AdelaideTJ
Member
I had a pair of 5.25" speaker pods 3D printed and they fit right into place on the existing mounting holes. Filled the backing with polyfill. Has worked a treat.
Upgrading the sound system on your Jeep Wrangler TJ
- Thread starter Chris
- Start date
I had a pair of 5.25" speaker pods 3D printed and they fit right into place on the existing mounting holes. Filled the backing with polyfill. Has worked a treat.
AdelaideTJ
Member
If you're going with the Alpine iLX-507, then Alpine make a series of direct connect cameras designed to work with those units:
-Alpine HCE-C1100 Reverse Camera (economical option)
-Alpine HCE-C2600FD (premium, front facing)
-Alpine HCE-C2100RD (premium, rear facing)
Be wary these headunits become a bit of a tech enthusiast's rabbit hole (I have the iLX-F511A).
Before you know it you'll have the HDMI switcher and multi camera selector with a side camera, Google Chromecast, a Retropie, and dash cam all connected
At $140 you have to assume you get what you pay for...but with the Jeep you are not looking to win any audio contests so it could supply some nice added bass. I would not my tweeters over and behind my head though, so that is a poor design. They should have left those blank or done something else.
You being in Europe have lots of good speaker options, from Audiotec Fischer, BLAM, Dynaudio, Focal, Ground Zero, Jehnert, Micro Precision. Lots of good stuff on your side of the pond...but PRV Audio cranks out some banging speakers so you may want to consider that brand over the Euro Brands.
https://prvaudio.com/
not going to assume i get what i pay for based on sales price, these originally retailed at $430, already have all the speakers i require, its an overhead sound bar i'm after
Interestingly only the white colored version is $140, black and red are $439 and $459 respectively. They are rhino lined so you can paint the white one.
If you get one let us know how it is. If you really need a soundbar why not take a $140 chance this is the one?
yeah I would just raptor line the white one, still trying to find out if they even ship international as the shipping and import taxes will probably double the price I end up paying, It looks like its drooping in this post though https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/upgrade-sound-bar.48034/
I wonder if that droop could be an illusion? Only one way to find out, but I wonder if they will deliver to you, did you call them? Fairly cheap for us on the mainland.
that screen shot is just not relevant that domestic shipping, shipping international is $142.20 and that does not include 20% + customs admin fees i could get hit with. the user said it droopped under the weight of the speakers he added. so im questioning the build quality now and may go for the DS18 sound bar instead
It is a relevant screenshot to other people that come across this thread, just not to offshore people.
The owner of this soundbar confirmed to you that it dropped under the weight of speakers. Wow, that is no good then, must be paper thin build quality.
Good luck and post some pics of whatever direction you take this build.
I've ordered it now, white bar was $140 USD, shipping was $215 USD
Not to bad, and hopefully the quality is there. Show some pics when you get it and let us know if can hold four 8" woofers without sinking in the middle. If it works I will surely be getting one.
Could be some time before i see it, my last import with Genright took a couple days to get here then it sat in customs for 4 weeks
I've read through a lot of this thread. I guess I'm a car audio enthusiast... I've added head units, speakers, and amps to just about every vehicle I've owned except the F150 I daily now. Modern vehicles have audio systems that are often too integrated to mess with. I can't wait to start building in the LJR.
For head units, my needs aren't exotic, but I'm having trouble finding one that meets three basic criteria:
Any ideas on head units?
I'm not going too wild with this:
EDIT: The OPTI-PODS product page on ExtremeTerrain.com has a single review with some info... not worth linking, really.
For head units, my needs aren't exotic, but I'm having trouble finding one that meets three basic criteria:
- has WIreless CarPlay (so, double-DIN)
- has physical volume knob
- fits in the dash--that is, doesn't have a screen that juts out of the dash
Any ideas on head units?
I'm not going too wild with this:
- 4-channel amp, 60W-75W RMS
- 5.25" in the dash
- 6.5" in the roll bar pods
- maybe SI OPTI-PODS with 6.5" speakers in the rear. I'd drive the sound bar + OPTI-POD speakers with the two rear channels of the amp, either bridged mono for all four or left & right pairs in parallel, depending on the amp
- powered sub mounted to the underside of the rear seat (not the floor) with quick disconnects for connections so it'll come out with the seat. I don't want a sub taking up floor space if I remove the seat. In its place--if I find the need--I could build a sub box with a sub amp on it to replace the seat and just plug in when the seat is removed. However, I don't see doing that for quite awhile.
EDIT: The OPTI-PODS product page on ExtremeTerrain.com has a single review with some info... not worth linking, really.
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I've had over 4 years of flawless operation with apple carplay on my DDX9906XR
I was thinking about getting to SI Opti Pods and putting midrange drivers in them, would have preferred more air volume instead of the stupid cup holders.
I was thinking about getting to SI Opti Pods and putting midrange drivers in them, would have preferred more air volume instead of the stupid cup holders.
By needing a knob on that head unit you are limiting your options, but if you could get away with buttons then you have a lot of options, like Kenwood and Sony. As you said, if you want a knob, you must sacrifice technology, like wireless, and have an external car play dongle. While they work, they do come with glitches.
I would recommend giving up on the knob and going with buttons like @Reign Mack confirmed.
Opti pods seem to be in the way, encroach where back seat riders are, throwing stuff in the back seat will eventually lead to damage. Not a good placement. Get a box for the rear cargo area and add a quick disconnect.
Grab the BLAM three pack from Incartec. Amplifier, 5.25" in front and either 5.25" or 6.5" overhead. Great prices, good quality gear made by a passionate former Focal engineer, and fast shipping. Lots of members have bought from this place, including myself multiple times.
https://incartec.co.uk/product/BLAM...MS-Class-D-amplifier-OEM-Compatible-BL-RA754D
https://incartec.co.uk/product/BLAM...cy-2ohm-2-Way-Coaxial-speakers-PAIR-BL-130RFC
https://incartec.co.uk/product/BLAM...ncy-2ohm-2-Way-Coaxial-speakers-PAIR-BL-165RC
AdelaideTJ
Member
It's probably not quite what you are after but you could go with the Alpine iLX-507A double din with wireless carplay and then get the Alpine RUE-BK01A. It's a bluetooth connected volume control knob that can be mounted directly on the larger units (f509a and 511a, like mine), or otherwise anywhere else on the dash, say if you wanted it up on your left side just behind the steering wheel:
It's supposed to mount like this on the floating screens, and says direct fit for 509/511, but the 507 is the same software and series, so I can't see why it wouldn't work. That being said I'd probably check with an Alpine rep first:
You can also push the knob to hop straight to any front, rear and side cameras you may have hooked in to the system (that probably requires the direct play cameras that come with the ecosystem, but not certain about off-brand compatibility)
I may have to.
The OPTI-PODS would only be supplemental full-range speakers. I could easily cut them out of the plan and just keep the full-range speakers to the stock locations.
BLAM was on my list, but I had no idea where to buy them. Thanks for the links, this is likely exactly what I'll do!
That's an out-of-the-box idea... I like it. and according to this site, it should work just fine:
I also like that it works with the PowerStack amp... though 50W RMS is below what I was hoping for. And between the head unit, PS amp and BT remote, I'm in the range of $1000 which to me seems excessive.
Until this point, my idea was to get my hands on a discontinued Sony XAV-AX100 and get a wireless CarPlay adapter. That would give me what I'm looking for at probably half the cost of the Alpine, but I don't know how even the $100+ adapters fare for reliability.
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AdelaideTJ
Member
Yeah unfortunately really the catch is the cost. It's a great system, and the ecosystem of cameras and accessories is solid, but it sure is pricey. I can give you some tips on the Alpine if you are considering it and want to know a bit more from a user perspective, not just a salesperson!
The requirement for a volume knob limits options, plus none of those double din head units with carplay are going to come with a real analogue volume knob, they are all built to simulate mobile phones.