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Questions about Cherokee audio system

35K views 55 replies 27 participants last post by  Vic1212 
#1 · (Edited)
I bought my Trailhawk off of a dealer lot. It has just about every option except the 9-speaker upgraded audio system. Not a big deal, I figured, because I can always upgrade the speakers and add a subwoofer if I feel the need and get exactly the components I want. The standard six-speaker system actually sounds decent.

My questions are:

Does anyone know the speaker sizes in the Cherokee for the standard audio system? I'd rather not pry off my speaker grilles to find out unless I'm actually going in to swap out the speakers, so if anyone knows offhand, it would be a great help.

Secondly, does anyone know if the stock stereo has any auxiliary outputs, or a subwoofer output?

I don't know if I'll go to the trouble of upgrading the system as, like I said, the standard system is fine, but I'd at least like to price shop speakers and subs to help make a decision.

Thanks for any insight that can be shared.
 
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#2 ·
Sorry, I just noticed I posted this in the wrong forum. Admin - please move to the Cherokee Discussion forum. Thanks.
 
#4 ·
I did the same thing, got everything but the upgraded sound system. I actually wish I did get the upgrade because the 6 speaker one is not nearly loud enough to my liking.
 
#5 ·
I actually think the 6-speaker system sounds decent, so I'm not that fussed. I was just thinking that, if later on I decided I wasn't satisfied with it, I could upgrade the speakers and add a small subwoofer.

When I bought the truck, I actually thought it had the upgraded audio system. It had everything else. I even asked the salesman and he said that it did. He was wrong, and shame on me for not checking the window sticker more closely. I'm not fussed enough about it to return the car. I probably couldn't at this point anyway. I've put 450 miles on it. But it would be nice to know that I have options to do something aftermarket if I feel motivated later.

If I did do something, it would be whatever I could do without chopping up the inside of the Cherokee too much. Just replacing existing speakerts and adding high-pass filters, and adding a small powered sub under the drivers seat, if possible.

I just don't know if the stock stereo has the outputs available to add a subwoofer. I think it might, as I'm thinking that the upgraded audio system that Jeep offers probably uses the same head unit as the standard system, and just adds an amp, upgraded speakers and subwoofers, which would have to mean that the head unit offers outputs to feed the amplifier included in the upgraded audio system. That being the case, I could potentially just add my own amp, speakers and subwoofers. I might need to cut up the speaker wire harnesses to splice in the amp, but it might work out. This truck seems pretty tightly built, though, so accessing everything might be a real chore. Like I said, depend on how motivated I get. Right now, I'm thinking the stock system might sound good enough to unmotivate me! That's what age will do to ya.
 
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#6 ·
Actually, now that I've been in the car for a bit, I think I'm going to need to upgrade this audio system. There's just not enough power from the stock system and the sound is a bit on the muddy side, as is common with stock audio systems. I'm not that fussed that my Cherokee didn't have the upgraded audio system as even manufacturer upgraded systems can not be that great, and now I get to choose what components I install.

I'm not going to do anything crazy, I just want to increase the power a bit and replace the speakers with higher quality units. After doing a little looking, I discovered that Alpine makes a small amp called a Power Pack that boosts the power of your stock head unit without requiring an additional power source (it runs off of the head unit power provided the circuit is at least 15 amps). I think that plus some aftermarket speakers should get me where I would like to be for this vehicle's sound for a minimum of cost, and I'll end up with a better sounding result than even if I had gotten the manufacturer upgraded audio.

So, I guess I'll be contacting the dealership tomorrow to see if they can tell me the speaker sizes in my Cherokee's sound system. I could pull the grilles and measure them myself, but I don't want to have to pull the grilles more than once to install the new speakers and risk damaging them in the process.
 
#7 ·
When we were shopping we listened to the standard and optional audio systems back to back, and we thought the $395 for the optional system was a no brainer. Sounds as good as the Harmon Kardon system in my Mercedes (which cost a helluva lot more than $395):)
 
#8 ·
Yeah, I have no idea why a dealer would order a fully loaded Cherokee and not finish it by ticking the premium audio checkbox.

Do you happen to know all of the speaker locations for the upgraded system? I'm just wondering if my car will have the cutout for all nine speaker or if I will be limited to just replacing the six speakers that my car has.
 
#11 ·
in our area most of the stock units that are loaded with other options seem to have the upgraded system. I also think each individual dealer specifies the exact specs of each unit ordered for stock. I noticed that each dealer tends to have different option combinations on the lot by trim level.
 
#12 · (Edited)
one issue may be the upgraded audio system requires the nav, which makes it a much larger $ choice if you are not looking for factory nav

as for the stock speakers OP, go on the mopar site and find the speakers, it lists their size (cant remember off the top of my head). As for audio outs, who knows right now. I would guess all the 8" screen models have the same outputs...but it will probably be a little while before people start messing around with that.
 
#13 ·
@clew yeah, I would have been fine just paying for the updated sound system - but not the navigation. Total outlay would have been bumped up to about $1200.
 
#21 ·
That was my decision. Better speakers are nice, but not worth $1200 when I considered I didn't want factory Nav. I'm thinking Crutchfield will have a setup ready for the Cherokee in a few months, and any sound shop should be able to do something right now.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
 
#14 ·
Is there an easy way to find out if you have the upgraded audio? I guess I could count my speakers.
 
#20 ·
Mine has nav, and everything else, so at that point,why not just tack on the extra $400 for the audio upgrade?

My dealer seems to buy vehicles with a specific set of options at each trim level. They had two Trailhawks, one black and one Anvil, with the exact same option configurations.
 
#22 ·
You guys are right, it is bundled, did not realize that. The issue never came up for us though, as my GF is very directionally challenged and a Nav unit is pretty much a must for us in every car.
 
#31 ·
Seriously...are NAV updates free? Can we get some backup on that? Being the 21st century, we should be able to park our Cherokees in front of our houses/apartments, piggyback off our own wifi hotspots and update the NAV anytime. We never update my wife's Lexus hybrid because it's a supreme ripoff.
 
#32 · (Edited)
The problem with answering your question is that Chrysler is not consistent across the models and options. Some models of the Cherokee, especially if you have the upgrade radio, get a full year of satellite and Uconnect for free while others only get 6 months free. I am guessing it is correct that the Nav updates are free because it is the premium radio but can't verify that because it is not listed on the sticker like satellite and Uconnect are.
 
#36 ·
Mine only mutes the left front audio channel and sends the nav message to that channel instead. Depending on how loud my music is, I may or may not be able to hear the nav messages.

One annoying thing is that if I'm talking on the phone via Bluetooth, the nav messages still play at full volume, and the person I'm talking to can hear them, also, which completely disrupts the conversation. I wish there was a setting that offered the option to mute the nag when on the phone.
 
#37 ·
So from reading all the posts I'm assuming no one has done an after market sub yet? I plan on looking into tearing mine apart this weekend to attempt, if so I'll post pics and let you know how it goes. I'm most definitely checking into seeing if there are outputs on the back to connect the amp to. I already have subs and an amp so if it's a go hopefully have it done by Sunday.
 
#39 ·
Ok I'm blasting this thread here is number 3. Does anyone know or think these are a better option for bass or if it's much of a difference? I'm assuming the stereo has a built in amp that powers these so it's just plug n play in the doors? I didn't see anything about amplification on the mopar site. Maybe these questions are better for the dealer but I'm pretty sure I'll get the old, "I don't know"
 

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#40 ·
If you had the upgraded audio + sub, it would've been marked on the sticker, so @bean7705, you have the stock 6-speaker setup. I was pretty impressed by the stock speakers with their thump / base and sound, though. In my factory order, I did decide to upgrade, but toyed with the idea of sticking with stock.
 
#43 ·
Thanks for the info. I actually decided to skip upgrading the audio in my TH. After living with the standard audio system for five months now, I've decided that it sounds plenty good for my purposes and don't feel the need to put the time, effort and money into upgrading.
 
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#44 ·
We have the upgraded sound system on our Trailhawk. I like it much better than the Harmon/Kardon system I had in my 2012 300SRT. I had nothing but problems with the H/K system. The back panel buzz and rattle was horrible. Chyrslers fix ended up totally ruining the whole system where it didn't sound any better than the upgraded stereo, that's in the Trailhawk.
 
#46 ·
I'm pretty sure the speaker cut outs that are present on both the the six speaker and the nine speaker (but are only utilized in the nine) are in the center of the dash (above the small storage compartment) and in the cargo area, left side and right side.
 
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