Sponsored

Speaker swap

tsailor1

New Member
First Name
Todd
Joined
Dec 9, 2020
Threads
0
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Location
Kailua Kona HI
Vehicle(s)
2
Occupation
Manager
JTR 8.4Uconnect. I swapped both upper front dash and both soundbar 3.5" speakers with four Kenwood eXcelon KFC-X3C 3.5" Mid Range Speakers for Chrysler/Toyota/Others, 50 RMS Max Power (Pair) using the metra 72-7902 adapters. The sound is noticeably crisper with more depth from the front than with the factory 3.5".

Sharing a couple of things I learned if it helps anybody. The metra adapter wiring (polarity) was aligned correctly with my factory wiring harness in the dash and in the soundbar, meaning I did not need to flip the wires in the metra adapter (as is the case for many JL/JT owners) to maintain the existing polarity. Here's a wiring diagram I created, keep in mind the 8.4Uconnect uses a different factory wiring harness with differently colored wires than the other system levels.

wiring.jpg
Did you use the crossover that came attached to each speaker or did you remove it and direct wire without it?
Sponsored

 

ShastaJT6

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2020
Threads
14
Messages
409
Reaction score
431
Location
Norcal
Vehicle(s)
2021 Willy`s JT
Are you’re only sound upgraded the alpine kit and those kenwood upper dash did you do anything else?

The kenwoods came with the crossover and you initially removed, but then put back in?


i have the alpine kit and i also upgrade the smaller soundbar speakers with the dart ones—deciding if i want to upgrade the larger ones to the 4” kickers that are almost plug and play and/or if i want to change out the upper dash tweeters as well.

also you have the 7” uconnect?

Yep, mine came with the 7" U-Connect and no alpine package. Added the Alpine PSS-23WRA underseat woofer / amplifier / dash tweeter kit, then replaced the dash tweeters with the KFC-X3C`s.

I did originally install the kenwoods without the crossovers, but in my case the performance was awful, so I reinstalled them and im really happy with the system now. Can easily hear the music on the freeway with the top off and dont even have to turn it all the way up.
 

JWGladiator

Well-Known Member
First Name
John
Joined
Sep 3, 2020
Threads
2
Messages
137
Reaction score
257
Location
Knoxville, TN
Vehicle(s)
2021 Gladiator Mojave; 2020 BMW X7; 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Did you use the crossover that came attached to each speaker or did you remove it and direct wire without it?
I did this over the weekend and did not use the crossover. Worked fine. Overall it's a nice upgrade over the stock speakers.
 

Discount Dave

Well-Known Member
First Name
Dave
Joined
Aug 14, 2020
Threads
2
Messages
56
Reaction score
26
Location
Kokomo Indiana
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021 jeep Gladiator
Occupation
Electrician at FCA
The Kenwood kfc speakers are the ones to buy. I bought a pair of them and a pair of the dart speakers ended up returning the dart ones crap compared to the Kenwoods.Now im thinking of upgrading the sound bar to 6.5 inch.
 

it_trailblzr

Well-Known Member
First Name
Driver
Joined
Oct 5, 2020
Threads
5
Messages
473
Reaction score
1,065
Location
USA
Vehicle(s)
2020 JTO
Occupation
Social Extrovert
There are better quality speaker on the market then kicker and alpine.. If Im looking to do this, I'm going Focal and JL audio
Or Memphis....
Edit:
had to add a link to this: Serious Sound
 
Last edited:

Sponsored

go0001

Member
First Name
Gerald
Joined
May 30, 2020
Threads
1
Messages
20
Reaction score
18
Location
NJ
Vehicle(s)
Gladiator Overland Sting Gray
Occupation
Technology
Can anyone confirm if a 4” driver will fit on the top of the dash? I’m considering going 3-way full active up front (tweeters on A-Pillar, 4” on dash, 6.5” mods on bottom of dash) thanks!
I would say ‘no’ unless one starts cutting. When I tried a pair of Infinity 3-1/2” in the dash tweeter location that was already a tight fit (though an extremely easy install - with a 3-1/2" replacement one has to fiddle a bit with the orientation of the speaker and how to get the wiring connectors to the sides, away from the magnets, when getting the replacement speakers in).
I ended up returning them to Crutchfield because they were extremely bright reflecting off the windshield when I turned the volume up at highway speeds.
In my experience in other cars, the Infinity tweeters can be a bit bright, so I may attempt this dash replacement again with a different brand, e.g. Kenwood KFC X3C
 
Last edited:

XraytecH

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bernie
Joined
Jan 14, 2021
Threads
170
Messages
1,522
Reaction score
2,102
Location
South San Francisco
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport
Occupation
Xraytech
Vehicle Showcase
1
Got these coming in today...

617IXxPxenL._AC_SL1500_.jpg


Trying to see if I can bypass the crossover in the Alpine SPV-65-JLT...

g500SPV65JL-o_other0.jpg
Update on the Crossover Bypass

At first listen it did sound better over stock so I ran with it for three months. Then just for Shits & Giggles I checked all the polarities on all my speakers in my JT. Turns out the polarity on the Alpine tweeters in my upgraded soundbar was flipped in relation to the rest of my speakers. Not sure if bypassing the crossover caused the flip but it was easy to fix.

Cut Tweeter Wires
Flip Tweeter Wires
Crimp Tweeter Wires
Shrink Wrap Tweeter Wires
DONE

Now these speakers sound great.
 
Last edited:

XraytecH

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bernie
Joined
Jan 14, 2021
Threads
170
Messages
1,522
Reaction score
2,102
Location
South San Francisco
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport
Occupation
Xraytech
Vehicle Showcase
1
I did the upgrade and used the Metra adapter to bypass the crossover. It works great. You'll be very happy with the improved sound.
Check the polarity on the tweeters. I had to flip my wires after bypassing the crossovers.
 

JeepRealtor

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jeff
Joined
Apr 3, 2019
Threads
4
Messages
171
Reaction score
147
Location
West Bloomfield, MI
Website
www.thekashatteam.com
Vehicle(s)
2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon Launch Edition (Bright White), 2019 Ford Expedition Limited Stealth Package (Magnetic)
Occupation
Realtor
Get the upgrade pods to fit the 6.5" speakers for both the dash and soundbar. Night and day sound quality. The jl twin 10" sub below the seat is spectacular and retains the factory look.
20210218_135453.jpg


20210218_135317.jpg


20210218_135505.jpg


20210218_135446.jpg


20210218_135446.jpg


20210218_135505.jpg


20210218_135446.jpg


20210218_135317.jpg
Can you show where and how you mounted the amps?
I have the JL vxi 600 mono and 800/8 and the JL mounts for under the seats but I’m not sold on the location. Thinking I’d prefer them behind the back seats somehow.
 

Jeepmonster

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2020
Threads
7
Messages
285
Reaction score
877
Location
Socal
Vehicle(s)
2020 JTR, 1968 Chevy C10
Check the polarity on the tweeters. I had to flip my wires after bypassing the crossovers.
Thanks. Yes, I did notice that the polarity was reversed. I couldn't tell the difference in sound quality after I changed it. Likely because the dash top speakers aren't low enough in frequency to be noticed when out of phase with the other speakers.
 

Sponsored

go0001

Member
First Name
Gerald
Joined
May 30, 2020
Threads
1
Messages
20
Reaction score
18
Location
NJ
Vehicle(s)
Gladiator Overland Sting Gray
Occupation
Technology
Thanks. Yes, I did notice that the polarity was reversed. I couldn't tell the difference in sound quality after I changed it. Likely because the dash top speakers aren't low enough in frequency to be noticed when out of phase with the other speakers.
I didn't even know polarity testing was a thing till I started following Five Star Car Audio last year
(Below 15min 18sec in, they use them a lot in their videos)

 

XraytecH

Well-Known Member
First Name
Bernie
Joined
Jan 14, 2021
Threads
170
Messages
1,522
Reaction score
2,102
Location
South San Francisco
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport
Occupation
Xraytech
Vehicle Showcase
1
I didn't even know polarity testing was a thing till I started following Five Star Car Audio last year
(Below 15min 18sec in, they use them a lot in their videos)

There's a App for that =)

I use Speaker Pop for iOS

 
Last edited:

freebird_78

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2021
Threads
8
Messages
111
Reaction score
178
Location
NM
Vehicle(s)
JTRD
Thanks. Yes, I did notice that the polarity was reversed. I couldn't tell the difference in sound quality after I changed it. Likely because the dash top speakers aren't low enough in frequency to be noticed when out of phase with the other speakers.
After the replacement speakers not sounding quite right and after reading your post, I went back and double checked. Sure enough, the Metra adapters were wired wrong, flipped. Swapped the pins in the connector by unlocking the catch with a pick. I should have caught that at install, but didn't.
 

JoseQ_80

Well-Known Member
First Name
Jose
Joined
Nov 19, 2020
Threads
9
Messages
464
Reaction score
732
Location
VA
Vehicle(s)
2021 Gladiator Sport 80th Anniversary Bright White
Occupation
Highway Engineer
Jeep Gladiator Speaker swap 20210503_181120

Replaced dash speakers. Definitely "brighter". Stopped by Crutchfield in Harrisonburg VA to pick them up. Had to bend the tabs to fit, tight fit for both sides especially left side.
 

Jason Oliver

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2020
Threads
3
Messages
199
Reaction score
324
Location
Upstate SC
Vehicle(s)
'21 Gladiator Mohave, '18 Jeep Renegade Trail Hawk
Occupation
Approaching Retirement
Jeep Gladiator Speaker swap 20210503_181120

Replaced dash speakers. Definitely "brighter". Stopped by Crutchfield in Harrisonburg VA to pick them up. Had to bend the tabs to fit, tight fit for both sides especially left side.
I had JBL home speakers many years ago and LOVED them, but I replaced my dash speakers with these last month and I am disappointed. Honestly, at this price point I should not have expected big results.

They are an improvement, and I agree with the "brighter" comment, but I was expecting more.
Sponsored

 
 



Top