Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

Can I put a new subwoofer in the center console box?

Meli

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Joined
Feb 29, 2024
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Location
Nashville, TN
Hello everyone,

I want to start off by saying that I know zero things about radios or subwoofers, so I want this to be as easy as it can possibly get. If I decide to do it all. I have an '04 LJ with the original subwoofer. I took it out of the console because it doesn't work, but I still have it. Figured that maybe I'd find a way to put a new one in the box and hook it up to the radio.

I put in a new head unit from Crutchfield:
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_104BE62CPC/BOSS-Audio-BE62CP-C.html

And according to my dad, the roll bar speakers are after market speakers, I don't know if PO's also replaced the front ones.

All of that to say, can I just put a new subwoofer in the original box and plug it in to the plug that's under there already?

I don't want to build one myself, and this may sound dumb but, if it’s too much work, I'll just say screw it and keep the set up the way it is now. It sounds okay and if it's not a lot of work to make it sound good enough then I'll do it. I don't want to invest a ton of time and money on sound when I have a 20-year-old car and I could use that money on other essential things for it, like changing all the fluids, lol. But I did at the very least need a new radio because it's 2024, and I need Bluetooth and a back-up camera.


Thanks!!
 
Hello everyone,

I want to start off by saying that I know zero things about radios or subwoofers, so I want this to be as easy as it can possibly get. If I decide to do it all. I have an '04 LJ with the original subwoofer. I took it out of the console because it doesn't work, but I still have it. Figured that maybe I'd find a way to put a new one in the box and hook it up to the radio.

I put in a new head unit from Crutchfield:
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_104BE62CPC/BOSS-Audio-BE62CP-C.html

And according to my dad, the roll bar speakers are after market speakers, I don't know if PO's also replaced the front ones.

All of that to say, can I just put a new subwoofer in the original box and plug it in to the plug that's under there already?

I don't want to build one myself, and this may sound dumb but, if it’s too much work, I'll just say screw it and keep the set up the way it is now. It sounds okay and if it's not a lot of work to make it sound good enough then I'll do it. I don't want to invest a ton of time and money on sound when I have a 20-year-old car and I could use that money on other essential things for it, like changing all the fluids, lol. But I did at the very least need a new radio because it's 2024, and I need Bluetooth and a back-up camera.


Thanks!!

Fwiw, I bought a Quadratec direct-replacement sub, and an Alpine ute-73bt headunit, to see where that would get me before I wired a whole sound system into my TJ, and the sound is great. A good HU and clean power does wonders even for the OEM speakers, so if you already have the HU, you might want to start with the replacement sub for $120 or so.

My Alpine is around 300% more powerful than the OEM radio and has BT, and the Quadratec sub is a simple plug and play, so there's three wins right off the bat - no need to do more in my case.
 
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If you have the factory set up for subwoofer- should have factory amp? I swapped out the OEM with the kicker dual voice coil unit. Works great….but there is a part of me that wonders if a better amp could be paired with it and get a little more zip out of it.
 
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This is what I have in one of my TJ's. They don't say who makes it, so assuming it is mediocre if you were to compare it to the Kicker sub that is the same size, which is $30 more on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/KICKER-CompRT-165mm-Subwoofer-Compliant/dp/B08NFJRMHP/?tag=wranglerorg-20

I have another TJ that has the OEM sub, but doesn't work. I haven't decided on replacing with the Kicker, or just do something aftermarket with a box and put it behind the front passenger seat on the floor, or partially under the passenger seat. I don't have the back seat, so figure it won't be in the way much there.

I'd also consider putting a shallow 8" in a custom box in the center console. I know some have also put compact 8" powered subs in there like this one.

https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item-186761-NVX-QBUS8P.html
 
I installed one of the under seat subs into my console, Alpine PWE-S8.
I didn't want to deal with the factory deal. Wasn't plug and play but if you've ever run wire for an amp its pretty easy.
 
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Fwiw, I bought a Quadratec direct-replacement sub, and an Alpine ute-73bt headunit, to see where that would get me before I wired a whole sound system into my TJ, and the sound is great. A good HU and clean power does wonders even for the OEM speakers, so if you already have the HU, you might want to start with the replacement sub for $120 or so.

My Alpine is around 300% more powerful than the OEM radio and has BT, and the Quadratec sub is a simple plug and play, so there's three wins right off the bat - no need to do more in my case.

Okay, maybe I'll start small like you have since I've already replaced the HU and work my way up from there.
 
Heres what I have for my entire setup. Still need to relocate the B-8PTD into the center console but have not had time to do so.

Headunit - Pioneer MVH1400NEX
Dash - Polk Audio DB461P
Sound bar - Polk Audio DB651 x2 (Mounted via custom 3D printed adapter rings)
Subwoofer - Sound Ordinance B-8PTD

Many have mounted this same loaded subwoofer in the center console with some minor modifications to the center console tray, just need to get around to doing it.
 
This is what I have in one of my TJ's. They don't say who makes it, so assuming it is mediocre if you were to compare it to the Kicker sub that is the same size, which is $30 more on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/KICKER-CompRT-165mm-Subwoofer-Compliant/dp/B08NFJRMHP/?tag=wranglerorg-20

I have another TJ that has the OEM sub, but doesn't work. I haven't decided on replacing with the Kicker, or just do something aftermarket with a box and put it behind the front passenger seat on the floor, or partially under the passenger seat. I don't have the back seat, so figure it won't be in the way much there.

I'd also consider putting a shallow 8" in a custom box in the center console. I know some have also put compact 8" powered subs in there like this one.

https://www.sonicelectronix.com/item-186761-NVX-QB
 
The Kicker subwoofer is what I'm looking to put in my 2005 Jeep TJ. Did you have to modify the console compartment to put that in???
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts