2012 Base Radio Volume issue

[ml8853]

I just picked up a 2012 Base HL and I noticed something very odd. In my previous cars, I would be able to get decent volume around 20-25. On my HL, its about 40-47 out of a possible 60! Im not blasting the radio but I have to put it on about 50-55 to hear the radio with the windows open while driving. Anyone have this issue with their 2011-2012 radios? Any resolution such as resetting the radio?

[sweeneyp]

is it like that on all the different modes? (cd, aux, am, fm, sattalite, etc...)
My cd player and fm player is much quieter than my aux in. But I don't have to turn it up to that high to hear it, but I also have the JBL system (more watts to the speakers) so that would make a difference.
If its the same low volume on all the modes, it might be a problem with the amplifier in the headunit.

[ml8853]

Originally Posted by sweeneyp

is it like that on all the different modes? (cd, aux, am, fm, sattalite, etc...)
My cd player and fm player is much quieter than my aux in. But I don't have to turn it up to that high to hear it, but I also have the JBL system (more watts to the speakers) so that would make a difference.
If its the same low volume on all the modes, it might be a problem with the amplifier in the headunit.

It's the same on all stations and modes. If I put it at 30-35 I can barely hear it. Anything below 30 I don't hear a thing.


Sent from my Autoguide iPhone app

[05Moose]

That's about normal. I haven't really noticed what we're keeping it at with the windows down in the highlander, but that's where I have to have it on my Tacoma. In fact, sometimes I hit Max on the radio on the Tacoma. We've got a base Highlander now, but we had the JBL system in the '05 HL we had before. One of the first things we noticed (and my wife even commented on it) was that the JBL system produced much more sound at a lower level. She even wondered if something was wrong because she had to turn it up so much more. So you definitely have to turn it up higher in the non-JBL radios to hear the same output as the JBL.

EDIT: I just asked my wife and she confirmed that you cannot hear it in the 30's on the freeway with the windows down. She said she had it up to 47 yesterday and that it was at the low end of where she wanted it. So having it in the 50's on the freeway with windows down...Normal!

[TrailDust]

Wow, mine's the opposite, although more pronounced with the radio. At high speed and the windows open some CDs require a setting of about 35 to 40 to be easily audible, but if I set the radio that high I could kill fish while passing a lake.....

[AVConsult]

Check the automatic level control setting--forget the exact acronym.

Also, the volume number is relative and just the designers choice for how sensitive to make the control and how many turns it takes for a given volume increase. Absolutely unrelated to "how powerful" a system may be.

E.g. if I have identical diameter water valves where one takes two turns and the other takes five turns to get full open, they both have same max volume, and they can both be adjusted to deliver a given volume, albeit with different settings.

[jack63]

I think this is a common issue for gen 2nd HL with base radios, I have a 2011 sport HL that comes with the base radio and I needed to turn the volume a bit higher to get to the level where I wanted it, some of the members here are thinking of (or already did) replacing their audio system with after market ones, I personally would like to keep the head unit and just upgrade the speakers without adding an amplifier and perhaps put some insulations by the doors, use the search function in this forum and type in key word base audio or speakers.

[Loudog2]

When is the "Entune" system making it's way into the HL? Is it still JBL based?

[bschurr]

Originally Posted by Loudog2

When is the "Entune" system making it's way into the HL? Is it still JBL based?

Great question - I too was wondering about that so I called Toyota last week and they told me that only the 2012 Camrys have EnTune

[Wayward_Traveller]

I notice with local radio stations they are much louder as are CD's.
But if I switch it over to Sat. radio which is where I have it the most I have to turn it up by about 15-20 ticks to get the same volume.

[pgr380]

Interesting... I have the same problem w/my 2008 HL base radio. Also, at times, the number will actually decrease when turning the volume higher (to the right), and increase when turning it lower.