Putting driver's position in the rear seat for best sound

[TeryT]

I have the 6 disk jobber and just got the vehicle last month. As I've been playing around with the settings on the JBL, I decided I would check out the sound in the back seat. It is far superior & this is the sweet spot where this unit really comes alive.

Therefore, I want to change the current factory driver's position to the rear seat position. The gas pedal shouldn't be that much of an issue since it is electronic, but the bigger concern will be the steering & to a lesser degree the brakes.

I see no legal problems in doing this, as all safety devices would still in place.

Admittedly this will be some work, but I think it is worth it to be able to cruise & listen to the sweetest center of the sound. Any suggestions?

 

[TranceKrayz]

I think it'll be much easier to just upgrade your sound system and tweak it to your liking. what are you lacking in the driver's seat? bass? highs? mids? when i got mine, i was lacking bass so I added a headunit and a sub. the headunit gave me better sound control because you can adjust many things and the sub gave the the bass i was lacking.

 

[psychoklr]

This guy must be smoking crack or something.. as if he's gonna move the drivers seat to the rear !!

 

[iFORCE]

uhh.... so what are you going to do?? drive from the back seat?

 

[TranceKrayz]

This guy must be smoking crack or something.. as if he's gonna move the drivers seat to the rear !!

haha.....well i was very confused by this post and didn't want to sound mean so i gave him a suggestion!

 

[TeryT]

Yup!

uhh.... so what are you going to do?? drive from the back seat?

That's the idea. It's funny but I've actually had a reoccuring dream for many years about riding along in the back seat where there was no driver. The dream always made me panicy, but now I think it was actually a vision!

I don't see any reason that it can't be done. All controls & mirrors can be changed. In fact, it will have superior rear vision for hooking up to my trailer.

 

[Pribilof]

I always thought the stereo sounded even crappier in the back than in the front

I can guarantee you that it'll be cheaper to upgrade your entire stereo with quality components than to move the drivers seat to the rear. Not to mention, good luck seeing well out of the windshield from back there!

 

[TeryT]

Actually I thought I might just push the roofline & windshield back for a better view.

A new thought just occured to me. It seems the view all around is much better when I drive with my head sticking out the sunroof. So when I move the roofline back, I will also elevate the seat. Of course this might interfere with the stereo sweetspot, but I think it can be done without too much trouble.

 

[dengsxr]

Would in not be easier and perhaps a bit more comforatable to create your center sound stage in the front seat? If you replaced the factory speakers with ones that actaully sound good, you can get 6*9's in front that ought to cover the midbass and bass and get some tweaters up there I think you'll be well on your way.
I just got a 4-runner myself with the JBL system and I can't wait to replace it. I think it sounds awful I would have been happier if Toyota went with a bose system. what can you do.

 

[Skyline]

I think one of the main problems with the JBL system (and kind of what TeryT is getting at) is that the front center speaker is overpowering. I know there is no way of turning this down with the controls, other than to de-select surround. Has anyone tried to tone this speaker down a bit by installing an inline resistor?

 

[reptile]

I think TeryT is hilarious and no ones caught on to that yet. I think he's sitting back and laughing at all of our responses. C'mon the dude is writing about driving in the back seat with his head sticking out of the sunroof...

 

[Cleric]

I think TeryT is hilarious and no ones caught on to that yet. I think he's sitting back and laughing at all of our responses. C'mon the dude is writing about driving in the back seat with his head sticking out of the sunroof...

I know...I don't think there is a serious way to respond to this. I've just been hoping that it was a joke.

 

[TeryT]

I think one of the main problems with the JBL system (and kind of what TeryT is getting at) is that the front center speaker is overpowering. I know there is no way of turning this down with the controls, other than to de-select surround. Has anyone tried to tone this speaker down a bit by installing an inline resistor?

Hmmm - this might be an alternative to moving the front seat. However, I wouldn't want to install the resister until after my warranty period is up!