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meckanik

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Jeff
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Des Moines, WA
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2017 JKUR
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Software dev
This is an overview of the system I installed into my Gladiator in late 2024. All work was performed by myself in the parking lot (lol) of my apt building.

The basic system design is:
  • Front speakers are 2-Way Infiniti BeTA 621Be 6.5" Components in stock location. Beryllium tweeter, carbon mid.
  • OEM 8.4 Connect Nav
  • DS18 Replacement Soundbar w/ 8" Audison APS-8D Subwoofers (doing mid-bass work)
  • Subwoofer - JL Audio 13TW5
  • Audison SR1.500 Amplifier Powering the Mid-Bass Drivers
  • JL Audio VX1000/5i Powering Front Speakers and Sub
  • PAC Audio AP4-CG41 Interface w/ TOSLINK Optical Out (to JL Amp)
  • PAC Audio APH-CH03 Interface (use factory speaker wiring for front speakers)
  • Rear seats removed (custom seat delete planned)
  • Soundskin damping kit applied to floor
  • Armorlite flooring installed
  • Hothead headliners installed
  • System is Fully Active (4-Way) via the JL Amplifier DSP. System has been time aligned, phase aligned and EQ'd to taste.

The tweeters were installed into adapters with a felt 'baffle' to reduce diffraction.

Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2782


The mid drivers were installed into aftermarket pods. The pods were lined with sound dampening material and a layer of mineral wool was added.
I made mounting braces to go on the back side of the pod 'driver mounting lip'. The braces were made of 1/4" ABS and fitted with rivnuts to allow mounting the driver with stainless machine screws, adhesive putty bead between pod and driver, thread sealant on hardware.

Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2781


Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2760


Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2783



Dash looks stealth other than the accessory mount (mandatory windshield crack).


Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2906



Rivnuts were installed into the soundbar driver mount flanges and the mid-bass drivers were installed with stainless hardware (thread sealant on hardware). Wiring into the soundbar is marine-grade, tinned, OFC with soldered connections. The wired is sealed in the harness plug with butyl rubber.

Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2822



Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2823



The soundbar tweeter mount holes were blocked with 1/4" ABS, secured with plastic epoxy. Rivnuts were installed and custom 3D printed faux grill covers were mounted with stainless hardware.

Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2909
Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2911



Subwoofer is installed into a prefab 3/4" MDF box. The box was treated with sound damping material and rock wool. The mount threads were created and hardened with super glue. The poor quality terminals were replaced with non-ferrous, spring-loaded connectors, carefully sealed.


Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2756



Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2757



Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2905




The amplifiers are mounted on 1/4" ABS with a high temperature shield underneath each amp. The ABS plate features active cooling and allows for clean wire routing. The plates are separated with stainless standoffs and secured with stainless hardware.


Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2903



3D printed wire guides.


Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2904



There is a JL Audio DRC-205 Control Knob in the front console that allows switching between audio profiles and control of the subwoofer+midbass level.

Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2907



Power comes from 2ga OFC wire directly from the battery, through a circuit breaker.

Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2914




Sneak preview of my comms install.


Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2902


Bonus pics of the Badlands winch cutoff switch.

Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2915
Jeep Gladiator Gladiator Semi-Stealth Fully Active 4-Way Stereo Install IMG_2916
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Last edited:

maninblak

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Josh
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KY
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2023 Jeep Gladiator Mojave
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UAW
Very well done
 

TheOpa

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Cyber stuff
Excellent craftsmanship and impressive work. Are you happy with the sound? I saw that you added Armorlite (maybe the best mod I have done) and Hothead headliners. Do you feel like that made enough difference to appreciate the quality of sound from your system?
 

Zachanadandy

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Does it sound ok with no rear stage? Why not add tweeters to the sound bar?
 

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Flyin6

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Excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail!
 

TARHEELKIDD

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Well, someone knows what they are doing. Very nice. :)
 

NC_Overland

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FYI, I’d never do that in an apartment complex parking lot. 9/10 times when you have a stereo stolen from your vehicle at your residence it’s because someone watched you install it, someone you know stole it, or you play it too loud near your home and the thief took notice.
 

Stan H

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Stanley
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WV
Vehicle(s)
Gladiator Rubicon 2021
Occupation
Safety Consultant
This is an overview of the system I installed into my Gladiator in late 2024. All work was performed by myself in the parking lot (lol) of my apt building.

The basic system design is:
  • Front speakers are 2-Way Infiniti BeTA 621Be 6.5" Components in stock location. Beryllium tweeter, carbon mid.
  • OEM 8.4 Connect Nav
  • DS18 Replacement Soundbar w/ 8" Audison APS-8D Subwoofers (doing mid-bass work)
  • Subwoofer - JL Audio 13TW5
  • Audison SR1.500 Amplifier Powering the Mid-Bass Drivers
  • JL Audio VX1000/5i Powering Front Speakers and Sub
  • PAC Audio AP4-CG41 Interface w/ TOSLINK Optical Out (to JL Amp)
  • PAC Audio APH-CH03 Interface (use factory speaker wiring for front speakers)
  • Rear seats removed (custom seat delete planned)
  • Soundskin damping kit applied to floor
  • Armorlite flooring installed
  • Hothead headliners installed
  • System is Fully Active (4-Way) via the JL Amplifier DSP. System has been time aligned, phase aligned and EQ'd to taste.

The tweeters were installed into adapters with a felt 'baffle' to reduce diffraction.

IMG_2782.jpeg


The mid drivers were installed into aftermarket pods. The pods were lined with sound dampening material and a layer of mineral wool was added.
I made mounting braces to go on the back side of the pod 'driver mounting lip'. The braces were made of 1/4" ABS and fitted with rivnuts to allow mounting the driver with stainless machine screws, adhesive putty bead between pod and driver, thread sealant on hardware.

IMG_2781.jpeg


IMG_2760.jpeg


IMG_2783.jpeg



Dash looks stealth other than the accessory mount (mandatory windshield crack).


IMG_2906.jpeg



Rivnuts were installed into the soundbar driver mount flanges and the mid-bass drivers were installed with stainless hardware (thread sealant on hardware). Wiring into the soundbar is marine-grade, tinned, OFC with soldered connections. The wired is sealed in the harness plug with butyl rubber.

IMG_2822.jpeg



IMG_2823.jpeg



The soundbar tweeter mount holes were blocked with 1/4" ABS, secured with plastic epoxy. Rivnuts were installed and custom 3D printed faux grill covers were mounted with stainless hardware.

IMG_2909.jpeg
IMG_2911.jpeg



Subwoofer is installed into a prefab 3/4" MDF box. The box was treated with sound damping material and rock wool. The mount threads were created and hardened with super glue. The poor quality terminals were replaced with non-ferrous, spring-loaded connectors, carefully sealed.


IMG_2756.jpeg



IMG_2757.jpeg



IMG_2905.jpeg




The amplifiers are mounted on 1/4" ABS with a high temperature shield underneath each amp. The ABS plate features active cooling and allows for clean wire routing. The plates are separated with stainless standoffs and secured with stainless hardware.


IMG_2903.jpeg



3D printed wire guides.


IMG_2904.jpeg



There is a JL Audio DRC-205 Control Knob in the front console that allows switching between audio profiles and control of the subwoofer+midbass level.

IMG_2907.jpeg



Power comes from 2ga OFC wire directly from the battery, through a circuit breaker.

IMG_2914.jpeg




Sneak preview of my comms install.


IMG_2902.jpeg


Bonus pics of the Badlands winch cutoff switch.

IMG_2915.jpeg
IMG_2916.jpeg
When is the Audiologist appointment ? 🤫🤭
 
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meckanik

meckanik

Member
First Name
Jeff
Joined
Nov 24, 2021
Threads
5
Messages
15
Reaction score
44
Location
Des Moines, WA
Vehicle(s)
2017 JKUR
Occupation
Software dev
Does it sound ok with no rear stage? Why not add tweeters to the sound bar?
Really rear stage just makes your front stage worse. Not everyone agrees but I approach it like a live show where the music is coming from in front of you.

Rear speakers pull the staging back and, IMO, this degrades the front stage. This was more of a SQ install, you rarely see rear stage in those type of installs.

Also, my midbass drivers in the soundbar are essentially doing upper subwoofer duty (the drivers are subwoofers), you wouldn’t be able to get the low end of a tweeter to meet the top end of those drivers so there would be a noticeable gap in response.

One last word on rear stage, in most cases your install will sound better if you disconnect the rear drivers and spend that money on better front components.

Thanks for the response and the kudos in the other replies; it was a fun (challenging) install and I have been loving the system.
 

yoda13

Well-Known Member
First Name
John
Joined
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Tyler, TX
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport
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Link
Above my abilities, in terms of craftsmanship. Great job!
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