Upgrade to Sound System .... Crutchfield?

[Mr Miami]

Ok, not for my JTR but for my '16 JKU. I find the people here, in many cases, more helpful and knowledgeable.

If you don't mind me asking, looking to upgrade the stock, standard radio (base OEM radio) and I see a lot of comments, information here about Crutchfield. Anyone have any experience with them, especially when it comes to recommendations for as simple an installation as possible? I don't need to blow off the doors (half doors at that ... lol) but just wanted something of reasonable quality, hopefully a brand name, and relatively easy to install.

In your opinions, is Crutchfield a good place to start?

Sponsored

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

ABSOLUTELY!!! I’ve worked with them on a couple sound system upgrades and they’ve always given me a few different options depending on what I wanted or didn’t even realize I wanted or needed. I have read complaints in reviews but I’ve never experienced bad customer service from them even with troubleshooting something that was super easy to understand.

 

[Mr Miami]

Thanks. I'm just not the best when it comes to taking things apart when electricity is involved. I don't want to put my turn signal on and have the radio change stations ... lol.

Anyway, thank you.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

That’s a good thing with them. Most of what they offer is simple plug and play. It can be as easy or complicated as you want it to be. You can just do straight replacement or go all the way into signal processors and the whole shebang. They can walk you through pretty much all of it. Haven’t found a question they haven’t been able to answer when it comes to audio/video stuff.

 

[Renegade]

Crutchfield is great, but doesn’t specialize. Check out TrailSeven for some Jeep specific stereo/speaker/amp bundles:
https://trailseven.com/collections/...r-jk-07-18+jeep-year_2016?grid_list=grid-view

 

[WILDHOBO]

Ok, not for my JTR but for my '16 JKU. I find the people here, in many cases, more helpful and knowledgeable.

If you don't mind me asking, looking to upgrade the stock, standard radio (base OEM radio) and I see a lot of comments, information here about Crutchfield. Anyone have any experience with them, especially when it comes to recommendations for as simple an installation as possible? I don't need to blow off the doors (half doors at that ... lol) but just wanted something of reasonable quality, hopefully a brand name, and relatively easy to install.

In your opinions, is Crutchfield a good place to start?

I love Crutchfield. They’re great at helping you know what small parts you didn’t think about. Great support. I’d definitely use them.

 

[WILDHOBO]

ABSOLUTELY!!! I’ve worked with them on a couple sound system upgrades and they’ve always given me a few different options depending on what I wanted or didn’t even realize I wanted or needed. I have read complaints in reviews but I’ve never experienced bad customer service from them even with troubleshooting something that was super easy to understand.

I’ve been using them for decades.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Thanks. I'm just not the best when it comes to taking things apart when electricity is involved. I don't want to put my turn signal on and have the radio change stations ... lol.

Anyway, thank you.

You’ll be fine. Just take your time. And feel free to ask anything here. I personally am happy to help walk you through anything regarding electrical connections. Tons of others on here that have extensive audio and general 12v electrical experience.

My first general recommendation, but wouldn’t be my last one, is get a harness. That way any wire splicing is done to the harness, not the harness of your jeep. Harnesses go in between the jeep and your existing or aftermarket head unit. So you never modify the factory wiring at all.

 

[Mr Miami]

You’ll be fine. Just take your time. And feel free to ask anything here. I personally am happy to help walk you through anything regarding electrical connections. Tons of others on here that have extensive audio and general 12v electrical experience.

My first general recommendation, but wouldn’t be my last one, is get a harness. That way any wire splicing is done to the harness, not the harness of your jeep. Harnesses go in between the jeep and your existing or aftermarket head unit. So you never modify the factory wiring at all.

Thank you soooo much. It is great to have resources like yourself to learn and share experiences with.

Harnesses. Will do. Yes, messing with the factory wiring can lead to many problems, especially when working on other projects and the instructions expect to see the stock/original configurations.
I appreciate your (or others) suggestions.

 

[dayusmc]

Crutchfield is the best for people who don’t have experience in car audio. They will help you with any problems, their tech support is really good.
I would describe their tech support as good as DEI “DirectTech” for DEI (Viper and other brands) installers back in the day… (For anyone out there that use to be in the Car Sound and Alarm business, Dam I feel old)
So best you are going to get on a mass scale. I highly recommend them!! And they are actually happy and friendly peppers!

 

[bd100]

Got some upgraded speakers from them. Came with little connector harnesses. Worked great, better sound, easy to do. Only dealt with the website, not any humans. Good and accurate info.

Start with speakers. Gets rid of the midrange-heavy boxy sound.

 

[Dilly’S Willy]

CF is generall a great place for parts/knowlegde, but after I had a call with their sales team, they're just pushing high profit items even if they are less commonly used compared to another product that does the same thing, at least when you call for questions on a product.

I called about the PAC AmpPro for my JT, they kept pushing another brands product EVEN AFTER i stated how THAT product didn't have a feature I needed/wanted. Their response "Well you COULD use that, but with THIS product you get the same thing, and you could just use an EQ in-line with it and your radio". Dude was unwilling to listen and provide the product recommendations based on MY build requirements, and just wanted to sell more products...even after being informed I didn't want/need those items.

They DO however provide some free items that help during the install. Not always, but sometimes. And sometimes you won't need the free stuff, or they don't provide something you WILL need.

Also try SonicElectronix, I've used them in the past, and they were once MUCH cheaper than CF for the SAME product. Not quite as much as they once were but you still find good deals that CF won't have, and some products they won't stock since they only carry currently marketed products while SE will stock some previous generation equipment.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Thank you soooo much. It is great to have resources like yourself to learn and share experiences with.

Harnesses. Will do. Yes, messing with the factory wiring can lead to many problems, especially when working on other projects and the instructions expect to see the stock/original configurations.
I appreciate your (or others) suggestions.

If you get stuck, send me a pm and I’ll share contact info.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I buy most of my car audio stuff from Crutchfield. Might cost more sometimes, but I feel like they've always had the correct parts and a good tidy package for me to work with.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

CF is generall a great place for parts/knowlegde, but after I had a call with their sales team, they're just pushing high profit items even if they are less commonly used compared to another product that does the same thing, at least when you call for questions on a product.

I called about the PAC AmpPro for my JT, they kept pushing another brands product EVEN AFTER i stated how THAT product didn't have a feature I needed/wanted. Their response "Well you COULD use that, but with THIS product you get the same thing, and you could just use an EQ in-line with it and your radio". Dude was unwilling to listen and provide the product recommendations based on MY build requirements, and just wanted to sell more products...even after being informed I didn't want/need those items.

They DO however provide some free items that help during the install. Not always, but sometimes. And sometimes you won't need the free stuff, or they don't provide something you WILL need.

Also try SonicElectronix, I've used them in the past, and they were once MUCH cheaper than CF for the SAME product. Not quite as much as they once were but you still find good deals that CF won't have, and some products they won't stock since they only carry currently marketed products while SE will stock some previous generation equipment.

I forgot about Sonic!! I purchased some subs from them Many Moons ago. Good experience there as well.

Sponsored