I searched with my best google-fu and here. Could not find information.

Adding Alpine 445 Power Pack to 130 res head unit (I know, better to change head, but I am not going to do that).

Speakers are Alpine S line front and speaker bar. (component type in front, coaxial in back).

Way better than stock speakers. Lots better to my ears.

But, I noticed that the soundbar speakers are pretty much useless. I realize it is because of the limiting filtering that the stock head unit does to the rear.

So, it got me thinking. Alpine Power Pack is a 4 channel that can be mono bridged to a 2 channel amp. Thinking that I should just amplify the fronts only and use the head to feed the back speakers. I've seen where people will run all four speakers off the front channel only (with an amp), but struggle with the soundbar with damping, etc. I did stuff soundbar with some damping material, etc.

Along these same lines, I may get a 3 channel amp and run a small sub off the 3rd channel. But the same question applies "...is it worth amplifying the sound bar speakers and just amplify the front?..."

My thoughts are the the soundbard speakers are pretty much a lost cause. The fronts, being sealed and two way component, are worthy of amplified power.

Anybody do this?

Citiot.

Jeep JK 2014 Sport

 

You almost lost me at "I'm not changing head unit". But if you must keep it, amplifying only the front speakers makes sense. It will be amplifying mud, but it will be louder. Like you said, the rear speakers are so tainted by bad EQ and weird attenuation that they are not worth trying to amplify.

 

I am using the stock head unit as well and it actually sounds better than most people think with a good amp behind it. The specific adapter I'm using actually only uses the front outputs which works out in this case because the rear outputs are useless. I am using a kicker marine amp and speakers as my jeep sees a bit more rain and water than most and high end home theater quality was not a requirement for me. It's a jeep for goodness sakes.

At first I only hooked up the fronts and I was very happy with that. They put out plenty of volume. But I had the speakers and I had the extra amp channels so why the hell not power all 4.

If you rarely use your rear seat, you will be pretty happy with just the fronts. But adding in the sound bar adds more volume and a bit more to the low end.

 

the stock head units SUCK, the bass rolls off at higher volumes (to protect the amp & speakers i guess).
I installed an aftermarket pioneer head unit (2 usb ports on the back), bluetooth & hands free.

I installed an alpine PDX v9 - 5 channel amp (100x4 & 500x1) - it sounds really REALLY good....top down, 80 mph, no problem !

The PDX v9 is nice and small (they have a marine version too)....i was able to fit it under the front (drivers) seat w/ some slight modification & i was able to get it more than an inch off the floor (in case of water/rain)....you could easily raise it more (but i don't forge rivers).

if you pack the sound bar w/ some insulation the speakers in it will sound MUCH MUCH better !

the pdxv9 is much smaller than that power pack & has more than 2x the output plus a 5th (sub) channel.
the PDX v9 isn't cheap but by the time you add 2 amps or 3rd amp for the sub you'll have spent as much as you can get the PDXv9 for.

Pictures here - https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-e...ting-298474/#b

 

Also def recommend getting new head unit. I run an Alpine 148BT with JL 700/5 amp and it is amazing. Even the soundbar speakers.

 

Right now, with just the stock 130 RES radio, I use mostly the front. Imaging is not too bad. If I put too much at the back, the sound stage gets really messed up. Tone controls are pretty much flat cutting down the high a little bit. I listen at a decent volume, but not ear bleeding level.

I'm not a bass aficionado (I use Magnepan 1.6QRs in my home stereo with a tiny 8" sub woofer just barely running). My music tastes are generally legit music (with a little rock and roll for good measure).

The amp is only $150 and I'm going to mono bridge it on the front speakers. I'll have the installer hang a couple of spare speaker wires for if I add a small sub woofer and amp later. (maybe I'll have him put in a 3 channel amp instead and I'll put in a sub later)

Hopefully I don't offend anyone, but, when I was younger (long ago) I had a multi amped stereo in my car thumping away (for giggles, I used to crank pipe organ music ala Saint-Saëns, sure got some strange looks - pipe organ music should resonate every part of your body). As I got older, I changed into a "music" listener rather than a "sound" listener. Actually started out as a music major in college, so I know what music sounds like. No stereo, home or car, no matter how expensive, even comes close to live music IMHO.

I see this is where people may differ on opinion.... some want thump {as Seinfeld would say "...not that there is anything wrong with that..."} and some want reasonable accurate reproduction of what was recorded. (though the thwack of a good kettle drum or Jaco Pastorius needs good woofers)

Another thing, it's a Jeep and I may be over thinking this. Stereo won't be on when I off-road. Within 1 hour of driving the shiny new Jeep off the lot, I had it covered in mud.... but I drive it to work every day so decent music will be nice.

Best,

Citiot

P.S. This post probably makes me look like a snob. I'm anything but. I am a "Jackpine Savage" (grew up in the wilds of northern Minnesota with all that entails)

 

you're doing this to compensate for the poor performance of the stock head unit - it SUCKS.
it sounds counter intuitive but at lower volumes you'll need more (bass) power to round out the sound.....at higher volumes i end up turning the sub down (to prevent over powering booming bass)....the problem w the stock head units is they start rolling off the bass as you increase the volume.

 

I would definitely rethink replacing the head unit. That is basic stereo upgrade 101. I have recently upgraded everything myself and my advice is:
- see if the amp u get can be installed in the stock location u der the steering column. This solved worrying about an underseat amp getting wet, and didnt lose extra storage space.
- if u need an adapter of some sort to utilizie the head unit, make sure it is one that allows fade front to back, i say that cause have a 5 channel amp, running fronts and soundbar and a sub. If i could t fade to fron,t the rear soundbar drowns out the fronts quite a bit when amplified.
- if u hav the infinity sub, (and like bass) dont waste time powering it with a better amp or using polyfill or dynamat with it. It just plain sucks. .33' of air space in a flexible plastic housing. (I got a 12" ported box that i can quick disconnect and remove from jeep). "Thump" can always be turned down depending on the genre of music u want to listen to.

 

I have the Alpine ktp 445u powering alpine spr60c in the dash and some Kicker coax 6.5 in the sound bar. I have it zip tied under the steering wheel column and with the trim piece installed you hardly can tell it's there. For the HU, I have a Pioneer Avh2600bt. I have two JL 10w1v3 subs with an Alpine mrv-m500. The volume goes up to 40 but I can honestly only get around 12-15 at max before it's uncomfortable. Plenty loud for me. I need my metal loud and trebly!

 

Amp install complete. Installer recommended doing 4 and not mono bridge.

I am very happy with the results. Stereo is done.

Thanks to all for your input. It is greatly appreciated.

Citiot