OverlandZJ

Remember, I already have a new headunit linked above.

I did have music on my laptop till I had to restore it, lost it all but I guess redoing wont be difficult. Looking like an SD card is my best bet without a data fee or subscription. I don't do a lot of miles since retirement, I often do an hour drive to friends place and my son's house. Next summer i'll be doing a month long camping trip across the country so that's when i'll really appreciate the upgrade.

Thanks for the input thus far..

Found a pair of Pioneer 6.25" speakers at $100/pr that seems like they should work ok for me.

94zj318

You must've found the Pioneer A-Series speakers, which are their higher-end. If you want to spend that money, it's probably a good bet. For me I didn't want to spend above $50 at the time, so the cheaper Pioneers worked out for me.

investinwaffles

100 a pair is pretty pricey IMO. The Image Dynamics ctx65 component set is one of the best I've heard for the price, and only $130 a set.

But you will NEED a standalone amp for them to sound good, otherwise their bass response will be super flat (meaning no bass).
I would call Crutchfield and ask what they recommend for that head unit. I'm not sure what speakers will be good for 15-20w RMS unfortunately

Best suggestion is to get a small amp like the one posted above, you can easily stash it under/behind the glove box, or rear seat.

94zj318

Yup, definitely need an amp with component sets. You can actually put in your currently-installed aftermarket head unit on Crutchfield's site, but their site doesn't check for compatibility on anything other than head units and speakers, and related add-ons (installation accessories, wiring harnesses, dash kits, etc)... their staff is VERY knowledgeable, though, so they'll be able to (hopefully) steer you in the right direction re. the right-wattage amp for your speakers and head unit.

AbbadonTD

I am reading here and have a different question - Where do yall mount your amps? I am putting in a 400W for an 8" sub, and another to push 120W to the speakers.

So I need space for 2 amps. Small, since I don't need huge power. I have found that the problems with the XJ and its audio are that it is both an acoustic nightmare and it vibrates like a dumpster with warring animals in it. But I have never done more than a speaker swap on an XJ. (I have done many an audio system, but not on this guy).

FYI's as I read.
1. These are all cheap parts, stop acting like Dual makes a crappy part but your $50 pioneers(alpine, kenwood, kicker) are nice. They are not. They are cheap.

At around $300 a pair, that's when 6.5s start to get decent. Below that, just buy cheap, you have already made the inexpensive decision.

2. There are no "compatibility" issues with parts, only Sizes. Anything works anywhere - it just might not physically fit.

3. The need for amps is highest if you want to listen to music QUIETLY. loud is easy. if you want to actually hear the small individual sounds in music, the power is not about LOUD, its about CLARITY. I want them so I can turn the sound up a more vs road noise, and I can get loud enough, but Its very distorted.

Home theater is the same way - remember grandma turning the tv up really loud? It wasnt about loud, it was about clarity. The 1 watt speaker was never going to get clearer no matter how loud they turned it. If you want clean sound, you need an amp or a head closer to 50+ watts a channel, and "3 way" or better (preferably separate with crossovers) speakers. What is correctly stated above - more than around 100 watts a channel is overkill. Its just distortion at that point.

So after all that - amps under the front seat? Under the rear seat? My first thought says under the rear, drivers side, seat.

EatonXJ

I have two Kenwood amps under the rear seat. They are both small. KAC-M3004 and KAC-M3001. I wasn't planning on leaving them there because I figured they would overheat but so far so good.

OverlandZJ

Still haven't purchased any speakers yet, been having health issues and it was put on back burner.

Weather has been warming and I need to get outside for a bit, thought I would install the new headunit.

The adapter harness is in and hooked up, with one exception.. the blue remote wire from the HU. The only blue wire unused from the harness is the power antenna. In the manual it says to hook to this.. to power an amp. Again.. no amp in this system.

My remote is not working, batt is in and facing properly. Do I hook remote wire to the power ant wire?

freegdr

No blue wire sends signal to raise and lower antenna or power up a amp. Is there a dead battery in remote maybe.