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Let's hear some deck and speaker recommendations

cdoggwsu

cdoggwsu

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Alright gentlemen, here's the deal...

As some of you may have seen, I picked up a *gasp* Grand Cherokee a few months ago. It's got the factory Infinity Gold system which includes two tweeters in the dash, 6 3/4's in the front and rear doors and component 5 1/4's in the back. Every speaker in it is blown or dying.

I talked to a couple of local stereo shops and they both recommended ditching the dash tweets and the component rears to focus on a good head unit with quality coaxials in the front and rear doors. I'm planning a single 10-inch sub to preserve cargo space and neither dealer had an issue with that.

Now, I'm not new to car audio by any means but I've been out of the game for a few years now and brands don't seem to be what they were. Both local shops are almost exclusively Kenwood decks while one is pushing Hertz speakers and the other Diamond Audio. Other than internet reviews I don't have much to go on but at this point so I'm hoping to get some feedback from the community. Looking for good options with respectable features. I really just want to play audio and MP3 CD's...the GF has an iPod so that would be a plus but I don't need stuff like HD Radio and Pandora...I have an external XM Radio tuner for that. Bluetooth for the phone would be nice and I'd like to be able to integrate the factory steering wheel controls.

Back to speakers...on first impulse I would be inclined to go with some good components up front putting the midbass in the door and the tweets in the factory dash location with matching coaxials in the rear doors. I'm fine with losing the far rear sound bar if the doors make up for it. The kicker, though, is both shops specifically recommended against components based on the principle that keeping the tweeter closer to the mid is more desirable. Any arguments for or against components up front?

As for the deck, I'm pretty much stuck on a single din with a dash kit. I'd love to fill the 1.5 din but there's nothing offered in that size that's worth a damn and I don't want to cut up the bezel to stuff a double din in there.

To top it off there's also the decision to keep the factory amp or bypass all of that and run the speakers off the deck amp.

Audio installers, I'd love to get your opinions on this. My budget - assuming a deck and the two pairs of speakers for front and rear doors - is around $800.
 
Stay with the kenwood decks. I've run expensive alpines, pioneer premiers, sony, and jvc. the cheaper kenwood always sounded better and skipped less. plus unless you get into the exelon stuff they are easy to navigate through. what ever deck you go with, make sure it has MOSFET power. (all kenwoods do, most other decks dont) then go ahead and bypass your factory amp. As for speakers I cant speak for Hertz. I havent heard them or much about them. Diamonds are very nice. But Speakers are all in the ear of the listener. 5 people can listen to the same track at the same time on on set of speakers and everyone will have a different opinion. Listen to all of the speakers that the shop offers. Sometimes its even the cheap ones that will sound the best to you. If by chance your shop doesnt have a sound wall FIND ONE THAT DOES. No respectable shop will operate without one. My personal favorite setup after 20 years as a competition style and audiophile car audio enthusiast is
Kenwood deck (mid to lower model)
Infinity Kappa coaxials (technically a component style but with the tweeter mounted on it instead)
or Alpine "R" coaxials
sub doesnt matter much either way if your only doing 1 10". but I would match it to the coaxials just because you can.
 
Me and shady have a lot in common audio wise. I prefer to run the cheaper kenwood, decks, Ive had jvc and pioneer, and sold them. Just didn't like the layout of the controls. In the single cab c10 I'm running a jl e4300 amp with kappa 6x9s in the rear corners, and then going to install some infinity kappa 3.5s in the dash the next time I take it apart.


In the camaro i have a basic kdc 135 (I keep trying to find another one new in box for the k5, but they are scarce used). Real basic headunit nothing fancy but does everything I need it to do and it looks good. And then some cheaper 6x9 pioneers in the rear deck and twin 4" pioneers where the front 4x10 normally mounts. (1980 camaro)
 
Thoughts on this -

Personally I like Dual brand headunits. Relatively new to the market but mine are great, have lots of features, and run significantly cheaper than their competitors while usually having more features.
Others say they're junk but mine have been great.
Fall '09 when I got my CD playing, HD radio, USB input, Ipod/mp3 player controlling, Bluetooth capable with built in mic, etc stereo folks told me the one I wanted was junk and to get some big names. The JVC that one recommended to me cost $50 more and required a bunch of adaptors where everything was built into mine.

Don't dismiss HD radio. I LOVE MINE. I thought it was silly at first but frankly it's the feature I love the most of mine. The only true modern and hard rock station in Lexington, KY is a HD station. No HD = stuck with the generic stuff.

Bluetooth - make sure folks can hear you. Both of my head units have it and even in my Tracker, with a full interior, now with a stock exhaust, and on AT's...the background noise even with the windows up, radio and air off is just too much. Everyone I've tried to call with it complained about the background noise.
No point even bothering in The Blazer.

Ipod stuff - you can probably use it with your phone if your phone plays music. I have no Ipod/mp3 player because I just use my phone and an adaptor cord.

Lastly...do you REALLY need a super loud sound system? I used to want that stuff but now a days just like a good head unit with lots of features and a good set of speakers. I can't hear well enough to need $200 a pair 6.5" speakers and I actually find myself turning the volume down rather than driving around with it cranked all the time.
My buddy has an amp and sub box in his Jeep TJ along with a speaker bar, built in speakers, and nice stereo but usually ends up leaving the amp and sub box sitting in my garage. We're both 32 and I think realizing we ain't kids anymore.

Just some general thoughts.
 
Thanks for all the input so far, guys!

shady said:
If by chance your shop doesnt have a sound wall FIND ONE THAT DOES. No respectable shop will operate without one.
Click to expand...

Yeah I ran the sound wall gauntlet on the Hertz speakers last weekend. They did sound good but I wasn't really impressed for the price. The only experience I've had with Diamond Audio in the past was subs and for the price they were excellent - four 12's bumped a topless K5 pretty well!

AJMBLAZER said:
Don't dismiss HD radio. I LOVE MINE. I thought it was silly at first but frankly it's the feature I love the most of mine. The only true modern and hard rock station in Lexington, KY is a HD station. No HD = stuck with the generic stuff.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't dismiss it on principle, but there's only one HD channel in town (according to hdradio.com) and it's NPR...not my cup of tea. Aside from the fact that I already have XM which beats HD in content and the fact that I can drive across the state and never have to change channels.

AJMBLAZER said:
Bluetooth - make sure folks can hear you. Both of my head units have it and even in my Tracker, with a full interior, now with a stock exhaust, and on AT's...the background noise even with the windows up, radio and air off is just too much. Everyone I've tried to call with it complained about the background noise.
Click to expand...

Another point for Kenwood. The bluetooth they use (Parrot) is consistently rated higher than most of the other in-dash or add on modules. IMO that's the kind of stuff that going with higher end decks will net you.

AJMBLAZER said:
Lastly...do you REALLY need a super loud sound system? I used to want that stuff but now a days just like a good head unit with lots of features and a good set of speakers. I can't hear well enough to need $200 a pair 6.5" speakers and I actually find myself turning the volume down rather than driving around with it cranked all the time.
My buddy has an amp and sub box in his Jeep TJ along with a speaker bar, built in speakers, and nice stereo but usually ends up leaving the amp and sub box sitting in my garage. We're both 32 and I think realizing we ain't kids anymore.
Click to expand...

Loud? No. Good? Yes. If anything I would say more expensive speakers tuned correctly wouldn't need to be listened to as loud to hear the same "quality" of music. I'm with you on generally driving with the music lower than I used to, but at the same time when I want to crank it I want to know its going to sound good. 4 speakers and one 10 is about as mild as I'd care to go.
 
Memphis Audio speakers... :D

When I got the system installed in the Burb, it was a choice between Kickers and Memphis Audio. They both sound great, the Memphis sounded alittle better, more full range I think, but I was on somewhat of a budget at the time and I wanted all speakers matching, including the subs, which I went with 2-15" Kicker Comp VR's. the others were 6x9 Kicker 3 ways in the side panels and factory size dash replacements (Kickers as well). I can tell you, just with aftermarket speakers, even being the same size as factory, they sound a TON better, add alittle power, it's all good :D

If I had the extra money at the time though, I would have gone with Memphis Audios.
 
I agree for the money the Dual's are fantastic, however I have had 2 crap out on me. Both died in the same fashion, a few face plate keys stopped working while the remote worked great, no big deal. Several months down the road, eventually even the remote functions started disappearing. Eventually I was left with scan, and volume down only from the remotes. No face plate buttons worked at all, no power, no tune, no source, etc.

I loved them though while they were working. Sound great, many, many features. The HD radio really is great. The sound quality is above "regular" Fm.

By the way, I now have a Kenwood, about base line, CD/MP3, etc. Happy to this point.

I would go back to Dual in a heartbeat if they improve the quality or longevity. I'll keep up with on line reviews and such while my Kenwood is still in the K5.
 
Last edited:
A-Did you use their warranty?

B-How long did they last? My older one (the fully featured model) is going on a year and a half minus a face plate going back to the factory (new one arrived in about a week) and working fine minus that one issue. Been in two vehicles now.
 
If for no other reason, I'm leaning towards Kenwood simply for the fact that I have two local authorized dealers. Aside from that they seem to offer a pretty good range of features and the price is reasonable at that level. Maybe it's the audio snob in me but if I'm putting together a system for my DD it's something I want to build to last. If it's just going in the Blazer or the Sub I pride myself at scouring Craigslist to find a good $40 or $50 deal on a deck that's a few generations back.

Honestly, I was quite surprised (read: disappointed) at the current offerings. Back when I was big into car audio Eclipse, Alpine, Clarion, Kenwood, Pioneer and Sony were all at the top of the charts. Pretty much anything from their lines was going to be a quality performer. Now it seems Eclipse is dead, Clarion and Sony are almost nowhere to be found and all the reviews I've ready about Alpine recommend looking for their older decks because the new stuff is garbage. Kenwood seems to still be one of the leaders and it looks like JVC is on the up and up as well.

The price point for "high-end" decks used to be 500 to 800 bucks but it would appear that due in part to the current economic situation and customers demanding more high-value, low price offerings that the deck market has suffered quite a bit. Now even flagship decks barely push $300. Companies that used to tout their quality and performance are now sitting on the shelf at WalMart with a "Price Reduced" sticker on them (Pioneer and Sony, I'm looking at you!). Not that I'm complaining about price drops across the board, but I don't want something I have to warranty every 3 months because it's cheaper for whatever Chinese mfg on contract this week to swap out a new unit than it is to maintain quality control.

God, I must be getting old...

EDIT: Oh, sh!t...this was post 1000. Only took me 3 years.:o
 
Chris,

I just installed a set of Hertz in my Blazer and really do like them (I have a write up in the audio section here.) I would opt for separates rather than a single, coaxial speaker but budget does also play into that equation. I have a set of Focal separates in my Suburban and the Hertz sounded better to my ear (in the showroom).

I have JL Audio amps driving both pairs of speakers in both trucks but the Focals seem to sound a little bit better. My conclusion, the head unit. The suburban has a very nice, clean sounding Alpine 9887 deck. The blazer, a much cheaper Panasonic deck. Cheap enough that the CD player skips occationally. The last time I remembered a CD skipping in a vehicle was probably 15 years ago. So my conclusion, the Pani deck is not huge on good sound quality.

I'm looking for a used 9887 for the blazer but they are still going for around $250....a sign the deck is still in demand.

I did just add Bluetooth to the suburban and the latest module from Alpine really works well this time (previous attempts were poorly rated). They are using Parrot so that must be the main reason. I would argue the Bluetooth in the suburban is better than my wife's Lexus bluetooth.

Amp, if you can install a good quality amp, I would bypass the factory one. I'd also hard wire everything together rather than use factory wires. In other words, run new RCA's and speaker wires to each set of speakers if a new amp and deck are used.

As an fyi, I had a Clarion deck in my boat and switched it over to an Alpine unit.....sound quality is much better. Even in a boat!

Edit: Just read your tagline.....5.9L Jeep. That must be a blast to drive and VERY quick! We had a 94' V8 and my wife loved that car. Congrats on a rare vehicle.
 
AJMBLAZER said:
Thoughts on this -

Personally I like Dual brand headunits. Relatively new to the market but mine are great, have lots of features, and run significantly cheaper than their competitors while usually having more features.
Others say they're junk but mine have been great.
Fall '09 when I got my CD playing, HD radio, USB input, Ipod/mp3 player controlling, Bluetooth capable with built in mic, etc stereo folks told me the one I wanted was junk and to get some big names. The JVC that one recommended to me cost $50 more and required a bunch of adaptors where everything was built into mine.

Don't dismiss HD radio. I LOVE MINE. I thought it was silly at first but frankly it's the feature I love the most of mine. The only true modern and hard rock station in Lexington, KY is a HD station. No HD = stuck with the generic stuff.

Bluetooth - make sure folks can hear you. Both of my head units have it and even in my Tracker, with a full interior, now with a stock exhaust, and on AT's...the background noise even with the windows up, radio and air off is just too much. Everyone I've tried to call with it complained about the background noise.
No point even bothering in The Blazer.

Ipod stuff - you can probably use it with your phone if your phone plays music. I have no Ipod/mp3 player because I just use my phone and an adaptor cord.

Lastly...do you REALLY need a super loud sound system? I used to want that stuff but now a days just like a good head unit with lots of features and a good set of speakers. I can't hear well enough to need $200 a pair 6.5" speakers and I actually find myself turning the volume down rather than driving around with it cranked all the time.
My buddy has an amp and sub box in his Jeep TJ along with a speaker bar, built in speakers, and nice stereo but usually ends up leaving the amp and sub box sitting in my garage. We're both 32 and I think realizing we ain't kids anymore.

Just some general thoughts.
Click to expand...


Not to bash your post sir... But Duals are the biggest %^#$@!#%! ever. Ive been professionally installing for about 7 years. We carried duals for awhile.... Ive swapped out more of those than anything else. It could be due to me living in Alaska and the cold weather effecting them. BBBBUUTT for the price you do get a lot of nice features.
 
I've had other "professionals" tell me I'm crazy as well.

Even recommend me "big name" stuff that cost a hundred bucks more and half the features were add ons that would cost extra beyond that.

I've stuck with the Duals, had great luck, and only one issue that was fixed quickly at no cost to me.

Again, nothing personal, but I've had as many "car audio professionals" tell me BS as "tire installers" tell me what will or won't work offroad or fit my truck due to their vast experience putting white walls on minivans. Opinions ya know?
 
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