A client from San Jose was referred to California Car Sounds and Tint for upgrades to his 2017 Toyota Prius. The client enjoys listening to classical music and wasn’t happy with the performance of the factory sound system in his Prius. We met with him to discuss what he liked about the factory sound system and explore areas where we could improve its performance. After looking at the vehicle and auditioning several speaker options, we put together a plan to make the Prius sound great.
Factory Head Unit Integration
The source unit in the Prius does a lot more than just control the audio system. Vehicle settings and display information for the hybrid drivetrain are integrated into the display. We installed a JL Audio FiX86 processor in the vehicle to extract an audio signal from the source unit. The FiX86 processor removes any signal processing applied by the factory radio. It gives us a set of clean outputs that we can send to an amplifier to drive upgraded speakers.
High-Power Amplifier Improves Dynamics
The second component responsible for creating an amazing listening experience in this Prius is an Alpine MRV-F300 four-channel amplifier. The MRV-F300 is capable of producing up to 300 watts of power per channel to bring out the dynamics and realism in the client’s music.
Focal Speaker Upgrades
Focal offers two Integration Series speaker upgrades that are designed specifically for Toyota vehicles. The IS690TOY is a two-way component speaker kit that includes a 6×9-inch woofer that bolts directly into the factory door speaker location and a tweeter with an integrated mounting bracket for the dash. We installed an IC165TOY 6.5-inch coaxial speaker set in the rear doors of the Toyota.
Toyota Prius Audio System Tuning
With the speakers installed in the vehicle, the last step of the process was to configure the FiX86 processor. We used the supplied calibration track to remove signal processing from the source unit. Once complete, we configured the stereo front and rear 10-band graphic equalizers to provide smooth and natural frequency response from the new Focal speakers.
In less than a day, we had dramatically transformed the performance of this Prius’ audio system. The client is very happy with the way the new speakers sound and was looking forward to being able to enjoy his music while driving. If you are in the Campbell area and aren’t satisfied with the performance of your sound system, drop into California Car Sounds and Tint. Our team of experts would be happy to design an upgrade for you. You can also reach us by phone or by e-mail using our contact page.
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