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Alpine to JL Audio- Dash, Center and Headliner Speakers

71K views 62 replies 32 participants last post by  Daws5.7 
#1 ·
This is the first stage in the conversion of the stock Alpine speakers in my 2011 Ram CC Sport to JL Audio.

The goal for me is to increase clarity, improve the soundstage and reduce the overly mid bass oriented stock sound system.

The speakers I chose to replace the stock Alpine 3.5" dash and center channel speakers are JL Audio C2-350x speakers. For more details, go here:

http://www.crutchfield.com/s_136C2350X/JL-Audio-C2-350x.html?tp=96&nvpair=FFBrand|JL+Audio

I used the Crutchfield/Metra harness #12071039 so there would be no need to hack into the stock wiring. Just plug and play and move on with your life! The harness can be found here:

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_12071039/Mazda-Speaker-Harnesses.html?tp=3097

The dash and center channel speakers are easy to remove. First, gently pry up on the front of each grill to remove the cover. Next, use a 7mm socket and small ratchet to remove the two bolts holding each speaker in place. On the center channel grill, you will need to unplug the sensor built into the grill if so equipped. Installation is as simple as clicking in the new harness and performing the reverse of the aforementioned.

However, in an effort to provide higher frequencies to the front door effort to improve the soundstage, I wired in a signal line from the dash speakers and ran that wire to the door area. I'll use this later in stage two to be the signal line for a crossover for the tweeter separates. More on that later....

Next up was the headliner speakers. Gently pry on a corner of the grill and then carefully remove. It's held in place by four clips and is a little stubborn to remove so be patient. With the grill out of the way, you'll find a little 2.5" speaker and a special mounting bucket. Remove the speaker bolts with a Torx 20 driver. Once removed, I chose to use JL Audio VR-075CT for its silk dome tweeter and position adjustable mounting bucket. This is no longer for sale but information on them can be found here:

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_components.php?comp_id=248

Since the 0.75" tweeter was far too small to mount into the headliner bucket, I fashioned a tweeter pod from a 2005-2010 Honda Odyssey to fill the gap and angle the tweeter accordingly. See photo for details. Please note that this tweeter uses a passive, in line crossover which is between the harness and the speaker to filter the undesired frequencies. Also, you can use the same harness as above simplify hookup.

Results- All I can say is wow. I had to readjust the EQ settings and am now completely flat on the midbass and treble settings with improved sound quality. It's not breathtakingly good yet, but an improvement nonetheless. I've heard mixed reviews on the replacement of the Alpine speakers but so far, I couldn't be happier and look forward to the four door replacements next week.
 

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#37 ·
I'm no audio specialist to answer that. I did notice a big difference disconnecting the center channel (stock speaker) though. I reconnected (left the grill off for several days) it several times playing a large variety of music, rock, classical, jazz, country from a variety of source material. I noticed the degradation in each scenario. That's my old ass ears. Was tinny and muddled especially at higher volumes and the staging was very poor. I need to push the button to cut -6db high frequency for the 6x9's in the rear doors and think that will help even more. There's a big difference in sound with the armrest down and up because the tweeter in the 6x9 from the rear door is hitting my right ear. I may move move the 6x9's up front when I get my amp and processor. I haven't had the opportunity to talk with someone in the know or done much searching on the subject yet. I'm thinking the processor will fix any issues with crossovers and timing once I eliminate the factory speaker wiring/crossovers. The amps will drive the speakers much better and then I can finally have a great sounding system.
 
G
#38 ·
Thanks for all the great info. I thought the Alpine system would sound better than it does. With a little tweeking I can get it to sound decent but not really what I expected. I guess I got spoiled by my stock Bose system in my Lexus. That system was so good it was used to to test final mix on a CD. I'm very into music (worked in the Biz) and good sound but don't have the $$ to do it the way I want right now. I'm thinking of going with a pair of Quality dash speakers and disconnecting the center to start. Then move to Sub, then amp and crossover then replace the doors & headliner. I would love to wake up the front door speakers but replacing them would be a waste until I can get control of the crossover. Does that sound about right?
 
#42 ·
The sad fact is with CHY using the CANbus electronics you can do very little to improve the stock system, by switching out to different 2ohm speakers, the Hamon Kardon 2,000.00 stock system in my 13 SRT Challenger is not much to brag on either and not worth what I paid.

The PAC Audio Gizmo to use different amps & speakers to retain your steering and all radio controls IS NOT a good choice, I have done this in the past with other SRT CANBUS electronics you will loose all control of Base, Mid, Trebel built into the head unit....it zeros out all control...but it does work.

Best option is the 360 from Rockford Fosgate it allows you to totally tune and adapt any amps and speakers and has a plethora of xross-over and equalizer settings...it will keep all of the factory nav,steering and everything else to control....but it is expensive....

The 2nd option is the JL Audio clean sweep, I have used this in 2 cars it's cheaper but has a few drawbacks and limitations...

If you want to truly do it right the first time you MUST get the 360 from Rockford Fosgate, that's what I'm doing, buy it then when you have extra money get the amp, then speakers and so forth....

Jay
 
#43 ·
Also when you get the Alpine System with these Trucks as I just did, I'm waiting for my 2014 CC Sport to be built, the order sheet shows "sport group" 9 amplified speakers and subwoofer...

The upgraded speakers including the sub is 300.00 which tells you how cheap and crappy the materials used on this Alpine system is...

i figured for 300 bucks I'll put up with the sub par music until I can piece quality components together and the 360 Rockford Fosgate sound processor.
 
#46 ·
I'm going to chime in on that note ^

I recently bought a 2014 CC Big Horn. Mine is sort of one of a kind with the options i wanted. Long story short we finally worked out the deal and my dealer located 1 and only 1 within a 300 mile radius. I was excted because it just so happened to be the color I wanted. Anyway it arrived and I was in love...UNTIL I noticed the sweet 8.4N system I had was without the $300 Alpine and sub. So I made my salesman listen to an alpine they had in a Laramie and went back and forth. Personally I thought my stock one sounded better than the Alpine, but neither was to my liking (but tolerable until I can change). I played it off like I was really upset and in a way I was because I was expecting one thing and felt like I had to "settle" for the other. So they threw in my Side Steps at 50% off which was basically the $300 for the Alpine.

I am glad I found this thread because the sound is not bad in my stock but I think some decent speakers and a nice AMP maybe a Sub? Will really make me happy. I too am more into the clarity than the boom boom bass, I just want it to sound GOOD LOUD!

:att:
 
#44 ·
guys I'm adding a 5 channel amp with 2 sets of R Fosgate components (front and rear) to my 2014 crew sport with the 8.4 AN. thinking of going with a 3sixty. if i mount behind the rear seat can i pull front and rear speaker level inputs off the stock wiring at one front door and one rear door and run back to the 3sixty then run new wires (heavier gauge) off the amp back to the doors or do i have to pull speaker level inputs right at the back of the head unit?
 
#45 ·
Brother,

It is finally done. Last week I finally went ahead and purchased everything. Here is the set-up listed below:

Dash (Left, Right, & Center)- JL Audio TR350-CXi: 3.5-inch Coaxial Speaker

Front Doors - JL Audio TR650-CSi: 6.5-inch 2-Way Component Speaker

Rear Doors / Headliners- JL Audio TR650-CSi: 6.5-inch 2-Way Component Speaker (Woofer in the door & tweeters in the headliner)

Under rear seat - 2 JL Audio 10W1v2-4

All powered by the JL Audio HD900/5: 5 Ch. Class D System Amplifier, 900 W

Didn't have time to install the remote control knob because I am out of town, but it is waiting on me when I get back home. Also, the ChiefRam is getting new shoes (tires and rims) for Father's Day.

I mentioned earlier I was thinking about doing it but, after doing my son's truck it was not in my future. I had a local shop do it and it came out great. Driving up I-95 I was like a kid in a candy store. No wife and kids to tell me to turn it down.

Also, two weeks before this install I installed the NAV-TV with backup camera. I purchased the AV harness and installed my 30GB Ipod in the upper glove box. The truck also has a console vault (safe) under the middle passenger seat in the front. It's a nice place to lock my carry weapon when it is not on me.

All this came about when I bought my wife a new diamond setting for her 2.5 carat that she got when I retired from the Navy. She was so happy she didn't care what I did to the truck.
ChiefRam

Am I missing something here? How did you amplify the signal without using a signal processor?
 
#48 ·
Thanks for the head start guys.

I bought a 2014 Limited 2 days ago. It has the 9 speaker Alpine with the sub.

My previous vehicle (Tundra Access Cab) had an after market Kenwood HU, replaced speakers, external 4 channel amp, and a 300W Rockford Fosgate amp driving a pair of 8" Kicker Comp VRs in an under seat enclosure made specifically for the Tundra. The bass was very tight and clear. I was very pleased with the sound

I find the Ram setup muddy at the moment. I am going to have to do something.
 
#51 ·
What Ram thinks is flat is sort of interesting (in a bad way).

And the effects of the tone controls:

No way to dial that anywhere close to flat without a processor.
This is very good information!! I hope this applies in the same way to '12.
 
#55 ·
I find the alpine high system simply terrible. The bass is exaggerated to please people who don't have any appreciation for quality music playback. It just sound "loud" and boomy and uncontrolled. Turning down the bass on the equalizer doesn't help. If interpret graphs correctly, I see that they did emphasize the bass. Possible to modify the stock sub box and woofer cone for a relatively easy mod? I will then have to replace dash speakers next.
 
#57 ·
So you replaced all your Alpine speakers with JL Audio?

I have 4 JL audio 6x9s and the same set of dash speakers from my old RAM. I had replaced all the factory stuff, since I didn't have the Alpine system. I just got my new truck and ordered it with the Alpine System I was expecting better sound. After reading this, Im thinking about just swapping out my dash speakers and the 4 doors with the JL Audios speakers I already have. seems to be I should have much improvement. Ill leave the sub, center and headliner alone. Your thoughts?
 
#59 ·
2015 Sport Alpine System Upgrade

I have been working with my system for the past 6 months and I almost have a good SQ. My setup:

Hertz Hi-Energy HSK 165 Front (tweets in dask MB in the front doors)
Hertz ECX 165.5 Rear Doors
Hertz DCX 87.3 Front Center
JL Audio SB-D-QDRAM/10W3v3
Audison Bit One Processor
Audison SR4
JL JX500/1D

8.4 Stock HU

Chrysler messed up trying to process the 9 speakers using the small amplifier. You have to combine channels to get full range from the speakers. It sounds great now except the rear Energy. I tried to use just the front stage but it did not sound as good as the rear fill. Now I am going to charge up the rear speakers with some JL C3 6.5 and play with the placement of the tweeter. First headliner then move around. The reason I chose the C3 is that you can use them as a coax kick ass speaker if you can't find the right placement.

If you are going to buy a new truck and like music do not spend the money for the alpine system. A pain in the butt to get good sound. I tried to just replace speakers and that just made it sound worse.


Hope this helps someone.
 
#61 ·
I have been working with my system for the past 6 months and I almost have a good SQ. My setup:

Hertz Hi-Energy HSK 165 Front (tweets in dask MB in the front doors)
Hertz ECX 165.5 Rear Doors
Hertz DCX 87.3 Front Center
JL Audio SB-D-QDRAM/10W3v3
Audison Bit One Processor
Audison SR4
JL JX500/1D

8.4 Stock HU

Chrysler messed up trying to process the 9 speakers using the small amplifier. You have to combine channels to get full range from the speakers. It sounds great now except the rear Energy. I tried to use just the front stage but it did not sound as good as the rear fill. Now I am going to charge up the rear speakers with some JL C3 6.5 and play with the placement of the tweeter. First headliner then move around. The reason I chose the C3 is that you can use them as a coax kick ass speaker if you can't find the right placement.

If you are going to buy a new truck and like music do not spend the money for the alpine system. A pain in the butt to get good sound. I tried to just replace speakers and that just made it sound worse.


Hope this helps someone.
What speakers did you try and replace the stock alpines with that you weren't happy with? How much headache have you been through to get to where you are now? I'm really not impressed with the stock alpine system either and I would really like to improve it with just swapping speakers but I have my doubts about that meeting my level of expectations when it comes to audio.
 
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