Upgrading the sound system on your Jeep Wrangler TJ
- Thread starter Chris
- Start date
DeltaNu1142
TJ Enthusiast
@skrelnik posted a site awhile back:
https://incartec.co.uk/
There seems to be some issue with their homepage redirect, or whatever, but if you navigate from there you’ll find BLAM stuff.
Nevermind about the C1's. They aren't worth it.
That's the website I had bookmarked forever. It's horrendous.
It's hard finding good quality 6.5" speakers that brand match a good 5.25" coaxial.
Sundown Audio, D4s pro or neopros, Deaf Bonce Arnolds can get pretty loud and take lots of power.
Image Dynamics still has amazing sound quality and made in the USA still.
JL and Rockford Fosgate are too proud of their products now days with their pricing. I wish I could trust NVX more. Hertz and Focal have wayy too many models to look at. DS18 is all over the place with either junk or way too expensive.
Of the sound tests I've heard online I like the way the Pioneer Z series sounds a lot. Probably those or the BLAMS's are my top 2 right now. I wish I could hear a set of Kenwood Excelon KFC speakers.
Kickers are too bright and tinny sounding now days.
Thinking about putting 2 10"s in a SubThump box.
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DeltaNu1142
TJ Enthusiast
Lots of fun for you!
I don't get their shipping, it is so fast to come from the UK, like 3 or 4 days from the time you send payment.
The BLAMS do not come with the pods you would need, they do come with housings. The German guy can make pods for any speaker and why you would need to order pods through him.
Same concern here, I have the doors and top off during the summer as well, but I do put a cover on when I know it will rain. @Rooscooter put his BLAMs in over a year ago, so if he is still around maybe he chime in with durability when exposed to elements. I put my BLAMs in last week so not enough usage to give you a personal opinion, but they will be fine as long as they are not soaked.
The BLAMs are 2ohm so choose your amp wisely. All this forum does is peer pressure each other into buying more stuff
$260 Down4Sound MM1005 (MINI MAXX) - RED | 1100W RMS MINI 5 CH Car Audio AmplifierOR
$260 400.4 EVOX2
$430 1000.1 EVOX2
OR
$350 Kenwood Excelon X802-5
OR
$580 Kenwood Excelon XR901-5
OR
$470 AudioControl Amplifier All Weather 5 Channel - ACX-650.5
OR
$240 Audio Control All Weather Monoblock Amplifier - ACX-300.1
$290 Audio Control All Weather 4-Channel Amplifier - ACX-300.4
Haven't narrowed down a sub yet. Leaning towards Image Dynamics, Dayton Audio, Kicker, Arc Audio
I love Dayton's powered sub for the house, but my 10" Dayton wasn't enough thump for me in the hatchback (SQ was good though).
I think you'd like the Dayton as long as you aren't building a thumper setup. I really liked my two SA12" Sundowns, but I can't remember if they work well in a sealed setup.
Ya I'm going for SQ. I'm too old to be rattling my brain with ground pounding bass. Been there done that. Still got my hearing id like to keep. Jeep TJ is the wrong vehicle for that anyway. Wrong vehicle for SQ too but I'm still gonna try. I'm a big fan of the Dayton HO subs.
All this forum does is peer pressure each other into buying more stuff
Yes it does, I still have my eyes on those Blams after you informed me that my amp would run them. It's gonna happen eventually isn't it...
If I make the move would you suggest I get some used sound-bar enclosures and run 5.25s or just get 6.5s since that's what is currently installed?
I don't run my sound bar speakers as loud as my dash speakers, so I was leaning towards getting 5.25s unless that's a mistake.
Sounds like you are a good candidate for the HOs. I held on to mine for like 6 years and finally left it out at the road before moving my things down from Nevada. You wouldn't have needed it if I still had it...bc that's how the universe works.
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$209.98 + FREE SHIPPING - Dayton Audio RSS265HO-44 10" Reference Series HO DVC Subwoofer
Power Handling (RMS) - 600 Watts
Power Handling (MAX) -1200 Watts
Parts Express Staff Recommended Enclosure Volume
Sealed Volume 0.6ft³
Sealed F3 49Hz
Power Handling (RMS) - 600 Watts
Power Handling (MAX) -1200 Watts
Parts Express Staff Recommended Enclosure Volume
Sealed Volume 0.6ft³
Sealed F3 49Hz
That was my enclosure's volume per their recommendation...I thought the frequency was 29Hz, but I'm sure I'm remembering it wrong...edit: it looks like their sealed recommendation is 46Hz and vented is 27Hz.
BTW, the HO44 was much more lively when I attached the amp up that was built to handle two 12s lol.
Take this with a grain of salt as your MMV, but based on my experience, I'd go a bit bigger than a 600w RMS amp...you can always turn it down with the gain knob, but you can't turn up the power if it aint there. That's the one thing I could have done to help me enjoy it more.
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Based on your listed options, are you looking to install one 5-channel amplifier to power the BLAM speakers plus the subwoofer, or, are you looking to install two amplifiers, a 4-channel to drive the BLAMs and a mono amplifier to drive the subwoofer? A five channel is a much easier install, and you find a small footprint amplifier to install under the steering column.
I have a Soundigital 400.4 EVOX powering the BLAM 5.25" components, and that is a great pairing but a 5 channel is a much easier install.
Instead of Dayton look at PRV Audio, lots of options on the cheap side.
https://prvaudio.com/product/loudspeakers/
Either or, doesn't matter to me, either way has it's pluses and minuses.
Parts Express used to sell a lot of PRV. Never really looked at them because Dayton became more popular and they had a lot of super basic stuff I see a lot of guys putting like 8 mid range speakers in each door etc.
Big fan of the Soundigital amps. Small footprint and they actually put out legit power.
I might even consider two 4 channel amps and run one bridged 2 ohm mono X2 to two 10s.
I was going to order the Blams this week but probably looking like next paycheck.
I apologize if you listed this somewhere in the thread...where did you mount your crossovers?
In my Wrangler I did not use crossovers and instead have a combo digital sound processor/amplifier that is able to drive and tune each speaker individually.
In my other car, I mounted the amplifier and crossovers in the trunk. In the Jeep you could mount them under/behind the steering column, or some spot behind the dash would be ideal. One could even go behind the glove box for the passenger side. Velcro tape and zip ties will be helpful to mount, or you can get personally creative.
All good I was just curious if you knew a great spot. Thanks man.
TBH, I'd rather not put pods on my dash so the Relax are appealing for that reason. But, I've read opinions saying that the Relax line is trash. I'm curious what your thoughts are on the Relax line as compared to not only the other BLAM offerings but also the Polks that I've been happy with even at highway speeds (no windows and halfdoors with 35" tires).
I don't doubt that the BLAM components are the best general option, but I'm trying to determine what is the best way to go for my situation. If I do go with components I'll likely put them in pods on the dash behind the corner vents. Do you run yours directly facing in front of you or criss-crossed to the other front seat to add distance?
The pods are the best upgrade that I have made in the Jeep for the reason you brought up. Using a component up front and then both the tweeter and woofer are at your knees, but if you can move that tweeter to the dash where it will be on axis with the driver, it makes an insanely improved listening experience. I like the components up front for this reason.
BLAM relax are far from rubbish, they are really efficient and sound great for the price. They play loud and clear in my other car, and I only have the 5.25" coaxials as it's a tiny convertible. Are there better speakers out there, yes, even the upgraded BLAM lines are, but they also put a dent in your wallet. I focused my build around the tweeters, relocating to the dash and getting Micro Precision 5.28 tweeters along with the German pods.
I had the Polk and they were okay but now I would go with BLAM or something from Audiotec Fischer. Lots of other options out there depending on the build.