Help Me Design My System (Fairly Easy Questions)

[Kabigon 10+ year member]

I bought an '82 Jeep CJ-7 last week and I'm looking to upgrade the sound system. Right now it only has a couple of marine speakers in the back which just aren't cutting it. There is only one company that makes pre-built speaker housings for these old Jeeps and I need some advice on how to go about this. Here is the link to their page:

Jeep Sound Systems - Jeep CJ and TJ Custom Sound - Jeep Accessories for Wrangler

As you can see, they have quite a few different options so I'm not sure how to go about it. I can just buy all of their options but if that's going to make minimal difference and make it a pain to wire up, then there's no point. The Jeep already has the head unit and two slots in the dash for 5.25" speakers. In addition to those, that company offers Sky-Pods (2 speakers above the windshield), Mod-Pods (2 speakers below the doors), Centra-Pods (2 speakers on the transmission tunnel), Quad-Pods (2 6.5" speakers and 2 8" subs that go on the wheel wells and behind the rear seat), and Intra-Pod which is a center console w/ a slot for an amp and 8" Sub. Now, for my questions:

1) Is it worth it to buy all of those? If so, how would I go about amplifying them and connecting everything? For example, how many amps would I need and what type/how powerful? I definitely like the Quad-Pods and Intra-Pod Console but I'm not sure how difficult it will be to adequately power 3 subs and if I have ~ 10 speakers on top of that, then I'm extremely curious as to how I could make it all work. Is all of that pure overkill?

2) What specific brand of gear would you guys recommend? I'm looking to stay relatively cheap so something like the Alpine Type R's or Polk MM's are attractively priced and reviewed. I'm just looking for something that sounds nice and plays loud without distorting or sounding thin. I would also like speakers that aren't "bright and harsh" on the ears as to cause fatigue. I like more of a neutral/warm type of sound. Anything in that range that you guys would recommend over them? What brand of amps are most reliable and powerful and should I buy matching Subs for those speakers or would it be better to buy different Subs?

That's it for now. I'll post more questions if I think of them. Thanks for the help!

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[Kabigon 10+ year member]

Bump for Help.

Thanks.

 

[Kabigon 10+ year member]

Anyone have any input? I'll try to break it down a bit more as I know it's somewhat of an uncommon situation being in an older vehicle without factory slots.

I am certainly going to have two speakers in the dash which are 5.25"s and the only factory slots in the Jeep. As I said in the first post, as far as bang for the buck, is there anything better than the Polk MM's or Alpine Type R's for around $100 or less per pair?

For Subs, I only have a few options. They sell a Center Console w/ an 8" Slot and cavity to install an amplifier. They also have pods that install in the back which have 6.5" Slots on the wheel wells and 8" Subs that sit in the rear behind the back seat. Right now, the previous owner had installed 6x9" Marine Speakers on the wheel wells. My main question here is which is the better option between these 3?

- Install the Center Console w/ 8" Sub + 5-Channel Amp, Leave the 6x9's in the Rear, and install the 5.25"s in the Dash for a 5-channel system.

- Skip the Center Console and just replace the rear speakers with the 6.5's + 8" Sub pods and amp those with the 5.25's in the dash.

- Combine both into one larger system with an amp for the front speakers and an amp for the rear.

I'm afraid that having all of those speakers I mentioned in the original post will look tacky and be a bit overkill so I'm trying to find a common ground between "too much" and "too little" which will give me great sound and not leave me wanting. The Jeep has a completely rectangular interior with steel doors, top, and floors so it should have plenty of surfaces to bounce sound off of without a bunch of carpet and such to absorb it all. What do you guys think? Would it be worth it to have all of those speakers or will one of the other options work just as well?

As far as Subs go, if I go with Polk MM's or Type R Speakers, should I buy matching Subs or look elsewhere? I've heard some decent things about Sundown Audio's SA-8's but for the most part they are revered for volume capability. I have nothing against that but my goal is to have great sound quality with plenty of power instead of outrageous power that sounds like trash.

Thanks for the help.

 

[filedog 10+ year member]

Fellow noob here, thought i would do a quick reply.

Let people know your budget, may help you get replies.

I have seen a few posts on Jeeps, they are a challenge,

do a google search for your model, you will get some good info.

Mass market speakers that sound"warm": JL Audio and Alpine.