I have a 2011 jk sport with the base style radio. I have the typical trouble issue of the radio is lacking something desired. I havent seen in black and white if replacing the headunit alone will solve the problem when removing the top. From what I have read some seem to think the stock head unit is whats is governing the lack of sound through the bar. My plan is to put in a new hu along with some polk db651's with poly fill and hopefully have a halfway descent sound when the top is off with out the headunit cutting back the level to the sound bar anymore???

thanks
duncan

 

There was a thread on here about a wire on the plug that connects to the hard top. That u can jump to across to anorher wire to fool the computer that the top is still on. But I can remember which wire it is. But I do know there is away around it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

 

thank you for your response. I have read that thread and havent tried that trick yet. Hopefully its in the stock hu.

 

bump bump bump

 

Unfortunately the entire stock system sucks no matter what flavor or year model you have. Just replacing the stock head unit is not going to do much of anything at all for you besides offer more features. If you have a base stereo system it may help more as you will not have the amp taking the signal from the radio and processing it.

 

I have a 2011 also, like yours mine had the stock base radio too. During my stereo system rebuild I started with the head unit. It wasn't untill the following weekend that I was able to work on changing speakers and adding amps. But I'll tell you what, just changing the head unit and using stock speakers my sound improved pretty dramatically. For one thing you gain more power which helps drive a cleaner signal. You gain far better d/a converters. You also get rid of the factory equalization that limits the frequency response and output. Of course once your speakers get upgraded, you'll be even closer to having something far more enjoyable and listenable.

 

Will let you know soon. I first replaced my speakers but left the stock HU installed. Front got better but rear stayed the same. I am swapping the head unit here in a couple hours and will be able to let you know the difference.

 

Head unit is the worst, can't power aftermarket speakers. Start there.

 

with just upgrading the hu would it be enough to satisfy with stock speakers and maybe some polyfill?

 

Well I got the aftermarket HU installed and the difference is night and day. You can actually hear the rear speakers now. So yes, it will be better.