I just upgraded to the Boston Acoustic speakers and they did make a pretty noticeable difference. I am still a little disappointed with the sound from the sound bar. I understand it is because the factory radio cuts the base signal to the rear as the volume is increased. This has me wanting to upgrade the receiver but I do not want to have to get another set of speakers. I would be looking for a reasonable priced unit that will not burn up driving the 2 ohm load. Anyone have any ideas? Other that that I suppose I would have to live with it for a while until I can't stand it and replace everything. If it matters, my JKU had the standard system.

 

Are you planning on bypassing the factory amp?

 

This +1

The unfortunate thing when we start messing with our audio systems is finding the limitations of the stock amp. I loved the head unit but because of the amp controlling all of the sound, it forced me to radically change my entire system in order to accomplish my end goal. Didnt help that I completely geeked out in order to do it though...

The other option is piggybacking off the stock amp's signal. Either push the signal from the amp to a LOC or to an amp that has speaker level inputs and then let that new amp push the sound to the speakers. You can find aftermarket amps like in the Alpine line that accept speaker level inputs as well as can output to 2ohm. Problem with standard 4ohm 4 channel amps is that if you go to 2 ohm, you lose the balance option. Flip side is by going to 2ohm, the RMS increases a little bit.

Before deciding to sell my system, I was going to do the piggyback option with 2 amps. 1 4 channel to power the front/rear speakers and 1 mono to power the sub. All of it cost around $500 for both amps and the wire to wire them up. Also included some lower cost 4ohm speakers for front and rear. Anything is better than those stock ones.

 

I have the base/standard system. I thought it did not have an amp. I may need to do a little more research. The fronts sound fine now, I just can't stand the sound from the sound bar.

 

Year and Trim of Jeep?
Head Unit-3 Letters at Bottom Right of Head Unit?
If you know you have a 2 ohm system, wouldn't you know the Amp makes it a 2 ohm? Who told you You have a 2 ohm system?

 

It is a 2010 Sport Unlimited. There is no number in the lower right of the head unit. The speakers measure 2 ohm with a meter. All of the things I have read on this and other forums say that the speakers are 2 ohm, and I verified that with a meter. There is no sub-woofer either, just the two speakers in the dash and the two in the sound bar. I know the amp makes it 2 ohm , I just thought with the most basic system that was inside the head unit and not a separate amp. All I really want to know is it Alpine, Kenwood, Sony, or someone makes a unit I can just install with the proper adapter that will function and not burn out trying to drive 2 ohm speakers. If I am not mistaken most aftermarket units are designed around the more standard 4 ohm load speakers.

edit: It does have the tweeters in the corners of the windshield on top of the dash.

 

Look for Three Letters, not numbers. All Factory radios are Marked with this Sales Code....examples in Pics....Most Aftermarket are 4 ohm and Higher End are 2ohm or going in that Directions. More Efficient and more power. Harman makes the Top Premium Unit 730 RER/RHR...next down is the Mitsubishi makes 430 RHB ...BASE 130 REC and others are made by Alpine and Mitsubishi...

 

Rec it is then.