I have seen a few posts now where people complain about "worse" sound after installing an aftermarket audio system (head end unit or speakers or both).
The most common suggestions are: 1) The speakers are wired out of phase, and 2) The aftermarket speakers "need" more power from an amplifier, and 3) The stock FJ unit does not put out enough power to get reasonable sound at a reasonable volume.
Regarding #1, yes, this problem could exist, but it is unlikely if you pay attention while you are working, especially if you use aftermarket wiring harnesses to minimize the chance of a wire reversing error.
Regarding #2, um, no. The new speakers may be capable of accepting more power but do they not "need" it unless they are less efficient. Read the specs for the speaker before buying. 88 db efficiency = needs lots of power while 91 db efficiency needs not so much.
Regarding #3, see #2 regarding efficiency. In addition, I think another issue when the head end unit is replaced may be the loss of the FJ head end unit's built in automatic loudness compensation. Can anyone confirm for certain that the FJ stock head end unit does use built in loudness compensation? If so, is there any known way to turn it off? (I have a 2011 FJ). A local car audio shop told me the head end unit does use loudness compensation. I also found this in an old post here:
"It also has auto adjusting loudness control. This is the worst feature known to man for audio people."
For those of you who don't know what loudness compensation is, it is a "feature" where the head end unit automatically turns up the low frequencies to "compensate" for the human ear's reduced perception of low frequencies at low volumes. The lower the volume, the more bass the head end unit adds, trying to keep you feeling like you are hearing the same amount of bass relative to higher frequencies regardless of volume. Nice in theory, not so nice in practice. So, if you have become accustomed to hearing plenty of bass at low volumes, and you put in a head end unit without auto loudness (or loudness you can turn on or off), then you are not going to hear as much bass at lower volumes.
Unfortunately, in my 2011, it sounds like there may be an auto loudness circuit that shuts down at about 40 on the volume control. Unfortunately, the number 40 also represents the point at which most CD's start to overwhelm the FJ head unit and it starts to clip. Gee, did Toyota REALLY build and install a head end unit that uses loudness compensation all the way up to clipping? At this point, nothing would surprise me - plastic frame dual cone 6x9's with magnets the size of quarters in the doors, horrible 2-1/2" "tweeters" that don't tweet at all in the dash and in the rear pillars even with the "upgraded" audio package, and vibrating headliner "exciters" that sound like what they are - vibrating fiber board. Ugh.
Again, can anyone here confirm if the FJ stock head units employ automatic loudness control and, if so, if there is any way to disable it?
-FJ Florida-