Gen 5 JBL stereos

[EvoFire]

Ok Gen 5 gurus, question time for you guys since the Highlander section isn't exactly bustling with activity.

The Gen 1 Highlander has a JBL system option, which I believe the Camry has too. What's different from the standard system and the JBL other than the speakers and some badge on the speaker grille? Are there any wiring or hardware differences? I want to look for a junk Highlander and swap in a better system for next to nothing.

[touringcamry]

The wiring harness on the back of the stereo is completely different. You then have an external amp mounted somewhere. The speakers are supposedly fed by different channels from the amp, so 8 different channels total. I'm guessing there's a passive crossover in the amp. On the regular systems, you have one channel going to each corner and there is usually a filter-cap on the tweet to prevent the bass from destroying it.

[EvoFire]

If I were to find a junked Highlander, I should be able to find all those things right? Also will the speakers mount up to where the stock stuff were? Also would I have to swap out the deck.

How much better are the JBLs compared to the basic stuff?

[touringcamry]

You'd have to get the radio, the amp, and a crap load of wiring. I dunno if there's more to it or not.

May as well go aftermarket at this point.

[EvoFire]

Ahh I see... I'll see what I turn up with in my search for a dead HL.

[CharmCityES]

the wiring is completely different, as theres a different harness to accomidate the external amp the JBL system uses (the amp is behind the glovebox on gen 5 camry models) but all the speaker mounting locations are the same....basically, youll need the speakers, amp, headunit, harness etc.
id go aftermarket if i were you....

[EvoFire]

A good chunk to think about. If its significantly cheaper and I can find it, I'll go for the JBL system. A complete overhaul of the sound system isn't cheap.