Alpine Premium Audio Worth It?

[ShadowsPapa]

If you’re not into upgrading audio stuff and enjoy music I think it’s worth it. It’s the best stereo I’ve ever had and I enjoy it. I can finally feel the double bass drum kicking.

You never had a Silverado, I guess.

This JT is nothing like past systems I had.
My Comanche had 4 tweeters, 4 midrange and 2 8" subs, 2 amps (about 500 watts total) powered through 2 breakers and a REAL EQ, not this pretend graphic thing that can only change huge ranges of frequencies. Yes, I had 3500 bucks wrapped up in audio but I could create some serious sound pressure and the bass was so crazy crisp and clean it reminded me being back in HS band surrounded by real drums. No mud like this has.

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[BlackBessy]

You never had a Silverado, I guess.

To be fair, comparisons here are a stretch regardless. Silverado (GM) life is all I've ever came from, first time Jeep (JT) owner now for 2wks. Silverado better audio, better tech by a landslide, better ride comfort by a landslide, better towing by a landslide, offroading? ... comparable unless we're talking extremes, room and comfort factor for passenger another landslide, .... yet here I am. Time will tell.

 

[Radio Guy]

I had the non alpine in my 2019 Cherokee. Wanted the bigger screen in the JT which forced me into the Apline. I think it is a noticeably good upgrade.

I am not an big audio person though and just about like everything else aftermarket can probably do it better.

I have to admit never hearing the lower tier non Alpine Premium setup, so I don't know how much of an audio upgrade the premium really is. I do know the JT is lacking some things that make it easier to get good clean punchy bass like space. The second thing its lacking is space, and so on.

Some of the punchy sound that people are looking for is actually in the lower mid range and doesn't or shouldn't come from a sub woofer. To me the bass in my JT sounds like its crossed over a little too high in frequency where the sub is encroaching into the lower mid range and that is a recipe for muddy bass. I turned my bass down several notches from factory "0" like -4 or -5 and the bass really cleaned up, although its not as pronounced in the typical sub range any more.

I think an experienced stereo shop who has time and components to try could come up with a winning combination, but its a science experiment. I don't think you can hand them a JT cold turkey and have the first set of any speakers that go in be the best possible sound, it will take some experimenting. And there is the problem for the do it yourself people, unless someone knows the magic formula you might spend a lot of time and $$ and not get the sound you want.

We need someone with the magic formula, and hopefully a reasonably priced one who can share that and take out the mystery and need for experimentation. But that someone has to be in the know on car stereo sound and be able to recognize when they have "the" sound everyone wants. I suspect it will take some test equipment like an audio spectrum analyzer, some calibrated ears and custom high order cross over networks, in addition to the right speakers.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I have to admit never hearing the lower tier non Alpine Premium setup, so I don't know how much of an audio upgrade the premium really is. I do know the JT is lacking some things that make it easier to get good clean punchy bass like space. The second thing its lacking is space, and so on.

Some of the punchy sound that people are looking for is actually in the lower mid range and doesn't or shouldn't come from a sub woofer.

And yet - a Comanche cab compared to the JT space? The JT has at least 2.5 times the cabin space of a Comanche and my midrange and lower end in that little Comanche blows the JT away.

I had an Alpine CD that was used to compare systems, and it had excellent tunes for showing off your system. The sound from that little truck was so amazing, I could hear instruments in it that I didn't before realize some songs even had, and the ability to cleanly hear lyrics being sung.
You could feel the percussion in your chest.

Like you, I'm running the "Bass" in the JT at a negative, can't recall if it's -4 or what, but it helped some.

 

[Radio Guy]

And yet - a Comanche cab compared to the JT space? The JT has at least 2.5 times the cabin space of a Comanche and my midrange and lower end in that little Comanche blows the JT away.

I had an Alpine CD that was used to compare systems, and it had excellent tunes for showing off your system. The sound from that little truck was so amazing, I could hear instruments in it that I didn't before realize some songs even had, and the ability to cleanly hear lyrics being sung.
You could feel the percussion in your chest.

Like you, I'm running the "Bass" in the JT at a negative, can't recall if it's -4 or what, but it helped some.

Is that a stock system or custom in the Comanche?

 

[Dakota Kid]

Having never taken a test drive or ride in a Gladiator with a stock system I can’t tell you the difference there. I can from an F-150 limited with their higher end Sony system (what you get with Nav option), and I like the overall sound a little better in my Gladiator…I did have to lower the bass on the EQ to try and tighten it up, and fully agree with Shadowpapa that it needs a real EQ…can one download something a little more robust into the system to help with that?

i think the equipment is decent, but needs better control to truly take advantage of set up. Overall, will definitely surround you with sound top on…haven’t driven with top off yet to test the required sound level differential others are talking about.

Easy answer is to take one Gladiator with standard stereo on test drive, immediately get onto one with Alpine, take for test drive in same exact route to be fair ( play same song via blue tooth or CarPlay if possible) and judge for yourself).

I deal with home theaters, and there is rarely a time that more money doesn’t get you better sound…name on the equipment aside. But comparing my high end custom installed and calibrated equipment to a sound bar and sub from Best Buy isn’t a fair fight. You just have to know what your budget is and get the best bang for the buck…. Unless you’re going to pay for aftermarket professional installation/components, the factory Alpine is probably as high up the food chain as you’ll go in the end anyway.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Is that a stock system or custom in the Comanche?

Custom Alpine - in 1988. Ironic, really. The system in 1988, the technology, the sound, the speakers, decades ago, sounded better in that tiny little truck than a "premium" Alpine system of today. The speakers in that truck 34 years ago were twice the premium speakers of the JT - and my speakers back then weren't the best because I couldn't afford truly good speakers.

 

[jeepstertim]

Perhaps my ears are shot away but I think it's brilliant. Love the bass.

 

[Outside Reality Check]

8.4 screen YES, sub woofer behind back seat - better than a sharp stick in the eye. It encourages some bass. The premium audio is a good place to start. At least until you know what you ultimately want to do. It actually sounds decent for what it is. I wound up just changing out, and up sizing the speakers to 6.5" where possible. I felt that given the poor acoustics; a hefty sum of money to legitimately upgrade was a bridge too far.

 

[Radio Guy]

Custom Alpine - in 1988. Ironic, really. The system in 1988, the technology, the sound, the speakers, decades ago, sounded better in that tiny little truck than a "premium" Alpine system of today. The speakers in that truck 34 years ago were twice the premium speakers of the JT - and my speakers back then weren't the best because I couldn't afford truly good speakers.

Many vehicles, even tiny ones have space between inner and outer walls for decent size speakers where the JT is lacking from what I've seen. The space between walls provided enough of what the speaker wants to produce decent bass in these cases. I don't know where you could put a 6X9 or larger speaker with some needed space behind them and the doors in the JT don't look like good candidates and also look like a PIA to deal with.

Another problem I see is the nearly vertical front windshield. In most other vehicles the windshield is slanted quite a bit and top dash mounted speakers reflect off the windshield at your head. In the JT they go mostly up and the very directional high frequencies don't have a good path to your ears. The speaker enclosures on the upper sound bar have enough internal space for mid range but not low frequency drivers, you will never get good bass out of those.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Many vehicles, even tiny ones have space between inner and outer walls for decent size speakers where the JT is lacking from what I've seen. The space between walls provided enough of what the speaker wants to produce decent bass in these cases. I don't know where you could put a 6X9 or larger speaker with some needed space behind them and the doors in the JT don't look like good candidates and also look like a PIA to deal with.

Another problem I see is the nearly vertical front windshield. In most other vehicles the windshield is slanted quite a bit and top dash mounted speakers reflect off the windshield at your head. In the JT they go mostly up and the very directional high frequencies don't have a good path to your ears. The speaker enclosures on the upper sound bar have enough internal space for mid range but not low frequency drivers, you will never get good bass out of those.

Comanche was very limited in space because of its small size and thin doors. Granted the JT is a bit more thin but the Comanche was a very tight truck in that way. I had 6" speakers for midrange and the tweeters were mounted in the doors where the electric window and lock switches would have been in a truck so equipped, and in the corners behind the doors. Midrange were also in the doors and in the rear corners of the cab. The subs were in a box I made using a computer program from ancient history. They were directly behind each seat, and actually when the seat was back, they touched the back of the seat backs.

There is no way to do this in the JT because of the removable top and yes, that bar above is not going to work well for decent sound. It's extremely limited. There's just no way to get truly great sound in there. But it sure could be better. My Chevy had really small speakers in the area where the A pillars joined the roof. A good spot. But they had plenty of real estate there.

 

[Challenger85]

I like it but I’d also never go less than the 8.4” screen and that’s what you’re really getting here.

 

[redrider]

I went off the deep end when stationed overseas in the 70s. I learned a lot about audio. Whatever brand you choose, there are usually good, better and best unit offerings from each. I doubt top tier speakers were chosen for the system or it would be too expensive of an upgrade, a non-seller. I spent several thousands of dollars on my components. Currently repairing the 50 year old Dual 701 turntable because there is nothing better and affordable.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I went off the deep end when stationed overseas in the 70s. I learned a lot about audio. Whatever brand you choose, there are usually good, better and best unit offerings from each. I doubt top tier speakers were chosen for the system or it would be too expensive of an upgrade, a non-seller. I spent several thousands of dollars on my components. Currently repairing the 50 year old Dual 701 turntable because there is nothing better and affordable.

Do you do turntable repair? I have a JVC linear tracking turntable from the 1980s that has gotten stiff and slow with age (well, my joints don't work as well any more either) and I'm sure it just needs cleaning and lube.

 

[Deleted member 22728]

Is the Alpine Premium Audio worth the upgrade cost?

Yes indeed.

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