Questions about audio upgrades for my 98 TJ

[TmLIsMe14]

I was wondering if anyone has done any audio upgrades besides just the soundbar and the front speakers. I am looking to try to fit a subwoofer in the back of my 98 TJ Sport. If anyone has done this could someone please chime in? What size subwoofer would be ideal, and the maximum that could fit in the rear cargo of a TJ with the rear seat still in?

Does anyone know about the discontinued JL Audio Stealth box for the 97-06 TJ? I am having trouble finding this online, but I am quite sure that this was once an option offered by JL Audio, however, I cannot find any information on this.

Cheers!

 

[jeepins]

I have a 98 also and recently upgraded my entire system. New radio, front speakers (with enclosures), soundbar speakers (with the foam baffles) and Kicker subwoofer that sits under the rear seat and sounds great (c'mon it's a Jeep). I didn't bolt down the subwoofer, it's held in place by the rear seat and I don't rumble too often on trails to push its limits in that regard.

 

[TmLIsMe14]

Very nice! I am going to a friend's house to finish my audio build today actually. I am putting in my deadener and putting my missing passenger seat back in. I'll have to take out my interior again but it will be worth it.

On a side note, do 4.0 98 TJ Sports come with footwell lights? I am trying to find out if they did or not. I am not totally sure if my TJ had footwell lights but then again, I just recently bought this TJ. Back in October, I literally know nothing about my TJ, as well as this, being my first TJ and Wrangler ever up until now.

My TJ is also Red and is a 5 speed. Your TJ looks brand new! I honestly didn't think anyone did audio builds in Wranglers, but I am proven wrong. I wish I could get my TJ to look like yours.

I plan to deaden the entire tub, and then get some carpet, can you suggest a good replacement carpet for TJs? My TJ did not come with the middle, neither had the front carpet in, only the rear has carpet.

Cheers!

 

[Gasman]

Your TJ should have footwell lights in the front just below each front speaker. They're not very bright and my next project is replacing those and all of the interior and dash lights with LEDs as soon as I receive my delivery. It's about $40 for all of the lights and something yo may want to consider doing while your dash is already apart.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...ghts-of-your-jeep-wrangler-tj-with-leds.9149/

The one of the first things I did was swap out the factory head unit and front speakers and rewire and add speakers to the sound-bar. (when I purchased, the PO gave me a sound-bar that was cut form the harness and not installed so it needed some work). Since this isn't my daily driver I run my rig mostly in summer and it's topless nearly 100% I was considering a similar subwoofer. The audio upgrade that I did was a huge improvement over factory but fit could use a little more. I'm past the era of window shaking bass in my vehicle but would still like a little more punch to my system. My rear bench seat is removed since I wanted more room for gear and my dogs so I can't install a sub in the back. Would that sub fit under the front passenger seat??

 

[jeepins]

I plan to deaden the entire tub, and then get some carpet, can you suggest a good replacement carpet for TJs? My TJ did not come with the middle, neither had the front carpet in, only the rear has carpet.

Bedrug!

 

[BlackJeep23]

First thing is go to walmart in the sewing section buy some poly fill (stuffing) and pack that in the sound bar and behind the front speakers. Take the panel off the fronts and just pack the polly fill behind it. It will make a night and day difference!

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_575P30010/Rockford-Fosgate-Punch-P300-10.html?tp=114

Get a powered sub the 12" rockford fosgate in the truck box is amazing! But any powered sub will help. A truck style box will have the sub mounted on the slanted side so it fits behind the back seat perfectly.

 

[B34C0N]

I have a lock box in the rear of mine that fits behind the passenger seat against the rear gate. I cut a hole in it and installed a 10" sub and amp back there. Made the sound so much better!

I'm finishing up a bunch more audio stuff this week and will try to get pictures.

 

[Eric772]

I just installed a box I got on Amazon it's bedlined and custom fit behind the seat for 100 bucks I put 2 10 inch jl w3 and its awesome

 

[TmLIsMe14]

I just installed a box I got on Amazon it's bedlined and custom fit behind the seat for 100 bucks I put 2 10 inch jl w3 and its awesome

May I ask what kind of box? I would like to request a link for your box. I am told that a down-firing box is the only option I have that would fit in my TJ with the back seat still in. Right now I have 2 12s in a prefab box that I got for $30 which I think is a steal for the subs I got. Eclipse subwoofers, I've heard them in the past in fell in love with them, I am fortunate to find them again.

 

[Eric772]

May I ask what kind of box? I would like to request a link for your box. I am told that a down-firing box is the only option I have that would fit in my TJ with the back seat still in. Right now I have 2 12s in a prefab box that I got for $30 which I think is a steal for the subs I got. Eclipse subwoofers, I've heard them in the past in fell in love with them, I am fortunate to find them again.

May I ask what kind of box? I would like to request a link for your box. I am told that a down-firing box is the only option I have that would fit in my TJ with the back seat still in. Right now I have 2 12s in a prefab box that I got for $30 which I think is a steal for the subs I got. Eclipse subwoofers, I've heard them in the past in fell in love with them, I am fortunate to find them again.

Hi the box is Rockville rqj10d it will come right up on Amazon it is a down fire which is good for me I hardly ever have a top on there is also a box called subthump which looks very nice even has raised jeep logo and that one is front fire my jeep is in the shop till tomorrow getting new clutch and brakes when I pick up I can take some pics if you want to see it fits like a glove

 

[TmLIsMe14]

Hi the box is Rockville rqj10d it will come right up on Amazon it is a down fire which is good for me I hardly ever have a top on there is also a box called subthump which looks very nice even has raised jeep logo and that one is front fire my jeep is in the shop till tomorrow getting new clutch and brakes when I pick up I can take some pics if you want to see it fits like a glove

Sorry for the late reply. I would love some pictures of your box. I looked up the Rockville rqj10d on Amazon, but unfortunately, it was under the N/A section. I don't think I will be able to get that box.

I may just have a custom box built or I may just build it myself. I'll try to get the measurements tomorrow for what I require. If someone already has the measurements of a 98 Jeep TJ Sport 4.0 for the cargo area with the rear seat in place I would be grateful if you could post them up.

 

[Airjunky]

I ran with a system based on this thread, which uses a Sony deck, Kicker 6.75" subwoofer in the center console, a Kicker 200 watt amp under the dash, Kicker dash & sound bar speakers, & a pair of Rockville tweeters on the dash. It sounds GREAT! More than loud enough, even at freeway speeds with or without the top on.

I also have a Chevy Avalanche with a pair of the Kicker compact subs (like Jeepins posted above) under the rear seat. The sub in the center console is definitely comparable to that compact sub.

 

[Gergg]

Sorry for the late reply. I would love some pictures of your box. I looked up the Rockville rqj10d on Amazon, but unfortunately, it was under the N/A section. I don't think I will be able to get that box.

I may just have a custom box built or I may just build it myself. I'll try to get the measurements tomorrow for what I require. If someone already has the measurements of a 98 Jeep TJ Sport 4.0 for the cargo area with the rear seat in place I would be grateful if you could post them up.

I just looked it up on Amazon, is this the one you are looking for?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014KLM1TW/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[Andersen24]

This may be too late, but if you aren’t concerned about losing the storage area behind the backseat, I installed a box from subthump that fit dual 10’s.....I did a wireless Apple CarPlay Alpine head unit and replaced the dash and rollbar speakers with Alpines. I opted for the wireless CapPlay head unit so when I am out in the dunes, I can keep my phone in the center console locked away and charging and out of the elements. I Installed an Alpine in dash amp behind the head unit and am running a JBL amp for the subs. Anyone who says you can’t get amazing sound from a Jeep - they’re wrong

 

[TmLIsMe14]

This may be too late, but if you aren’t concerned about losing the storage area behind the backseat, I installed a box from subthump that fit dual 10’s.....I did a wireless Apple CarPlay Alpine head unit and replaced the dash and rollbar speakers with Alpines. I opted for the wireless CapPlay head unit so when I am out in the dunes, I can keep my phone in the center console locked away and charging and out of the elements. I Installed an Alpine in dash amp behind the head unit and am running a JBL amp for the subs. Anyone who says you can’t get amazing sound from a Jeep - they’re wrong View attachment 131869View attachment 131870View attachment 131871View attachment 131872View attachment 131873View attachment 131874View attachment 131875View attachment 131876View attachment 131877

Your dash speakers, are they 5.25s? They look like 6.5's I didn't think 6.5's would fit in the dash.

Also, how do you like your box? I am really considering them, I have been looking at them for a while now but as someone who likes custom boxes over prefab, I just don't know if they would do what I want them to do. I came from 15" subs with a custom-built box to my specifications back when I had my WJ. But I think that this time around I may just have to go with a prefab box.

Could you please make a video of your audio setup? I would like to see how my TJ might sound. I will have more power going toward my subs, and a way different brand but it never hurts to get a demo of what something might end up sounding.

Currently, I have my dash speakers (5.25 Components) and my roll bar speakers (6.5 Coaxial) amped to my old JL 360/4. So I right now am missing out of the subs besides what I have installed right now. I want to keep my rear seat in and for it to be able to function when I need it to. Right now my subbox is forcing my rear seat to float and not be connected to the rear latch. My seat is folded level with the wheel well and nicely hides my box that is otherwise very noticeable when my car is playing music.

Cheers!

 

[TmLIsMe14]

I did change one little thing with my dash speakers. I was told to put some polyfill behind my dash speakers. I can hear them more clearly and it is without a doubt clearer to my ears. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Moto Mike]

Are those 80.00 front speaker pods worth it over the pollyfill? Any one know?

 

[TDB55]

Are those 80.00 front speaker pods worth it over the pollyfill? Any one know?

Another member recommended some foam baffles from Amazon that are $9 a pair. I bought some but haven’t installed them yet.

 

[89grand]

Polyfill behind the dash speakers actually doesn't do anything but collect dust. Those tiny dash speaker pods hurt performance way more than help it.

Almost all car speakers want a lot of space behind the speaker because they are typically meant for large doors or rear decks. Putting them in tiny sealed enclosures actually results in no lower bass, and very peaky upper bass.

Sealing off the mounting surface of the dash speakers is what really works. Worry about the front of the speakers, not behind them.

 

[TDB55]

Polyfill behind the dash speakers actually doesn't do anything but collect dust. Those tiny dash speaker pods hurt performance way more than help it.

Almost all car speakers want a lot of space behind the speaker because they are typically meant for large doors or rear decks. Putting them in tiny sealed enclosures actually results in no lower bass, and very peaky upper bass.

Sealing off the mounting surface of the dash speakers is what really works. Worry about the front of the speakers, not behind them.

What do you seal it with and how does it help?