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2015 Sound system - HORRIBLE

16K views 120 replies 73 participants last post by  McJeep67 
#1 ·
Hey guys, before I purchased my 2015 WW Wrangler, I wasn't sure if I wanted to get the Alpine audio system. I haven't heard the Alpine, but I must WARN you that the STOCK 2015 sound system is absolutely horrible. (Yes, it's better than your 1980 XYZ, but if you want to compare it to a 2010 Kia, the Kia would probably win)

I would strongly advise you to upgrade to the Alpine. Granted, I've only owned my Wrangler for ONE day, but I can assure you that the system sucks compared to my previous vehicles. (My other car currently is a 2010 Audi A4).

My work car is a 2012 Chevy Impala or a 2012 Ford Escape, both of which have a much better sound system at a cheaper price.

Anyone have any recommendations on upgrades?
 
#2 ·
I swapped out all my speakers and it has helped a lot. Still not as nice as a REAL system, but at least with the new speakers I could hear music with the soft top down. I bought my jeep with the 130 knowing I'd upgrade myself aftermarket.

LOTS of people say the 2015 sound system is eons better than the 2014. So just imagine how unhappy you'd be with THAT one! :D

Polk DB 651 and 6501 slim fit. Ran less than $200 on Amazon, and that replaced all the stock speakers.
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the input as ALWAYS. How many speakers would I have to replace for a better and crisper sound with added bass? I generally listen to country and hip hop. (Opposites, I know!)

I used to run the Polk DB 650's 10 years ago when I was into the tuner scene. Is polk still a respectable and quality brand? I don't mind spending up to $700 to have the system sound comparable or better to the Alpine system.
 
#4 ·
I haven't tested the base version in a 2015, but we ran an acoustic test tonight on one with the Alpine and it was balanced very well for a stock system. It's one of the few times I can say that if I bought a new Jeep I'd do the upgrade and probably keep it a mostly stock sound system.

The benefit you should have is that you don't have the amp controlling your fade, even with aftermarket options, so you have an open platform to work with.

Take a look at some speakers options, there's a nice Kicker upgrade, and there's a thread on how to mod your tweeters. I know they have changed but I haven't looked into how much this stuff applies to the 2015. Over the next few months there will be a lot more discussion as people buy and start modding them too.
 
#5 ·
I'm not writing to negate the OP's opinion, just to say that it doesn't match my experience at all.

I'm very happy with the Alpine 9-speaker system. (NOTE: that might have something to do with my music choices).

The Equalizer / Fade Balance software in the 430 is, IMO, the true weak link.

In their effort to be as simple as possible they removed some of the power/flexibility that I expect in those features.
 
#6 ·
The 2014 sound system is also horrid. My advise to anyone buying a new jeep now or in the future do yourself a favor and buy the cheapest sound system they offer. Then go after market. Because clearly Jeep has no clue on how to put in a decent sound system. Other than that I love my jeep and would not trade for anything else.
 
#8 ·
The premium sound on my 14 sucked too. It needed to be tweaked to make it sound premium. I think if I could do it again, I'd get the cheapest sound option and then DIY or take it to a shop to put a decent sound system in.
 
#10 ·
I agree with Star, you can upgrade the sound easily with aftermarket parts. I purchased a 2015 JKUWW and was extremely disappointed with the sound. I changed out the 2 speakers in the soundbar and the 2 speakers in the console. I went with the Polk DB650 and DB6501's. I filled all with polyfil as well. Lastly, I added my old bandpass box with amp and two 12's. All together, it sounds great. The 12's give great bass and the polls provide crisp mid's and treble.
 
#12 ·
I have the alpine system and it cranks pretty good after doing the polyfil mod. I agree if your not getting the alpine go base model and change it all out.

Another thing is the head unit. I have the 430 series and that is what I'm not very impressed with. Just another reason to go base unit and change that too. Jmo
 
#14 ·
My experience tracks 100% with the OP. I've got the base 130 in my 15 with hard top. I can have talk radio on and it goes from "acceptable" to "unintelligible" if I roll down the driver side window at 40mph. It's far worse if music is involved.

My TJs were similarly awful out-of-the-box, so I think it's a jeep thing. Star's recommendations are helpful as usual. (On my to-do list.).

FWIW, the Mini I drove also sported a crap base audio package, so I can't agree that the OP should hand in his Jeep card for an import. He'd just end up with bad speakers that are limited to paved roads.
 
#18 ·
I have a 2015 JKUR with the Alpine system. I LOVE the Alpine system. It sounds better than any vehicle I've ever had. I upgraded the sound system in just about everything I've ever had. The only thing I'm not crazy about in my sound system, is the 430 nav radio. It sounds great, but it's clunky to use and the resolution on the screen is terrible. As for the sound though, it's great. Especially for a Jeep. I see no need to upgrade any of the speakers. I have noticed, that I just need to pay attention to what I put on top of the sub in the back. It just needs to be something that doesn't rattle. One day, I had a piece of paper sitting on top of the sub. Was rattling like crazy! HA! I haven't tried it with the top or doors off, but I'm guessing it will sound great. When I really have it cranked up, I can feel the bass in the gas pedal. That's a very minor annoyance and I'd probably have that with any sound setup. I have zero regrets getting the Alpine. I don't think you could get a better setup for less than $700 after market. You might, but you'd have a huge sub box in the back taking up a bunch of space.
 
#19 ·
Honestly, what did you expect? Seriously. The soft top is a simple canvas bag with vast expanses of thin flexible plastic windows and the hardtop is a big box with no sound insulation....hardly optimum conditions for an audiophile....but you knew this going in right?

IMO, the Wrangler gets a bad rap simply because people expect it to be something it was never designed to be. Yes, yes, yes, I know some of you paid big money and loaded them up with all sorts of goodies but you can't take a tractor, put leather in it, nav, auto headlights, power windows and locks and think that you have built a luxury SUV.
 
#70 ·
IMO, this isn't really the point ....

There's no denying that the Wrangler makes a "difficult" environment to achieve exceptionally good sound from a stereo system. If you're anal enough so you have everything tuned just right for it, it all changes drastically as soon as you decide to remove the top or switch between hard and soft top. Remove the doors, perhaps, or just take the Freedom panels out of the top of the hard top? More different scenarios that affect the audio as a whole.

BUT ... what I think people are really complaining about is the expectation of something from the factory that gets you closer to what you hear in "premium sound" systems advertised for other vehicles.

Frankly, when you look at the Alpine premium system in my 2014 JKU? You can tell Jeep didn't even TRY. How much would it have cost them to put some polyfill behind the speakers in the sound bar, for example? Practically nothing -- but it would have improved things over just letting the sound bounce around the un-lined plastic behind them.

And as people discovered with the stock tweeters in the dash... they didn't even sound like they were doing anything until you modify them with a different value of capacitor. It made a big difference when I changed that out - as in "Oh, they actually function now!" (I know a couple people have a theory that Chrysler might have actually screwed that one up, specifying the wrong value of capacitor for the stereo configuration -- because it really makes no sense how they have it from the factory.)
 
#73 ·
I`m with ATG.. I think my factory Alpine in my 2014 JKUR sounds pretty good.. however I did change the bar speakers to Kicker units only because of the advice I got here...much better than the system in the 2006 chevy 2500hd duramax I had...
 
#29 ·
I'm about a month in on my new JKU willys purchase and have the base 130/non alpine system. The sound is pretty atrocious, but that was expected. I'm going to pop some polks in the sound bar, along with poly fill and some kind of dynamite substitute, to get me by for now. I have a good friend that works in the audio biz and he's planning out something for me without breaking the bank. It'll prob be a next summer project for us as he lives in NY and we are now in Washington.

All that aside, I walk out of our house everyday and smile as I finally have the Jeep I have been dreaming about for over 5 years. (My wife just laughs at me).
 
#30 ·
I have a 14 with the alpine speakers and purposely ordered the 130 with the intention of ripping it all out. I was forced to have the alpines because of the X package I wanted. I had the premium infinity in my 12 with a 430N and that was a total POS.

I personally believe the weakest link is the head units. I don't think Chrysler had changed them since they were introduced several years ago.

I started with the head unit and a powered sub, and was able to get it dialed in really easily and decided to keep the stock speakers. Nothing I could do with the 130 would make it sound like anything other than mud. Any HU with an multi-band EQ and crossovers will make a world of difference.

I know OP doesn't have the Alpine, just saying that "garbage in is garbage out". Start with the source in my opinion.
 
#31 ·
I just ordered my JKU and opted for all stock. I couldnt justify $1700 430N+Alpine. The 430 is clunky #1. Plus you have add the $495 just for bluetooth which was silly. So for $2k, could I build a better stereo.. well I will find out. Im banking on the Raxiom + Sirius Addon unit. ($800 when Im done) Maybe $500 in speakers and then add a small powered enclosed Sub and be done. To me, thats a better solution then what ships with jeep. Its a little sweat to put into it, but over all, will sound much better. I have even heard that if you take out the 130 or 430/730 heads, the stock speakers sound much better. I'll probably post my updates after my 2015 comes in January. In build status now.
 
#57 ·
I think that is smart. You'll end up with a personalized system that will sound great! Let me know when you're ready to pull the trigger on the Raxiom Navigation System and I'll get you a great price!

-Ryan
 
#50 ·
i have a 2012 jeep wrangler sport...my sound system is terrible . i just bought 4 pioneer speakers but what else should i add? any recommendations on what to do that will give me good quality sound? and prices?
Cheap addition, add polyfill to the sound bar and behind the speakers in the dash. :)
 
#39 ·
Just my 2 cents here. When I was waiting for my 2015 to arrive with the Alpine premium sound, I was already planning to upgrade it with at least an additional subwoofer. To my surprise when it arrived I was very pleased with it and I doubt I'll ever do any sound upgrades. At the very least, sound upgrades has moved all the way to the bottom of my list for mods.
 
#45 ·
What's the trouble? Are you referring to theft? If so, there are removable faceplates. The factory touchscreen units probably cost more than most aftermarket units. Not to mention, there are lots of expensive things attached to my Jeep that can be stolen as well.
 
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