Gen 5 Prime XSE Premium - Adding a powered subwoofer to the JBL system and need advice

Hello,
I have a 2024 Prius prime xse premium with the jbl sound system, which harness and colors did you tap into for the two front speakers ? I’m looking forward to adding a jbl bass pro 12 in the trunk and as you mentioned before the front speakers are better than the rear. Also is it easier to just buy the harness and tap into that one compared to splicing the original harness ?

 

Yes

What it SHOULD be and what Toyota has made it to actually be are different things.

And this is not new to the Prius 5th Gen. It will not be changed no matter how much you complain about it. This is a deliberate choice by them that has persisted over years of some of their vehicles.

I still think you should've tapped the front signal. While I didn't check the EQ output for it personally, when I was reading up on this issue at the start of my upgrade journey people had mentioned that it did not give the full EQ signal. Whether that means it has bass roll off (the front does not at least up to 50 vol, didn't check past that), or that it just doesn't send highs (would make sense), I don't know. But since it's been stated that it's not a full EQ signal I just skipped it due to that and its weak output.

So if you're going back in, tap into fronts, set your crossover on your sub from 80-100hz (normally for a sub you wouldn't set above 80 but your sub has to compensate for the oem door speakers so it might be worth it to go to 100hz) and I think there's nothing else that I'd change given your current gear. Maybe wrap up the wires with some tesa tape and tuck them away but that's just if you're bored.

 

Go listen to the rear door speaker.

 

Hello,
Installing my powered sub today am I using the 24 pin connector or the 30 pin connector to run the front speaker wires to the amp ? Thank you

 

Just installed my Rockford Fosgate P-300 10T today. I used 16-18 AWG Posi-Taps and tapped into the WFR and WFL wires from the K91 JBL Amp Speaker Output Harness. This is the harness that’s closer to the front and has thicker wires. I obtained the following from an official electronic wiring diagram from Toyota:

WFR+ (pin 10. Lavender w/Blue Stripe)
WFR– (pin 25. Lavender w/white stripe)
WFL+ (pin8. Lavender w/Red Stripe)
WFL– (pin 23. Lavender w/white stripe).

The subwoofer sounds amazing. Not sure why people were tapping into the rear speakers. I purchased a 2 day subscription from Toyota GTS+ in order to obtain the EWD.

 

@Prius_primed Great to hear it sounds amazing and that it fits/works in your Prime! Would really like to see pics of where you mounted it.

 

What a great thread.
IMO a subwoofer is necessary, with JBL or base audio.
But, even with the insights of my co-members, this thread doesn't seem to be so easy to follow if I DIY.
FWIW I would love an easy plug and play option.

 

just confirming, you used the RCA's on the ENA-2T3 for the sub?

 

Just sharing my related experience, originally I was getting ready to install the ENA-2T3 but after more research, I decided to return it for the ENA-3T3 which does have RCA outputs on the back of the ENA-3T3 and which is what I used to connect to the RCA inputs on my JBL Basspro Nano woofer. The outputs on the back of the ENA-2T3 are not RCA outputs but rather allow a direct connection to an iphone or similar device only.

Before returning the ENA-2T3, BeatSonic let me know I also could have used the BH10 speaker harness but after learning more and because I hadn't installed the ENA-2T3, I decided I wanted to use the RCA outputs on the ENA-3T3 instead.

 

The website says the ENA-3T3 is not compatible with JBL systems, thats why I wanted to clarify.
Thanks for the info.
So it sounds I need to buy ENA-2T3, BH10 and EAZ-C02 to make it work in my JBL Prius.

ENA-2T3 = Beat-Sonic ENA-2T3 Plug and Play Encore Alpha Power Amplifier Kit for | Beat-Sonic USA

BH10 = Beat-Sonic BH10 SPEAKER HARNESS FOR TOYOTA 10-PIN CONNECTOR | Beat-Sonic USA

EAZC02 = Beat-Sonic EAZ-C02 Power Seat Cable Harness for Active Subwoofer | Beat-Sonic USA

 

The Beatsonic website says ENA-3T3 is not compatible but it will work in a Prius with a JBL system (and BeatSonic will tell you that too). My Prius Prime has a JBL system and I installed the ENA-3T3 and it's working fine with my Nano woofer. Per my understanding, BeatSonic says it's not compatible because your Prius dash radio volume button will not control the volume of the woofer. That's the only or main reason they say it's not compatible. You can chat them on their site to get more details. They're very responsive.

So they told me I can control the woofer volume with the Nano's woofer volume button which comes with the Nano. Since installing it, I think I prefer that the woofer has a separate volume knob because of the range of music and range of quality of music files I have. Some songs require more bass and some much less and it's easy to control that with that woofer volume knob. It would be similar to adjusting the EQ of treble, bass, mid etc as you listen to different songs or different quality music files.

Also Beatsonic said, that sometime this summer, they will come out with some harness or other "solution" of making the ENA-3T3 "compatible" with a Prius with a JBL system. In other words, I guess the harness will allow the dash radio volume control also control the woofer volume. When that happens, I'll probably read and see what they come up with, but for now I prefer the separate woofer volume button.

I think we can say you have choices and options in terms of how to install the BeatSonic amp and woofer and how to power it. I also actually purchased the EAC02 with initial thoughts and ideas that I would power it from my passenger seat first and then keep using it that way until I honed in on what woofer settings I wanted. But as I started routing the wires from the front of the car to the back (via dash, door sills, etc), I decided to just install the Nano in my under cargo area and at the same time, power it from the 12v battery, since I was there anyways and which I think is the standard way of powering these woofers. I did have to watch a few youtube videos and read a few things here and there but it really wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. Also for the "routing of the wires", I would consider adding a Pro.fit wire worm from Crutchfield or whoever else may sell that to your list. I found it very useful when routing those wires.

I decided to keep the EAC02 in case I ever want to move the woofer nearer the passenger seat.

 

Cool, so you used the ENA-3T3 and the RCA outputs from it and powered by the 12v.

 

How do you like your set up so far. Im asking bc Im about to pull the trigger on the beat sonic and jbl bass nano for the same set up.

 

Hi. Sorry for the late response.

I like it. Much better than stock to my ears and has satisfied that desire to improve my car audio. I think the BeatSonic does improve the sound and gets more out of the stock speakers. And the small woofer gives me the just enough fill in bass. Can you do more and get better sound? Of course. But part of the appeal of this setup for me was I could install both myself as both were doable for a beginner like me, who's never done anything like that before. I am still going to pursue updating the tweeters or dash speakers in time.

 

Hey Julio

Did you happen to replace any of the speakers in the car at all or did you just add the 3t3 and the Nano? Did you have to take out to seats to add the nano? I am a total beginner myself and really just looking for something simple to add more volume and some bass.

Thanks
Ryan G

 

As far as I know, he didn't replace speakers. Simply added the 3T3 and nano sub. It is actually easier to place sub in the trunk.

 

appreciate it..

I have zero experience with car audio except I have paid for systems in the past.. I can't do it myself.. so running a sub to the trunk is probably 100% beyond my capabilities.. I was hoping to get by with the 3t3 and then replacing the woofer in the front doors and the 4" in the dash and have a significantly better sound.. Just wasn't sure if that is possible.

I was going to leave the back doors alone since apparently the signal going back there is only 20% of what the amp is capable of putting out to the speakers.

Unless I am misinformed.

 

That's correct, I just added the 3T3 and nano sub in the trunk. Overall I'm good with this setup as, to my ears, it definitely improved the stock sound on my JBL Prius Plugin. Although I may replace the front dash speakers at some point to improve the overall sound even more.