Audio / speaker setup choices

wmblore

wmblore

TJ Enthusiast
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May 14, 2019
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NOT an audio guy. I was looking to keep the HU for now but want better sound for $500-600. I have an 2006 Unlimited Rubi. What am I missing? something better for the same price? Are there wiring kits I need?



71DLeWc4CML._AC_AA180_.jpg

$79.99


41saX6LUWiL._AC_AA180_.jpg



81cDBRp2gKL._AC_AA180_.jpg

$159.95


613IyP-kNWL._AC_AA180_.jpg

$26.95


81PMySTzkBL._AC_AA180_.jpg

$21.06


61IdP2Nm+CL._AC_AA180_.jpg

$79.95


81smJGp760L._AC_AA180_.jpg

$79.00


Subtotal (7 items): $470.43


Price

61U27lOmbjL._AC_AA180_.jpg

$109.95
 
When I put the stock stereo in the TJ that I was selling I noticed it did not sound nearly as good as the double DIN i moved over to the LJ. I had upgraded speakers in the TJ but they stayed in. Bottom line from that experience, the stereo makes a big difference in sound.

If you order speakers from crutchfield they will come with wiring adapters, no splicing required except for the subwoofer, they did not have a harness for that.
 
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You HAVE to overpower those speakers to get any sound quality from them. Check out Crutchfield like Viking Jeeper said. I used to work there years ago and live near one of their only two retail stores. You can also return anything for any reason for a month. Even if you installed it and don't like the sound. I liked my upgraded subs over stock.
SPEAKER BOX (2).jpg
 
Last edited:
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WallyWest said:
You've got it all backwards. The first thing to upgrade is the head unit.
Click to expand...
Yup. You should do it incrementally to avoid overbuying vs what your expectations are. Replace the head unit first with one that has a good quality amp and see if you like it. Then speakers front and in the bar. If the subs an issue then upgrade it. If power is an issue after that then add an amp.

I've got a double din Alpine unit with 4 quality speakers and a swapped out sub (with factory amp) and I'm very happy with the set up. All in I'm at about $525 and some time.
 
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Rooscooter said:
Yup. You should do it incrementally to avoid overbuying vs what your expectations are. Replace the head unit first with one that has a good quality amp and see if you like it. Then speakers front and in the bar. If the subs an issue then upgrade it. If power is an issue after that then add an amp.

I've got a double din Alpine unit with 4 quality speakers and a swapped out sub (with factory amp) and I'm very happy with the set up. All in I'm at about $525 and some time.
Click to expand...
What HU and speakers did you go with? Did you have to buy an aftermarket bezel?
 
wmblore said:
What HU and speakers did you go with? Did you have to buy an aftermarket bezel?
Click to expand...
https://www.alpine-usa.com/product/apple-carplay-android-auto-ilx-w650
This head unit has everything I needed and it has an add on amp you can attach directly to the back of it if you need more power. For what I do I didn't need to add the amp but it's an easy install if you do.

Speakers:

I went with BLAM 130RC's in the front and BLAM 165RC's in the sound bar. These are very expensive if you buy in the US.... so I found them in the UK for about 1/3 the price..... or about $160 delivered for all 4.... vs $399 a pair. The exchange rate was more favorable in March when I bought but still a great deal over buying them in the US.

https://incartec.co.uk/category-listing/Speakers-all-sizes
If this hadn't worked out I was ready to go with Polks from Crutchfield for about the same price or a little more.

I bought some wiring adapters and "sound pods" for the front and wiring adapters for the sound bar off of Ebay.

Subwoofer is the 6.5 Kicker.... it's about the only option without adding an amp and really modifying the console.

Oh.... you will need to swap out the center dash cover as well. That wasn't hard to do.... you will have to cut out a horizontal baffle in the dash to get it installed but with a dremel it is fairly easy. Install took about 45 minutes once I got the harness wired up.
 
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I haven’t installed them yet but I have a set of blams that were very well priced.

Under $200 to my door from the UK. For all four.
 
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wmblore said:
What HU and speakers did you go with? Did you have to buy an aftermarket bezel?
Click to expand...
I have the Alpine ILX207 double din. You do need to purchase the Center dash piece. Look on crutchfield. You can build and price out a system to you budget.
I run higher end components in my Jeep, but polk seems to be the choice of a lot of folks with Jeeps.
 
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Rooscooter said:
https://www.alpine-usa.com/product/apple-carplay-android-auto-ilx-w650
This head unit has everything I needed and it has an add on amp you can attach directly to the back of it if you need more power. For what I do I didn't need to add the amp but it's an easy install if you do.

Speakers:

I went with BLAM 130RC's in the front and BLAM 165RC's in the sound bar. These are very expensive if you buy in the US.... so I found them in the UK for about 1/3 the price..... or about $160 delivered for all 4.... vs $399 a pair. The exchange rate was more favorable in March when I bought but still a great deal over buying them in the US.

https://incartec.co.uk/category-listing/Speakers-all-sizes
If this hadn't worked out I was ready to go with Polks from Crutchfield for about the same price or a little more.

I bought some wiring adapters and "sound pods" for the front and wiring adapters for the sound bar off of Ebay.

Subwoofer is the 6.5 Kicker.... it's about the only option without adding an amp and really modifying the console.

Oh.... you will need to swap out the center dash cover as well. That wasn't hard to do.... you will have to cut out a horizontal baffle in the dash to get it installed but with a dremel it is fairly easy. Install took about 45 minutes once I got the harness wired up.
Click to expand...
ordered the BLAM's, HU out of stock at Crutchfield
 
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williambmac said:
I have the Alpine ILX207 double din. You do need to purchase the Center dash piece. Look on crutchfield. You can build and price out a system to you budget.
I run higher end components in my Jeep, but polk seems to be the choice of a lot of folks with Jeeps.
Click to expand...
HU "out of stock" at Crutchfield.
 
wmblore said:
NOT an audio guy. I was looking to keep the HU for now but want better sound for $500-600. I have an 2006 Unlimited Rubi. What am I missing? something better for the same price? Are there wiring kits I need?



View attachment 200333
$79.99


View attachment 200334


View attachment 200335
$159.95


View attachment 200336
$26.95


View attachment 200337
$21.06


View attachment 200338
$79.95


View attachment 200339
$79.00


Subtotal (7 items): $470.43


Price

View attachment 200340
$109.95
Click to expand...

Great ideas here, you just need to tighten it up. For your budget and your current proposed build, I would go in this direction.

1) 5.25" and 1" component set with passive crossover

2) 6.5" overhead speakers

3) 6.75" kicker subwoofer

4) Cerwin Vega B55 Bomber amplifer. Speaker or RCA inputs are acceptable, meaning you just cut the stock wiring or buy a new head unit and use RCAs to connect

Optional - select increment pods.

1) $225 - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20647KSS50/Kicker-47KSS504.html

2). $70 - https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20646CC654/Kicker-46CSC654.html

3) $110 - the 1 ohm kicker you mentioned.

4) $260 - https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item-94247-Cerwin-Vega-B55.html
 
wmblore said:
ordered the BLAM's, HU out of stock at Crutchfield
Click to expand...

Great choices for speakers, a little different than what you proposed, but good choices.

Did you purchase an amplifer for them?

You can go with a single or double din, your choice. Kenwood makes some real nice ones aas well as Pioneer and Alpine.
 
wmblore said:
HU "out of stock" at Crutchfield.
Click to expand...
a lot of stuff is out of stock everywhere. This is due to the COVID crap going on.
You can look on amazon, but I try to use crutchfield when I can. This is because they have a better return policy, customer support. They also offer discounted install kits. You can also check bestbuy.
I have always been a fan of Alpine HU and amps, but there are also some other good brands out there. My brother has a nice Pioneer receiver in his JK.
The only company that I am leary about is Kenwood. Crutchfield sells new units, but lists a lot of "refurbished" units as well.
Why are there so many refurbished units available.
 
I still need to address the sub, but I went with:
  • Kicker CS 5.25" front speakers with Select Increments Dash Pods
  • Kicker CS 6.5" speakers for the sound bar
  • Joying 8.8" Android head unit with CarPlay
I didn't want to replace the center bezel with a double-DIN one, so I went with the Joying Auto floating display unit that uses a single-DIN chassis. It looks like it was made for the spot. It's not perfect but it's much better than expected with just a few bits of odd behavior, and the CarPlay implementation is very good. Here is the latest version they're selling.

view.jpg

view.jpg
 
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en480c4 said:
I still need to address the sub, but I went with:
  • Kicker CS 5.25" front speakers with Select Increments Dash Pods
  • Kicker CS 6.5" speakers for the sound bar
  • Joying 8.8" Android head unit with CarPlay
I didn't want to replace the center bezel with a double-DIN one, so I went with the Joying Auto floating display unit that uses a single-DIN chassis. It looks like it was made for the spot. It's not perfect but it's much better than expected with just a few bits of odd behavior, and the CarPlay implementation is very good. Here is the latest version they're selling.
Click to expand...
That‘s a really cool head unit. I wish that had been around when I did my double din.
 
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When ya'll installed the 6.5's in the pods did you use any type of adaptors or just screw them into the face of the pods?
I put Kicker CS's in Select Increments pods in the dash and I have a set of 6.5 CS's for the pods but havent mounted them yet
I went with an Alpine multi media head unit (mostly stream from my MP3 player) and I plan on installing a mini soundstream amp under the steering column where the Sat radio box was
 
NashvilleTJ said:
That‘s a really cool head unit. I wish that had been around when I did my double din.
Click to expand...
I was really happy to have found it. I came across it on an Alfa Romeo forum... It fit perfectly in the 4C, and there was a pretty enthusiastic group that really liked it. Obviously we have the option for the double-DIN bezel, and I was OK with the fit and finish in my last LJ with one, but this time around I wanted to keep the stock silver bezel and this was by far the best fit for the TJ. It fits perfectly between the vents and the HVAC controls. I just had to add a wireless steering wheel control kit because it doesn't have any hard buttons for volume.
 
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