You can absolutely upgrade the speakers.
you can upgrade the amp or amps.
sky is the limit.
I wasn’t aware of the 6 speaker system
(I thought it was alpine or mcintosh)

But I would say for price we all paid for the stereo upgrade, you can build a way better system.

• You need a multi channel line converter
• multi channel amp and speakers.

Not difficult to do, extend OEM speaker wires so they will reach the multi channel converter.
then run a RCA cable from each channel to your multi channel amp, then new speaker wire from the amp out to your new speakers.

because your 6 speaker system will not have a factory subwoofer I recommend the LCi7 converter. It has a bass output which you would run to your sub amp.

LC7i - AudioControl

LINE OUTPUT CONVERTER WITH ACCUBASS™

www.audiocontrol.com

chrysler is famous for sending a different frequency range to each speaker application. Hence the multi channel converter.
The more basic 6 speaker system may not be as fussy if all 6 speakers are the same size ect.

 

Oh wow that’s good info. Thank you!

Let’s say I wanted to replace my 6 speakers with 10 or 11, where would they even go? Would I have to have custom fabricated panels for that or?

 

6 quality speakers and quality amps will be more than enough.

 

Just a warning but it’s best to remember a lot of vehicles these days don’t come apart or go back together very well. Be careful of clips, fasteners, etc so you don’t break them and understand that even if you put everything back together perfectly you might have new rattles and noises.

 

I’m not exactly the handiest man around 😅. Thankfully I have a few family members that will be able to help and have a lot of experience with this stuff.
From my understanding there are a few steps I can take to prevent rattles from clips and such.
I just hope I don’t end up spending more on de-rattling than I do on the sound system 😂

 

Professional installation should be a few hundred bucks. Probably money well spent.
do your research there are just as many scabby installers as good ones.

 

Anyone else try this? I replaced the speakers only today, and the dash + front door speakers hardly work. The guy at the shop wasn’t sure why. But th rear door speakers worked great.

is the line output converter absolutely necessary for replacement speakers to work? I used the Infinity Reference 3032 for the dash and 9632 for the front and rear doors

there’s also a popping/cracking sound now coming from the new dash speakers, even when the car is turned off

 

(deleted)

 

I used the exact infinity 3032 speakers in the dash of my ram 1500 with the factory Alpine system.
they made a noticeable improvement in vocal clarity. Vol was unchanged.
I didn’t do the front door speakers. I wonder if the shop put the door and dash speakers in series? That would be too high of impedance and you would have very low volume.
Who knows what they did… I’d return to stock and try just doing the dash speakers.

 

Did you use the bass blockers with the 3032s?

 

Ok - I went to a diff shop, and they fixed the issues! All they needed to do was remove the bass blockers that came with the 3032s. Apparently the door speakers were working fine all along it was the dash speakers that weren't working. Sound is much better now!

 

Hello, I was looking to do a speaker swap also. I was wondering if all you did was swap out speakers or did you have to add an Amp or anything? TIA

 

That’s great!
yea no blockers needed.

 

Hi all! So this will be my first jeep, and I’m super excited for it. Found a brand new Grand Cherokee limited and it has every option I want except for the upgraded speaker system. I got a really good deal on this car so I don’t want to back out because of the speakers Anyways, I was wondering if it would be possible to upgrade the stock 6 speaker system? Obviously I’ll be adding a subwoofer, but is it possible to just replace the current speakers and add a few more speakers while I’m at it? Is that a thing?

 

I don’t know anything about the base audio System. If the factory amp is similar to the output of the Alpine.. then a simple speaker swap will provide a noticeable improvement.
however.. if your thinking you want something beyond average, then you might be better served with higher wattage speakers and a amp.
the speakers I would install as a swap would not be the same speakers I would use for an upgraded amp system.

the base system doesn’t have the sub or amplifier. I don’t have the details of the speakers. Thanks for the advice. I should’ve just ordered it with the alpine lol. I just a regular system with a good sound…nothing too fancy but not sure if the base will be good enough.

 

Hi all!

So this will be my first jeep, and I’m super excited for it.
Found a brand new Grand Cherokee limited and it has every option I want except for the upgraded speaker system.
I got a really good deal on this car so I don’t want to back out because of the speakers

Anyways, I was wondering if it would be possible to upgrade the stock 6 speaker system?
Obviously I’ll be adding a subwoofer, but is it possible to just replace the current speakers and add a few more speakers while I’m at it? Is that a thing?

Did you finally upgrade it? I ordered a limited with every option except the audio premium upgrade to the alpine. So I’ll get the 6 speakers instead of the 9 speakers and sub. I thought that $1200 for the upgrade wasn’t worth and I would get more value on after market parts. I’m having second thoughts but it’s now late as jeep already assigned a vin number.

 

I don’t know anything about the base audio System. If the factory amp is similar to the output of the Alpine.. then a simple speaker swap will provide a noticeable improvement.
however.. if your thinking you want something beyond average, then you might be better served with higher wattage speakers and a amp.
the speakers I would install as a swap would not be the same speakers I would use for an upgraded amp system.

 

I'll post my thoughts when I've had a chance to drop the jeep off.

 

Anyone know if you need a dsp?

 

For my alpine system in my truck I used a LC2i line out converter. Which has the ability to digitally enhance the signal.
at least in the alpines case, there is significant bass roll off at higher volumes. The LC2i can enhance the signal to eliminate roll off.
unfortunately I know very little about the entry level sound systems in these FCA products.
I would guess they utilize the same tactics across the board. But I’m not 100% sure.

 

For a dash speaker upgrade for the factory 6 speaker system,

WL Mopar Kicker Dash Speaker Upgrade for WL Base 6...

Looking for a quick easy cost effective upgrade for your base 6 speaker stereo in your WL? I managed to come across a pair of Kicker Mopar speakers (PN 77Kick25AB) when I was cleaning out my garage the other day. I believe I had bought them to replace the 3.5” speakers in the soundbar in my...

www.jeepgarage.org

 

I just completed installing new speakers in the doors, a 4 channel amp on them, and a subwoofer amp in my 2023 GC Limited with the 6 speaker system. Here’s the basic rundown.

1. ⁠Active noise cancelling - this must be disabled or the radio will produce unwanted cancellation signal. You can simply unplug the red harness from the radio brain behind the screen.
2. ⁠The dash speakers and front door speakers are separate connections to the radio. No bass goes to the dash, and no highs go to the doors. That means if you put nice speakers in the front doors, you’ll get nothing from the tweeters. This also means that using the front door output to run an amp will result in signal with no high frequencies. I used the summing feature on the Audio Control line output converter to correct this.
3. ⁠Battery connection - there is a large sealed lead acid battery under the driver’s seat. I removed the seat for easy access and to allow me to run wires. The seat bolts are reverse Torx and are amazingly tight. There’s a couple wire harnesses connected to the seat, otherwise it’s easy to remove. I turned the car on with the seat out, and the dash went nuts with lights and warnings. I would recommend you don’t do this.
4. ⁠Line output converter when adding an amp to the door speakers. The radio will not put out signal if there’s no load on the outputs. You must use load resistors between your line output converter and the radio. I used Audio Control AC-LGD20 resistor packs without issue. If you’re just adding a subwoofer you don’t need these.
5. ⁠Bass knob placement - I didn’t want to mount my bass knobs by just screwing them to the bottom of the dash. I disassembled them so that I could mount them from behind. The panel just in front of the gear shift pops out with a little strength, and I drilled holes and mounted the knobs. It looks good and they’re easily accessible.
6. I left the dash speakers connected to the radio and didn’t replace them. They don’t distort even at higher volumes, and when using Apple CarPlay they are the only speakers Siri’s voice comes through. I like this because it sounds good and stays at the correct volume no matter how loud I’m playing music.
7. Door speaker replacement is really easy. You need 6x9’s for all four doors and Metra 72-6514 speaker harnesses (if you don’t want to cut wires). The door panels have just two bolts and then they pop right off. There is plenty of depth for larger speakers.

I wanted a very loud system, and by adding amps to all the speakers and two 12’s in the back I got exactly what I wanted. My GC now sounds like a rock concert!


I was a car stereo installer for over ten years, and this was a very challenging installation. The car comes apart pretty easily, and that’s good because you have to remove a lot of panels to run wires correctly. I took my time and thought through each step carefully and it turned out well without damaging anything. I’ll do my best to answer any questions anyone has, hopefully this helps someone out.

 

Great info - much appreciated. To simply add just a sub, is there a connector on the radio for this? Also, did you notice if there is a connector for the dash center speaker that is not used on the factory 6-speaker?

 

There’s no connector for adding a sub or for a center speaker.

 

for those of you wanting to add a sub when there isn’t one installed from factory. Be careful where you take your signal from.
As @Nate Dawg said earlier.
each speaker has a defined frequency sent to it.
make sure you feed your line out converter signal from your door 6x9 speakers only.

 

Anyone know how the factory sub and center speaker are wired then? Tapped from something? Or is the "Alpine" head unit physically different with additional connections?

 

Picked up some infinity reference 3.5” speakers for the dash. Pop the dash grill off in a minute, two screws to remove each speaker, new speaker back in the same place with the same screws. Certainly brightens up the audio (think high hats and the like - much clearer).

So $100 and less than 30 minutes of work with no modifications. I’d say a worthwhile upgrade. And doesn’t mess up ANC either.

I’ll be doing the door 6x9’s next. I choose to do them separately in order to hear how each may or may not affect the sound.

 

Picked up some infinity reference 3.5” speakers for the dash. Pop the dash grill off in a minute, two screws to remove each speaker, new speaker back in the same place with the same screws. Certainly brightens up the audio (think high hats and the like - much clearer).

So $100 and less than 30 minutes of work with no modifications. I’d say a worthwhile upgrade. And doesn’t mess up ANC either.

I’ll be doing the door 6x9’s next. I choose to do them separately in order to hear how each may or may not affect the sound.

View attachment 258587 View attachment 258588

I used the same infinity reference 3.5” speakers in my Ram.
only knock I have on them is they can get a touch too bright at the top third of the volume.
After Vol. level 25 I can notice distortion on “S’s” (especially female DJs talking) the letter S sound can be piercing.
still a worthy upgrade but I think I’ll try a touch higher quality next time.

 

So separately replaced the 6x9 door speakers. These make the ANC freak out. Behind the radio module which is behind the screen unit, as was mentioned above unplug the red/purple bug connector. This disables ANC.

Now the improvement in total sound is massive having swapped the dash speakers and all four door speakers. The base is MUCH richer and much cleaner. Overall balance with the complete set really changes the overall quality. I picked up these infinity reference 6x9s. About $200 for all four. So just over $300 for replacing all speakers.

Again, massive difference in sound quality. I don’t know if the crazy loud is any different, but I’m someone who wants clarity over power. In fact, I find that music crazy loud loses clarity - it’s just ear hurting overwhelming - you lose the details. So I haven’t tried or compared with the radio over 30 or whatever. I have no use for that.

I’ll have to see if disconnecting the ANC noticeably hurts the quietness of the ride. I’m a stickler for a quiet ride and pay lots for a car that is quiet inside.

You can see the difference in magnet and driver between stock and these. Base is so much tighter and improved.

 

I'd love to see a picture of the back of an Alpine and McIntosh radio module - wonder if there are additional connectors for other speakers, amp, sub, etc. Or if those are just additional wires in the existing connectors/harnesses.

they absolutely overcharge for what you get with the Alpine system. Yet if you want to get the different rear door panels that have the grills for tweeters, wiring for tweeters in the doors, the different rear cargo area side panel for sub and the wiring for the sub, let alone better speakers, it will cost you easily that much. Let alone the work to swap.

I'm happy to find that a straight speaker swap massively improves the standard system. It's better than the factory alpine with sub from my recollection of listening to the GCs that come with the Alpine 9 speaker + sub. And a whole lot cheaper.

 

It's also interesting that the radio unit is Harmon. Hard to decipher where the real improvement and money goes when buying these things. Harman produces Harman Kardon, JBL, Infinity, Mark Levinson, and more.

 

It’s mostly marketing fluff and pure profit for the manufacturers.
the name brand components are far inferior to anything those brands would sell aftermarket.
a quick search for replacement cost on the OEM speakers shows the true value..
I do like the light up emblems tho! lol

 

Well, as I left the open question of "does disabling ANC make a difference", unfortunately the answer is yes. I was able to take a few highway rides since putting the 6x9's in, and there is a noticeable increase in baseline noise - road/tire/engine/whatever it is. I guess you can drown it out with the radio, but there are times when I'm not playing music. And it's just more noise competing with each other in total.

It's a shame that ANC freaks out as the fidelity is significantly improved with the speaker swap. Oh well.

 

I need serious help from you guys. I went to a shop and had them install a 4 channel amp and 6x9. It was working when I left soon as I turned the car and turned it back on, only my front left tweeters is working. They ran the signal from the 6x9 at first they said it worked when that stopped they got the signal from the passenger tweeters but now that’s not working. I’ve been to this shop 4 days straight I’m pissed. They told me my outputs was burnt out so I went and got another module still not working.