Sound System Suggestions

[ShawnL]

Truck came with the insulation panels on the roof. I’ll look into the floor insulation. Thanks

Kicker HS10 fits behind the drivers side rear seat. I wasn’t impressed with the HS10, didn’t provide anything over the factory sub. Feed 500W to a 10” Kicker L7T and it pounds. Fits nicely under the passenger rear seat.

The 7” head unit and speakers in the base system are pure garbage. There is nothing worth saving in the base system in my opinion. The 8.4 head unit is better, but even the alpine speakers included with the option are only a marginal upgrade.

I was really hoping for a behind the seat solution. Was hoping to keep the under seat storage. Thanks!!

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[ShawnL]

Truck came with the insulation panels on the roof. I’ll look into the floor insulation. Thanks

I was really hoping for a behind the seat solution. Was hoping to keep the under seat storage. Thanks!!

I found this company that has a behind the seat subwoofer option. Anyone familiar with them ?

https://oemaudioplus.com/jeep/

 

[geneinhouston]

1st realize that your Gladiator may not sound like the Grand Wagoneer. Let's just say we don't have the sound deadening that behemoth has. There are some great head units out there especially if you do not need it for the screen to be over 7 inches. If that's the case, I personally like the Kenwood Excelon series. If want a bigger screen your options are Stinger Heigh10, Insane Audio JL4001, the Alpine units (extremely expensive), and a couple of Android units. On this forum, you'll find good and bad about all of them. Along with that an upgrade of the speakers, if you want that Macintosh sound probably going to prefer the Focal over the Kicker speakers. You will also need an amp especially when you remove the Freedom Tops. Good Luck

i need you as a fellow houston friend when i am ready to upgrade! i know nothing about the technical aspects of audio yet i have over 28,000 PURCHASED songs combined between cd/itunes/apple music haha!

 

[TigerInFL]

Truck came with the insulation panels on the roof. I’ll look into the floor insulation. Thanks

yea those panels are probably from Mopar. i have them and they are pretty cheap. nothing behind them at all.

check out Coverking. gives you the most complete coverage. a little more of pain to install than hot heads, but overall more coverage and will look much better than the ones from Mopar.

 

[bryanklay]

I just upgraded the speakers in my Jeep with Terra Acoustics for the front speakers, JBL 6 1/2 two way speakers at the knees, MQ Quart 6x9 in the sound bar as well as tweeters in the sound bar. In my opinion , the factory radio is just fine, but the speakers need to be replaced. I have had many people listen to the system and they agree the sound is great.

 

[ShawnL]

I just upgraded the speakers in my Jeep with Terra Acoustics for the front speakers, JBL 6 1/2 two way speakers at the knees, MQ Quart 6x9 in the sound bar as well as tweeters in the sound bar. In my opinion , the factory radio is just fine, but the speakers need to be replaced. I have had many people listen to the system and they agree the sound is great.

No Subwoofers?

 

[bryanklay]

No Subwoofers?

i am working on replacing the original subwoofer speaker next and i am not sure with what yet. i was waiting for the terra acoustics first to see what to do next. I have the 8.4 radio with the alpine system.

 

[ShawnL]

i am working on replacing the original subwoofer speaker next and i am not sure with what yet. i was waiting for the terra acoustics first to see what to do next. I have the 8.4 radio with the alpine system.

Gotcha!

 

[DiscoSlug]

What is the quality of the source audio you are using? If it is from an app, what is the streaming bitrate?

I have the stock bottom end radio with no subwoofer. I side-hustled in college and for another decade after installing sound systems in people's driveways and on the street. Poor audio quality from the source was a point of contention. I'm pleasantly surprised by the audio quality out of the stock gladiator system with some playing around in the EQ. Without spending huge money, the only thing it needs is a single 10/12" subwoofer in my opinion to sound as good as it is gonna get in this type of vehicle.

 

[bryanklay]

What is the quality of the source audio you are using? If it is from an app, what is the streaming bitrate?

I use the xm radio as well as a usb thumb drive. over the weekend, i met up with my audio specialist and his only suggestion was to replace the subwoofer speaker with maybe something like the Alpine S-W8D4 S-Series 8" subwoofer with dual 4-ohm voice coils.
below is the link for the terra acoustics website. I hope this helps.

https://terraacoustics.com/

 

[ShawnL]

What is the quality of the source audio you are using? If it is from an app, what is the streaming bitrate?

I have the stock bottom end radio with no subwoofer. I side-hustled in college and for another decade after installing sound systems in people's driveways and on the street. Poor audio quality from the source was a point of contention. I'm pleasantly surprised by the audio quality out of the stock gladiator system with some playing around in the EQ. Without spending huge money, the only thing it needs is a single 10/12" subwoofer in my opinion to sound as good as it is gonna get in this type of vehicle.

Typically I use my music library from my iPhone and stream Quboz hi res files. Frankly I would love recording studio quality however I have a kid in college and spending 10k on a stereo for my truck is not on the horizon I would like to keep myself around the 2 k mark though.

 

[Chocolyle]

I build a fiberglass sub enclosure for behind one of the seats, first one. I used an Audio Control LC5.1200 (?) amp. I had my old Boston Pro 6.5's, roll bar with adapters, knee dash and upper dash for the tweeter. Stock 7" head. Sounds amazing, hits and cranks!

Enclosure was pretty straight forward. Here is a link to my write up on here.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...sub-amp-install-audio-control-lc5-1300.63078/

It was a lot of work, worth it yes, do it again . . . . .I'm getting too old for this stuff.

 

[dinosaurkun]

you don't necessarily need an aftermarket head unit.
you can use the PAC AP4-CH41R2 if you want to keep the stock head unit.
though...i'd consider an aftermarket one if you don't have the 8.4" head unit just for size alone.
i wanted a few extra features the stinger heigh10 had...so i went that route.
the stinger uses a similar PAC unit to the one above...and i've had success with PAC units in other vehicles.
some people have had luck with the JL4001.
i have one...but never installed it, so i don't have any info on it.
i'd avoid the phoenix or other aftermarket 12" android based screens...you get what you pay for.
i've tried the phoenix one...and returned it for various reasons.

you can fit an amp and compact powered sub behind the back panel.
feel free to break all the clips on the top of the back panel...it won't rattle despite doing so.
i stuffed an AudioControl LC 6.1200 + Kicker 46HS10 back there.
the kicker sub won't shake your whole home...but it packs a decent punch.
more importantly, it didn't seem as muddled as the OEM sub to me.
unfortunately...any subs behind the seat/back panel are low powered (ie. 200W or less), overpriced, or you'll have to fabricate your own custom enclosure.
but, at least you'll keep your under-seat storage.
i use it regularly, so i couldn't place a large sub under there.

i swapped all the OEM speakers out with AudioFrog ones...and increased the soundbar ones to 6.5 coaxial ones.
i wouldn't recommended them if you don't want to cut stuff to fit them better.
if you don't mind doing so...they're pretty nice.
Infinity, Kicker, JL, and etc. all make decent sounding speakers that may fit better.
it was also pretty easy to run my own speaker wire to all locations rather that fiddling with the wire bundles.
but, if you go the PAC AP4 route...i think they have a harness that lets you use the factory speaker wire.

the topliner from coverking covers almost all visible areas on the interior surface of the hardtop.
any butyl mat (eg. Kilmat, Dynamat, and etc.) placed under the headliner would be fine.
i put a bunch behind the back panel, as well.
i've never tried the Sound Assassin strips...so, i'm not sure what makes them more expensive than the others aside from the name.

all in all...it's a fun project...and the time investment is definitely rewarded by the sound you'll get.

 

[ShawnL]

you don't necessarily need an aftermarket head unit.
you can use the PAC AP4-CH41R2 if you want to keep the stock head unit.
though...i'd consider an aftermarket one if you don't have the 8.4" head unit just for size alone.
i wanted a few extra features the stinger heigh10 had...so i went that route.
the stinger uses a similar PAC unit to the one above...and i've had success with PAC units in other vehicles.
some people have had luck with the JL4001.
i have one...but never installed it, so i don't have any info on it.
i'd avoid the phoenix or other aftermarket 12" android based screens...you get what you pay for.
i've tried the phoenix one...and returned it for various reasons.

you can fit an amp and compact powered sub behind the back panel.
feel free to break all the clips on the top of the back panel...it won't rattle despite doing so.
i stuffed an AudioControl LC 6.1200 + Kicker 46HS10 back there.
the kicker sub won't shake your whole home...but it packs a decent punch.
more importantly, it didn't seem as muddled as the OEM sub to me.
unfortunately...any subs behind the seat/back panel are low powered (ie. 200W or less), overpriced, or you'll have to fabricate your own custom enclosure.
but, at least you'll keep your under-seat storage.
i use it regularly, so i couldn't place a large sub under there.

i swapped all the OEM speakers out with AudioFrog ones...and increased the soundbar ones to 6.5 coaxial ones.
i wouldn't recommended them if you don't want to cut stuff to fit them better.
if you don't mind doing so...they're pretty nice.
Infinity, Kicker, JL, and etc. all make decent sounding speakers that may fit better.
it was also pretty easy to run my own speaker wire to all locations rather that fiddling with the wire bundles.
but, if you go the PAC AP4 route...i think they have a harness that lets you use the factory speaker wire.

the topliner from coverking covers almost all visible areas on the interior surface of the hardtop.
any butyl mat (eg. Kilmat, Dynamat, and etc.) placed under the headliner would be fine.
i put a bunch behind the back panel, as well.
i've never tried the Sound Assassin strips...so, i'm not sure what makes them more expensive than the others aside from the name.

all in all...it's a fun project...and the time investment is definitely rewarded by the sound you'll get.

Thanks! I am toying with buying a replacement soundbar also to double up speaker quantity and blend.

 

[dinosaurkun]

Thanks! I am toying with buying a replacement soundbar also to double up speaker quantity and blend.

I found that swapping to 6.5" coaxials in the soundbar was great for clarity.
However, they did start to pull the soundstage toward the rear.
Fiddling with the time delay within the Heigh10 is helping somewhat.
I imagine tossing more/larger speakers there may increase that change.
However, the ideal soundstage is definitely a subjective thing.

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