Factory audio vs Alpine

[GinaC]

I missed out on the Alpine because I didn't think I needed it when I put the down payment on my order, and when I went back the following week it was already too late.

Can anyone recommend a good brand for an aftermarket installation? I don't want to do it myself, but I'd rather walk into a shop with some prior knowledge.

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[Gangplank]

After going down the rabbit hole of replacing the Alpine with a MB Quart stage 6 with the Quart sub, if I had to do it again, I would have replaced the upper dash speakers and small soundbar speakers with the Kicker Dart dash speakers.

Can I ask why that is? I was looking at the MB Quart stage 6 upgrade but using a small under seat sub instead of a tailgate version.

The other option I am considering is the Audio Uprising Sound stage front speaker (formerly Terra Acoustics), and a 6x9 in the soundbar using an adapter. Not too worried about cutting the soundbar. It looks fairly straight forward.

 

[Terpsmandan]

I was plugging in my phone with Spotify and never had to up the stream quality in my pioneer that was in my JK. Fast forward to her new JL and I could not figure out why I was running out of volume. So when I got my JL I was going to replace the HU and it still didn’t sound right. Started listening to fm and it sounded much better and then figured out the quality settings. Running two pair of Quart 3.5” speakers in her otherwise stock Alpine and it sounds good enough for my old ears. Already have the stage 6 with the Quart sub and it sounds great, just not that much better IMO.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Can I ask why that is? I was looking at the MB Quart stage 6 upgrade but using a small under seat sub instead of a tailgate version.

The other option I am considering is the Audio Uprising Sound stage front speaker (formerly Terra Acoustics), and a 6x9 in the soundbar using an adapter. Not too worried about cutting the soundbar. It looks fairly straight forward.

Unless you're adding an amp I think the 6x9 would be underwhelming. You currently have 4x25 watts running the soundbar speakers that are 2 ohm(if you have the alone system). Most 6x9s aren't wired for dual sources, so you'd be cutting that down to 2x25 watts. But you also won't likely find 2ohm 6x9s. Put a standard 4 ohm speaker in there and you cut the power output in half. Now you've got 2 6x9s that really need more power than the factory 100 watts total being driven at 2x12.5 watts. I haven't swapped any speakers out in the JL or JT yet as the Alpine is OK, but if I do it would likely be just the 3.5" drivers in the dash and soundbar and I'd make sure to use 3 ohm at most. Infinity and JBL both make 3 ohm 3.5" speakers.

 

[Terpsmandan]

FYI I tried a set of infinity 6032 components and the amp didn’t like the reduced load and shut the soundbar off.

 

[Gangplank]

I was plugging in my phone with Spotify and never had to up the stream quality in my pioneer that was in my JK. Fast forward to her new JL and I could not figure out why I was running out of volume. So when I got my JL I was going to replace the HU and it still didn’t sound right. Started listening to fm and it sounded much better and then figured out the quality settings. Running two pair of Quart 3.5” speakers in her otherwise stock Alpine and it sounds good enough for my old ears. Already have the stage 6 with the Quart sub and it sounds great, just not that much better IMO.

Now I see. You are comparing the Alpine amplified system to your MB Quart amplified system. With your response and the info from Zandcwhite it now confirms what I was thinking that an amp is needed for any improvement. it also explains why folks with the base non-amplified system that upgrade the fronts give mixed reviews.

Unless you're adding an amp I think the 6x9 would be underwhelming. You currently have 4x25 watts running the soundbar speakers that are 2 ohm(if you have the alone system). Most 6x9s aren't wired for dual sources, so you'd be cutting that down to 2x25 watts. But you also won't likely find 2ohm 6x9s. Put a standard 4 ohm speaker in there and you cut the power output in half. Now you've got 2 6x9s that really need more power than the factory 100 watts total being driven at 2x12.5 watts. I haven't swapped any speakers out in the JL or JT yet as the Alpine is OK, but if I do it would likely be just the 3.5" drivers in the dash and soundbar and I'd make sure to use 3 ohm at most. Infinity and JBL both make 3 ohm 3.5" speakers.

Rethinking the approach and might go with and MB Quart amplified system or another amplified set up but using a small under seat sub under the passenger seat.

 

[wandrur]

Can I ask why that is? I was looking at the MB Quart stage 6 upgrade but using a small under seat sub instead of a tailgate version.

The other option I am considering is the Audio Uprising Sound stage front speaker (formerly Terra Acoustics), and a 6x9 in the soundbar using an adapter. Not too worried about cutting the soundbar. It looks fairly straight forward.

As someone who actually *likes* the look of the Alpine sub enclosure (and I had the Tuffy security enclosure from my '21 that had the Alpine system), I took an odd approach.

I bought the MB Quart drop-in sub kit and separately purchased a used Alpine sub and enclosure. Swapped the speakers, then swapped out my non-Alpine panel, and all done with a stock look.

 

[Zandcwhite]

FYI I tried a set of infinity 6032 components and the amp didn’t like the reduced load and shut the soundbar off.

The stock Alpine amp? How was it wired? Factory 3.5" wiring to the tweeter and 4" to the woofer? Everything off 2 channels? I thought the Alpine speakers were 2 ohm so how was the load reduced?

 

[Terpsmandan]

yes I installed them as you said. After about a week, the amp shut the soundbar down.

 

[BXFXJeep]

I would spend a bit of money to get a decent system installed, when I had the 2015 JK it was just the base system, I changed speakers etc to the tune of hundreds of dollars, it still didn't sound great, somewhat better, but the base system was utter garbage, so anything would have been an improvement.

I noticed the difference, it was stark, my 2007 had the Alpine, so when I put on the radio in the 2015 on delivery, it was , the reason I went to the 2015 was for the 4 door, a new born was on the way, that is another reason I didn't spend money on a proper system, I mostly listened to the radio for 3 years, then dumped it for a JL with the Alpine.

I saw the $2K radio option and stupidly assumed it had the premium audio. Now I specifically look for Alpine in the options.

 

[Terpsmandan]

If anyone is considering the Quart system, I do like mine. Here’s where I am now. I have the Quart amps with the Quart sub but I replaced the AmpPro with a Fosgate DSR-1 and I replaced the speakers with Infinity reference series. 3032’s in the dash, the 6” drivers from a set of 6530’s in the knee panels and a pair of 9633’s in the soundbar. They produce more sound than the Quart speakers because the are more efficient and lower impedance. Also have the PLC-2 bass knob as well. Sounds good but I would like to get it on a RTA and tune it.

 

[Cutterone]

I had the option of waiting for a 2025 (too long a wait) or getting a 2024 with the Alpine. The 25 would have had the standard option which I had in my 21.

We went for the 2024 with the Alpine and I'm honestly NOT overly impressed. I was expecting a lot more refinement. Maybe the redesign of the interior for the side curtain bags has something to do with it. We have the roof panels in which helps, but we had those in the last unit too.

The bass on the Alpine is very boomy and not at all tight.

I will say, certain music sounds much better than other types. I will experiment a little more with music choices to see if I notice anything different. I've been listening to Sirius so I should probably check regular FM to see if that changes anything. I will also try some from my playlist on the phone.

Granted we are talking about a Wrangler so high end audiophile qualities don't really exist inside the vehicle. It is an OK system that is very overpriced IMO.

I have a very high end system in our home (Bryston/California Audio Labs and NHT) and it does expose crappy recordings. So much so that if somebody came in and listened to a poorly recorded album they would likely think my system sucked.

However when things are laid down properly on the recording end, the sound is some of the best I've heard.

I guess at this point I'd have to listen to our system and then one in a similar Wrangler with the standard system.

Our 2021 was fine especially for a Wrangler. Unfortunately I had higher expectations for the Alpine.

The folks adding their own stuff will most certainly make a better system.

No offense but you cannot judge the sound system with terrestrial radio or Sirius, Sirius is super compressed and not a quality sound source.

 

[Gangplank]

Unless you're adding an amp I think the 6x9 would be underwhelming. You currently have 4x25 watts running the soundbar speakers that are 2 ohm(if you have the alone system). Most 6x9s aren't wired for dual sources, so you'd be cutting that down to 2x25 watts. But you also won't likely find 2ohm 6x9s. Put a standard 4 ohm speaker in there and you cut the power output in half. Now you've got 2 6x9s that really need more power than the factory 100 watts total being driven at 2x12.5 watts. I haven't swapped any speakers out in the JL or JT yet as the Alpine is OK, but if I do it would likely be just the 3.5" drivers in the dash and soundbar and I'd make sure to use 3 ohm at most. Infinity and JBL both make 3 ohm 3.5" speakers.

Actually Memphis Audio makes 2 ohm 6x9.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_953PRX69S/Memphis-Audio-PRX69S.html?tp=105

 

[Terpsmandan]

No offense but you cannot judge the sound system with terrestrial radio or Sirius, Sirius is super compressed and not a quality sound source.

Agreed but when I had the pioneer Hu in my Jk with the factory infinity it sounded very good without upgrading the quality settings on Spotify. The JL system needs a better quality signal.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Actually Memphis Audio makes 2 ohm 6x9.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_953PRX69S/Memphis-Audio-PRX69S.html?tp=105

Which would still only give you half the power of the stock setup because you'd only be using 1 of the 2 channels per speaker. 25 watts driving a much larger speaker vs 50 watts driving 2 smaller speakers is still going to be underwhelming in my experience.

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