Best 3.5" dash speakers? (direct replacement, no amps, no other speakers)

[Jgfromthesip]

I am not yet convinced that measurements made with a DC voltmeter of an audio signal that changes voltage faster than the DC voltmeter can detect, will be an accurate indication of the signal phase of the audio signal. I wanted to do some additional investigation and bought one of the cheap signal phase/polarity testers off of Amazon. Although I'm not real confident in these testers either based on comments from users with inconsistent results, it's not a lot of money so I decided to give it a try.

I have a 2018 JL and a 2020 JT, both with the same dash and sound bar speaker upgrades and Metra adapter wiring flipped so the factory designated + wire connects to the speaker +. The polarity tester indicated positive polarity with all the upgraded speakers, confirming the accuracy of the factory wiring diagram. But the lower dash factory speakers indicated negative polarity, so either the factory speaker polarity is reversed or the short patch wires (not shown on the diagram) that connect the lower dash speaker enclosure to the factory wires are reversed.

I reversed the polarity of the upgraded dash and sound bar speakers in the JL and confirmed with the polarity tester that all the speakers were in phase, all negative. Next I played the same music in the JL and JT and jumped back and for comparing the sound. There was an obvious improvement in the mid range and lower frequencies and over increased volume in the JL which would correspond with changing the lower dash speakers from out of phase to in phase. Finished up with making the same change to the JT, also using the tester to confirm that the speakers were now in phase.

I drove it this way for a couple weeks and occasionally perceived a new mid range harshness in some of my music. Wondering if maybe the out of phase lower dash speakers had selective improvement in some types of music, I swapped the JL's upgraded speakers back out of phase for additional evaluation. With the speakers out of phase, there was less mid range, so less mid range harshness, but again I confirmed that the over all sound quality was better with all the speakers in phase. I suspect the mid range harshness is a result of the additional mid range volume verses the acoustic characteristics of the JT/JL.

So here’s some more pics ….so I checked the stock speaker with a 9 volt battery to check polarity … battery test determined the right side is positive …as you see the green wire is on the right ….so on the factory harness the green wire should be attached to green /violet for positive … but as you see it’s attached to green yellow .. which means jeep wired it wrong ..I used the polarity app to the Check polarity before install and it was negative while all the rest were positive … I did swap the wires around in the Metra harness to make make the new speaker polarity positive …

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[Radio Guy]

You will see speakers wired out of phase within a speaker enclosure because crossover components will alter the phase. You might see a woofer wired in phase with the speaker input but a midrange might be wired out of phase due to a series capacitor in the crossover. Then a tweeter could be either way depending on what components are between the speaker wires and the tweeter. The end result however is all speakers within the enclosure are playing in phase to your ears.

The only place I've seen some speaker enclosures wired out of phase is like a soundstage at Disneyland where they must keep the sound inside the park and not bother the neighborhood. Engineers will figure out how to wire some speakers out of phase to cancel the sound a block or two away but not affect the audience close to the stage.

I should of specified.... I've seen it home audio.

 

[FLGladiator]

The infinity references will really come alive when you change out the knee pods to a more bassy speaker like the JBL GTO629s.

 

[Cape taco12]

Did the Kickers. Plug right in and make a huge difference to me and I’m not a sound guy. But now I can immediately notice that my sound bar is lacking… why did I wait 3 years?

 

[DocMike]

I did my front two.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0878YRT8X?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Y2FTW4L?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details


This is what I bought. It was plug and play. My kid and I did it at night in about 30m from opening the box to the sound test.

First impressions:

Dramatic increase in volume.
Sirius compresses the shit out of their music, but I noticed much more highs. Lots of clarity from the hi hat and other cymbals. I want to run some Mp4s through there and listen a bit more.
Granted it's not my vinyl at home. Really curious how better it will be with the top off.
Planning on buying two more for the sound bar since this was stupid easy to do and will look for a sub. Not a bad upgrade over stock for the price.

I do not have these speakers but it is easy enough to replace the 3.5s in the dash and the sound bar.

I have Alpine Tweeters in the front dash.

 

[IOS-XR]

I was going through the garage today, through some of my older car stereo stuff I still had and found a new in box set of MB Quart DKC108 3.5” speakers. I’m going to pick up a set of wiring adapters and toss them in my dash.

I‘ll probably call MB Quart and see if they’re “Jeep” specific 3.5’s will “blend” with the DKC’s. If so I’ll get a set for the roll bar.

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