7” Base Speaker Upgrade (non-Alpine)

[Gangplank]

Update - There is so much info on the forum but most of it mixes up the base 5”/7” & upgraded Alpine versions that it is confusing to research. This post is about the 7” base non-Alpine.

I also decided to go with 6.5" speakers in the JLJT pods instead of 6x9's to avoid having to cut into the soundbar. I


--Updated plan after a LOT of research--

Jeep JL - Audio Upgrade
2021 4‑door, hardtop w/ 7″ base OEM head unit (non-Alpine)

Stage 1 — Front Dash Speakers

✓ Audio Uprising Upper Dash Component Speakers (DONE) $250​

Stage 2 — Soundbar Upgrade to 6.5”

• 6.5” Morel Maximo Ultra Coax 602 MKII $210
• Using JLJT pods $150 (so I don’t have to cut up the soundbar)

Stage 3 - Subwoofer

• Hertz 201F powered under seat sub $350

Stage 4 - Amp

• Audiotec Fischer Match Up 6DSP $700 - $800
• PAC AmpPro AP4-CH41 ($?)

Stage Knee Speakers - OEM

• After installing the Audio Uprising and Morel Maximo I am leaving the OEM knee speakers in place.

—- Update Notes —-
After adding the Audio Uprising front dash speakers they are great for sound stage. I am very impressed! - the component system and high impedance results in great sound and MUCH better clarity, sound, clear range and good mid-bass, from the front. You can HEAR the music & sounds that were muddy before stand out now. Highly recommend them. Note: they take a good few hours/days to break in and then the sound comes alive.

They sound great turned up in the 18 - 25+ range. I originally put the polyfill in but didn’t stuff it down enough so I went back and stuffed it down the the crevices of the dash and WOW THESE SOUND GREAT

update 2 -
I installed the 6.5” Morel Maximo Ultra. I also added some hushmat sound deadening behind the speaker magnet and stuffed polyfill in the crevices of the soundbar.

The sound Is so much improved over stock! I’d say the Audio Uprising are a solid 50% improvement in sound quality and now + the Morels is another 30% improvement again. The sound is clear and the mid-bass and bass is much improved.

Now my dilemma is do I need the Alpine Sub or call it good enough??

First world problems… I know…

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[Jebiruph]

Your sound bar upgrade will get over powered by mid range speakers in the dash, put tweeters in your dash.

 

[Gangplank]

Your sound bar upgrade will get over powered by mid range speakers in the dash, put tweeters in your dash.

Even for the base not amplified to system? I was under the impression that the base system sent full signal to all speakers (whereas the Alpine system used a component arrangement with mid-bass in the knees and high frequency in the corners)

 

[shane h.]

This is what I did to my 19 JLUR w/ 7inch screen back in 2022. Still sounds pretty darn good.

PAC AmpPRO AP4-CH41 R.2
JL Audio JD400/4 amplifier
Kicker 46HS10 powered subwoofer
JBL Club 322F speakers in the upper dash
JBL Club 622 speakers in Metra kick panel pods with full soundmat and polyfil
JBL Club 622 speakers in the sound bar in Select Increments JLJT-Pods with polyfil

PacAMP unit is mounted above and to the left of the glove box.
Amplifier is mounted under driver's seat.
Sub is mounted under passenger's seat.

 

[Gangplank]

This is what I did to my 19 JLUR w/ 7inch screen back in 2022. Still sounds pretty darn good.

PAC AmpPRO AP4-CH41 R.2
JL Audio JD400/4 amplifier
Kicker 46HS10 powered subwoofer
JBL Club 322F speakers in the upper dash
JBL Club 622 speakers in Metra kick panel pods with full soundmat and polyfil
JBL Club 622 speakers in the sound bar in Select Increments JLJT-Pods with polyfil

PacAMP unit is mounted above and to the left of the glove box.
Amplifier is mounted under driver's seat.
Sub is mounted under passenger's seat.

So similar to what I am looking at doing. The JBL 34/964 are the updated versions of the 322/622. Did you install the whole thing at once or just the speakers first?

Did you do the install yourself or have it done?

 

[Jebiruph]

Even for the base not applied system? I was under the impression that the base system sent full signal to all speakers (whereas the Alpine system used a component arrangement with mid-bass in the knees and high frequency in the corners)

Here's my write up. https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/base-system-speaker-upgrade.75015/#post-1562924
I found that tweeters in the dash sounded better than mid range speakers in the dash after I upgraded the sound bar to 6.5 speakers.

 

[shane h.]

So similar to what I am looking at doing. The JBL 34/964 are the updated versions of the 322/622. Did you install the whole thing at once or just the speakers first?

Did you do the install yourself or have it done?

I did it all myself. Bought almost everything from Crutchfield. Put the speakers in first. Didn't like the output, so I added the amp, PacAMP, and sub after. If I were you, I'd just do it all at once.

 

[Gangplank]

I did it all myself. Bought almost everything from Crutchfield. Put the speakers in first. Didn't like the output, so I added the amp, PacAMP, and sub after. If I were you, I'd just do it all at once.

How difficult was the install?

Wound you recommend doing the knee panel speakers? I see a lot of reviews that say it’s not worth the effort.

 

[shane h.]

How difficult was the install?

Wound you recommend doing the knee panel speakers? I see a lot of reviews that say it’s not worth the effort.

If you are halfway mechanical, do it yourself. It is easy. The knee panel speakers are definitely worth the effort, especially if you drive topless any at all.

 

[Beach Nut]

I have the Alpine system in mine…it sucks. Can anyone recommend speaker replacement without adding an amp?

 

[fspalt]

One thing that helped with mine was turning the equalizer all the way up. If you have it tuned just adjust setting you have the highest to the max and then leave the differences the same. This will help get a little more volume out of the system.

 

[router]

I thought the Audio Uprising dash corner speakers were a fantastic upgrade to the stock Alpine stereo. That and shoving foam weatherstripping tape in all the crevices in the soundbar was enough for me. The LED light pushbuttons still buzz if I push it hard enough but I haven't bothered to try to fix those.

 

[Heimkehr]

My speaker upgrades were considerably simpler than what other owners might want. With that in mind, and as a non-audiophile, I've been nothing less than impressed with the improvement in sound quality after:

1. Replacing the OEM dashtop speakers with Infinity Reference REF 3032-CFX speakers (Crutchfield); and
2. Replacing the OEM soundbar 3.5" speakers with the Dodge Dart Kicker speaker upgrade (77KICK25AB). (Amazon)

Your sound bar upgrade will get over powered by mid range speakers in the dash

Even for the base system?

Yes.

 

[Wbino]

I find the Alpines system more than adequate.
Turn up the bass and midrange in the equalizer and the treble to your liking.

 

[Upnarms]

I put in a powered 10" sub, replaced dash speakers and soundbar as well with some decent upgrades. Ill be honest, while better, the head unit is the limiting factor doing this. The eq in the HU in isn't good. I think the way to go is using line converters and amps with an eq added to this setup. I have a kicker 10' powered sub in another vehicle with the same upgraded speakers, but with an aftermarket head unit with rca outputs for each channel. 10x better sound.

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