Total stereo re-do in '04 JBL Synth system?

[amheck]

Just thinking out loud here. I've been getting kinda bored with my '04 4Runner lately and have been looking at the new Sequoia's, but wife really doesn't want to start a new set of car payments.

So...I was looking for something to help jazz up the current ride, and came across the in-dash GPS systems, with BT, ipod, etc. The only thing is, I hear complaints about using the JBL Synthesis adapter and how the new system (after the GPS install) just doesn't sound good at louder volumes.

Just wondering what it would entail to replace everything - head unit, speakers, amp, sub, etc. I've never done anything like this, and it would probably have to go to Best Buy, Circuit City, or a local stereo shop.

Just looking for suggestions and comments here. I don't want to throw a huge amount of $$ in here, but I don't want to pay a grand to get the Pio AVIC-D3X installed and have it sound like crap, either.

Can any of the speakers/amp/sub be re-used? What kind of amp (# channels?) would I be looking for to power all 10 of the speakers?

Thanks guys!
Aaron

 

[r32]

So you want to buy a new car because your getting bored with your existing one? Must be nice :bigok:

I agree with the wifey. Save your money. Unless you have a big family or constantly lug 5 or 6 people around with you, why would you need a monsterous sequoia?

Trick out the one you've got. I would go all new on the components, and not keep anything. Get some nice mids and tweets for the doors and dash, throw in a small amplifier and that awesome pioneer deck.

 

[amheck]

I've got a $500 car payment pretty much built into my lifestyle, and I've been leasing and buying every few years since I was in college, so I've kinda gotten use to it. I suppose the wife has a good point, financially, but still, I do like those big trucks. But with only 2 kids, the extra rear room would be nice, but not a necessity.

Maybe I'll visit a few stereo shops this weekend and see what they say. I'm not looking to blow the doors off or anything, just want it to sound nice.

 

[Bigrupp]

Try it and see

I'm sure some people on here will disagree with me, but I don't really have any problems with the adapter sounding bad. It took some time tweaking the gain on the adapter and the settings in my HU after I put it in (little tweak and listen- repeat). I think it sounds pretty darn good and I blast my stereo.
I would suggest getting the adapter and trying it out, see if you like it. It would be a lot cheaper than replacing everything.

 

[Bookmonke]

What dB setting did you end up using, I left it on 7 and don't like the sound, seems to fade in and out.

 

[Bigrupp]

Good question

I don't remember what setting I had it at, however I do remember having the problem with it fading in and out. I was able to get it to stop with readjusting settings in my head unit. Trial and error.
In my HU you can set the speaker distance (for optimal listening) and so I of course set them close to approximate distances. I eventually found out that this is what was causing the in and out sound. I set the back to the same distance and the front to the same distance and that cleared it up. It took awhile before I figured that out, so my suggestion to you would be to mess around with different settings and see if anything works.