I couldn't disagree more with you and have no idea where to start with all this bad information.
All audio installs should take a similar approach and process to map out what they can accomplish.
No way will polks and a kenwood single din get the average person the desired results or 75-80% there. See above regarding proper planning because proper planning prevents piss poor results.
Polks were good about 10+ years ago prior to all the amazing audio that started to be released. The DBs are hollow, low end speakers.
I get great quality sound with no top on, driving 60mph. Why, because I planned properly. I generally recommend BLAM speakers that are way more efficient at 2ohms, and paired with a good amplifer, those play very loud and crisp. BLAMs are the same price as the Polks but exponentially better when paired with a proper amp.
Then you say maybe add a subwoofer? Why? How will it be powered? Again, proper planning before buying stuff.
Ugh is all I can say to your post.
I would love recommendations for speakers in the Polk price category that are better. I am not an audiophile. I'm just sharing what worked for me. I referred to them as cheap. But your recommendation is for a similar priced speaker. We might agree on more than you think.
I guarantee you know more about car audio than I do. I am not looking for superior audio from a soft top car without any sound deadener anywhere in its floor or firewall. All I needed was to be able to hear the music. Meaning loud enough over the road noise to listen. And clear enough that I could understand the lyrics. Beyond that my expectations were minimal. So my advice (if you can even call it that - more of "this is what worked for me") was to not spend a ton of money. Because your trying to overcome a tin can with no top. And it's a $10,000 car. Not a half billion Bentley.
$100 in speakers front and back. And a less than $200 Kenwood stereo. Gave me plenty of sound for my uneducated ears. When I switched to the android head unit it got better. It was simple enough to install and use myself. Connected to my phone slowly but flawlessly. And I could do other things with it. But primarily I used it to connect my phone and play Spotify. The rest I primarily relied on my phone. The sound was great. I don't recall an amp or subwoofer. But I don't listen to a lot of base heavy music. And the sound was great - to me.
In regard to android head units:
I put an android head unit in my Yukon as well. For maybe $115. And it did everything the $2000+ US unit I would have had to replace it with did. US touchscreen stereo are a huge rip off IMHO. But don't get me started on the Android OS only vs Android Auto argument. It's a mess.
I currently have an android head unit in my JKU. But am upgrading to a DuduAuto android head unit. Which has its own OS that is updated regularly. And support you can chat with. That regularly posts updates. It cost $350.
But I tend to scrimp on things like sound systems. As I have other things that are more important to me to improve on my Jeeps. But that's a question everyone has to answer. I'm not saying your $600 or $3500 sound system doesn't sound great. Or that mine sounds even good. It's good enough for me.
Sound is a highly subjective thing. I think it's important to point out that what might sound like shit to you. Is totally great to those of us that aren't audiophiles. And $350 worth of hardware might get you to well above "good enough". For most of the guys driving around in a loud as hell soft top Jeep from the 1990s.
(I have also not read one thread where someone came up with a huge leap in TJ audio. That was affordable. And everyone jumped in and started installing them.)
I personally couldn't imagine spending anymore than I did. I only used maybe 30% of the volume. Anything more and it was blasting my ears out. I could hear the music clearly from about 10 or 15% of volume on up. I could hear the music. I could hear the lyrics clearly. Above all the road noise that never leaves.
I freely admit the difference between a $300 stereo (in a car or in a house) and a $5000 stereo would probably be lost on me. Completely. I freely admit that. I just think there is a good percentage of folks like me. That love being able to listen to music while driving. But that spending $350 is probably enough for them.
When I added the Polks to the Kenwood single din that came in my Jeep. The difference was so great I was blown away. I think for me 80% of my expectations in a stereo system were met. Maybe another $500 or $1000 might have gotten me to 100%. But is it worth it my book? No. I'd rather have a dual battery system. Or a few new tires. Or better seats.
I think that's great you spent how ever much you spent on your stereo. It's important to you. But if you listen to the stock stereo in TJ. That was perfectly fine sounding for 1999. And even a low end modern day unit. Most average listeners will be floored by how improved it is. And perfectly happy with their upgrade.
I don't think most off-roaders are audiophiles. There off-roaders. And I've seen plenty of guys in here throw hundreds and thousands at sound systems in a soft top TJ. And learned that the point of diminishing returns is quickly reached. When your trying to achieve audiophile level sound in a tin can with a canvas top. It just seems like a losing endeavour.
But it's your ears. Your experience. Your money.
My ears are fine with enough volume, clarity that allows me to clearly hear the lyrics, and not overcrowding the interior of a very small off-road vehicle. With extra equipment. Space that could be better put to use.
It's subjective. I just put 4 JBL speakers and two tweeters in my JKU. With a $200 android head unit. And it sounds great to me. I'm perfectly happy with it. Certainly a lot better than the stock stereo. That never connected to my phone.
I think the only way this could be solved is if we both lived close enough and could listen to each others stereos. But again, I'd probably think yours sounds great. But that mine sounds great too. But that the extra $1000 or $2000 you spent doesn't justify the leap in sound quality - to me. And you'd probably think mine sounds like shit. Lol!
So there ya go.
That's my 2 cents.
