Upgrading the sound system on your Jeep Wrangler TJ

Hey Chris,

I am wanting to keep the factory head unit, I have a massive cd collection and I prefer the OEM look. Will I lose some performance running the new speakers to the existing wiring?

What are my options on that? Should I run the speakers back to the factory head with new wiring or should I get a 5 channel amp all together?
 
We used Chris’s setup with the small amp mounted on the driver’s seat frame and the sub in console. Used a double din stereo with the dash kit. Sounds good.
 
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For the dash speakers- Why go with 5-1/4 round (or other size) instead of the stock shape of oval?
 
For the dash speakers- Why go with 5-1/4 round (or other size) instead of the stock shape of oval?

Google said it better than me

A round speaker is more likely to have weight evenly distributed against the Voice Coil and VC Former. This means that you can achieve clearer sound with a round speaker that with an oval speaker. On the flipside, an oval speaker will obviously have more cone area.
 
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I've got the Kenwood in and going. The stock 7 speaker system sounds a heck of a lot better now. The install kit that came with the radio from Crutchfield made it easy peasy to install and it looks great in there.

While I was busy splicing wires from the Kenwood harness to the adapter harness, I tried out those new fangled shrink connectors with the low temp melt solder in the middle. They work great with my old heat gun on high. Once I got the hang of it, 10 seconds tops from start to finish to splice the wires together and then solder & seal them up.

It sounds even better now that I've recently swapped out the stock rear speakers with a set of Sony XS-R1646 6.5" 4 ways. Big difference back there. Caught 'em on the clearance isle at Wally World for just over $20. Now I'm keeping an eye out on something replace the stock 4" & tweeters up front and the subwoofer.
 
Hey Chris how did you modify the console sub box to hold the Kicker sub?
Thanks,
Teresa
 
Ok thanks. One more quick question. If my TJ didn’t come with a sub in the console, will the wiring connector that the sub connects to be under the console? Thanks again.
 
Ok thanks. One more quick question. If my TJ didn’t come with a sub in the console, will the wiring connector that the sub connects to be under the console? Thanks again.
If you're installing an aftermarket sub, your installing an aftermarket amp too, and not using the OEM wiring anyway.
 
If you put the round Polk speakers in the front do you need a special bracket? How important is a baffle? Can you just stuff it with polyfil and forgo the baffle?
 
If you put the round Polk speakers in the front do you need a special bracket? How important is a baffle? Can you just stuff it with polyfil and forgo the baffle?
Ovals or rounds? You might be able to make the ovals work without a bracket but the brackets make it easier. Round ones would require brackets, homemade or otherwise. I would get baffles too, at least for the fronts. Polyfil for the rears is fine.
 
Ovals or rounds? You might be able to make the ovals work without a bracket but the brackets make it easier. Round ones would require brackets, homemade or otherwise. I would get baffles too, at least for the fronts. Polyfil for the rears is fine.

SO either I find brackets for a round speakers in the front. Or just replace them with ovals and use the original bracket. But stuff poly behind the speakers?