What's so bad about the Premium JBL system

I have a 2010 Dbl-Cab TRD-OR with the 7 speaker JBL Premium and Bluetooth. As I've read quite a few post here, people are down on it. Without getting emotional is there any factual reasons why it's so bad? Is there stats on the S/N ratio, THD, etc? Do people just want to say "I have a 10,000 watt amp that will crack the windshield"?

Personally I think it sounds quite good. I put in the highest quality Alpine system available in 2002 with new matching speakers in an old Acura Vigor and spent thousands doing it. This JBL system sounds almost as good. I had my nephew, who works as a sound technician for a local TV station, create a CD with test sounds ranging from 10 Hz - 35 kHz to test my home theater. I tried that in my truck. The subwoofer pounded out thump at 10 Hz. On the high end I couldn't hear the very top but the human ear range is only around 20 Hz - 20 kHz. I can play it loud and it has enough power to not clip and distort. Sounds great with the satellite digital and MP3/WMA disc. Kind of wish it had HD FM though.

I'm 50 years old and listen to mostly Classic Rock and Roll. No ghetto thumping needed. Maybe some of you desire that sound and so maybe the JBL doesn't cut it. I've messed with the treble, mid, and bass and found that it sounds great to me. Maybe my hearing isn't as good as it used to be either.

Why is the JBL bad enough that people would spend $1000+ putting in something else? I listen to music when driving and can't imagine that anyone would need higher quality when there is quite a bit of road noise in the background anyway.

I'm not slamming anyone's decision to upgrade. If you want to do it then more power to you and I hope you get what works for you. Help me understand what is so much better with another aftermarket unit.

 

I like mine I think that it has great sound but some people don't like them because sometimes they stop working. My friends quit on him and he replaced it with another stock HU.

 

Usually the under 30 crowd hates it and the 30 and over crowd believe it is definitely sufficient.

I enjoy mine and it is satisfactory for my needs. As I have stated in previous posts about this issue I had a new 8th gen 2008 Accord EX-L with the top of the line 7 speaker premium system and the JBL system in the Tacoma blows it away.

 

I think the younger guys don't like it because the volume doesn't go that loud. No matter how lound you put it you can speak over it. Another words the people down the block won't be able to hear what you are playing.

 

I have it and it is fine. There are days I wish I had a little more bass but overall I am happy with it.

 

Im 22 yrs old and I think my JBL system is amazing. I small 2-3" speakers on the door sound awesome and the bass is just right. Only complaint I have: My 09 headunit stopped working so I bought a cheap aftermarket one but the sound is still amazing. love it. No need for my truck to serve as a rattle.

 

Who cares what other people think. If it sounds good to you leave it. However, my stock non-premium 2008 stereo sounds terrible.

 

I have to add to my original post that if the HU was to tank and it was out of warranty I would definitely go the aftermarket route. I would want something that has bluetooth and can use the steering controls though.

 

I just bought my truck 4 days ago and I am not sure if some are reffering to different systems but I LOVE mine. The sub amazes me being a factory installed unit. And I am one that has never kept a factory stereo in his vehicles. I've done my own systems, wiring, building boxes and all and for the first time in my life I plan to keep the factory setup. I am not a rap freak or anything but put in some of my old bass music from back in the day and it blew me away. I have never heard a factory system thump the way this one does. Maybe it want last that long, IDK? But I hope so since I have the bluetooth on it. I dont want to change it, although I am trying to learn how to set up some mp3 files on disc. My old ones I had burned will only play very limited ones and I cant figure out how to navigate folders. My old aftermarkets did this just fine. I dont know if I am missing something on this.

My only complaint so far is no Ipod control. (thats why I'm trying to do mp3 on disc) and lack of display. I would like a bigger screen with multiple lines of display, but I guess I'm spoiled after my wife's Honda Accord with the navigation.

 

I'm usually picky about audio, as my prior career was in radio announcing/DJ, commercials, narration, and also occasional moonlighting as an audio recording guy for film & video productions. In past cars, I've spent plenty of time and money tweaking the system.

This is only the second vehicle that I've owned where the stock audio is enough to keep me satisfied for a while. The JBL in my '09 Tacoma is good for what it is, an upgraded OEM stereo built down to a price point. It isn't overly loud, lacks some headroom, isn't very adjustable, but is "good enough." Especially considering that it's in a truck. No amount of sound deadening will make it sound as good as a recording studio. I do wish the Bluetooth didn't randomly stop working.

 

I was impressed with my JBL. I ordered my truck blind without hearing it because I wanted the bluetooth. That was the "must have" option for me.

When I had the chance to really test it with different music, I was very pleased.

I traded in a 2007 G35 with the upgraded Bose system and the JBL is really much better.

More than I expected out of a truck stereo...

 

To me no part of the system gets past mediocre.

The highs are sub par, volume is sub par, bass is sub par, features and midrange are mediocre.

My system is excellent in all aspects and can play loud enough that you cannot hear any road noise at all. The JBL sysem is not comparable... in any way.

It accomplishes all this while only drawing as much or less power than your average halogen light bar.

 

personally, i think it sounds horrible. when i test drove one last year, i was shocked at how bad it sounded. and i used to do installs, and generally put moderate upgraded systems in my vehicles, which sound MUCH better than the stock JBL system. but at the end of the day, all that matters is that you like it.

 

Added the kenwood 9980HD head unit with back-up camera ... it sounds great with the stock JBL speakers...

 

JBL's are a good upgrade over base speakers, but still are not very good.

I had the JBL system, its flat, no highs, and the bass is well, meh.

I'm over 30 and don't like it the JBL at all. Yet I have NEVER heard a stock stereo in any car that I would consider 'awesome'.

My system is designed for SQ only, you can BARLEY hear my sub with the windows up if you are 3 feet away from it. Yet inside the cab it hits very clean and pretty hard. I use a sealed box so I don't get that sloppy bass from using a ported box. I can say that 80% of my bass comes from my mids and Highs (FOCALS FTW!!!) as I don't listen to Rap and really don't need SPL bass.

I always tell people, if you like it rock it. But most people have not heard a proper sound system, as that they only hear the people running a 3000 watt mono block sub amp pushing a crappy sub in the wrong box and a crappy 4 channel pushing the stock speakers, which sounds like shit and distorts like piss.

I know people who LOVE the JBL system and all they did was just add a sub. Me personally when they turn the deck volume up to 26 and its distorting like piss I cringe. The person is used to distortion so to them, it sounds amazing. It's all what you like and shouldn't matter what people think about your sound system.. IF they don't like it, tell them to buy you a new one.

 

my jbl shit sounds good; no complaints at all.

 

for audiophiles, the stock units do not provide necessary imaging and full range abilities to be considered dynamic. I am not sure, but I would guess the stock speakers are running all frequencies to all speakers.

Of course, one could spend $10k on a complete focal component system and still not be as good as high rated audiophile 2-channel home theatre systems.

 

You can't compare home theater to car audio. But you are right on the rest of it. The JBL just pushes out full range. I 'think' there was a bass blocker for the tweeter.