New 2024 Stock Stereo is Poor

[Phil_R]

I have had 3 Gladiators before. The 2021 Rubicon I had had a great stereo with a subwoofer. Sounded good! The 2023 Sport S had a good sounding stereo too, just not as much bass as the Rubicon. This 2024 Willys with the stock stereo and speakers sounds tinny and distorted to me. I tried all different audio settings and it still was bad at best. And my ears are not that great anymore at my age, but I could hear a lack of good sound and no bass damn near at all. Remember the 6 transistor pocket AM pocket radios from years ago? Well the stock stereo on my 24 kinda sounded like that!!! I looked at replacement speakers and ended up at Crutchfield where I had bought speakers years ago. I ordered replacement speakers from a company called Kicker and Kenwood and replaced the speakers in the front dash and the speakers in the sound bar as well. A total of 6 speakers replaced and not really tough to do either. Made a big difference in sound and even though I would like to change out the speakers in the kick panels, it is a super PITA job and I don't care to rip the dash apart at this point. I will be adding an 8" powered sub-woofer soon as well, but the difference in sound quality with just the changes I have made, make it sound great. Jeep really put in very cheap and poor sounding speakers, at least in my 24. Picture of the taken-out stock speakers and you can see the small magnets and they seem to have cheap paper cones as well. If anyone wants the replacement speaker numbers, I can provide them. Anyone else with a 2024 notice the poor-quality stock stereo sound? Thanks!

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[AmosMoses]

Why didn't you just get another gladiator with the upgraded stereo?

 

[Phil_R]

Why didn't you just get another gladiator with the upgraded stereo?

Because the dealership had this Firecracker Red Willys on the lot and had the price reduced making it hard to pass up the great deal I got. I really didn’t pay close attention to the stereo and figured it was probably just like the previous Sport S I had. Wrong! But with the upgraded speakers, it sounds great now! And other than my time, I will have about $325 in it including the cost of the 8 inch powered subwoofer. I don’t mind the work, just disappointed in the stock base stereo system.

 

[Rahkmalla]

i had a base stereo for 6 months in 2022, and an OEM alpine stereo since then.

From my memory the base stereo was always lackluster. Open the top or take off the doors and it wasn't loud enough to be heard over the wind.

 

[BUZZHEAD]

I guess I wasnt the only one not happy with the poor, low end radio. WTF JEEP

 

[AmosMoses]

Are you going to add another amp to power the smaller speakers or just the sub? I think that would be a big upgrade as well.

 

[Phil_R]

i had a base stereo for 6 months in 2022, and an OEM alpine stereo since then.

From my memory the base stereo was always lackluster. Open the top or take off the doors and it wasn't loud enough to be heard over the wind.

I noticed the poor-quality sound more than the loudness. However, it is now louder too with the new speakers. Will get the powered subwoofer in whenever it cools down a bit here in middle Tennessee. Even have heat advisories out today. Peachy......

 

[Phil_R]

I guess I wasnt the only one not happy with the poor, low end radio. WTF JEEP

Yup, there is not too much as far as low frequencies to speak of and I noticed mid range distortion even at low loudness levels. The upgrade I did sure helped!

 

[Phil_R]

Are you going to add another amp to power the smaller speakers or just the sub? I think that would be a big upgrade as well.

Probably would be but I am good with just adding the powered sub. The new speakers are more efficient and are pretty loud if turned up. If I have the freedom panels off, which I rarely do at highway speeds, it should still work ok for me!

 

[Phil_R]

Here is what I used for my 2024 Gladiator from Crutchfield...
Kicker KSC350 3 1/2" for the front dash sides
Kenwood KFC-X3C for the upper roll bar sound bar
Kicker KSC40 for the upper roll bar sound bar as well.
Thanks!

 

[AyeCantSeeYou]

The first major mod I did was having a custom sound system installed. Every Jeep I've owned that had Uconnect was a disappointment. Going into my Gladiator, I got the cheapest system they'd allow, the 5", because I knew it was going to get ripped out. The so-called premium system isn't worth the price. Alpine speakers aren't that great and many people think they are just because of the brand name.

Link to what I put in: https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...terday-custom-sound-system-is-just-wow.66434/

 

[Pilsner]

I guess I wasnt the only one not happy with the poor, low end radio. WTF JEEP

I have the premium audio, but every time I am upset about audio quality, I just drive my new Bronco. It's next level shitty.

 

[BUZZHEAD]

I have the premium audio, but every time I am upset about audio quality, I just drive my new Bronco. It's next level shitty.

My 2020 had the premium . I feel sorry for you .
If that was my option I would drive a JEEP with no radio .

 

[legacy_etu]

My 2016 JK has the Alpine premium sound system and it has decent highs and thumps pretty good too. My premium audio in my Mojave isn't as good. Penny pinching and for what these cost it's ridiculous.

 

[TarheelJT]

Here is what I used for my 2024 Gladiator from Crutchfield...
Kicker KSC350 3 1/2" for the front dash sides
Kenwood KFC-X3C for the upper roll bar sound bar
Kicker KSC40 for the upper roll bar sound bar as well.
Thanks!

Is there a reason you went with the Kenwood for the soundbar instead of using another set of the 3.5" Kickers?

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