Upgrading the sound system on your Jeep Wrangler TJ

There are a lot of mentions of using pods for tweeters mounted either above the side vents or on the plastic moldings on the a-pillar.

I did find this post with tweeters surface mounted into the dash itself, but I didn't find many opinions on this method.
No plastic on my A-pillars. I got a real Jeep:)

I like the idea of surface mounted tweeters. I don’t have a sound bar, so the sound is mostly coming up from my knees. Surface mounted tweeters would place the sound in front where it is most natural. However, I’m more interested in a mid/tweeter that can handle frequencies below the sound of a piccolo, penny whistle, dog whistle, Maynard Ferguson, reed chirps from Stan Getz, Queen of the Night Aria from die Zauberflöte, etc. Most options for mid/tweeter include a large pod that squishes into the corner of the dash and A-pillar, which is to much in my face and makes my Jeep a target for someone’s drug habit.

Most importantly, someone remind me I’m headed down a rabbit hole trying to get clean audio out of my Jeep and I’m better off using my EarPod Pros for good audio. Only problem with that is going down the road at 55 mph only to discover I’m still in 3rd gear!
 
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No plastic on my A-pillars. I got a real Jeep:)

I like the idea of surface mounted tweeters. I don’t have a sound bar, so the sound is mostly coming up from my knees. Surface mounted tweeters would place the sound in front where it is most natural. However, I’m more interested in a mid/tweeter that can handle frequencies below the sound of a piccolo, penny whistle, dog whistle, Maynard Ferguson, reed chirps from Stan Getz, Queen of the Night Aria from die Zauberflöte, etc. Most options for mid/tweeter include a large pod that squishes into the corner of the dash and A-pillar, which is to much in my face and makes my Jeep a target for someone’s drug habit.

Most importantly, someone remind me I’m headed down a rabbit hole trying to get clean audio out of my Jeep and I’m better off using my EarPod Pros for good audio. Only problem with that is going down the road at 55 mph only to discover I’m still in 3rd gear!

Superbone Meets the Badman, or Chameleon?
 
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Superbone Meets the Badman, or Chameleon?

Chameleon! It was a fun chart to play in school when I was a kid. But I had it easy playing sax. La Fiesta was another great arrangement from that album. Can't go wrong with anything written by Herbie Hancock or Chick Corea. "Into the Faddisphere" - Jon Faddis, is on another level and would be the cut to blow out tweeters;-)
 
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Chameleon! It was a fun chart to play in school when I was a kid. But I had it easy playing sax. La Fiesta was another great arrangement from that album. Can't go wrong with anything written by Herbie Hancock or Chick Corea. "Into the Faddisphere" - Jon Faddis, is on another level and would be the cut to blow out tweeters;-)

I played Baritone in a few stage, swing and jazz bands. I miss those days (Maynard was actually still with us back then).
 
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I played those charts in school when the ink was still fresh! With Maynard‘s recording of Chick Corea’s “La Fiesta”, Spanish inspired charts for stage bands, concert bands, and marching bands made the rounds for many years after that. And with good reason, the various minor tonalities stacked in the trumpets at max dynamics was easy to pull off and sounded fantastic. Arrangers moved on to something else by the ‘90s. It’s all a formula, which is why I only taught high school band for 6 years. Most of the music isn’t that original or the work of genius.

I never had enough lung volume to be any good at bari, even though I did it when necessary. Jazz was OK but sax quartet music with a long fermata at the end was torture on a bari. BBb Tuba is even harder to play anything longer than an “oomph” with a quick breath to just finish with the “pa“. Big lungs is a superpower I don’t have. A soprano and tenor easily fit in my Jeep, too, with room for passengers.

Sorry, for the short high-jack! My next post will be what I think of the JBL BassPro Nano after it arrives later this week:)
 
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and in continuing with the car audio topic of discussion. Thus, I ended up doing car audio SPL bass competitions all over the country in USACi. Placed in top 10 at world finals in 2000 in the 301-600w pro class with 4 15" Kicker L7's walled in a Ford Festiva. Those were the days. To this day I have no idea how all that money came and where it went.

That is something I can’t wrap my head around. How did you work with the laws of physics and 50ft+ wavelengths of the lowest frequencies? With 4 15” Kicker’s, did you run them in phase or tweak it since they were so close together? There’s enough power to light the Bat Signal and to announce for Batman to look for it.
 
Can't remember the exact amp setup because I went through so many. Was sponsored by Kicker. We made minor tweaks all the time to chase dB's anywhere we could find it. Reinforced vehicle structure. Mic placement. Angle of attack on audio plane with different port tunes. Tried em all. Length and port sqft.
 
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I have these bookmarked and on the short list. I blame all of you.

BLAM Ultra-compact 4 x 75W RMS Class D amplifier​

https://incartec.co.uk/product/BLAM...MS-Class-D-amplifier-OEM-Compatible-BL-RA754D

BLAM Ultra-compact D Class 1 x 500W monoblock amplifier​

https://incartec.co.uk/product/BLAM...-monoblock-amplifier-OEM-Compatible-BL-RA501D

BLAM Relax 165RC 165mm (6.5inch) Hi-efficiency 2ohm, 2-Way Coaxial speakers​

https://incartec.co.uk/product/BLAM...ncy-2ohm-2-Way-Coaxial-speakers-PAIR-BL-165RC

BLAM Relax 130RS 130mm (5.25inch) Hi-efficiency 2ohm, 2-Way Component speakers​

https://incartec.co.uk/product/BLAM...y-2ohm-2-Way-Component-speakers-PAIR-BL-130RS
 
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I have these bookmarked and on the short list. I blame all of you.

BLAM Ultra-compact 4 x 75W RMS Class D amplifier​

https://incartec.co.uk/product/BLAM...MS-Class-D-amplifier-OEM-Compatible-BL-RA754D

BLAM Ultra-compact D Class 1 x 500W monoblock amplifier​

https://incartec.co.uk/product/BLAM...-monoblock-amplifier-OEM-Compatible-BL-RA501D

BLAM Relax 165RC 165mm (6.5inch) Hi-efficiency 2ohm, 2-Way Coaxial speakers​

https://incartec.co.uk/product/BLAM...ncy-2ohm-2-Way-Coaxial-speakers-PAIR-BL-165RC

BLAM Relax 130RS 130mm (5.25inch) Hi-efficiency 2ohm, 2-Way Component speakers​

https://incartec.co.uk/product/BLAM...y-2ohm-2-Way-Component-speakers-PAIR-BL-130RS

I know I read on here before that it's quick shipping from there, any other hidden costs? I might do the same.
 
I purchased a new sound system and speakers for my 97 TJ but I can't find the thread about how to wrap them. I want to pay to have them put in and I bought foam and the wrap for them but I wanted to find the thread explaining it and I can't find it.
 
I purchased a new sound system and speakers for my 97 TJ but I can't find the thread about how to wrap them. I want to pay to have them put in and I bought foam and the wrap for them but I wanted to find the thread explaining it and I can't find it.

Can you elaborate on what replacement speakers you bought, and also the foam and wrap you are speaking of. I'm sure we can walk you through the install so you don't have to pay someone loot to do it.

Did you buy an amplifier as well, and wiring? Let us know what you have, everything.
 
Can you elaborate on what replacement speakers you bought, and also the foam and wrap you are speaking of. I'm sure we can walk you through the install so you don't have to pay someone loot to do it.























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Did you buy an amplifier as well, andwiring? Let us

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Great thread - proud new owner of a 2005 Rubicon here. It's my wife's primary vehicle for the time being, so first order of business is to install a double din HU with wireless carplay for navigation. Planning on the Alpine ILX-507. I'm also replacing the factory speakers with the BLAM relax (components front, coax rear).

For you guys powering the 2-ohm BLAMs directly from a headunit, any issues with the headunits overheating? I'd prefer not to add an amp if possible. None of the manufacturers provide ratings for their HUs under 2-ohm loads. I've inquired on crutchfield and directly with Alpine and not gotten a response. Thanks
 
Great thread - proud new owner of a 2005 Rubicon here. It's my wife's primary vehicle for the time being, so first order of business is to install a double din HU with wireless carplay for navigation. Planning on the Alpine ILX-507. I'm also replacing the factory speakers with the BLAM relax (components front, coax rear).

For you guys powering the 2-ohm BLAMs directly from a headunit, any issues with the headunits overheating? I'd prefer not to add an amp if possible. None of the manufacturers provide ratings for their HUs under 2-ohm loads. I've inquired on crutchfield and directly with Alpine and not gotten a response. Thanks

It's not recommended. You can do it, but you may see the system go into protect mode, overheat, or fail prematurely. I looked at running 2ohm drivers off a headunit years ago and wasn't willing to risk it.

And you'll void your warranty, but you own a Jeep so you're probably ok with that. 😅
 
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Great thread - proud new owner of a 2005 Rubicon here. It's my wife's primary vehicle for the time being, so first order of business is to install a double din HU with wireless carplay for navigation. Planning on the Alpine ILX-507. I'm also replacing the factory speakers with the BLAM relax (components front, coax rear).

For you guys powering the 2-ohm BLAMs directly from a headunit, any issues with the headunits overheating? I'd prefer not to add an amp if possible. None of the manufacturers provide ratings for their HUs under 2-ohm loads. I've inquired on crutchfield and directly with Alpine and not gotten a response. Thanks

Great choice on those BLAM speakers as they play nice and loud since they are 2 ohm. That Alpine HU is rated at 4ohms x 18 watts, and the manual has no reference to handling 2 ohms, so unless you want to test the HU, it is probably not a good idea. A small amplifier will make those BLAMs play very loud.
 
Thanks guys. I finally got a response from alpine…”don’t do it” lol. Not worth damaging a $650 HU to avoid installing a $200 amp.
That sound stream nano 5 ch looks great for the price/size. May try to save a few bucks on the HU and add that

Other than the BLAMs, do you have a sub? If you do then the Soundstream is a great choice.

The Sony XAV lineup is good. I have this in another vehicle, price is great but the screen is not the best when the top is off/sun glare.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_158XAV3200/Sony-XAV-AX3200.html
 
Other than the BLAMs, do you have a sub? If you do then the Soundstream is a great choice.

The Sony XAV lineup is good. I have this in another vehicle, price is great but the screen is not the best when the top is off/sun glare.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_158XAV3200/Sony-XAV-AX3200.html
I’ll be adding the kicker 6.75 wired up for 2-ohm load in the console.

Considered the Sony 3200, but was worried by some reviews that mentioned the screen brightness. May compromise to the ILX-407 for wired CarPlay and a good screen, but wireless of the 507 is very tempting!