JBL Stereo

kibitz503

kibitz503

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May 17, 2024
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2024 Sequoia 2024 Land Cruiser. 2020 Sprinter
One thing no one else has mentioned is that the JBL stereo in the FE is actually pretty good. Not as good as a 5k+ aftermarket setup but much better than stock stereos from a decade ago.

Decent sound clarity. Bass isn’t too boomy. Plays a good range of music. 7/10 from me.

Good thing too I don’t want any electrical hassles on the warranty with how much tech is in this thing.

I know sound is subjective but for me it’s like this. 1-10 with 10 being that mythical perfect sound and well beyond any reasonable cost/value sweet spot.

2018 4Runner stock 4.5/10
2024 Sequoia stock with a 12 speaker JBL 6.5/10
2024 FE JBL 7/10

My typical aftermarket head unit, a 5 channel amp, shallow mount sub and mid range speakers all around is usually about a 8/10. (3-5k range)
 
Really appreciate the review. Been wondering how the JBL sounds in the new LC. I'd give a similar rating for the JBL in my son's "23 Tacoma". Maybe even 8/10...
 
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German88 said:
Really appreciate the review. Been wondering how the JBL sounds in the new LC. I'd give a similar rating for the JBL in my son's "23 Tacoma". Maybe even 8/10...
Click to expand...
Nice. I may be unfairly scaling. 3-8 are pretty linear in the sense that if you add more money it will sound better. I think anything past an 8.5 to be hitting an exponential price curve. Likely not worth it in a vehicle with road, wind and tire noise.

On my same internal scale anything over a 6 would not be worth replacing. It probably would not sound any better while driving.
 
Yep, agree with that idea. Spent a fortune trying to improve the base sound in my Bronco only to fall short of the stock JBL in the Tacoma. Everytime I listen to the Bronco I'm sickened at the idea of ever going back down the sound upgrade rabbit hole.

$4600 upgrade for the premium package is steep however, and other than the stereo everything else you get with that package isn't of value to me. Now wondering how lackluster the base 10 speaker is in the non premium LC and could I live with it. Was ready to pull the trigger on a non premium LC trim last week but passed on it over the weekend. I'm waiting til I can log a test drive and make a final assesement on the powertrain etc. Might wait til 25 at this point.
 
The sound system is very important to me. I record live concerts and got to test out the sound system with the one in the show room. I was very impressed. The sales manager was with me and said he liked a couple of reggae artists. I put on a performance from a reggae festival and he was blown away how it sounded. I was pleased too. For a "stock" stereo I will be very happy.
 
daspyknows said:
The sound system is very important to me. I record live concerts and got to test out the sound system with the one in the show room. I was very impressed. The sales manager was with me and said he liked a couple of reggae artists. I put on a performance from a reggae festival and he was blown away how it sounded. I was pleased too. For a "stock" stereo I will be very happy.
Click to expand...
100% agree.

We had to lemon law an Odyssey after the electronics in the new model had endless problems. If we would have installed and aftermarket radio they would have told us to get lost. (They tried to eleven with the warranty.)

With how complicated car’s electronics are I no longer have an appetite for voided electronics warranties.

I can’t handle a bad sounding stereo though!
 
JBL “premium” system in my previous RAV4 hybrid limited was underwhelming to say the least. The Bose systems in my CRVs are much better. Glad to hear the LC system is really good. A Good sound system is fairly important to me.
 
kibitz503 said:
One thing no one else has mentioned is that the JBL stereo in the FE is actually pretty good. Not as good as a 5k+ aftermarket setup but much better than stock stereos from a decade ago.

Decent sound clarity. Bass isn’t too boomy. Plays a good range of music. 7/10 from me.

Good thing too I don’t want any electrical hassles on the warranty with how much tech is in this thing.

I know sound is subjective but for me it’s like this. 1-10 with 10 being that mythical perfect sound and well beyond any reasonable cost/value sweet spot.

2018 4Runner stock 4.5/10
2024 Sequoia stock with a 12 speaker JBL 6.5/10
2024 FE JBL 7/10

My typical aftermarket head unit, a 5 channel amp, shallow mount sub and mid range speakers all around is usually about a 8/10. (3-5k range)
Click to expand...
Just picked up a 24 today and turned in my 14. Honestly the 14 system had deeper bass and more of a rich sound.
Just my opinion.
 
kibitz503 said:
One thing no one else has mentioned is that the JBL stereo in the FE is actually pretty good. Not as good as a 5k+ aftermarket setup but much better than stock stereos from a decade ago.

Decent sound clarity. Bass isn’t too boomy. Plays a good range of music. 7/10 from me.

Good thing too I don’t want any electrical hassles on the warranty with how much tech is in this thing.

I know sound is subjective but for me it’s like this. 1-10 with 10 being that mythical perfect sound and well beyond any reasonable cost/value sweet spot.

2018 4Runner stock 4.5/10
2024 Sequoia stock with a 12 speaker JBL 6.5/10
2024 FE JBL 7/10

My typical aftermarket head unit, a 5 channel amp, shallow mount sub and mid range speakers all around is usually about a 8/10. (3-5k range)
Click to expand...
The JBL sounds really good. Better than the Bose system in the new Tahoe and other SUVs.
 
As a musician (bass player) I find the bass very lacking. The overall clarity is pretty good. Some EQ helps (nearly cranking the bass up).
Comparing to other cars, is better than my old 22 4Runner TRD Pro, by far. That one was terrible distortion after certain volume...
Better clarity than my 2017 RAM 1500 Alpine, but than RAM have so much bass (without be boomy)
Even the beater (a 2011 Subaru outback base) have more bass than the LC... 😅

Overall I like it and will not change anything on it. Been down this road many times back in the day with massive custom made subs, but I'm over it.
 
I agree the system is really lacking in the bass department. Which is a shame as the rest of the system as a whole is pretty decent for a stock system.
 
German88 said:
Really appreciate the review. Been wondering how the JBL sounds in the new LC. I'd give a similar rating for the JBL in my son's "23 Tacoma". Maybe even 8/10...
Click to expand...
I personally love JBL speakers. I have since I was a child. I think the JBLs are great in the LC. Full and loud sound to me. I think worth the premium investment.
 
I mostly listen to live concert recordings and the JBL system in the FE does a really good job reproducing the sound. My only dislike is there does not seem to be a way of connecting the recorder via an auxiliary cable with an adapter. Nothing beats walking out of a show and plugging the recorder in for the drive home.
 
It's far better than the Bang & Olufsen system in the wife's car, not as good as the premium Sony system in my truck. All that being subjective I think it sounds decent enough.
 
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