Sound System Upgrade

[ndesantis]

Now that I’ve been moving along with all the exterior upgrades i’m starting to transition to interior. The sound system that came stock in my 2025 gladiator is garbage.

Has anyone upgraded the sound system to something that makes a big enough difference worth doing? Also what kind of additional sound dampening did you do to alleviate the freedom covers additional road noise.

I’m thinking of doing a sub with the new speakers but not a fan of giving up my little bit of under seat storage in the back. I’ve read this is where almost all subwoofer boxes are housed.

Any info would be appreciated.

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[Chris O]

I added a Kicker HS10 self powered sub behind the rear seat. Many others have as well. It definitely makes an improvement, and it doesn’t take up any space. The stereo went from a complete embarrassment to a pleasant listen.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I added a Kicker HS10 self powered sub behind the rear seat. Many others have as well. It definitely makes an improvement, and it doesn’t take up any space. The stereo went from a complete embarrassment to a pleasant listen.

Which audio did you have originally? Wondering how much of an improvement with the Alpine stuff.

 

[Chris O]

It is the base system in a ‘25 Rubicon. Non Alpine.

 

[BSW520!]

Now that I’ve been moving along with all the exterior upgrades i’m starting to transition to interior. The sound system that came stock in my 2025 gladiator is garbage.

Has anyone upgraded the sound system to something that makes a big enough difference worth doing? Also what kind of additional sound dampening did you do to alleviate the freedom covers additional road noise.

I’m thinking of doing a sub with the new speakers but not a fan of giving up my little bit of under seat storage in the back. I’ve read this is where almost all subwoofer boxes are housed.

Any info would be appreciated.

If you don’t plan on amplifying your dash, knee and sound bar speakers in my experience it’s marginal improvement from stock.

You will gain a little more detail in the audio quality but still have little improvement in volume even if you go with lower impedance speakers.

I did sound deadening Material on the floors of my gladiators while doing the stereo systems, but didn’t bother with the doors, top etc. will probably add hot head headliner at some point though. It’s still a plastic and fiberglass laden interior.
To me and what I did was definitely worth the upgrade.

 

[jebiruph]

My speaker only upgrade sounds great and is loud enough. https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/base-system-speaker-upgrade.75015/post-1562924

 

[TCASSADY]

Now that I’ve been moving along with all the exterior upgrades i’m starting to transition to interior. The sound system that came stock in my 2025 gladiator is garbage.

Has anyone upgraded the sound system to something that makes a big enough difference worth doing? Also what kind of additional sound dampening did you do to alleviate the freedom covers additional road noise.

I’m thinking of doing a sub with the new speakers but not a fan of giving up my little bit of under seat storage in the back. I’ve read this is where almost all subwoofer boxes are housed.

Any info would be appreciated.

Check out SEVEN TRAIL. they have a package that I installed in my '24 and it is AWESOME! did lose the storage though

 

[Rouse912]

I am in the same boat. I want to add a single sub but do not want to give up the under seat space. I think I could survive with a box just taking up the underside of the 40% seat. I haven’t came across any decent boxes for that side. Yesterday I was looking at the idea of removing the plastic rear wall and making a new one out of 1/2 birch with the lower 10” being a sub box. Would then coat the thing in a liner of some kind for aesthetics and water resistance. I have Already tackled replacing the lower dash speakers and the roll bar speakers. I noticed some improved sound. Lower dash speakers seem like a big deal but was overall really easy, I took my time and it took me maybe 2 hours. I did have to slightly modify the passenger side 6” box where the speaker magnet sat on my choice of speakers but that was no biggy. I also polyfilled the enclosures. I have an amp that I wil be installing for the mids and highs. Just gotta pull the trigger on the pac controller. I’m installing the armor light floors this weekend and will be pre-running my amp lines while everything is out for that.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I am in the same boat. I want to add a single sub but do not want to give up the under seat space. I think I could survive with a box just taking up the underside of the 40% seat. I haven’t came across any decent boxes for that side. Yesterday I was looking at the idea of removing the plastic rear wall and making a new one out of 1/2 birch with the lower 10” being a sub box. Would then coat the thing in a liner of some kind for aesthetics and water resistance. I have Already tackled replacing the lower dash speakers and the roll bar speakers. I noticed some improved sound. Lower dash speakers seem like a big deal but was overall really easy, I took my time and it took me maybe 2 hours. I did have to slightly modify the passenger side 6” box where the speaker magnet sat on my choice of speakers but that was no biggy. I also polyfilled the enclosures. I have an amp that I wil be installing for the mids and highs. Just gotta pull the trigger on the pac controller. I’m installing the armor light floors this weekend and will be pre-running my amp lines while everything is out for that.

Id like to look and see how the stock sub is in there first and see if there’s a way to trim to fit a 10”. Still be a shallow mount so not huge bass but it might be good for depth of range. Maybe after all my other projects get buttoned up.

 

[Timoleon]

If you don’t plan on amplifying your dash, knee and sound bar speakers in my experience it’s marginal improvement from stock.

You will gain a little more detail in the audio quality but still have little improvement in volume even if you go with lower impedance speakers.

I did sound deadening Material on the floors of my gladiators while doing the stereo systems, but didn’t bother with the doors, top etc. will probably add hot head headliner at some point though. It’s still a plastic and fiberglass laden interior.
To me and what I did was definitely worth the upgrade.

Hot heads make a difference. My 2021 JTR has the factory liner, My 2024 JL needed the Hot Heads, and it worked!

 

[biodiesel]

The sound system that came stock in my 2025 gladiator is garbage.

The sound system on my 2023 Gladiator is also garbage. The build sheet says, "ALPINE PREMIUM AUDIO SYSTEM". I was hoping that JL Audio, Kicker, or someone reputable made a complete drop-in system for the Jeep. I don't have the desire to piecemeal a system.

 

[Rouse912]

Id like to look and see how the stock sub is in there first and see if there’s a way to trim to fit a 10”. Still be a shallow mount so not huge bass but it might be good for depth of range. Maybe after all my other projects get buttoned up.

I started with looking at that but ran into cost probably being more by the time is done. I could only find buying the factory sub box with the sub included for $200-$300. It’s a thin plastic box (could probably do a fiberglass coating to stiffen it up) and I couldn’t find any real dimensions to be able to determine what size speaker could possibly fit not counting if you have enough internal volume for it. You would have to also buy an all new factory rear wall that’s made to fit around the sub enclosure. Would give the cleanest factory look tho.

in my search I did find https://oemaudioplus.com/product/jeep-gladiator/ overall looked to be a great system, comes with a behind seat enclosure but the price tag was $3000. Wasn’t feasible for me as I already had the mids, highs, and amp from a previous jeep that got totaled.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

The sound system on my 2023 Gladiator is also garbage. The build sheet says, "ALPINE PREMIUM AUDIO SYSTEM". I was hoping that JL Audio, Kicker, or someone reputable made a complete drop-in system for the Jeep. I don't have the desire to piecemeal a system.

Trail Seven has complete packages with Kicker.

https://trailseven.com/collections/full-system-audio-bundles/vehicle_jeep-gladiator-jt-20-23

 

[biodiesel]

Trail Seven has complete packages with Kicker.

https://trailseven.com/collections/full-system-audio-bundles/vehicle_jeep-gladiator-jt-20-23

Perfect! Thank you!

 

[Jeepmonster]

I made changes over time. I have the factory Alpine system. Each change made a noticeable difference. Armorlite flooring made a noticeable difference as well (less road/suspension noise, tighter bass response). Very happy with what I have.

Terra Acoustic dash speakers.

Alpine R-S65.2 knee panel speakers in Metra pods with sound deadening and poly fill. The little tweeters don't do anything, as the factory amp only sends mid range frequencies to these channels.

Alpine SPV-65-JLT sound bar speakers.

Kicker Comp RT 10 inch sub in custom box (sealed) with Kicker CXA800.1 amp (behind rear seat).

One of my next projects will be to build a larger enclosure and replace the factory plastic bin.

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