Hello, Just got my XSE with the upgraded sound and Yes, I'm absolutely dissapointed in the premium sound. There's no punch and Barely any Bass. It gets very loud but it's just all highs. I've recentered, pushed it towards the back twice, so it's centered just in front of the 2nd row. This made it sound better. Turning mids from off to full barely noticeable. Same with Bass. I came from a stock system in a Mazda 3 and that system makes this one look like $1 bin garbage. If anyone has suggestions I would love to solve the sound issue. I drive a long ways to and from work each day and I absolutely need my music.

 

IMHO they should install Bose instead of JBL. To me, there's a big difference between the two. I've had Bose in my GM vehicles including my current Camaro.

 

Does it have a sub woofer, my platinum has one in the rear near the hatch, the hatchback also contains 2 more speakers.

 

yes, from what the JBL site lists there is a sub in the back by 3rd row and each 2nd row door has bass speakers.

 

Probably add a sub if not change out the speakers? I mean sounds are subjective depending on the person but my '22 XSE is fine with the bass. Sure, it could be louder but not trying to go deaf with it either.

 

Yeah i listen to rock/metal and it gets very loud but it's like the guitar is just not deep and the drums are barely audible to me. like it's tuned to highs with no mid/lows. seems so strange.
I've tried sliding bass and mids allt he way up and highs off with not much difference.

 

The JBL system in my 2021 Limited sounds nice if I'm using a high quality music source. I found WAV or FLAC music files played through the media port using a USB stick sound pretty good. Satellite radio sounds horrible due to the compression the services use, FM radio sounds flat without much definition in highs or lows, AM radio...is well AM radio. This is quite subjective from one person to another but this has been my experience.

 

I have a 2021 Limited also and agree with the above.

 

you can go to an audio shop and add a real subwoofer, jbl one is not that powerful.
what is your music source, do you use carplay?
try music on a usb stick and see if it makes a difference.

 

you can go to an audio shop and add a real subwoofer, jbl one is not that powerful.
what is your music source, do you use carplay?
try music on a usb stick and see if it makes a difference.

Apple phone, Carplay, Spotify is what i've used so far. I adjusted the equalizer settings on both the phone and spotify to see if that helped but didn't get a noticeable difference.
I read somewhere else that the USB stick was better quality so I may give that a go this weekend to test.

 

My 22 sienna is the same thing I asked my son to sit in the driver seat, I said I don’t think there is any sound coming out of the speakers on the side of dashboard he listened and said there was some sound but very little. The stereo system is not good for being JBL. One day I would like to upgrade it.

 

I've noticed with my 2019 Camry XSE that I bought a few weeks ago that I'm not getting all the sound from the driver's seat. My sister who's a music teacher sat in the passenger seat and said she could hear everything. I need to take some time to fiddle with it and see if I can adjust it better, but I'm disappointed at this point in time. I haven't learned everything this car can do yet.

 

If you've been listening to loud replays of heavy metal for some period of time, you may have damaged your hearing. Get a hearing checkup! At the other end of the sound appreciation curve, I recommend avoiding any music source that comes through 'the cloud' - it is noticeably compressed. My music source in my '19 Avalon Hybrid Limited (1200W JBL w/ 14 speakers, big subwoofer in rear deck) is solely from 20 GB of CD strips stored in my Apple phone. FM radio is way worse (even HD), and AM radio is like being in a tin can.

 

hey yes they are not very good..we have a 16 and sound is terrible... over the years the best sounding stereo i have ever had was in my 1986 couger... wife and i talk about this all the time... ha

 

Buy better speakers. I suggest MB Quart or perhaps Rockford Fosgate being as you like Bass. You may also want a different head unit or signal processor but always start with speakers. Premium or not, the oem speakers are the cheapest available. However, you should check your sub to make sure it's operational.

 

I noticed that on my Platinum, check the menu options for the equalizer, the sound level on your source(cell phone) and a equalization sound option: if this is on the sound will be the same for all music as well as the volume level, maybe that will help!

 

Play the same song via USB, then bluetooth tether and compare. I installed an Android aftermarket system in my '14 Camry. I download music from my home network straight onto a USB I installed in it. No comparison! Then move onto door speakers amp and sub if you're still unhappy. Good luck...

 

I can't understand why Toyota Corp will not let Toyota models offer the Mark Levinson audio system.

 

Mark Levinson is just another brand like JBL under Harmon International (which is under Samsung) portfolio
About HARMAN international | Connected Technologies

 

I literally just picked mine up 2 days ago and was having this conversation about the sound about an hour ago! Definitely doesn't sound like my 2020 XLE. Very disappointing! Hoping to find some solution!

 

It seems like some of our beloved Toyota products are kind of going the way of the rest of our manufacturing. Charge more; give less. Toyota is still a good vehicle, but are they doing their best to stay ahead of the pack? That was once their mantra. I think the introduction of the Grand Highlander and its reports and reception will provide a telling tale of the future. That is the first new line of SUV to be introduced in a long time. I do like what I hear, though.

 

I’ve been pleased with the audio system on my 2021 Platinum Highlander. The JBL speakers sound good to my ears and I’ve got a high end 7.1.4 Atmos system with Revel speakers in my home.

 

I installed Infinity speakers in the front and rear doors and did the Subaru Kicker tweeter install in the dash corners. Sound got a lot better than stock and sounds even better now that they are broken in.

 

It was purchased online
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My 2022 XSE sounds way better than my fiance's 2019 XLE. The sound was noticeably different and made me want to puke with hers lol. I can't compare with JBL but whatever stock system that's on 2022 XSE, I'm happy with. Sure, the mid and high's can be crisper with some lower low's but happy with it.