Rational approach to Upgrading Alpine System?

[Riotfunk]

It’s because Ford has been using the same speakers/amp for the last 15 years and just rebadging it and charging people for it. Ford/Sony/B&O they’re all the same part numbers and speakers. Just now they cheapen out even more and are using 6x9s as “subs”. The base system and the B&O share the same speakers, Ford just adds an amp and a few more crap speakers.

I gutted my Bronco B&O the 2nd month I had it. The audio was the worst I’ve ever had in a vehicle.

I don’t think the alpine to be bright. Overly midsy yeah. And can be muddy with certain songs that push highs/mids. Rock/jazz etc.

All I want is a little more clarity. Slightly cleaner vocals. I have enough mid/bass.

My TA should be here this week. They have a good return policy. So if they sound off or messed with the soundstage too much I can just return them.

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[AnnDee4444]

The last thing that helped a little with the overpowering volume from the sub was moving my Freedom Panel storage bag from the backseat to the back, so it sat directly on top of the sub. I absolutely love loud bass and used to rock dual 12" subs for many years, but the little oval sub just overpowered the rest of the system with an unnaturally boomy bass and a poorly designed source unit that had no level control for the subwoofer itself (fading forward helps, but too far forward and the rear fill from the soundbar becomes too quiet).

Still really wish I had a sub-level control (and a parametric EQ and some time-alignment and some crossover control), but otherwise, I'm mostly happy with how it sounds now, which imo is 110% how it should've came from the factory. It still doesn't compare to most properly tuned aftermarket systems, but without getting the bug to start spending thousands on audio gear again, it's "good enough" for only spending a few hundred bucks.

I had the same complaints with my 2-door sub (both before & after Terra Acoustics)... too "boomy" on some songs. I found that the subwoofer is on the rear channel, so I would fade to front a few clicks to turn down the sub. The soundbar probably needs to be lower volume anyway for proper soundstage (or something like that... not an expert).


Recently I added polyfill and sound deadening to the bottom of the subwoofer enclosure, and feel like it eliminated most of the boomy-ness. I'm happy with the results, but considering adding more sound deadening to the top of the enclosure and entire storage cubby. Also maybe some polyfill in the soundbar...

 

[Joegonz]

I have the Terra Acoustics, the wait wasn't very long. Install took 15 mins and it was enough to hold me over. My days of putting thousands of dollars into a stereo are over, it can be a rabbit hole.

Did you upgraded from the Alpine system? From 1 to 10, how much does the sound quality annd fidelity improved?

 

[Xcoaste]

Did you upgraded from the Alpine system? From 1 to 10, how much does the sound quality annd fidelity improved?

I have the Alpine system.
I would say it depends on the type of music you are going to listen to. For me I would say the upgrade is a 5 out of 10. It isn’t a miracle fix but it added some uppers to the sound. I bet other speakers would do the same, but I liked that those speakers were marketed specifically for the Alpine system.

 

[CMTAZ]

So far I have changed the dash speakers to infinity 3022s. This has made a huge difference. Originally I was thinking I'd probably use the select increments 6.5 component pods, but now I'm thinking another pair of the 3022s might be all the system needs.

It seems that the rears (soundbar) plays quieter than the front channels. Therefore, I would guess they are getting less power that the fronts. I'm not sure 6.5 components would be well served, but efficient 3.5s might add some additional highs.

 

[Mustang5755]

I don't have the Alpine but rather the stock system in my JL Rubicon.

I did upgrade to TA fronts and I do think they were worth the very sligh trouble.

In my Yukon, I replaced the head unit and added Infinity speakers throughout with a JL 6 channel AMP and a fairly cheap JL subwoofer set (not great one). But the sound in the Yukon XL is very good.

I really can't figure out how much it's worth upgrading on the JL whether you have the Alpine system (I don't) or not. I feel like it's major $ to get much better than I did with the TA's.

I would be tempted to put in a mono amp to a decent sub or two in the back. However, I wonder how hard it is to wire the power to the AMP and I'm afraid the $ to put that in is probably a lot. I just don't know if the trouble is worth it or not for the jeep but my hobby is home audio systems so Its a bit in my DNA and hard for me not to upgrade to the fullest.

Installing the TA's however was very easy and the grills do look fine so I'm happy with that. Won't be happy if I junk them to go all out!

 

[azjl#3]

having had the m3, a JL will never sound like an M3, ever. I have noticed my 23 alpine does not sound as good as my 18 alpine... But, my 23 is far quieter than the 18 was which sounded like a 65 pickup truck with the windows down, hands free was unreadable at speed, the 23, no issue.

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