Stereo build given the following constraints?

[H2O_Doc]

All,

I appreciate the quite significant expertise that members have here and value your opinions. I've read a whole bunch of the speaker threads here, but it's still unclear what might be the best speaker upgrade options for me given the particulars of what I am and am not interest in doing. So your thoughts on the following would be very much welcomed:

vehicle: 2023 4xe Wrangler with alpine premium stereo

I'd like to improve the sound quality for daily driving. So that means I'm not worried about getting volume for doors or top off.

I'd like to avoid adding an amp.

Im willing to change all of the speakers (excluding the sub, I have separate plans for that). I'd like to avoid substantial custom mounting apart from doing a little cutting for speaker pods or adapters for 6.5s or 6x9s.

I prefer a neutral to "warm" bias in the speakers over a tinny sound. I'm very much a bass-head, albeit I know there won't be too much coming from these speakers versus the sub.

not looking for anything exotic speaker-wise.

ideas on a build that would be worthwhile based on the above?

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[lashlee]

Your best bet is to use the Metra (or similar brand) new front speaker enclosures for the knee panel area as well as an adapter for the soundbar speakers. The OEM sizes are less than optimal, and a larger driver will sound much better. I've done a few builds, one with mainly speaker swaps to aftermarket versions (stock size) and one with a wholesale replacement with a new processor, two amps, all new drivers (3.5" point source on the dash, 6.5" midbass in the lower dash, 6.5" full range/rear fill in the soundbar, JL stealthbox) that offered the best sound but at a substantial investment. Illusion Audio, Audible Physics, Audio Frog, Hertz, Morel, Dynaudio, and many others make a wideband/coax that will fit in the upper dash along with a suitable midbass. To do it right, you'll want to control those drivers and a suitable processor will be a wise decision.

 

[jeepingib]

To get the most out of the factory amplifier you need to look for speakers with a low resistance. JBL makes some in the GX series that are only 2.3ohm. Also like @lashlee mentioned, you will want to upgrade your mid range drivers to a larger size. The 4" stock ones are not capable of doing much and so the factory Alpine set has a large gap between mids and lows. And the lack of a tweeter in the factory setup leaves another hole in the sound profile.

 

[Terpsmandan]

To get the most out of the factory amplifier you need to look for speakers with a low resistance. JBL makes some in the GX series that are only 2.3ohm. Also like @lashlee mentioned, you will want to upgrade your mid range drivers to a larger size. The 4" stock ones are not capable of doing much and so the factory Alpine set has a large gap between mids and lows. And the lack of a tweeter in the factory setup leaves another hole in the sound profile.

I tried some 3 ohm component set in the soundbar of my 22 JLURD with Alpine and the amp did not like the reduced impedance and shut the soundbar off until I swapped the stock speakers back in. I went all in on the Quart stage 6 for mine but on her stock 21 JLURD with the Alpine, I swapped the dash speakers for a set of Quart JC108's. I thought that they were a big improvement over stock. If I were going down this road again, I would probably also look into the Kicker 77KICK28AB that were an upgrade for the Dart. Complete plug and play.

 

[jeepingib]

I tried some 3 ohm component set in the soundbar of my 22 JLURD with Alpine and the amp did not like the reduced impedance and shut the soundbar off until I swapped the stock speakers back in. I went all in on the Quart stage 6 for mine but on her stock 21 JLURD with the Alpine, I swapped the dash speakers for a set of Quart JC108's. I thought that they were a big improvement over stock. If I were going down this road again, I would probably also look into the Kicker 77KICK28AB that were an upgrade for the Dart. Complete plug and play.

I've had good luck with the JBL’s in my Jeep. But I don't listen to it super loud very often. I'm not sure if that is the difference or not.

 

[H2O_Doc]

I tried some 3 ohm component set in the soundbar of my 22 JLURD with Alpine and the amp did not like the reduced impedance and shut the soundbar off until I swapped the stock speakers back in. I went all in on the Quart stage 6 for mine but on her stock 21 JLURD with the Alpine, I swapped the dash speakers for a set of Quart JC108's. I thought that they were a big improvement over stock. If I were going down this road again, I would probably also look into the Kicker 77KICK28AB that were an upgrade for the Dart. Complete plug and play.

Is there a mounting adapter for those kickers?

 

[GATORB8]

Just a note since you are still looking.

While lower resistance is a way to increase power. Increasing power isn't the only solution for increasing output.

Any decent speaker will have a set of specs, including a sensitivity measurement, which is basically the efficiency of the speaker converting power to sound. Using the same power input, a speaker with a higher sensitivity will be "louder."

 

[Terpsmandan]

Is there a mounting adapter for those kickers?

Don’t need them. They match the oem holes. Plugs too.

 

[H2O_Doc]

Don’t need them. They match the oem holes. Plugs too.

Ahh. Ok. I think I see my error. When I search that part number (77KICK28AB) I see some small speakers and some 6x9s. Is what your referring to just those smaller speakers?

Apologies for being so dense.

 

[Terpsmandan]

The smaller speakers.

 

[JLAFAKASI]

I've had good luck with the JBL’s in my Jeep. But I don't listen to it super loud very often. I'm not sure if that is the difference or not.

Is this what you’re running?

 

[jeepingib]

Is this what you’re running?

No I'm running the GX328 set in the dash. Got them pretty cheap on Amazon. I liked them better on paper than the 322F you linked.

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