JBL subwoofer location and upgrading all speakers

I know this topic has been discussed many times but...

Anyone have a picture of the stock JBL subwoofer location? I cannot find this online anywhere. Considering getting a truck that has the premium audio (I know it sucks), but I did not look behind the rear seats.

Does the sub occupy the space that would otherwise be part of the storage bin?
Or is it behind the plastic storage bins (unseen) and you have the same storage bin capacity as non-JBL trucks?

My other question, can someone point me in the direction of a link to some good information about exactly what the challenges are when upgrading all the speakers in the JBL system? I've read there are some challenges with wiring, but I don't know the specifics. Let's just say if I wanted to upgrade my speakers and keep the same head unit/subwoofer... this isn't as easy as plugging in new speakers and done. So what needs to be changed? Point me in the right direction please.

 

This is a 2nd gen, but its pretty much the same. It takes up a good amount of the rear space.




As for upgrading the JBL system

The headunit sends a digital signal to the factory amp (non-JBL doesnt have this). The fader and crossover points are all handled inside the amp, so its not so easy to replace the factory amp with a aftermarket one.
The speakers them selves each run on their own run of wires to the amp. So the dash tweeters have wires that go to the amp, the door speakers have wires that go to the amp. On the non-JBL systems, the wires come from the headunit to the dash tweeters, then to the door woofers. Both ways can cause some issues when upgrading. On the JBL system, the amp provides the crossover points for the speakers, so just swapping the dash speakers with new tweeters will result in blown tweeters as the crossover point is too low for a tweeter.
The JBL system also uses 2 ohm speakers, they are a little harder to find, but they are around.

If your plan is to upgrade and keep the factory headunit, then get the non-JBL system. If you plan to upgrade and replace the headunit, it doesnt matter as much, but you will end up with lots of extra wires in the back where the factory amp normally goes.

Now if you plan to do as you said and just replace the speakers, keeping everything else. Then you will need to find a 2 or 3 ohm 6x9 woofer for the front doors, then the dash speakers you will want to find a 2 or 3 ohm 3.5 inch coaxial speaker (you will have to cut the dash to fit them) Or if you can find a 2.5 inch full range, but thats getting much harder to find. Rear is a 6.5 inch 2 or 3 ohm coaxial speaker.

 

Wow this is exactly what I needed to figure out. It would have taken me quite a while to dig up this info so thank you! That thing takes up all the useful storage space. I have so much shit back there in my non jbl truck. I would not wanna give up the storage

 

This is my non JBL truck. Wouldn't wanna lose this space really.

 

I have the JBL but in retrospect I'd be just as happy with new speakers and one of those little kicker key amps. When I bought my truck I didn't even know those were a thing, haven't bought car stereo stuff in probably 10+ years.

 

Anyone have the JBL now? I had a 2016 limited, which sounded decent, but I just bought a 2021 and I swear it sounds different. Not as clear and way less subwoofer... I did not have much over half on the sub on my 2016 and it sounded good, the 2021 just sounds different.. Same source of music

 

I have a 2018 with JBL and it is garage. All of it is going into the Fuck-It Bucket. Working up a plan to replace all of it now. Check the Audio thread for the Pioneer 6600NEX if you decide to replace the headunit. Looks almost stock.

 

i got jbl on my 18 limited.. upgraded to the kicker tweeters on the dash and it sounded better..

 

I don’t see why newer would be different its all the same shit.

 

If you're not after audiophile sound, you can upgrade the sub along with a separate sub amp and get pretty decent bass for what it is. I've done this in my 2015 and I like it. Way more punch in the low end, but there's a definite limit.
I was going to do the exact same thing in my 2020, but that project is now on hold until I see what OEM Audio Plus comes out with next week. They are supposed to have a completely upgraded system that fully integrates with the factory JBL setup.

 

Thanks!

 

OEM AUDIO! Those dudes make awesome kits!

 

I installed a OEM Audio Plus system in mine 3 years ago, amp, plus speakers and sub, all plug & play, its pretty sweet system, and sounds great. Have the Premium Entune HU

 

Old thread, but does anyone have pictures of a JBL 3rd gen double cab sub and door speaker locations possibly with covers off?

Possibly have specs of the rear sub? i don't wanna remove it just to know what i have just to put it back together while i research the upgrade

 

I don’t have pictures, but I can try to explain. The door speakers are in the typical location. If you look at the door panel, they’re behind the part with the speaker grill (bunch of holes in the door panel).

The sub and amp are behind the plastic panel behind the rear passenger seat. You can take those panels off pretty easy. There’s a few videos on YouTube about removing them. I think it’s like 4 screws along the middle (in a horizontal row). Then you just yank it out. There’s clips holding it in place. I think the drivers side has to come out before the passenger side, but you can tel by looking at what piece overlaps the other.

Let me know if I didn’t answer your question, or if you have more.

 

Why not just try it first and see if it "sucks" before you rip out perfectly fine stuff and spend a bunch of bucks on something that may not be a problem after all? Is it the best OEM audio system? No, of course not. Is it better than the standard one? Yes! Does it suck? Not really...especially in this class of vehicle.

 

I have 4 ohm audiofrog gs25 speakers front and rear and 4ohm dynaudio 6.5 mid woofers in the front doors and its louder and sounds way better than the 2ohm JBL. What everyone isn't considering is its not just about the ohm of a speaker but also the efficiency of them.
As for the head unit sending a digital signal to the amps where is the d/a converer? You would actually need 2 of them since the Aux input is analog going directly to the head unit which then a A/D converter is also needed to convert the analog to digital at the head unit...lol
Its probably a analog preamp output going to the analog amplifier to drive the analog JBL speakers lol

 

If you have the JBL system, you might want to check out the upgrades here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ers-and-subwoofer.716167/page-6#post-27072001