After many months of owning my new-to-me-XJ (1999 classic), I finally found time to install a deck from a previous car in it. I now have an iPod control (yup, still like them and use them), AUX, etc.

Up until this point, I was using a cassette to aux adapter (a cassette with a wire, basically), and I had upgraded all 4 speakers (doors and roof) with Kenwoods from a previous car. All wires were checked, and resoldered in the doors.

So today: Upgraded deck (kenwood) and upgraded speakers (also Kenwood).

I finally turn it on, go through all the presets it needs (EQ, bass level, speaker type .... I swear you need a PhD for these things) and...... it sounds like sh*t.

Now mind you, not sounds sh*tty as in the sound is muffled or reversed polarity on the speakers etc. As I said, the polarity is fine on the speakers and wires have been gone over when I installed them (and fixed wherever cracked).

What I mean is, the sound is tinny and weak. There's no bass, no OOMPH.

Has anyone else experienced this? How is it possible the "crappy" 1999 cassette deck + the current speakers, could rattle my mirrors off if I wanted, but the new deck can barely make a vibration in the door panel and sounds weak and hollow?

To give a few more factors:
- Ipod was connected via USB/ipod cable on the new deck (so volume on the ipod doesn't work in that connection - via AUX on the old deck, I had the radio volume AND ipod volume, so I picked a happy medium)
- EQ was set on the deck for bass and "rock" preset (I didn't want to manually set it just yet) - So I know it isn't just the presets being wrong. That was checked over
- The deck works fine
- There is of course, no amp, just the deck pre amp

THE ONLY reason I changed the deck was that the Stock Chrysler was having the typical output issues, where one speaker would work, then wouldn't, then it would switch etc.

With the new deck, ALL speakers work consistently, but the sound is just..... FLAT.

**I have FOUR other decks I can try from my collection, but I think it'll be a similar tale across the board.... why?**

Thanks in advance!

 

Remove stereo, problem solved lol

 

Stereos are a distraction from total immersion in the driving experience.

 

The enginerds got paid a lot of money to design something that would last and sound decent. Its why the factory AM/FM/CASSETTE deck is still in my 95 XJ and i just use a bluetooth cassette adapter.

 

Is there any way to open up the factory deck and correct the issue with the outputs? As in, sometimes the left side speakers play, sometimes they don't. The wires in the doors and the speakers themselves are 100% ok. It only happens in Cassette output mode, tuner mode is 100% fine.

 

LOL. Just install a bunch of pocket compartments. Hold phone, wallet, etc.

 

Mine sounded the same way with aftermarket deck and and stock sized aftermarket speakers. I swapped all 4 speakers for 6 1/2s and it made a huge difference. Still doesnt have the bass that say 6x9s would but its better.

 

That's actually what I have haha. I have 6.5" 3-ways in the doors, 6.5" 2-ways in the back. They sounded AWESOME with the cassette deck (minus the crackle and the output issues I mentioned). But with the aftermarket, meh.

 

Does your jeep have the factory amp?

 

No, it's just the cassette stereo + 4 speakers (2 front doors, 2 in the cargo area roof).

I really thought that with the factory pre-amp in the Kenwood deck, and then having all the 6.5" upgraded speakers, the sound could only get better over the current factory radio with adapter + upgraded speakers.

If all else fails, I will just find out how to solve the factory radio issue of the output levels, and get a really quality cassette adapter, maybe it'll be satisfactory again

 

Aftermarket speakers typically have less bass than factory speakers. If you install an aftermarket radio with factory speakers, at least from my experience, it'll improve the sound quality from the factory speakers. If you don't care about all the fancy stuff, try finding another stock Jeep radio and swapping that in. Or add an amp to the aftermarket speakers. Or swap the factory speakers back in if they're still good.

 

Once upon a time there was a stereo manufacturer named Infinity that made some really rock solid kick *** audiophile pleasing stereos. Chrysler corporation was looking for a high end stereo for their top of the line cars.. Chrysler liked Infinity radios and contracted with them as the supplier The customers liked them too. Chrysler knew a good thing when they saw it so they bought Infinity and ended Infinity's retail distribution to dedicate production to the entire Chrysler Dodge and Plymouth line.

 

I had no idea this was the case. Is that for real? (*I guess I can google it, but I am curious to know. I saw an XJ at the scrappers with an infinity amp, and wanted to snag it.... but the bolts were all stripped, holding it down to the floor )

 

So what's weird about that is, the factory speakers were pretty solid, but the ones I put in there (the kenwoods) are even better. Lots of bass coming from the 6.5's. With the factory radio, they were really bumping! Then with the aftermarket, meh.

I should note I have 5 radios at home, all aftermarket decks. I removed the kenwood, and put in a Pioneer DEH-S1100UB. 2018 production. If I crank my Ipod volume max, and then set the deck to like....47 volume, it finally sounds good.

So I am feeling this is an issue of an amp being needed. ARGH. NO MORE WIRING THINGS.

 

Yeah sadly the Infinity systems are more common on Grand Cherokee ZJ's and WJ's than Cherokee XJ's, although later (1997-2001) Cherokee XJ's *did* offer it... they have tweeters in the upper corners of the front door panels, and an amp under the rear bench seat. That's how you can tell if you have it or not.

However, I'm not sure that Chrysler ever owned Infinity. AFAIK Harman International (who owns Infinity, JBL, Harman/Kardon, and some others) owns Infinity. However, I *DO* remember a time when Infinity stopped with aftermarket production (Chrysler must've done the same with Boston Acoustics, as they no longer make aftermarket speakers). Now that Chrysler is moving/has moved away from using Infinity in their vehicles, Infinity has once again begun offering aftermarket speakers again.