Looking into upgrading my TJ speakers

[txbemis69]

looking into speaker upgrades for the tj and am interested in what y’all have used. thinking about the kicker sub upgrade for the console but not sure about speakers for the dash and roll bar speaker pods. looking into a soundstream 5 channel class d amp to mount under the dash.

 

[Don Bulee]

here I added some info.. what speakers and what brackets... etc..

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/dash-speaker-upgrade.67953/

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Kicker or Polk would both be good choices as neither requires a lot of power to play at a good loud level without needing an aux external amplifier.

 

[Rescue6]

I’ve been happy with the Polk speakers. 5.25” speakers in the front make a huge improvement over the 4x6 speakers the factory uses also.

 

[JMT]

BLAM

 

[txbemis69]

here I added some info.. what speakers and what brackets... etc..

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/dash-speaker-upgrade.67953/

thanks for this info. had read it before but couldn’t seem to find it today. was good to reread. leaning towards the polks for the dash and speaker pods on roll bar. not 100% sure but i thought i once saw that a 6 1/2” would fit in the speaker pods on the roll bar.

 

[txbemis69]

Kicker or Polk would both be good choices as neither requires a lot of power to play at a good loud level without needing an aux external amplifier.

looking to run a small class d amp as my current alpine head unit is a joke for speaker power. looking for something like a soundstream 5 channel that will fit up in the dash.

 

[CreepinDeth]

Fwiw, Im currently redoing my ‘03 TJ stereo system. Ive watched alot of YT videos on what people have chosen. Didnt wanna go tooo crazy, but also want a good system sound

The #1 chosen speakers have been Kicker coaxials with the yellow/gold tweeters. So , I ordered them to test & install. To me , these seem basic and low mid end but gonna test it

So far going with
Kicker 5.25” with the $90 PODs in the dash
Kicker 6.5” for the sound bar boxes
Kicker CompRT 8” shallow sub for console
(The sub requires a custom box fabrication)
SKAR Audio A/B 5 channel amp driving it all

Metra double din center dash piece
Atoto 7” control / deck

Now Ive been doing stereos for 25 years as a metal head who likes it LOUD. After unboxing the Kickers, I feel like the Magnets are pretty small, and thats telling. So I ordered the Skar Audio TX65 also to compare the 6.5” options in the rollbar. They look beefier. The 5.25” Kicker might work ok for the dash tho, since its a tighter fit

I reaaaally wanted the SKAR pro audio front and rear but they only make 6.5” and no 5.25” in that particular category. Their separate pro-audio tweeters are insane

Im wagering these will sound better in the bar
But….time will tell

Skar Audio TX65 6.5"​

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B019WVFXOK?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[tworley]

I've been fairly happy with my polk db series in the soundbar and dash. The dash speaker pods made a big difference in sound. Adding a sub also made a big difference. I am using a small kenwood 4 channel amp mounting underneath to the steering column and my sub has a built in amplifier (Sound ordnance). If I was to do it again, I'd probably get a different sub. The sound ordnance hits hard on some songs, then others you cant hear a thing and I am constantly fiddling with the adjustment knob.

 

[CreepinDeth]

I've been fairly happy with my polk db series in the soundbar and dash. The dash speaker pods made a big difference in sound.

i just looked up the Polk DB 522s
Apparently they have a slightly higher sensitivity rating (91 vs 90) then the Kickers AND are Marine certified. Might be worth a look.
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-tXjbOtsrNDd/p_107DB522/Polk-Audio-DB-522.html
The Kickers are rated best of 2023 by Crutchfield
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20646CC54/Kicker-46CSC54.html
Would be nice to hear them side by side

 

[tworley]

i just looked up the Polk DB 522s
Apparently they have a slightly higher sensitivity rating (91 vs 90) then the Kickers AND are Marine certified. Might be worth a look.
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-tXjbOtsrNDd/p_107DB522/Polk-Audio-DB-522.html
The Kickers are rated best of 2023 by Crutchfield
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20646CC54/Kicker-46CSC54.html
Would be nice to hear them side by side

I am not an audiophile so I dont know if there is a measurable difference between the sensitivity rating, or at least a difference that one could hear.

As to marine grade--I haven't found myself in a position yet where I am glad I have marine certified speakers. Even being caught in rainstorms I never noticed the dash getting soaked. I suppose it does provide a nice warm feeling though knowing they are marine certified.

FWIW--Kickers are in stock, Polks are on backorder. At least according to Crutchfield.

And another FWIW--I bought everything (head unit, the 522s, the 652s, sub, amp and headunit) all through Crutchfields scratch and dent site. The only thing I didnt buy thru them were the speaker pods (found those on ebay, also scratch and dent). I saved quite a bit of money going that route. Its a jeep that sees dirt and gets beat on, I didnt need anything fancy and scratches/dents didnt bother me.

 

[Zorba]

These foam rings did more for the sound than anything else.

 

[txbemis69]

I've been fairly happy with my polk db series in the soundbar and dash. The dash speaker pods made a big difference in sound. Adding a sub also made a big difference. I am using a small kenwood 4 channel amp mounting underneath to the steering column and my sub has a built in amplifier (Sound ordnance). If I was to do it again, I'd probably get a different sub. The sound ordnance hits hard on some songs, then others you cant hear a thing and I am constantly fiddling with the adjustment knob.

which pods did you use with the dash speakers?

 

[CreepinDeth]

View attachment 435929
These foam rings did more for the sound than anything else.

Interesting.
Where did you source those??
Or is that a DIY job with insulating foam?

Were the front speaker woofers rattling alot against the vents prior to that??

 

[txbemis69]

I am not an audiophile so I dont know if there is a measurable difference between the sensitivity rating, or at least a difference that one could hear.

As to marine grade--I haven't found myself in a position yet where I am glad I have marine certified speakers. Even being caught in rainstorms I never noticed the dash getting soaked. I suppose it does provide a nice warm feeling though knowing they are marine certified.

FWIW--Kickers are in stock, Polks are on backorder. At least according to Crutchfield.

And another FWIW--I bought everything (head unit, the 522s, the 652s, sub, amp and headunit) all through Crutchfields scratch and dent site. The only thing I didnt buy thru them were the speaker pods (found those on ebay, also scratch and dent). I saved quite a bit of money going that route. Its a jeep that sees dirt and gets beat on, I didnt need anything fancy and scratches/dents didnt bother me.

i have a set of water resistant pioneer speakers in my boat that have been there 30 years. they have seen some rain and the water hose several times over the years and they’re still plugging along.

 

[tworley]

which pods did you use with the dash speakers?

Select Increments

 

[Don Bulee]

i just looked up the Polk DB 522s
Apparently they have a slightly higher sensitivity rating (91 vs 90) then the Kickers AND are Marine certified. Might be worth a look.
[URL]https://www.crutchfield.com/S-tXjbOtsrNDd/p_107DB522/Polk-Audio-DB-522.html[/URL]

The Kickers are rated best of 2023 by Crutchfield
[URL]https://www.crutchfield.com/p_20646CC54/Kicker-46CSC54.html[/URL]

Would be nice to hear them side by side

I have the polks.. they are great.. I've heard the kickers... not impressed.... and the polks are always 50 bucks on ebay...

 

[Don Bulee]

which pods did you use with the dash speakers?

the pods are really expensive and wont help you thaaaat much.... for the price of a pod (around 90 bucks) you would rather get an amp... the brackets that are tilted in the drivers position (look for ebay) are the best ones IMO, those are the ones I got and been happy with them.. look how the bracket aim the speaker more into the driver and less into the floor...

 

[Zorba]

Interesting.
Where did you source those??
Or is that a DIY job with insulating foam?

Were the front speaker woofers rattling alot against the vents prior to that??

Nope, they're foam rings made for exactly that purpose. Adding them pipes the sound from the speaker out through the grilles, instead of it getting lost behind the dash. They're called "Speaker rings", think I got them on eBay.

 

[CreepinDeth]

Nope, they're foam rings made for exactly that purpose. Adding them pipes the sound from the speaker out through the grilles, instead of it getting lost behind the dash. They're called "Speaker rings", think I got them on eBay.

Cant find them
Best I found were super narrow
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3145181456...d=link&campid=5337789113&toolid=20001&mkevt=1