Speaker polarity

[Brahmajoe]

Can somebody tell me what color wires are the negative and positive for the speakers? I put all new speakers in yesterday. The front seems fine but the sound bar seems weak as if i have the polarities switched somewhere

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[sass JT]

If someone doesn’t tell you what color does what. Pull a speaker and use a 9 volt battery and touch the terminals at the speaker while it’s out. If it goes in or out while tapping look at the +/- on the battery … you want the speaker to go out so you can see it go positive.

 

[jebiruph]

Here's my related post on the Wrangler forums https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/metra-speaker-harness-polarity.49506/

 

[ShadowsPapa]

What colors are the right side? I have swapped back in prep for the trade and never looked at the wire colors! Wondering which is + and which is - over there.

 

[bd100]

the sound bar seems weak as if i have the polarities switched somewhere

On mine the sound bar has always been weaker than the fronts, but this may be intentional because when the fader is centered the back provides a nice amount of fill. If I fade to the back alone then I have to crank up the volume some.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

On mine the sound bar has always been weaker than the fronts, but this may be intentional because when the fader is centered the back provides a nice amount of fill. If I fade to the back alone then I have to crank up the volume some.

On mine I have to move the fader forward or I don't hear the front. And I have to drop the bass down to only a couple of notches above minimum and move the others up - the bass is muddy, not crisp and clean.
The Alpine system I put in my Comanche in 1988 sounded 10 times better.

Looking for ways to make it sound even 3/4 as nice as the system in my Chevy or my wife's Grand Cherokee (which cost 15 grand less)

 

[bd100]

On mine I have to move the fader forward or I don't hear the front

Mine is Alpine but 7" display, which may be a difference.

 

[Kevin_D]

If someone doesn’t tell you what color does what. Pull a speaker and use a 9 volt battery and touch the terminals at the speaker while it’s out. If it goes in or out while tapping look at the +/- on the battery … you want the speaker to go out so you can see it go positive.

You don’t need a 9V battery. A 1-1/2V battery will do, with less chance of frying the speaker.
Also, while this will confirm speaker polarity, it tells you nothing about wiring polarity.

Kevin

 

[In3briatedPanda]

pulled this from the wrangler forums. this matched my 2021 gladiator. I tapped into the b pillar for LOC for my amp. I have the base 7" radio, no apline sub.

Good luck.

 

[jac04]

I installed 3.5" Infinity Reference REF-3032cfx speakers in the dash & sound bar. I used Metra plug adapters to install them and I did not have to switch polarity of the adapters like some people have reported.

Per the following, the sound bar wiring is white = NEG and grey = POS
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/speaker-swap.39223/page-6#post-651170

I also noticed that the installation instructions for the Select Increments JTJL Pods states:

Select Increments install instructions can be found here:
https://selectincrements.com/installation-instructions/

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Mine is Alpine but 7" display, which may be a difference.

Quite possible. If it wasn't a standard on the 2022 Overland, I'd likely pass on the premium sound but it's standard on those now.

I installed 3.5" Infinity Reference REF-3032cfx speakers in the dash & sound bar. I used Metra plug adapters to install them and I did not have to switch polarity of the adapters like some people have reported.

Per the following, the sound bar wiring is white = NEG and grey = POS
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/speaker-swap.39223/page-6#post-651170

I also noticed that the installation instructions for the Select Increments JTJL Pods states:

Select Increments install instructions can be found here:
https://selectincrements.com/installation-instructions/

Thanks for that.

 

[sass JT]

You don’t need a 9V battery. A 1-1/2V battery will do, with less chance of frying the speaker.
Also, while this will confirm speaker polarity, it tells you nothing about wiring polarity.

Kevin

I guess my 20+ years of 12 volt industry is wrong huh?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I guess my 20+ years of 12 volt industry is wrong huh?

I didn't see that post as that way -just suggesting that 9 volts may be a lot for some speakers.
And these days - how many people have 9 volt batteries laying around?
A 1.5 will do - any AA, C, D, whatever.

I didn't see it as saying you were wrong - just expanding on it saying don't go out and buy a 9 volt battery, any lesser battery will do.

 

[kevman65]

Well, take the wire coloring with a grain of salt.

I just switched out the 3.5" speakers in sound bar and top of dash and each set had a pink and something else wire in it.

 

[Kevin_D]

I guess my 20+ years of 12 volt industry is wrong huh?

I didn't see that post as that way -just suggesting that 9 volts may be a lot for some speakers.
And these days - how many people have 9 volt batteries laying around?
A 1.5 will do - any AA, C, D, whatever.

I didn't see it as saying you were wrong - just expanding on it saying don't go out and buy a 9 volt battery, any lesser battery will do.

I didn't mean that a 9V battery won't work, but more like @ShadowsPapa meant.

Kevin

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