Front speakers - 2-way or 3-way?

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ekolpack

ekolpack

Joined
Dec 18, 2020
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Location
Seattle, WA
I have an 08 with the JBL Synthesis sound system. Does anyone know if the front speakers (6.5" door, 4" dash, 1" tweeters) are configured as 3-ways, or 2-way+full range dash speakers? More specifically I'm trying to determine if there is crossover DSP applied to the door and/or dash speakers (obviously there is on the tweeter). I'm upgrading the system and want to make sure I'm doing things properly. Thanks!
 
If I remember correctly you mentioned being an audio engineer. If you have a DAW at home, pick a tone generator plug in and record a slow sweep from lowest of rumbles to a dog whistle. Play it back in the truck and check what passes where. A somewhat low tech solution but might be revealing.
 
grinchy said:
Jbl speaker diagram in this post
Post in thread 'Factory Subwoofer Info Guide'
Factory Subwoofer Info Guide - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/factory-subwoofer-info-guide.1193993/post-13032421
Click to expand...

Hey Grinchy, I saw this thread too. Unless I'm missing something, nothing here denotes what frequencies are sent to which speakers, correct? I think I may do as Tommy suggests and bust out the function generator, play test tones into the factory system and try to determine what's going on with my ears. I may even break out the scope and/or RTA before I go much further.

I've confirmed with Phoenix Audio that the PX6 based android head units (at least the newest one) WILL work directly with the JBL Synthesis amp, so unless they're wrong, it will send data digitally to the amp....which is a really nice option because there'll be less DA/AD conversion. Also, less wiring, complexity, things to go wrong....and I'd get to keep the factory speaker time alignment/calibration, which I assume is very good and I doubt I'll get it better calibrated than Toyota and JBL techs. Then again, I'm using different drivers.

So basically I'm trying to choose between two options:

Option #1 - Android PX6 digital out > JBL amp > AudioControl LC8i speaker-to-line interface > Fancy amps > 6 left/right front speakers (upgraded to Morel) and sub. All other speakers, whether upgraded or not would remain hooked up to the factory amp (might still unhook center dash and tailgates). This would allow far more volume and control in the main speakers I actually want to hear (fronts and sub) yet retain all the other speakers unchanged. It would also retain all factory DSP and calibration. My only concern is that I don't know what that JBL Synthesis DSP is doing with the EQ and crossover points. They might sound just fine with my Morel and Focal drivers....then again, they might not. I could add my Mosconi DSP after the LC8i to make small corrections in EQ, but if the factory corrections are very large, I'd probably never get it sounding just right. Also this adds more AD/DA.

Option #2 - Completely bypass the factory amp and all factory DSP. Android PX6 ANALOG out > Mosconi 6to8 DSP > Fancy amps > 6 left/right front speakers + 2 left/right back seat (not bi-amped....2-way passive xover) + sub coming directly from Android HU. No tailgate speakers and no dash center for this option, but full control of my own DSP.....which could be a good thing or bad thing, again, depending on how compatible (or incompatible) the stock factory DSP is with aftermarket speakers.

Any advice on this? I know I'm overthinking it....that's what I do ;)
 
Tommy Dwyer said:
If I remember correctly you mentioned being an audio engineer. If you have a DAW at home, pick a tone generator plug in and record a slow sweep from lowest of rumbles to a dog whistle. Play it back in the truck and check what passes where. A somewhat low tech solution but might be revealing.
Click to expand...
Great idea! As mentioned above, I think I'll give this a shot! Thank you!
 
Yeah I don’t have the xover info, but they have 2 channel, a woofer and then mid/tweet on a passive xover for the fronts.

If you have the means and time, I’d start over and replace the factory source and amps. These things are already 13 years post manufacture and the caps in that amp aren’t long for the world.
 
grinchy said:
Yeah I don’t have the xover info, but they have 2 channel, a woofer and then mid/tweet on a passive xover for the fronts.

If you have the means and time, I’d start over and replace the factory source and amps. These things are already 13 years post manufacture and the caps in that amp aren’t long for the world.
Click to expand...

Okay, I can see how this diagram reads now, they don't show the passive xover as a component, but it's assumed to be there. So front l/r and back seat l/r have an xover between mid and tweet and the dual voice coil sub is amped in stereo instead of coils run in parallel (which is likely what I'd do as I've got one big mono amp).

I think I'll take your advice on replacing the entire factory system. It's a lot more work and complexity, but I think in the long run, with proper tuning, it'll yield the best results. Plus that Mosconi DSP is sooooooooo friggin cool! Apparently they just made an Android app for it. It's a bit of a long shot in the real world, but if I could get the Android head unit talking directly to my DSP for preset changes or EQ adjustments without a seperate compoopter that would be SOOOOOOO cool! ;)
 
grinchy said:
Are you looking at this one? DSP 6TO8 PRO Mosconi America / Gladen Audio America - https://mosconi-america.com/portfolio/dsp-6to8-pro/

I used the Alpine PXE-0850s. I like it, but wish it had licensed the DVD and DVD Audio protocols so it could decode the digital signal I have available . . . has a bluetooth app and separate bluetooth audio stack (which works with everything but apple music, of course)
Click to expand...

Wait a damn minute.....you're telling me it's possible to get DVD Audio in my Land Cruiser??? 😂 Holy crap that obscene! I was gunna be happy with a wired aux plug and TIDAL or some FLAC files on a USB stick, but damn....might have to look into that!
 
Last edited:
ekolpack said:
Wait a damn minute.....you're telling me it's possible to get DVD Audio in my Land Cruiser??? 😂 Holy crap that obscene! I was gunna be happy with a wired aux plug and TIDAL or some FLAC files on a USB stick, but damn....might have to look into that!
Click to expand...
The LX ML head unit decodes a bunch of different disc based digital formats, including DVDAudio. there isn't a lot of source material around in that format but I have a small collection, as my previous Acura also would play it. Unfortunately this generation of Alpine DSP isn't licensed (previous generation was), so although the ML HU has a digital coax out, I can only use it for CD audio (it doesn't carry the FM/AM/AUX sources, and isn't licensed for DVD and other x.1 formats) where it is better, but not worlds of fire better so that it's worth swapping the input source on the DSP every time.

This generation Alpine does have the Bluetooth setup and audio stack, but I use that less than I thought I would.

The egg you haven't cracked yet is replacing the climate controls with rest of world climate stack, you can then get ANY HU or source you want, opening up a lot more possibilities. To replace climate is a headache, and comes with some significant costs, but imagine a main-brand Android HU in that dash, and maybe it'll appeal to you. (I think only one user has succeeded in doing this btw)
 
wormhole here:
forum.ih8mud.com

2008-2009 LC Navigation Delete

stuff like this is getting closer 12.1" tesla style vertical screen android 6.0 Car GPS radio Navigation for Toyota Land cruiser Roraima Lexus LX 570 2008 2015-in Vehicle GPS from Automobiles & Motorcycles on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group but of course it EXCLUDES factory nav. Which i bet 100%...
forum.ih8mud.com forum.ih8mud.com
 
1. I have NOT read all of these audio threads, 😂, so feel free to point me in the right direction, 2) I almost never listen to the radio, but have a new (to me) 08, and decided to check it out.
Rush was on the radio. Cool. Flashback to youth. Tom Sawyer. Great Neil Pert action. But the system has no kick or snap. I’m no audio expert, but I was pretty disappointed. Metallica came on, not my thing, but Sandman was playing, I can do that. Again, zero snap with drums. So, what’s an easy remedy. Could be amp I guess, but I’d rather start with speakers. Any thoughts/recommendations? TIA.
I’m sure the system has other deficiencies, it was just the muffled/dull drums I was picking up on.
 
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