Plug-and-play speaker upgrade?

toximus said:
Thanks!

I already have the 1ohm version. 40CWRT671. I assume that's not going to work?

Is this the amp install kit? https://www.crutchfield.com/p_007CK8/Crutchfield-CK8.html
Click to expand...

The 40CWRT671 is one ohm, so, it must be wired in series so it pulls 2 ohms. Do NOT wire in parrallel!!!

The Alpine amp you posted will work well with this Kicker, same as the Soundstream. It may be too loud and rattle your change, but you can just reduce the subwoofer volume, via the head unit, that is going to the Kicker.

That amp install kit is the correct one. Cross check with Sonix Electronix NVX brand amp kit, could be cheaper and same quality.
 
Add another vote for the Polk DB522 5-1/4". best bang for buck! I'm located in Australia so source them from a local Audio store but crutchfield.com sells them for the same price i purchased mine for.

I run 2 in the front with the 5-1/4" adaptors and another 2 in the speaker bars. no amp needed but i would suggest getting a double din headunit with atleast 4x50W + RMS channel output. I currently have the Sony XAV-AX100 and it sounds amazing. Considering modding my center console to fit a powered sub (my TJ is currently the 4 speaker setup not the 7) so i get a bit more depth in sound. definetly not needed but a nice to have..

You can go for the 6.5" Polk's in the rear if you wanna go bigger.
 
What do you audio guys think about this unit? Anything specific I should be looking for? Anything missing or left to be desired?

The cons I can think of: can't change background image (and the built in one isn't awesome), it takes a few seconds to start up, one review says that the screen starts out bright before dimming at night. I could see adding a single throw switch to prevent it from starting with the key each time (assuming it can't be turned off, and remember that it's off).

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_500ILXW650/Alpine-iLX-W650.html
 
toximus said:
What do you audio guys think about this unit? Anything specific I should be looking for? Anything missing or left to be desired?

The cons I can think of: can't change background image (and the built in one isn't awesome), it takes a few seconds to start up, one review says that the screen starts out bright before dimming at night. I could see adding a single throw switch to prevent it from starting with the key each time (assuming it can't be turned off, and remember that it's off).

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_500ILXW650/Alpine-iLX-W650.html
Click to expand...
That looks fine. It seems with head unit anymore they are all kind of the same. At 300 bucks though, I wonder if you shouldn't look at one of the Android systems, like this.

Car Stereo Double Din - JOYING 7" Android 8.1 4GB RAM 32GB ROM Double Din Car GPS Navigation, 4G SIM Card(Not Include), Bluetooth/WiFi/Android Auto/DSP/SPDIF/Fast Boot/OBDII/Dash Camera/Backup Camera https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MQD4BP2/?tag=wranglerorg-20

If you look up @badlieutenant's post about the best upgrade he's done, he has a version of that radio and really likes it. Also, it's open source Android, so it should be very easy to add cameras wherever you want them.
 
Mike_H said:
That looks fine. It seems with head unit anymore they are all kind of the same. At 300 bucks though, I wonder if you shouldn't look at one of the Android systems, like this.

Car Stereo Double Din - JOYING 7" Android 8.1 4GB RAM 32GB ROM Double Din Car GPS Navigation, 4G SIM Card(Not Include), Bluetooth/WiFi/Android Auto/DSP/SPDIF/Fast Boot/OBDII/Dash Camera/Backup Camera https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MQD4BP2/?tag=wranglerorg-20

If you look up @badlieutenant's post about the best upgrade he's done, he has a version of that radio and really likes it. Also, it's open source Android, so it should be very easy to add cameras wherever you want them.
Click to expand...

Still loving it, just wish it had newer android OS.
 
GoGeo said:
and this headunit since you can adjust the color...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HHDR4YK/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Still missing an amp, will look to see posts above.
Click to expand...

A lot of head units can be color adjusted, and I would recommend looking at both Kenwood and Alpine as well.
toximus said:
What do you audio guys think about this unit? Anything specific I should be looking for? Anything missing or left to be desired?

The cons I can think of: can't change background image (and the built in one isn't awesome), it takes a few seconds to start up, one review says that the screen starts out bright before dimming at night. I could see adding a single throw switch to prevent it from starting with the key each time (assuming it can't be turned off, and remember that it's off).

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_500ILXW650/Alpine-iLX-W650.html
Click to expand...

This is a solid double din for the price. When buying a head unit make sure it covers your intended usage.

If you want to play CDs, make sure there is a CD player.

If you want HD radio look for that.

If you stream music, how would you stream, phone or usb ports, or both. Are the USB ports in front or back of the head unit, maybe both sides. Quality of streaming as well, I find the Qualcomm aptX chip to be awesome for streaming, vs. SBC/AAC which is the default, and good, but not aptX or aptX HD. Spotify interface, if you stream via spotify, if not, try it out as spotify is awesome!

Android auto, apple CarPlay or possibly not even needed.

Screen, capacitive or resistive. Capacitive is generally brighter and more vibrant, but also the manufacturer is important. Quality of the screen matters.

Do you want to add a rear camera, possibly a front camera or maybe both. Looks for those features.

GPS or doesn't matter?

Lots of choices to make, but you can stop in a local Best Buy to figit with them.

Personally I have a single DIN kenwood in the Jeep, but a double DIN in another car, a kenwood DNX893 which is great, and I got through an insurance claim else I would have never considered buying it. My only suggestion is to buy a name brand like Kenwood, Alpine or Pioneer, and to stay away from the Ebay specials. Those Ebay specials are hit or miss.

I do like the head unit you picked.
 
Mike_H said:
That looks fine. It seems with head unit anymore they are all kind of the same. At 300 bucks though, I wonder if you shouldn't look at one of the Android systems, like this.

Car Stereo Double Din - JOYING 7" Android 8.1 4GB RAM 32GB ROM Double Din Car GPS Navigation, 4G SIM Card(Not Include), Bluetooth/WiFi/Android Auto/DSP/SPDIF/Fast Boot/OBDII/Dash Camera/Backup Camera https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MQD4BP2/?tag=wranglerorg-20

If you look up @badlieutenant's post about the best upgrade he's done, he has a version of that radio and really likes it. Also, it's open source Android, so it should be very easy to add cameras wherever you want them.
Click to expand...
badlieutenant said:
Not handy

Try roadnav.com

It’s the M201 S160
Click to expand...
skrelnik said:
A lot of head units can be color adjusted, and I would recommend looking at both Kenwood and Alpine as well.


This is a solid double din for the price. When buying a head unit make sure it covers your intended usage.

If you want to play CDs, make sure there is a CD player.

If you want HD radio look for that.

If you stream music, how would you stream, phone or usb ports, or both. Are the USB ports in front or back of the head unit, maybe both sides. Quality of streaming as well, I find the Qualcomm aptX chip to be awesome for streaming, vs. SBC/AAC which is the default, and good, but not aptX or aptX HD. Spotify interface, if you stream via spotify, if not, try it out as spotify is awesome!

Android auto, apple CarPlay or possibly not even needed.

Screen, capacitive or resistive. Capacitive is generally brighter and more vibrant, but also the manufacturer is important. Quality of the screen matters.

Do you want to add a rear camera, possibly a front camera or maybe both. Looks for those features.

GPS or doesn't matter?

Lots of choices to make, but you can stop in a local Best Buy to figit with them.

Personally I have a single DIN kenwood in the Jeep, but a double DIN in another car, a kenwood DNX893 which is great, and I got through an insurance claim else I would have never considered buying it. My only suggestion is to buy a name brand like Kenwood, Alpine or Pioneer, and to stay away from the Ebay specials. Those Ebay specials are hit or miss.

I do like the head unit you picked.
Click to expand...

I think I would be satisfied with the Alpine. But you guys have opened me up to the idea of the Android units. Seems like it'd require more setup and wiring but it'd be awesome to have trail maps right on the dash like that. Now I need to look more into trail maps for Android.
 
skrelnik said:
Spotify interface, if you stream via spotify, if not, try it out as spotify is awesome!
Click to expand...

I used to listen to a lot of Pandora until they ended up with a limited library. Now Spotify is king. I'm going to have to look into what you're saying about the chips and see if the Android double din units have what I need.

I'm thinking for short trips (daily driver) I'd use the unit for FM radio mainly. Shopping trips (2+ hours) music streaming and some Google Maps. Across state lines, music streaming, Google Maps, and trail maps for offroad. Those are probably my main uses.
 
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If you like Alpine, they have the iLX-207 which does Android Auto and Apple Car Play. I just did a complete system in my TJ (Alpine R 5 1/4” in dash, Alpine R 6 1/2” in the rollbar, two 10” Kicker Comp VR subs, SubThump sealed box, JBL GTR-601 amp) and installed the iLX-107 (along with their Alpine KTP-445A amp to take the head unit to 45 watts x 4). It does wireless Apple Car Play (doesn’t do Android Auto), which I wanted so I could keep my phone in the center console. You cant go wrong with the Joying units if you want a Android OS and freedom to modify. Also, the Polk DB series everyone talks about are amazing....I’m just partial to Alpine. I’m hoping to update my thread showing all of the updates to my TJ so far - but I will say......it’s nice having some SERIOUS tunes in my Jeep. Good luck and always smart to get everyone’s input like you are!
 
toximus said:
I used to listen to a lot of Pandora until they ended up with a limited library. Now Spotify is king. I'm going to have to look into what you're saying about the chips and see if the Android double din units have what I need.

I'm thinking for short trips (daily driver) I'd use the unit for FM radio mainly. Shopping trips (2+ hours) music streaming and some Google Maps. Across state lines, music streaming, Google Maps, and trail maps for offroad. Those are probably my main uses.
Click to expand...

Good stuff, and great questions you are asking yourself. That aptX chip is great but not needed. If you want to squeeze every last drop of sound quality from a streaming device then this is for you. Think of it as the cherry on top of a sundae, completes the sundae but not necessary.

GPS is also huge, but again, ask yourself if having trail maps on your head unit is the best place for you...meaning do you get out of the Jeep and explore walking trails/mountains where you would need a handheld GPS device? In that case you could use a handheld device to stream GPS to a head unit and for daily driving just stream Google/Waze.

I know very little about this brand but gets solid reviews and may have what you need, android, GPS and aptX. I personally use name brands, but you may want to try one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CMV84L2/?tag=wranglerorg-20
 
skrelnik said:
Good stuff, and great questions you are asking yourself. That aptX chip is great but not needed. If you want to squeeze every last drop of sound quality from a streaming device then this is for you. Think of it as the cherry on top of a sundae, completes the sundae but not necessary.

GPS is also huge, but again, ask yourself if having trail maps on your head unit is the best place for you...meaning do you get out of the Jeep and explore walking trails/mountains where you would need a handheld GPS device? In that case you could use a handheld device to stream GPS to a head unit and for daily driving just stream Google/Waze.

I know very little about this brand but gets solid reviews and may have what you need, android, GPS and aptX. I personally use name brands, but you may want to try one of these.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CMV84L2/?tag=wranglerorg-20
Click to expand...

What does it take to stream to an Android head unit? Can I setup Android Auto on it? Or bluetooth streaming? Those seem to be the easier option than turning on a wifi hotspot, and pulling up tunes or gps on the head unit.
 
toximus said:
What does it take to stream to an Android head unit? Can I setup Android Auto on it? Or bluetooth streaming? Those seem to be the easier option than turning on a wifi hotspot, and pulling up tunes or gps on the head unit.
Click to expand...

To stream to a typical head unit you would use Bluetooth. Some head units have a spotify or pandora app which makes the Bluetooth control easier and more interactive functions, basically injecting the Bluetooth screen with steroids.

Android Auto is basically just a hands free way of doing things. So you can do voice to text through android auto, or ask Android Auto to call your favorite pizza restaurant, get directions or play music.
 
Blank said:
i did this headunit and its awesome not a double din though. i also added polk db 5.25 in the dash and 6.5 in the sound pods. then i added a sound ordance powered sub the speaker set up needed the lows that the sub can provide. all in all i thin i have maybe 300 in my speakers all so worth it.
Click to expand...
Any pictures of the Sub installation that you could share?
 
OK, not to hijack but I just installed the $19 tweeters on the dash and it made a very big difference, centered the whole sound of the stereo system, very worth it. So my system is probably complete...total cost:$284.89

tweeter
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HWJTIBE/?tag=wranglerorg-20

speakers x 2 pair
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_107DB522/Polk-Audio-DB-522.html
Front dash baffles later upgraded to 3d printed pods, (but probably not too necessary)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0039YWT62/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Head unit
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_158N5100BT/Sony-MEX-N5100BT.html
Replacement sub
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EFMPCW/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Sub amp
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B5MUJ3U/?tag=wranglerorg-20

I am not complaining at all about the way it sounds, has great bass and good volume capability. What I might have done differently is get the front polk component speakers. Only thing I could do later if I want is go with a 5 channel amp to amp all the speakers. Sure an HS8 powered sub would be even nicer but I did not want to dump a ton into it. I can hear decent sound even with the top and half doors.
83412
83413
 
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