Sound System Replacement

[Intimnasc]

Well while I wait for my bonus next year to put on the lift kit I am knocking off some low hanging fruit. Thinking of upgrading the charging system with a home made big 7 kit. Then a sound system. Below are my sound options I am hoping to install as much as possible without giving up any space. No external subs or amps. Still looking at head units but zeroing in on some of the Kenwood excelon stuff. I like their microphone gain controls for microphone quality sound. Might be interested in an amp for the sound bar and speakers but not ultra necessary. Sound bar I am open to replacing just the speakers if there are some good options in a similar price range. I get back from business travel in Finland Saturday so front end is first then electrical then sound by Xmas.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MIT5VA?tag=wranglerorg-20 sound bar
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NFKN769?tag=wranglerorg-20 sub woofer
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z9LBXNG?tag=wranglerorg-20 amp
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYDJTMJ9?tag=wranglerorg-20 dash adapters
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072Q9BCGH?tag=wranglerorg-20 5.25 speakers

 

[JMT]

For that money you could do so much better. There are plenty of threads with much better recommendations, many of which are low profile stock location systems..

 

[Intimnasc]

For that money you could do so much better. There are plenty of threads with much better recommendations, many of which are low profile stock location systems..

I'll keep digging. I got the amp and sub from one that said they were stock replacements. The 5.25 and adaptors are stock replacement as well. So we must be talking about the sound bar. I agree started looking at 6.5's.

 

[JMT]

I'll keep digging. I got the amp and sub from one that said they were stock replacements. The 5.25 and adaptors are stock replacement as well. So we must be talking about the sound bar. I agree started looking at 6.5's.

A 5 channel amp will really improve things. A small reliable one is the Soundstream Nano Picasso 640d.

BLAM speakers are terrific.

The sub is the hardest part for you. I built a box that fit under the rear seat and supports a Kicker slimline 8”.

Head unit with sufficient pre-amp outs.

P.s. if you have a Rubicon center console you can use a Kicker 6.75 4ohm slimline sub.

 

[Intimnasc]

A 5 channel amp will really improve things. A small reliable one is the Soundstream Nano Picasso 640d.

BLAM speakers are terrific.

The sub is the hardest part for you. I built a box that fit under the rear seat and supports a Kicker slimline 8”.

Head unit with sufficient pre-amp outs.

P.s. if you have a Rubicon center console you can use a Kicker 6.75 4ohm slimline sub.

Is there a smaller 4 channel amp I can hide under the dash somewhere? I'm hoping to keep factory sub and amp locations even if I need new wiring. Don't want to mount under seat in case I need to remove the seat for a long 4 wheel excursion (storage).

 

[JMT]

Is there a smaller 4 channel amp I can hide under the dash somewhere? I'm hoping to keep factory sub and amp locations even if I need new wiring. Don't want to mount under seat in case I need to remove the seat for a long 4 wheel excursion (storage).

Lots of us have the 5-channel amp I mentioned mounted under the steering column. I think the dimensions are 10.3”x4.7”x2” (or something like that). It fits.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/05-flame-red-tj-build.3998/post-1175428

Of course, if you want two amps you can do that. I edited above post to reflect the factory sub option: a 6.75” 4-ohm Kicker slimline wired in parallel.

 

[afusco1222]

There is, the Kicker Key 200.4 is very small but you’re going to want something that puts out more power than the 25W RMS for the effort that would take. I would recommend putting a 4 channel or even a 5 channel amp under the rear seat.

 

[Hopper]

I put a small 2channel skar audio under the driver's dash. 4ohms with two speakers 2ohms with four speakers.
You may could fit this under there. Google micro amps
https://www.ctsounds.com/products/c...VH6ROH6izE3RvU2CugjKqveYO2qpHOExoC0iQQAvD_BwE

 

[JMT]

This guy is tiny! 4channel 500 watts

https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item-192625-Soundstream-ST4.500D.html

 

[Intimnasc]

Lots of us have the 5-channel amp I mentioned mounted under the steering column. I think the dimensions are 10.3”x4.7”x2” (or something like that). It fits.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/05-flame-red-tj-build.3998/post-1175428

Of course, if you want two amps you can do that. I edited above post to reflect the factory sub option: a 6.75” 4-ohm Kicker slimline wired in parallel.

Wow you knocked that mounting out of the park. I prolly have plenty of scrap.metal laying around I'm going to look into that. You don't have the dimensions or a shop sketch laying around do you? I can figure it out but would be nice to see.

 

[JMT]

Wow you knocked that mounting out of the park. I prolly have plenty of scrap.metal laying around I'm going to look into that. You don't have the dimensions or a shop sketch laying around do you? I can figure it out but would be nice to see.

Not offhand. Unfortunately it’s cumbersome to get under there to measure, but it is out of the way/hidden. Others like @NashvilleTJ have designed and fabbed much nicer mounting solutions for the Soundstream Nano Picasso amp.

 

[Intimnasc]

Not offhand. Unfortunately it’s cumbersome to get under there to measure, but it is out of the way/hidden. Others like @Nashville have designed and fabbed much nicer mounting solutions for the Soundstream Nano Picasso amp.

Lol yeah the cumbersome part scares me a little. I don't bend like I did 20 years ago. Stuff hurts these days but I think I'm going to give it a shot. Might even look up that other mount your referencing.

 

[JMT]

Lol yeah the cumbersome part scares me a little. I don't bend like I did 20 years ago. Stuff hurts these days but I think I'm going to give it a shot. Might even look up that other mount your referencing.

His is under the dash too, just nicer.

Yeah, I don’t bend either. I try to stretch daily, but it sucks now that I’m 51.

I’ve only had to get under there once after the install to do something, so there is that.

I’m building another rig now and this one is like yours with the center console sub, so it’s getting a 5-channel, 6.75” slimline, and a new head unit. It has some aftermarket front and rears already, so I’ll see how they do before swapping them out. I’m going to look at other amp mounting locations.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

Not offhand. Unfortunately it’s cumbersome to get under there to measure, but it is out of the way/hidden. Others like @NashvilleTJ have designed and fabbed much nicer mounting solutions for the Soundstream Nano Picasso amp.

His is under the dash too, just nicer.

Yeah, I don’t bend either. I try to stretch daily, but it sucks now that I’m 51.

I’ve only had to get under there once after the install to do something, so there is that.

I’m building another rig now and this one is like yours with the center console sub, so it’s getting a 5-channel, 6.75” slimline, and a new head unit. It has some aftermarket front and rears already, so I’ll see how they do before swapping them out. I’m going to look at other amp mounting locations.

You are too kind, Brother. Here is the start of my amp install which you referenced:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/nashville-tjs-build-continued.42035/post-1039412

This was three years ago - and geeze, I was 58 back then...

Toughen up, youngster!



OP, given your plans, I would definitely suggest going with a 5-channel amp, as opposed to your plan of just an amp for the sub. With all the work you are planning to put into this system, you will not be happy with the sound if you are not running a decent amp for the rest of the speakers as well. It's certainly a challenge to find a good space even for the smaller, sub-only amp, but take the time to find just a little more space for the 5-channel and it will be worth the effort.

I run the Kenwood Excelon stuff - which I love - but it would not work well for you without an amp. You will see in my write-up that I originally tried it that way, and was not happy. Adding the amp was a significant improvement.

Good luck with the project. Be sure to post up as you go, I'd love to follow along.

Jeff

 

[TheBoogieman]

Yeah, I don’t bend either. I try to stretch daily, but it sucks now that I’m 51.

You youngsters and all that complaining. I had 5 hernia surgeries. one rotator cuff surgery and two detached bicep tendons that I couldn't get surgery on (no insurance), by that age. That was back when I was healthy.

 

[JMT]

You youngsters and all that complaining. I had 5 hernia surgeries. one rotator cuff surgery and two detached bicep tendons that I couldn't get surgery on (no insurance), by that age. That was back when I was healthy.

It doesn’t stop me from bending to the point of breaking!

Not looking for sympathy, but when they x-rayed my spine, the doctor asked me if I used to be a bull rider.

 

[cpwolf]

Well while I wait for my bonus next year to put on the lift kit I am knocking off some low hanging fruit. Thinking of upgrading the charging system with a home made big 7 kit. Then a sound system. Below are my sound options I am hoping to install as much as possible without giving up any space. No external subs or amps. Still looking at head units but zeroing in on some of the Kenwood excelon stuff. I like their microphone gain controls for microphone quality sound. Might be interested in an amp for the sound bar and speakers but not ultra necessary. Sound bar I am open to replacing just the speakers if there are some good options in a similar price range. I get back from business travel in Finland Saturday so front end is first then electrical then sound by Xmas.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MIT5VA?tag=wranglerorg-20 sound bar
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08NFKN769?tag=wranglerorg-20 sub woofer
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z9LBXNG?tag=wranglerorg-20 amp
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYDJTMJ9?tag=wranglerorg-20 dash adapters
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072Q9BCGH?tag=wranglerorg-20 5.25 speakers

I just upgraded my entire sound system, and nothing takes up any space that wasn't stock....except for the pods for the tweeters on the dash. Pics in this post on my thread.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/2005-texas-jeep-tj-never-sell-build.37076/post-1733631

There is a bracket for under the dash...it's SUPER easy, didn't have to fab anything.
https://taboocustoms.com/store/ampmountplate
I copied @JMT on putting a powered sub under the back seat, Rockville 10".
The pods and tweeters up on the dash and not at your knee....game changing to me.
Polk speakers dash component and tweeter on top, Polk in the roll bar pods.
Alpine amp for the front and overhead, and I don't think spending the money on the new sound bar is as good as getting better components.

My TJ thunders now, big time. I'm sure some super technical audio file could find some issues....but I wouldn't hear them over the stereo, ha.

Lot of good suggestions though in this thread and a lot of others, my system is now crystal clear at high volume Metallica Black or Waylon Jennings and both sound awesome on the highway top down.

 

[Willys LJ]

I'm running 6.5" in the stock sound pods on the roll bar on my 05 LJ. 5.25" in pods in the dash. Still using the stock subwoofer and amp.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

I'm running 6.5' …

That is one GIGANTIC speaker!

 

[GoldenGorilla]

My setup is quite a bit older (like 15+ years) and Alpine, but same concept. I use the little 4x45W amp they've had for years by different model numbers. Very nice as it just plugs into their harness inline. My jeep came with the subwoofer in the center console (7-speaker on the build sheet I believe) which has it's own amp, but it's foam ring disintegrated years ago and the speaker was replaced with the OK thing quadratec sells. I'm not that worried about the bass though. In my '04 factory soundpods I have some Focal CA1 speakers and in the dash an old infinity model that I had installed many years ago. Much cleaner midrange. I think Focal completely left the car audio market, but I'm sure there is something as good out there now.

But the huge difference maker was when I put in the boom mat on the hard top and more recently the sound deadening on the tub. This consists of a standard foil backed butyl rubber layer topped with a thin closed cell foam layer under the carpet.