been having a lot of SENIOR MOMENTS lately!

rig, cheers!

Awesome, you made that crystal clear. I appreciate you taking the time to explain this with such detail that I have the utmost confidence that when I connect the Red and black amplifier terminals together nothing will smell like an electrical fire at Radio Shack. I will try it all out this weekend and weigh the differences.

Thanks!
 
Just a note:

As far as the 4R's speaker systems: There have been no wiring reconfigurations from 2010 all the way through 2016; this includes all HUs with internal and external (JBL) amplifiers, with 'Navi' and conventional Radio & Compact disc players! Just one more observation: The front speakers (Dash & Doors) have 'ALWAYS' been wired 'In Parallel' and the rears (Tailgate & Doors) have 'ALWAYS' been wired In Series'!

rigtec... "Let's keep havin' fun!"
 

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