05/06 speaker sizes for stock stereo? Anyone replaced their whole system?

[girchygirchy]

Hi,

I'm currently in the market for a new car, and after looking long and hard at the Audi A3 and Nissan Altima, I decided to look more into the Avalon...even though it competes with neither. Currently I'm leaning more towards the Avalon.

I'm an audio fan, and would much rather upgrade the stock stereo than plunk down the money for the JBL system. I'd replace the head unit and at least the front speakers, running components off of a Blaupunkt amp I have. I'm almost done with the box for my Image Dynamics IDQ12, and have a 312W Infinity amp for it.

As I'm looking around, I'd like to learn the speaker sizes for the stock stereo. I saw it has nine speakers...how are these divided? Four each front and rear, along with some sort of sub or a center speaker? Do both of the front and rear sets contain separate tweeters?

I wish Crutchfield or SoundDomain had more info...c'mon, the car's been out for over a year. I did find the Metra dash kit, at least.

So, would anyone happen to know the speaker sizes? Are they somewhat easy to get to? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Brian

[HTxdragon]

good luck getting help cause i couldn't get any from this site

[inov8]

Replacing the (made by Panasonic) head unit with aftermarket probably means giving up the steering wheel controls (volume, track/station, disc/band) and LCD display of the station/CD/track information). It would be more practical to upgrade the amplifier and speakers.

Speakers and locations (JBL 12-speaker system):
-----------------------------------------------------
3 1/2" mid-range - top of instrument panel
1" tweeters - one in each "A" pillar
6 1/2" full range - one in each door (4 total)
1" tweeters - near the top of each rear door
8" woofer - center of package shelf
3 1/2" surround - each side of package shelf
All speakers are made by Harman.
-------------------------------------------------

Source of information:
Pages 12-13, '05 Avalon New Model Outline/Features manual (available at www.techinfo.toyota.com)

[Bunthy]

just try opening the dash yourself. Just be careful with the dash. Be the frontier of the new avalons and share the info. Shit, thats what I did with my avalon. Everything is fine now, just missing a few screws, blew a fuse here and there, zapped myself and cut myself, thats all.

[girchygirchy]

Originally Posted by inov8

Replacing the (made by Panasonic) head unit with aftermarket probably means giving up the steering wheel controls (volume, track/station, disc/band) and LCD display of the station/CD/track information). It would be more practical to upgrade the amplifier and speakers.

Speakers and locations (JBL 12-speaker system):
-----------------------------------------------------
3 1/2" mid-range - top of instrument panel
1" tweeters - one in each "A" pillar
6 1/2" full range - one in each door (4 total)
1" tweeters - near the top of each rear door
8" woofer - center of package shelf
3 1/2" surround - each side of package shelf
All speakers are made by Harman.
-------------------------------------------------

Would you happen to be able to find the stock stereo's speaker sizes and locations, too? Thanks!

The fact that it's made by Panasonic tells me that it's made very well and should last a while, but sounds "mechanical." I had a Panasonic head unit for two years before it was stolen, and while it was bulletproof, it just didn't sound as good as my old Clarion did while it worked. It reproduced CDs well, but just lacked some sort of musicality that I can't put my finger on.

There are adapters available to use the steering wheel controls, so that's not a problem. And as long as the screen doesn't show anything funny on it when a stereo's not hooked up or turned on, I can live with that.

For ~$600 I figure install a new head unit, front component speakers and rear coaxes, and the amp and sub I already have that should sound just as good as (and bass-wise, better than) that $800 JBL system. I could leave the rear speakers alone (who needs them, anyway?) and save $100 on that. And you're right, I could always save $200 and just replace the amp/speakers.

However, I will definately look into the JBL system. This weekend I'll have time to examine both, and will take some reference CDs to listen to. If I do get the JBL, all I'd have to do is replace its crappy sub with mine.

Thanks for the help - I'll do some more research!

[girchygirchy]

Originally Posted by Bunthy

just try opening the dash yourself. Just be careful with the dash. Be the frontier of the new avalons and share the info. Shit, thats what I did with my avalon. Everything is fine now, just missing a few screws, blew a fuse here and there, zapped myself and cut myself, thats all.

The Metra dash kit has some instructions for taking the dash apart. Heck, I'll just tear the doors apart too, and measure everytyhing and take pictures for Crutchfield. You think they'd pay me?

[inov8]

9-speaker standard system
=========================
Head Unit: Fujitsu Ten
Top of dash: 3.5" mid range, 4 ohms, Fujitsu
A pillars: 1" tweeters, 4 ohms, Pioneer
Front doors: 6" x 9" woofers, 4 ohms, Pioneer
Upper rear doors: 1" tweeters, 4 ohms, Pioneer
Lower rear doors: 6.5" full range, 4 ohms, Panasonic

12-speaker system has different speaker impedances
3.5" Mid-range: 1.8 ohms
1" Tweters: 3.6 ohms
6.5" Full range: 2.2 ohms
3.5" surround: 1.8 ohms
8" Woofer: 2.2 ohms

You are right regarding a steering wheel switch adapter. The Avalon uses an analog resistance system similar to Ford.

I have directions for head unit and door panel removal in the shop manual files. Accessing the package shelf speakers looks to be the most difficult.

I find the 12-speaker system to be lacking in bass unless turned to high volume, even with the bass adjusted to "+10" and midr-tones set to "0".

[girchygirchy]

Thanks for the info!

I sat in both today and listened...the JBL system is undeniably better. I found the stock system to be awfully noisy, and it just didn't sound as clean and open as the JBL. I wouldn't mind getting the JBL, disconnecting the stock sub, and using my own. If it craps out later, I'll just replace it. I'd have four years of warranty for it to break!