JBL Sound System Upgrade?

[jayvee]

so...its worth the cost? I've seen the TacoTunes kit, Beat Sonic and the Orella amp. I want more bass but I don't want to lose clarity. I've got money (or can save it) which kit offers the better option? Assume that the Orella route comes with just the amp Also assume that the Beat Sonic comes with the amp and 2 power seat apadters powering 2 JBL underseat subs.

If anyone can answer that, i'd appreciate it.

There have been some advances on updating the JBL sound system but some of the products are pending launch. AudX is working on a plug and play harness that will allow you to use any DSP amplifier of your preference and will retain the voice prompts you loose with the Orella. They estimate the harness will be available in early may and will be available on their website. www.audxsound.com

Sponsored

 

[Koryota]

so...its worth the cost? I've seen the TacoTunes kit, Beat Sonic and the Orella amp. I want more bass but I don't want to lose clarity. I've got money (or can save it) which kit offers the better option? Assume that the Orella route comes with just the amp Also assume that the Beat Sonic comes with the amp and 2 power seat apadters powering 2 JBL underseat subs.

If anyone can answer that, i'd appreciate it.

Orella is one sale away from being easily worth the cost in my opinion. The Match amp they're using is in another league compared to TacoTunes or Beat Sonic. It also has a 9th DSP channel (w/RCA out) so you can add an external sub setup of your choice. You will have to bust out a laptop & use their software to set the crossover & activate the 9th channel or find a local Audiotec Fischer dealer to do that for you. Just the amp by itself will give you much cleaner sound but you will be limited by your oem speakers at that point.

You could piece a system like this together, but you'll end up spending a lot of money either way & time learning to play with the DSP settings for each channel on a laptop.

I've installed the older version of this (PP86DSP) in my own & friends' BMWs + 1 Porsche without upgrading the speakers and was very happy with the results.

 

[Koryota]

There have been some advances on updating the JBL sound system but some of the products are pending launch. AudX is working on a plug and play harness that will allow you to use any DSP amplifier of your preference and will retain the voice prompts you loose with the Orella. They estimate the harness will be available in early may and will be available on their website. www.audxsound.com

Oh, you lose the voice command function with the Orella kit? I was not aware of this from looking at their website.

 

[jayvee]

Oh, you lose the voice command function with the Orella kit? I was not aware of this from looking at their website.

Yes, the Orella harness does not connect to the voice prompt signal it bypasses it.

 

[762_NateOh]

Not to hijack, but I'm also looking to make a little audio tweak. I'm looking to get everything a little brighter.

I was thinking about incrementally replacing speakers, starting with the dash 3.5's.

Has anyone gone down that route and have any speakers to recommend. I have the JBL amplified system.

 

[Luke1]

Same, I swapped my tweeters but still lacking in mid/high. Wondering if also swapping the 3.5’s would do anything or I need to add an amp too.

 

[maxx075]

Same, I swapped my tweeters but still lacking in mid/high. Wondering if also swapping the 3.5’s would do anything or I need to add an amp too.

I wouldn't be surprised if you upgrade speakers and it actually sounds worse. If you're upgrading the speakers, you need to replace the amplifier. You're increasing the RMS of the speakers, without increasing the power output.

In other words, it would be like upgrading your sprinkler system by getting larger (more powerful) heads and increasing the diameter of the piping (more flow), but not increasing (upgrading) the pump or system (amplifier) that drives the water. You'll just get a trickle of water out.

 

[Luke1]

I wouldn't be surprised if you upgrade speakers and it actually sounds worse. If you're upgrading the speakers, you need to replace the amplifier. You're increasing the RMS of the speakers, without increasing the power output.

In other words, it would be like upgrading your sprinkler system by getting larger (more powerful) heads and increasing the diameter of the piping (more flow), but not increasing (upgrading) the pump or system (amplifier) that drives the water. You'll just get a trickle of water out.

Makes sense, my idea was to steal a bit of the power from the rest of the system and give it to the tweeters to improve the highs by dropping the ohm rating of the tweeters a bit. Might’ve made it a bit better but nothing significant.

Sponsored