Keep the mud on your tires NOT your sound system.

[Lunentucker]

Hartman International is now a massive brand, they also own JBL. You can compare the factory Harman Kardon with These at all… the factory HK speakers are made in Mexico and they look like OEM speakers, in a good way.

Who cares what they look like? They're under the grille.
And it's "Harman". Not Hartman.

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[Lunentucker]

https://www.harman.com/company

 

[Ericshere03]

Who cares what they look like? They're under the grille.
And it's "Harman". Not Hartman.

My phone constantly does that … I know.

well, in a convertible, it’s nice to have screened cones to keep junk off your cones. Also nice to use OEM rigidly mounted connectors, so no rattles, no spade connectors to work loose. Instead of a flexible sheet metal basket, the factory is bent in a way to gusset and make the structure more rigid. Neodymium magnets are small but mighty.

whatever happened to “a picture is worth a thousand words”.

 

[Lunentucker]

My phone constantly does that … I know.

well, in a convertible, it’s nice to have screened cones to keep junk off your cones. Also nice to use OEM rigidly mounted connectors, so no rattles, no spade connectors to work loose. Instead of a flexible sheet metal basket, the factory is bent in a way to gusset and make the structure more rigid. Neodymium magnets are small but mighty.

whatever happened to “a picture is worth a thousand words”.

The spade connectors fit TIGHT. In fact, it's best to place the opposing thumb behind the connection terminal, because you have to push HARD to get them all the way on.
They come with self-adhesive foam back to install on the mounting surfaces.
I'll conceded the screens. Screens would probably be nice, but the grilles pop off easy and dirt can be vacuumed out of need be.

Again, I'm not knocking the Mopars, and I almost ordered those, but Crutchfield's a highly reputable company and these are nice speakers that plug and play install as well.

The background noise is my fan running the garage.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Only thread I've ever seen on speakers in anything where people are arguing the oem are superior in any way. Now they are better built and sound better? I'm betting no, but to each their own. My speaker upgrade will have to wait, ordered the rock krawler triangulated rear 4 link, teraflex extended travel brake lines, and metal cloak sway bar disconnects for the mojave with my current mod budget.

 

[dayusmc]

Only thread I've ever seen on speakers in anything where people are arguing the oem are superior in any way. Now they are better built and sound better? I'm betting no, but to each their own. My speaker upgrade will have to wait, ordered the rock krawler triangulated rear 4 link, teraflex extended travel brake lines, and metal cloak sway bar disconnects for the mojave with my current mod budget.

So OEM speakers can't be better than aftermarket? I guess OEM parts can't be better than aftermarket.... There must be no way an OEM 8.4 head unit can be better than those aftermarket head units that don't work correctly. Or OEM parts like say Oil filters. Alternators, etc ...

I really don't see your logic here.

 

[Zachanadandy]

So OEM speakers can't be better than aftermarket? I guess OEM parts can't be better than aftermarket.... There must be no way an OEM 8.4 head unit can be better than those aftermarket head units that don't work correctly. Or OEM parts like say Oil filters. Alternators, etc ...

I really don't see your logic here.

Car speakers specifically, I've never seen or heard anyone argue oem being better than any quality aftermarket speaker before this thread. I've never heard an oem speaker outperform an aftermarket speaker of similar specs in 30+ years. The build quality is obvious looking at the 2 speakers side by side. Built by the same manufacturer with better components, but my logic is in question? The same guy who argued you'd need a "high powered amp" for a 3.5" speaker rated at 25 watts, when the factory Alpine amp puts out 23 watts, isn't following my logic? OK....

 

[dayusmc]

Car speakers specifically, I've never seen or heard anyone argue oem being better than any quality aftermarket speaker before this thread. I've never heard an oem speaker outperform an aftermarket speaker of similar specs in 30+ years. The build quality is obvious looking at the 2 speakers side by side. Built by the same manufacturer with better components, but my logic is in question? The same guy who argued you'd need a "high powered amp" for a 3.5" speaker rated at 25 watts, when the factory Alpine amp puts out 23 watts, isn't following my logic? OK....

You made a blanket statement that doesn't make sense and just because YOU haven't seen it doesn't really mean much.
And as I have explained in multiple different threads, there is WAY more to it than wattage. There are so many more factors that go into the sound system that determine sound. Advertising is meant to hook people that don't know to much about it. I see it works ....

 

[Zachanadandy]

You made a blanket statement that doesn't make sense and just because YOU haven't seen it doesn't really mean much.
And as I have explained in multiple different threads, there is WAY more to it than wattage. There are so many more factors that go into the sound system that determine sound. Advertising is meant to hook people that don't know to much about it. I see it works ....

I've mentioned all those same factors, the problem is there's no specs on the cheap oem speakers to actually compare. The Infinity’s have very high sensitivity. The Infinity’s have low impedance. The Infinity’s are also cheaper somehow even though they are clearly built with better components. If I recall correctly your direct comparison was with Kicker 3.5s that don't have high sensitivity or low impedance. In that application I could see the oems outperforming them as they would be under powered.

 

[dayusmc]

I've mentioned all those same factors, the problem is there's no specs on the cheap oem speakers to actually compare. The Infinity’s have very high sensitivity. The Infinity’s have low impedance. The Infinity’s are also cheaper somehow even though they are clearly built with better components. If I recall correctly your direct comparison was with Kicker 3.5s that don't have high sensitivity or low impedance. In that application I could see the oems outperforming them as they would be under powered.

You says cheaply made oem speakers... These HK Mopar speakers are not cheaply made at all. What do you consider "clearly built better" stickers on the back?
Did you ever have a set of these in your hands to even feel them? I have had plenty of infinity, Rockford, kicker, etc. in my hands putting them in all different cars. I find it hard to give validity to opinions of someone giving their opinion of the quality of something if they never had it in their hands....
You are entitled to your opinion and it is great that you think your infinity speakers clearly are better made than something you have never touched. That in itself says it all.
I am saying the HK OEM speakers are great speakers, better than Terra Acoustic (I have a set here and they are junk and sitting on my bench), better than the aftermarket Alpine system speakers that I helped my friend put in his gladiator, better than the MB Quart speakers we took out of his gladiator, the same sound as the Rockfords with a Rockford amp that I put in my last gladiator. But maybe, just maybe the infinity's are the next best thing since sliced bread, better than the other infinity speakers I out in my other cars, it is possible. I will know when I buy a set for my friends jeep (because they are cheap) and put them in my friends 2 door jeep...

 

[Ericshere03]

You says cheaply made oem speakers... These HK Mopar speakers are not cheaply made at all. What do you consider "clearly built better" stickers on the back?
Did you ever have a set of these in your hands to even feel them? I have had plenty of infinity, Rockford, kicker, etc. in my hands putting them in all different cars. I find it hard to give validity to opinions of someone giving their opinion of the quality of something if they never had it in their hands....
You are entitled to your opinion and it is great that you think your infinity speakers clearly are better made than something you have never touched. That in itself says it all.
I am saying the HK OEM speakers are great speakers, better than Terra Acoustic (I have a set here and they are junk and sitting on my bench), better than the aftermarket Alpine system speakers that I helped my friend put in his gladiator, better than the MB Quart speakers we took out of his gladiator, the same sound as the Rockfords with a Rockford amp that I put in my last gladiator. But maybe, just maybe the infinity's are the next best thing since sliced bread, better than the other infinity speakers I out in my other cars, it is possible. I will know when I buy a set for my friends jeep (because they are cheap) and put them in my friends 2 door jeep...

Keep fighting the good fight brutha. I agree, obviously… Some can’t believe that the simplest answer is the correct one … I am one of those … I just HATE messing with car audio, a rabbit hole of money spent, disappointment and money wasted. The effort isn’t worth just buying factory upgraded audio. Years ago I’d always recommend base audio (skip amplifiers and multiple speakers) and add amplifiers, speaker a box and subs.

 

[Pat42]

I am saying the HK OEM speakers are great speakers.

But maybe, just maybe the infinity's are the next best thing since sliced bread, better than the other infinity speakers I out in my other cars, it is possible. I will know when I buy a set for my friends jeep (because they are cheap) and put them in my friends 2 door jeep...

My guess is the HK OEM/Mopar speakers do sound very similar in sound quality (to what I am hearing with the 307F’s) based on what I am hearing from people who have installed them.. That said, as you pointed out, I do not know because I have not personally heard them (as I have mentioned before).
And as you pointed out you do not know how the 307F’s sound.
That said if you truly want to compare apples to apples, the only way is to compare them both in the same vehicle/environment. So, if you are going to get a pair of the 307F’s anyway, why not do a quick swap out with your HK/Mopars in your Jeep and directly compare? As we all know it takes all of 10-15 minutes to change the dash speakers. And if you want to truly eliminate “personal bias”, you would do what I have done a few times back in my custom install days in the home audio world and do a true double blind test. By that I mean, have a friend swap out the speakers so you do not know what speakers are actually playing.. This is the ONLY way to eliminate personal bias.. It is a very enlightening experience believe me. I’ve had situations where “tricks” have been played on the listener and speakers were not actually changed at all but they still thought there was a difference in sound and guessing there was an actual comparison between two different speakers..
I would also recommend using an SPL meter to compare output levels between the two (but that’s just me as I like to be very thorough)..

That said, I bet there won’t be much difference based on the impressions I have been reading here.. And if that is the case, there is not much to argue about, is there?

The only real differences between the two sets of speakers as far as I know is the price, warranty, and the ability to easily return and get a refund.
With the HK/Mopars, they are cheaper (but not by a lot if you buy the 307F’s on sale at Crutchfield, $79), but you also do not get a warranty (unless whomever you’re buying from, EBay, etc. gives you one), and you cannot return them if you decide you do not want them. The 307’s can be easily returned and come with a 1 year warranty.
So, if you can wait for the Crutchfield sale, you pay an extra $30 (or so, as I believe I’ve heard here that the HK/Mopars are around $50), and get a 1 year warranty and the ability to return.
IF I could easily return the HK OEM’s, I would have tried them myself.. As you say everyone as the ability to exercise their own options..

Btw, if you want to truly hear great sounding car speakers, listen to some high end JL Audio speaker systems like the one I installed in my Mustang a few years back.. Not cheap, but they are truly “great speakers”, and would blow away any of the speakers we are talking about, and it’s not even close! I’m not willing to spend that kind of money anymore on car audio (and in the case of the Gladiator, would be a waste of money IMO to put in such a high end system anyway), I focus my high dollar audio purchases on my home audio system, where it really matters to me..

 

[Gatorized]

The spade connectors fit TIGHT. In fact, it's best to place the opposing thumb behind the connection terminal, because you have to push HARD to get them all the way on.
They come with self-adhesive foam back to install on the mounting surfaces.
I'll conceded the screens. Screens would probably be nice, but the grilles pop off easy and dirt can be vacuumed out of need be.

how does that plastic screen impact the speaker? What is it made of? I just popped the grill off mine and it was covered with pollen.
is there a way to add that screening to the aftermarket speaker - just to keep the debris out?

 

[Lunentucker]

how does that plastic screen impact the speaker? What is it made of? I just popped the grill off mine and it was covered with pollen.
is there a way to add that screening to the aftermarket speaker - just to keep the debris out?

It's something in going to look at.
You can buy screening on Amazon. I'm thinking of adding it them inside of the grille, rather than trying to get it on the speaker itself.

 

[dayusmc]

When the infinity's come in. i will test them in my Gladiator to compare them to the Rockford's, HK Mopar, and Terra acoustics I had in.
I have a SPL meter, so I will take some readings so we have real numbers to go by ..

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