ES - 7th Gen (2019-present) Discussion topics related to 2019+ ES models

Speaker Upgrade Results

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-26-21, 05:33 PM
  #1  
brazencpl
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
brazencpl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: TX
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 6 Posts
Default Speaker Upgrade Results

Thought I pass along my experience with attempting to improve sound quality in the base Pioneer system in my 2019 ES300h. BTW the correct wire harness for the car is Metra 72-8109 which you can find for around $9/pair. I tried out Infinity Reference 3032cfx - 3.5in - both in dash corner and rear door. At least for me 4in won’t fit without some mods to the openings or rear door panel. So I installed on the passenger side and compared the sound moving the balance left to right using some music I enjoy. What I heard was slightly clearer highs but lost a lot of mids for example snare drum side hit. I was hoping for better but thought this would be the case. This systems today are eq’d to match dynamics of the interior and type of speaker. So, I’m actually happier with the stock speakers… If you want better speakers and no doubt the Infinity’s are or better performance, you really need to have a clean preamp signal and add your amp and dsp so you can tune the system like you can do with a home theater setup. At this time, I can’t find any adapter yet on market that provides a clean preamp signal (hopefully soon). Note you can do high level inputs like AuidoControl and sum inputs etc but I don’t like the results with this route but that’s me…

I was hoping for better but I thought I would pass this along. I’ve been playing in the audio area for a long time but what I feel sounds good may be different to others so always keep that in mind. I included some photos of the speakers and areas for info.

Note I was going to change the front woofers to Dayton Audio reference 8in but after being not happy with the 3.5in change, didn’t bother… but those 8in woofers are nice especially at around $70!





























The following 3 users liked this post by brazencpl:
1Priest (09-16-22), FTBoomer (06-27-21), kalel2127 (06-28-21)
Old 06-27-21, 11:26 AM
  #2  
carsareus
Intermediate
 
carsareus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: ca
Posts: 275
Received 78 Likes on 62 Posts
Default

Good writeup. It looks like the weak link in this stereo is the electronics. That's unfortunate.
Old 06-28-21, 08:01 AM
  #3  
brazencpl
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
brazencpl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: TX
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

Thanks - just sharing my experience.
Old 06-28-21, 08:54 AM
  #4  
E46CT
Lexus Test Driver
 
E46CT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: zero maintenance
Posts: 8,779
Received 2,176 Likes on 1,633 Posts
Default

Cool. I already did the dash speakers in February of this year and posted about it =)

but good you're a first on the door speakers. want to try it but hesitant.

As far as the dash speakers, did you install bass blockers? apparently that's recommended as many in the toyota crowd have their 3" aftermarket speakers blow out in a few months. you'll notice the factory speakers have a large capacitor.
The following users liked this post:
1Priest (09-16-22)
Old 06-28-21, 09:03 AM
  #5  
brazencpl
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
brazencpl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: TX
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by E46CT
Cool. I already did the dash speakers in February of this year and posted about it =)

but good you're a first on the door speakers. want to try it but hesitant.

As far as the dash speakers, did you install bass blockers? apparently that's recommended as many in the toyota crowd have their 3" aftermarket speakers blow out in a few months. you'll notice the factory speakers have a large capacitor.
Did you hear a decrease in mid sound quality? No didn’t bother with bass blockers as was not satisfied with the change.
Old 06-28-21, 09:10 AM
  #6  
E46CT
Lexus Test Driver
 
E46CT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: zero maintenance
Posts: 8,779
Received 2,176 Likes on 1,633 Posts
Default

I just picked up a 2nd 2021 ES over the weekend and I'm going to do dash speakers. debating on doing the bass blockers (they came with them)

Without the bass blockers though on my old car, it sounded great. but the bass of the woofers/sub could've been drowning out any "bass" from the dash speakers. Our amps could be filtering out the bass anyway which i wouldn't doubt based on the amp schematics. Our amps appear to take one input from the HU for the front and splits it post amp to the woofers and dash speakers.

the blown speakers from the toyota crowd could be driven solely from the HU which i'd understand.
Old 06-28-21, 09:16 AM
  #7  
brazencpl
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
 
brazencpl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: TX
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by E46CT
I just picked up a 2nd 2021 ES over the weekend and I'm going to do dash speakers. debating on doing the bass blockers (they came with them)

Without the bass blockers though on my old car, it sounded great. but the bass of the woofers/sub could've been drowning out any "bass" from the dash speakers. Our amps could be filtering out the bass anyway which i wouldn't doubt based on the amp schematics. Our amps appear to take one input from the HU for the front and splits it post amp to the woofers and dash speakers.

the blown speakers from the toyota crowd could be driven solely from the HU which i'd understand.
yeah agree that the dash and rear doors probably have been crossover’d.
Old 06-28-21, 10:59 AM
  #8  
DavidZ
Instructor
 
DavidZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: oh
Posts: 1,107
Received 311 Likes on 218 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by E46CT
I just picked up a 2nd 2021 ES over the weekend...
Why did you do that?

Edit: OK, nevermind. I just read your post in the other

Last edited by DavidZ; 06-28-21 at 11:03 AM.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
fabricator
GS - 4th Gen (2013-2020)
32
04-03-18 08:13 AM
RSTSpeed
Lexus Audio, Video, Security & Electronics
135
09-04-14 09:39 PM
Durrby
Build Threads
34
06-09-11 08:38 PM
carbongs
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
95
10-16-10 07:24 AM
88supramki
Lexus Audio, Video, Security & Electronics
31
10-30-06 12:33 PM



Quick Reply: Speaker Upgrade Results



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:16 PM.