Optimal stereo layout in 89 XJ?

[SonicCougar99]

I'm planning on upgrading the entire stereo system in my XJ, and I'm wondering what the best way would be to have everything laid out. Right now its obviously 5.25's in the front doors and in the hatch. From what I've gathered on various sites, I can put 6.5's in without too much of a problem. I have seen some people add soundbars to the roof, others add door speakers in the rear doors. What is your opinion on speaker location? I just want a setup that sounds really good and clean. I'm planning on one 10" sub over in the right side of the rear cargo area with a decent amp, Pioneer headunit, and not too much else. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[ert01]

6.5's sound a LOT better then 5.25's anyday. They fit nicely too... not much trouble at all getting them in there. Component 6.5's up front with the tweeter up high on the door is a great setup with some 2 way 6.5's in the rear just for some sound fill. A 10" sub in a sealed box (or mounted in the side panel and sealed) will have some decent thump to it.

 

[SonicCougar99]

So basically stick to the OEM 4 speaker layout, just use good speakers, and I should be good? What would be the advantage/disadvantage to putting 2 more either in the rear doors or in a soundbar?

 

[dj's 2000 xj]

If you have a cargo area full of stuff, it can muffle the rear speakers in the hatch. That is the logic to a sound bar over head. Plus rear door speaker is a mod that could be fun, I have never done it. But, I may get bored and try it

 

[Audio222]

6.5's sound a LOT better then 5.25's anyday. They fit nicely too... not much trouble at all getting them in there. Component 6.5's up front with the tweeter up high on the door is a great setup with some 2 way 6.5's in the rear just for some sound fill. A 10" sub in a sealed box (or mounted in the side panel and sealed) will have some decent thump to it.

There is no way in the world a human ear can tell the difference between a 6.5" speaker and a 5.25" speaker. What you are hearing is the difference in quality of build. To tell the difference you would have to use something like SA 3055. Don't tell someone that one will always sound better than the other, tell them which one sound best to your ear is the one you should choose.


ETA: My daily driver is my XJ.

 

[urban yan]

My best stereo setup - one installed by a friend that won his fair share of audio competitions - was in my old sunbird. It did not use any of the stock speaker locations. He built a custom set of 6.5 component kick panels, ditched my rear speakers, and replaced them with a twin 10" sub box. I don't think it's fair to compare a coupe install to something that's going into a Jeep, but I think it's fair to say rear speakers are pretty useless (provided you have solid set of kicks up front).

My Cherokee uses stock speaker locations, and a 10" stealthbox in the rear cubby hole. I think it sounds pretty good, but it doesn't compare to my old car.

 

[Slip Kid]

I use 6.5 in stock front location, 6x9s in boxes usually in the back seat, and 2 12s in the back. The 6x9s can come out if I need the space, and I'm kinda undecided on rather having any rear speakers is good. Ever been to a concert that used rear fill? Me neither..

 

[urban yan]

Subs will usually drown out the rear speakers. You're better off having a decent set of components, up-front, directed towards your head.

 

[cobrasatellite]

I got 6x9 3ways in the rear hatch, just be prepared for it to sag a bit. 5 1/2 fronts and usally 2 12" JLs in the back but i have a small single 10" i can swap when i need the space.
Get good front door spks in stock spot, some tweets on a pillar or dash and decent rear spkrs with a good sub (good not big) and you will be happy. And if u chose to you can hit in a XJ I can rattle stuff off the walls in gas stations when i want.

 

[DanMan2k06]

I have some Diamond Audio components up front, and absolutely love them. I think I payed around $300 for them a couple years ago, but they BLOW away the pioneers and alpines I used to have in there. As for the soundbar, I think this is a great location, but would be better if the speakers were roatated 90 degrees so they pointed towards you and the front of the car. Not the floor of the cargo area. I'm thinking about starting a custom fiberglass project that would accomplish this, but not looks gaudy and retarded.

 

[camarors8992]

polk audio 6.5" components front/rear powered by an eclipse amp. Along with a 10" Type - R with a cheapie amp and a pioneer 7000bt sounds awesome in my Jeep. Loud, crisp, clear.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

I would say, ditch the speakers in the hatch, get a soundbar. A good set of component speakers up front, some decent speakers in the bar.

 

[jeepfreak1020]

Ive the got the soundbar. The +97 have the soundbar and there way better to have. I have 5.25 in the soundbar and it sounds better then my buddys who has 6.5 in his hatch. His sound gets muffled and just dosent sound good at all.

 

[xcm]

hatch speakers are GREAT for chillin out in the desert (or wherever), with the stereo blaring(or not so blaring), next to a camp fire with the hatch open...
if you do keep em in the hatch, you can fit 6x9's by knocking out some fiberglass in the hatch

 

[NXJ]

Really good and clean sound?

Do a 3-way active crossover setup to accommodate a front "sound stage". Such setups typically consists of two mid-bass speakers (~7"), two mid-range speakers (~5") and two tweeters/highs (~2") - each driver optimized for a given sound frequency. Depending on your personal preferences and music style, you might also want to add a subwoofer.

As far as speaker placement goes, anything behind the front seats would be considered "fill". For these six speakers, find room in the front doors, kick panels, lower dashboard or maybe even the A-pillars. If you're handy with wood and fiberglass you can make your own pods and domes (enclosures).

Get high(er)-end products and don't spare on the sound deadening. Do a little reading on www.diymobileaudio.com and www.caraudio.com (the forums). Good luck!

 

[ZJeepX]

These are a bit pricey and you could probably build your own but these sound awesome. Its the best way to layout some 6.5" components in your jeep. And I agree with keeping something in the hatch because its nice to just open it up and have good stereo while camping or hanging out wherever you are. A 10" sub for some bass and your jeep will sound great! I have a Alpine PLT-5 which is discontinued so I got a great deal and it is plenty of bass for the small jeep. Suppposed to be like two 10's.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_044C300262/Q-Forms-Kick-Panel-Enclosures-Light-gray.html?search=panel

Also like the post above says Sound deadener is AWESOME. Bass response is so much better just from doing teh doors alone. But if you do the hole floor you get a quiet ride and great sound. I went with dynamat extreme which I regret cause of the cost. There are lots of other brands that are cheaper and people say work just as well.

 

[calvynandhobbs]

In my 89 I'm running 5.25s in the front doors with 6x9s in the rear hatch. I just removed a little fiberglass to get them to fit. I also have a 10" sub in a box that's tucked up behind the rear seat. I made it long enough to mount my hi-lift across it as well as to mount my fire extinguisher. I have enough room on it that I may try mounting my spare front axleshafts and spare driveshaft on it in the future. The stereo sounds pretty good.

 

[FlexdXJ]

In my 89 I'm running 5.25s in the front doors with 6x9s in the rear hatch. I just removed a little fiberglass to get them to fit. I also have a 10" sub in a box that's tucked up behind the rear seat. I made it long enough to mount my hi-lift across it as well as to mount my fire extinguisher. I have enough room on it that I may try mounting my spare front axleshafts and spare driveshaft on it in the future. The stereo sounds pretty good.

You better secure those shafts really good that is a lot of stuff to bolt to a sub box. I would imagine there would be a lot of vibration.

 

[calvynandhobbs]

You better secure those shafts really good that is a lot of stuff to bolt to a sub box. I would imagine there would be a lot of vibration.

I haven't mounted them on there yet because I have to figure out a way to prevent vibration. I made the entire box out of 3/4" fiberboard and carpeted it. The hi-lift and fire extinguisher were easy to mount and prevent vibration, but shafts are a whole different animal. I may not mount them on there, but I'm at least trying to think of ways.