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Base vs Alpine

bangolia

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I have had 2 JTs now and have had both systems. I will say that the sound quality is not super noticeable to me. My wife and I pick up a little more base and I think the overall output is louder.

With that said, my new one is the one with the alpine and the 8.4 and it is 100% worth the added $$$. The bigger screen has so many more options and is laid out so much better. For example, when running CarPlay, on the 7” it puts car play in a small 4x4 box and is almost useless while on the 8.4 it fills up the entire length of the screen with just a strip removed at the bottom for menu buttons. If I were to do it again this is absolutely a feature I would pay for again.
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Jay Gatsby

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Mileage will vary. Audio output will sound different to everyone. You need to jump in a JT and listen for yourself. The Alpine system is louder. I agree that the 8.4 screen is a nice upgrade if it's worth the $$$ to you.
 
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On the 8.4” screen, you can adjust where your buttons are located at the bottom. You can select which ones are there, and not there, and their order in the bottom row. For example, I put my Off-road Pages on there. Very simple and easy to do, and it’s a really cool feature. Not sure if the other screen sizes offer it? :like:
 

arosen1997

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Just my two cents on it:
I've got the Alpine premium speaker package in mine. I'm also somewhat of an audiophile so good sound matters to me.
If you already know how to install a stereo system in your vehicle then the money you'd spend on the alpine system would be better spent putting your own system in.
However if you need to pay someone then the alpine system is worth it.
It's a good system but there's no way to adjust it aside from treble, mid, bass. A three band EQ will never land you with a good flat frequency response across the different speakers no matter how hard you try.
I'm honestly rather appalled that Jeep would call this premium without at least a 7 band EQ, Let alone the 11 band and more EQ adjustments I'm used to having from Alpines own higher end head units in previous vehicles.
As for the actual sound from it, for the most part is good, there's a noticeable spot in the mid base that gets pretty bad sometimes. Overall it's definitely a fine system, I just think for the price if you bought a system and installed if yourself, even using the stock head unit and an external line level EQ then you'd achieve better results.
 

Jay Gatsby

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Just my two cents on it:
I've got the Alpine premium speaker package in mine. I'm also somewhat of an audiophile so good sound matters to me.
If you already know how to install a stereo system in your vehicle then the money you'd spend on the alpine system would be better spent putting your own system in.
However if you need to pay someone then the alpine system is worth it.
It's a good system but there's no way to adjust it aside from treble, mid, bass. A three band EQ will never land you with a good flat frequency response across the different speakers no matter how hard you try.
I'm honestly rather appalled that Jeep would call this premium without at least a 7 band EQ, Let alone the 11 band and more EQ adjustments I'm used to having from Alpines own higher end head units in previous vehicles.
As for the actual sound from it, for the most part is good, there's a noticeable spot in the mid base that gets pretty bad sometimes. Overall it's definitely a fine system, I just think for the price if you bought a system and installed if yourself, even using the stock head unit and an external line level EQ then you'd achieve better results.
Totally agree with this. I've also noticed the issues with the mid-tones. I had a nice custom built system in my previous truck I spent around $3k on which was much better. I used the OEM head unit and added a digital sound processor to clean it up along with nice speakers and a sub. I opted for the Alpine Premium on my JT. No regrets, but my expectations were not high. It's good, and loud enough to overcome wind and road noise.
 

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Swayze

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So I have the 8.4” screen with the Alpine system on my new JT. It came with the Premium soft top and I wanted more power in the sound as I figured it would be a louder ride.

I have been very happy with it, I’ve driven some other new jeeps with the base stereo and it didn’t seem as good. It’s really hard to compare as the drive experience and what you are listening to can change everything.

I have the 8.4” so the alpine upgrade was bundled in, I think if you are adding it to the 7” where it adds like another $1295 then maybe it’s a different equation.

I Just upgraded from my 2018 Tacoma TRD sport to the JT, the stock system in the Tacoma was trash and so I had to fix it. I think I dropped around $3500 on solving that problem, so the Alpine may not sound as good as that did, but it kind of quenched my thirst on that need, so it probably saved me $3K-$4K.

For me it’s like if you gave me something I’d be like oh this is great, but if I personally build / design it, it can’t ever really be good enough haha.
 

MPETE

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Has anyone here compared the JL system to the JT?
I had a JLU rental for a week last July. It had the base system and for me, it was perfectly fine. If the base JT system is comparable to the base JLU system, I feel no need to upgrade to the more expensive setup.
 
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JKLivin833

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Just as a heads up, I went with the 7 inch in a Rubicon. I found almost the exact truck I was looking for, minus tow package. I find the speakers to be pretty good. Are they Earth shattering? No. They are, however, much better than the stock speakers from my 15 JK. With that said, my 16 JKU with Alpine was better. Overall, I’m impressed.
 

jebiruph

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Has anyone here compared the JL system to the JT?
I had a JLU rental for a week last July. It had the base system and for me, it was perfectly fine. If the base JT system is comparable to the base JLU system, I feel no need to upgrade to the more expensive setup.
I have both and they are the same.
 

MPETE

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jurfie

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Has anyone here compared the JL system to the JT?
I had a JLU rental for a week last July. It had the base system and for me, it was perfectly fine. If the base JT system is comparable to the base JLU system, I feel no need to upgrade to the more expensive setup.
I want a sticker of your avatar. :CWL:
 

REDJT

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Given a choice, no way I'd spend that much money on a stereo in a vehicle with a small interior cabin and one that I'm going to be driving with the top off half the time. I just got the 7-inch screen and upgraded all the speakers, built a subwoofer box, and dropped in a quality 10" sub. I put in an amp dedicated just for the subwoofer. I spent around three hundred seventy five bucks total and my system rocks and pushes as much if not more bass than the "premium" system for 1/4 the cost. The savings went to a level kit, new black outlaw wheels, 2 sets of led lights, tonneau cover, and herculiner and I still haven't spent what just the 8.4 system costs. Heck the 7" has Android auto for nav or I just use my phone.
 

Puttyandnapalm

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The alpine in the JT is the second best stock system I’ve had (first being in an Acura).

however, I found the bass lacking. I added an 8” kicker sub that fills in the gap nicely.

I don’t regret the alpine package, but if you’re the type to tinker with audio, you could probably build something comparable with deeper bass
 

Swayze

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The alpine in the JT is the second best stock system I’ve had (first being in an Acura).

however, I found the bass lacking. I added an 8” kicker sub that fills in the gap nicely.

I don’t regret the alpine package, but if you’re the type to tinker with audio, you could probably build something comparable with deeper bass
To add the sub did you have to add an amp and some sort of controller for the sub or could the stock stereo handle the addition? Or did you swap the stock sub?
 

Puttyandnapalm

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To add the sub did you have to add an amp and some sort of controller for the sub or could the stock stereo handle the addition? Or did you swap the stock sub?
My amp accepts speaker level input, so I tapped into the stock subwoofer. That was easy compared to running the power wire from the battery though....

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