Depends on what you want. If you just slap in those kicker speakers there will be a minimal change in sound quality.

If you add a small amp, like the KTP-445U, then those speakers will be a nice addition. Add the 8" powered sub under the drivers seat and that will put you into a decently loud stereo you can hear with the top off, that has some bass.

If you want to replace the HU, you might want more power and a higher quality aftermarket speaker to match.

 

I definitely want it louder and clearer with both top on and off. I'm not looking for a perfect audiophile setup just something that's relatively good. I have considered an amp for the interior four speakers. I'm honestly not sure if want to do a subwoofer. Which 8" sub are you referring to? I also will be eventually upgrading the factory head unit to a touch screen.

 

I definitely want it louder and clearer with both top on and off.

JMO, but I do not think it is much louder with just upgrading the speakers.

I'm not looking for a perfect audiophile setup just something that's relatively good.

The problem is the word "relative". I upgraded the speakers to the kickers. I then added the amp I mentioned above. I then added a 10" sub. Now, I'm in the middle of changing the whole thing to a 4200NEX, 4x100W amp, Polk 4.5" speakers and 2x10" subs. I purchased a jeep for my wife so I'm moving all my existing equipment to her jeep, and she'll be perfectly happy with it, but I wasn't.

I have considered an amp for the interior four speakers.

I understand that the output of aftermarket head units can be 2x-3x the factory head unit. With the kickers, this may be enough. I have not tried this, so I can't speak to it. Again, "relative". Might be worth researching if you just want a little more.

I'm honestly not sure if want to do a subwoofer. Which 8" sub are you referring to?

I think it's an alpine that you can buy with the mounting bracket for under the drivers seat. Check Quadratec, as I know they sell it.

I also will be eventually upgrading the factory head unit to a touch screen.

A lot of people recommend you do this first. I didn't and now I think I went about mine completely backwards.

Just be sure that you are sure on what you want and it'll save you a lot of money/time/frustration. Maybe you have a local club and you can check out what some other guys have done. Then again, that might cost you a lot of money.

 

My wife and I each have a JK. Mine's a JKU. I did the Kicker upgrade to the 4 large speakers in my Jeep and there is definitely an improvement in sound. I did add polyfill to the speaker boxes. The improvement is noticeable top up or top down. It won't impress an audiophile, but for a Jeep it's pretty good. When I drive my wife's Jeep, it's easy to hear the drop in quality. To help with the bottom end, I think I'll be getting the Alpine under-seat subwoofer.

 

Only you can tell what speakers you like and don't like. When the wife and I bought speakers she liked the Hertz Uno K 165, I couldn't stand them. I liked the HSK 165 she could not stand them. We compromised on Audison VOCE K6's which cost more than both speakers combined.

The only way you will know what you like is to go out there and listen to them.

 

https://www.quadratec.com/p/alpine/8-inch-compact-powered-subwoofer-system-11-17-jeep-unlimited-jk

 

Swapped out all 8 with the Jeep 6.5" Kickers and Dart 3.5" Kickers (with bass blockers) in my 2015 JKU and added some polyfil. I already had swapped in a Sony XAV-AX100 head unit. The difference after swapping the speakers was significant, and the total investment of under $250 and less than an hour makes it all the more impressive. The factory speakers really are absolute garbage, and while you can achieve better results, this is a great bang for the buck upgrade.

 

Thanks everyone for your help. Last night I went ahead and ordered 2 pairs of the 77kick10s. I may try to order the head unit this week. I'm looking at the same Sony XAV-AX100. Anyone who has experience with this model, feedback would be appreciated. Also read a rather lengthy post last night that was regarding the 3.5" kicker replacements. From what I gather it seems like it really isn't worth replacing those.

 

Also read a rather lengthy post last night that was regarding the 3.5" kicker replacements. From what I gather it seems like it really isn't worth replacing those.

I would say that it is not worth it. You really have three options:
1. replace front only and add bass blockers, get rid of the back
2. just use the 4 6.5" speakers without the 3.5" speakers (I did this and it's ok, IMO)
3. leave in the front factory 3.5"
3a. leave in the front factory 3.5" but replace the capacitor (which is acting like a bass blocker but the cutoff is way too high)

 

That sony is on sale at crutchfield. I got an email.

Dont forget tweeters. Personally I think they made a huge difference too.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

Once you replace the head unit and speakers, I think you’ll get the itch for more power and want to add an amp. I eventually got to this endpoint.

I think replacing the front tweeters with the 3.5” Kickers really helps. Even though this is unpopular here, I crossed my front 3.5” Kickers at, I think, 100 or 150Hz. I’m able to ensure there is no over excursion of the speakers. This really places wide range sound stage up higher.

6.5” Kickers: After the polyfill and increasing the front and rear speaker box rigidity, mine go down to 37 Hz. Here is a video of me shaking some cups on the roof and I don’t have a subwoofer.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yclhlVh6t8A

 

increasing the front and rear speaker box rigidity

What did you do to accomplish this? I am in the process of adding Dynamat to the sound bar and plan to do the same to the front pods.

 

The Sony is great. I had the Alpine iLX-007 before and was really happy with it. The Sony is a little quicker and had been more stale with CarPlay.

I did the 6.5" replacements first and wasn't thrilled with the high-end since the fronts are directed down. Added the 3.5" dash speakers and was very pleased with what it added. Clarity, terrible reproduction and imaging were great. I added the rear 3.5" speakers simply because it bothered me I hadn't, and it wasn't that much more. Their location seems to be just outboard of the headrest, so it actually makes more of a difference than I expected.

 

I bought the 6.5" Kickers for the soundbar, $62.48 on Amazon. I'll be installing them on Saturday. I'm also going to stuff the soundbar with poly fill and install the headliner kit at the same time.

Hopefully it'll be a little bit of an upgrade, I'm not looking for perfection, but a little better sound would be nice....

 

On my '12 JKU, I swapped them out and it was a waist of money. Maybe they sounded slightly better, but not really. I was not happy.

But then, I had the bottom of the line Jeep head unit and that wasn't helping things at all.

 

They're no super system, but for something like $160 and no cutting/splicing of factory cable or really any more than 30 minutes work installing they are pretty dang good compared to the garbage stock speakers. If you don't want to do an amp which can be complicated for a beginner make sure you get a head unit with higher output on the standard speaker connections which will help drive the better speakers. The speakers are affected by the power they receive, not just their own quality.

 

Installed the Kicker speakers in the soundbar today, lots of polyfil, and the Mopar headliner kit. I've got to say it made a significant difference in the sound, the bass is a lot more noticeable. Looks like the front speakers will be next.

The headliner looks awesome, I think it probably helped with the sound as well.

 

I am looking to maybe add these speakers for my soundbar at the least. I just swapped my 430N to the Alpine i207, but have never been overly impressed with the speakers. Mine is a 2012 with the Infinity upgrade. My question which I have not found: Does this just mean I have the Infinity sub in the cargo area, or are ALL the speakers upgraded Infinity brand? If so, I shudder to think what pure stock sounds like, but would it be even a slight improvement to go from Infinity to these Kickers?

 

I don't have experience to compare with the other speakers but the KICK10 are not amazing. They are far better than stock but still leave me wanting.

 

Thanks. I am beyond speaker/audiophile naive, so was looking for something that's was relatively cheap and sounds better. Adding amps, building boxes and spending $100 or more per speaker is not necessarily something I am looking to do. I just find little info online regarding the Infinity upgrade. My wife's Grand Cherokee has the upgraded speakers and those sound awesome, so I have always wondered what's the big deal with the Wrangler upgrade. I can get a set of the Kickers for like $60 so may just see what they do.