Question about upgrading the amp in my TJ Rubicon

[mde8965]

EDITED: Just realized you already ordered the Kicker CompRT 6.75" sub.

For that sub, just make things simple and inexpensive. Get this small Kicker amp to go with that and it should put out more than enough bass (that that sub will allow)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0078G38YY/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[skrelnik]

Too bad that amp does not accommodate low power rca inputs.

Agreed, but this amp serves its purpose for our TJ. Two amps could resolve that, a Kenwood KAC 3004 to power 4 channels and another one for the sub.

But I think Chris would be happy with this Soundstream for its intended purpose. Price, size and power all hit the nail on the head.

 

[Chris]

EDITED: Just realized you already ordered the Kicker CompRT 6.75" sub.

For that sub, just make things simple and inexpensive. Get this small Kicker amp to go with that and it should put out more than enough bass (that that sub will allow)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0078G38YY/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Yep, I think this sounds like the ticket. That amp paired with the Kicker CompRT 6.75" sub should power it plenty.

Like I said, I'm not trying to build some competition stereo system here. I just want it to sound a lot better than stock, which I think anything might be an improvement over that.

 

[bobthetj03]

This amp is the one I went with @Chris.

I mounted it under the steering column with a couple "L" brackets and a piece of plywood.

It's a mono block amp designed to run a subwoofer. Simple wiring and more than enough power to run my slimline 8" sub I installed in the center console.
Deck power should be plenty to run the dash and pod speakers.

 

[cliffish]

Chris are you still going to install those polk 4 x 6 in the dash wired straight from the head unit? If so please post back how you like them? I installed a kicker 4 x 6 in the dash and can't really hear them with the Sony head unit...now they are less efficient at 88db than the polks and I did not install the foam baffles. I did polyfill behind them but the speaker is still really open from behind right to the floor so I think baffles will help a bunch.

What I really hate about the whole system now is that I really can't hear the talking and voices when driving....so I am deciding between the polk db522 and the component polk db5252 for the pods.

 

[skrelnik]

This amp is the one I went with @Chris.
View attachment 34538
I mounted it under the steering column with a couple "L" brackets and a piece of plywood.
View attachment 34539
It's a mono block amp designed to run a subwoofer. Simple wiring and more than enough power to run my slimline 8" sub I installed in the center console.
Deck power should be plenty to run the dash and pod speakers.

+1

Chris, you could grab this KAC 3001 with the KAC 3004 to power all speakers. These are small and I can confirm you can fit two small amps under the steering column as I currently have two amps under there.

 

[bobthetj03]

Speakers with 91db or better impedence will run efficiently on deck power.

 

[Chris]

Okay, I ordered this amp:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ESSZ2DE/?tag=wranglerorg-20

To power this sub:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BLVEZG6/?tag=wranglerorg-20

If I wire it like this:

Then I can get the full 200 watt RMS out of that amp at 1/2 ohm.

I know that diagram shows a 2 ohm DVC sub and the sub I ordered is a 1 ohm DVC sub, but I'm pretty sure if I wire mine the same way, that will end up being 1/2 ohm, and that amp says it puts out 200 watt RMS at 1/2 ohm.

Right?

 

[cliffish]

I bought this cheap sub replacement I wonder how it would work with that sub amp?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EFMPCW/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[skrelnik]

Okay, I ordered this amp:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ESSZ2DE/?tag=wranglerorg-20

To power this sub:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BLVEZG6/?tag=wranglerorg-20

If I wire it like this:
View attachment 34544
Then I can get the full 200 watt RMS out of that amp at 1/2 ohm.

I know that diagram shows a 2 ohm DVC sub and the sub I ordered is a 1 ohm DVC sub, but I'm pretty sure if I wire mine the same way, that will end up being 1/2 ohm, and that amp says it puts out 200 watt RMS at 1/2 ohm.

Right?

Can you confirm which sub you purchased? Your original post has a link to the 2ohm DVC

 

[Chris]

Can you confirm which sub you purchased? Your original post has a link to the 2ohm DVC

I purchased the 1 ohm DVC. My original link was incorrect.

 

[mde8965]

W

Okay, I ordered this amp:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ESSZ2DE/?tag=wranglerorg-20

To power this sub:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BLVEZG6/?tag=wranglerorg-20

If I wire it like this:
View attachment 34544
Then I can get the full 200 watt RMS out of that amp at 1/2 ohm.

I know that diagram shows a 2 ohm DVC sub and the sub I ordered is a 1 ohm DVC sub, but I'm pretty sure if I wire mine the same way, that will end up being 1/2 ohm, and that amp says it puts out 200 watt RMS at 1/2 ohm.

Right?

Winner, winner chicken dinner on the speakers, sub and amp (that amp is basically a waterproof version of the one I linked to - so even better). And yes, you are correct in your assumptions about the wiring. All of the stuff you ordered should be a major improvement over stock. I will be following this thread for your report back about how it all sounds. If it sounds as good as I think it will, I will probably follow the same recipe as far as the speakers, sub and amp. I already have a nice Pioneer deck in mine. Good luck. Should be an easy install. Especially show some pics of the sub install into the console and the position of the amp...

 

[Chris]

W

Winner, winner chicken dinner on the speakers, sub and amp (that amp is basically a waterproof version of the one I linked to - so even better). And yes, you are correct in your assumptions about the wiring. All of the stuff you ordered should be a major improvement over stock. I will be following this thread for your report back about how it all sounds. If it sounds as good as I think it will, I will probably follow the same recipe as far as the speakers, sub and amp. I already have a nice Pioneer deck in mine. Good luck. Should be an easy install. Especially show some pics of the sub install into the console and the position of the amp...

I’ll do that for sure! This doesn’t break the bank, and it uses top quality components, so I’m anxious to see how it sounds. Stay tuned!

 

[skrelnik]

Okay, I ordered this amp:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ESSZ2DE/?tag=wranglerorg-20

To power this sub:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BLVEZG6/?tag=wranglerorg-20

If I wire it like this:
View attachment 34544
Then I can get the full 200 watt RMS out of that amp at 1/2 ohm.

I know that diagram shows a 2 ohm DVC sub and the sub I ordered is a 1 ohm DVC sub, but I'm pretty sure if I wire mine the same way, that will end up being 1/2 ohm, and that amp says it puts out 200 watt RMS at 1/2 ohm.

Right?

Agreed Chris - You are ready to go with the install. Did you purchase any wires, RCAs or fuses? I want to say Crutchfield sells an amp install kit or you can go a la carte.

 

[Chris]

Agreed Chris - You are ready to go with the install. Did you purchase any wires, RCAs or fuses? I want to say Crutchfield sells an amp install kit or you can go a la carte.

That amp I ordered from Amazon actually comes with an install kit with the wires, fuse, etc. The only other thing I think I might need are the RCAs.

 

[skrelnik]

That amp I ordered from Amazon actually comes with an install kit with the wires, fuse, etc. The only other thing I think I might need are the RCAs.

Good deal! T-Spec is a brand of RCA cables that I have always had great results with.

Oh, did you purchase a second amp to power the other speakers, or are you letting the HU power them?

 

[Chris]

Good deal! T-Spec is a brand of RCA cables that I have always had great results with.

Oh, did you purchase a second amp to power the other speakers, or are you letting the HU power them?

I'm going to let the head unit power them for now and we'll see how it sounds! Worse comes to worse, I can add a second amp to power the speakers at some point. But this should be a huge improvement over stock to start!

 

[Kevin Johnston]

I've had this one over a year and has been flawless. I mounted it to the driver's seat frame to reduce the chances of it growing legs. Can't see it without sticking your head in the foot well. It cleanly powers all four speakers plus a sub and gets more than loud enough with the top off at highway speeds.

Soundstream PN5.640D Picasso Nano 640 W 5-Channel Class D digital Car Audio Amplifier

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G051S7I/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

[cliffish]

OK @Chris I think you will be happy with what you are getting...Thanks to Amazon 1 day ship, I added, very cheaply I might add, to my existing Sony head unit, This replacement sub, I actually bought a while ago and was very under powered by the stock amp.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EFMPCW/?tag=wranglerorg-20
Added this amp for the sub - actually fit in where the factory amp was, used power leads and remote turn on lead from the old center console plug, RCA cables out from head unit.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B5MUJ3U/?tag=wranglerorg-20
also added 4 x 6 baffles to dash kicker speakers I bought a while ago.

Bass is 1000% better actually feel it vibrating/blowing against me. What really amazed me was once the rca jacks were set in the radio the head unit seemed to correctly send the highs to the dash speakers. I never could hear these dash speakers before, now they are ridiculous! Like an entire new system.

Next is the pod speakers going with 5.25 polks.

So what you ordered is way better than the above, I do not think you will need a 4 channel amp to power the rest of the speakers.

 

[Chris]

OK @Chris I think you will be happy with what you are getting...Thanks to Amazon 1 day ship, I added, very cheaply I might add, to my existing Sony head unit, This replacement sub, I actually bought a while ago and was very under powered by the stock amp.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EFMPCW/?tag=wranglerorg-20
Added this amp for the sub - actually fit in where the factory amp was, used power leads and remote turn on lead from the old center console plug, RCA cables out from head unit.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B5MUJ3U/?tag=wranglerorg-20
also added 4 x 6 baffles to dash kicker speakers I bought a while ago.

Bass is 1000% better actually feel it vibrating/blowing against me. What really amazed me was once the rca jacks were set in the radio the head unit seemed to correctly send the highs to the dash speakers. I never could hear these dash speakers before, now they are ridiculous! Like an entire new system.

Next is the pod speakers going with 5.25 polks.

So what you ordered is way better than the above, I do not think you will need a 4 channel amp to power the rest of the speakers.

Glad to hear that! The stock subwoofer (and sound system is a complete joke). I realize that with the way the Wrangler is built, it's never going to have a truly phenomenal sound system, but I want something that will allow me to hear it decently with the top and doors off while we're driving down the highway. I spent a little less than $500 on all of this, so I don't feel bad about it at all.

If I can drive the 4 speakers off the head unit and just use the mono amp to power the sub, then I'll be happy. I truthfully didn't want to have to wire a separate amp for the other speakers, as that would be more work than I want to do. Most of this will just be plug-and-play, which I'm happy about.

I think the only thing I may be missing is RCA cables, but I'll wait until the amp and head unit arrive to see what else I might be missing.

What speakers are you currently running?