Glad to hear more people are realizing the issue and are coming forward!! I had 2015 renegade limited with "9 speaker premium audio upgrade". Sounded fantastic and had plenty of volume around 25 setting. At 30 setting it was pounding. Subwoofer made mirrors shake on the car. I liked the new color options on the new renegades and decided to trade up to a 2016 renegade trailhawk with the" beats audio 9 speaker upgrade". Sounds horrible..at the max volume setting its still not as loud as the 2015. Went back into the dealership and compared it with other 2016 renegades and they all sound horrible. Sound just about the same as the 2016 without the 9 speaker upgrade. Dealer said I could either take the car or change my mind and that there may be a recall on it coming up in the near future. I took the car to my local car audio installer and he said that he believes the speaker wires are hooked up incorrectly. if you listen to each individual speaker, it really shows. Out of the front door 6x9's they are all sub bass and nothing else. Out of the rear 6x9's it is all mids, and out of the rear subwoofer, its almost all high end. If I cut into the wiring it will void the warranty. Called jeep and filed a complaint and they said if they get enough complaints about it, they will make a recall on it and fix the issue but it could take several months if not longer. They really didn't seem to have concern or care for the issue. If not, there is nothing that will happen. Maybe a lot of new owners never heard the 2015 model and don't know what to expect it to sound like. Mp4's sound better than older mp3's I have found. So frustrating....


What I did to "fix" the issue....On the drivers side in the trunk area is an access panel and if you look way down in there, that is the location of the power amp for the radio. Its only a few bolts and clips to get enough access to be able to unclip the harness and use T-taps to tap into the 2 wires for a LOC converter. I went to a local stereo pawn shop and picked up a 12" subwoofer with an enclosure and a power amp, a LOC converter at best buy, and a complete wiring kit from Walmart, all for around $150.00. I ended up wiring up another subwoofer and the radio sounds 100% better and more even sounding from front to rear. Even though its still not correct, I learned that all the speaker signals that come out of the factory amp and go to the different speakers are all frequency crossed over directly in the amp, so if there is a recall, it may be just as simple as replacing the power amp in the car. In the meantime, I'm 100% more satisfied with my radio now, even though it cost me $150, but it was a small price to pay to not stay frustrated and I didn't have to alter anything on the car to do it. Jeep has a nice grommet location right above the brake pedal to run the power wire so no cutting, drilling, etc. Keyed power is right near the rear fusebox..ground is right there also. Worst of the job was running the power wire.If anyone wants to know or see what I did, please let me know. As stated earlier, I'm hoping for a recall, but I gotta say, a 12" sub sounds way better than the 6.5" stock one.

 

Wow! Thanks for all the info. Huge help!

 

Or you could have just realized that anything with Beats or Dr. Dre on it is just going to sound horrible.

 

HAhahahahaaaahahahahahahaa!!!!
Oh. My. God.
What he said.
hahahahahahhahaaaahahahahahhhahaha
The "marketing" on beats is right up there with "Monster Cables".

 

I was originally going to buy the 2015 TH and the 9 speaker option was included in the popular equipment group, which I was getting to have the 40/20/40 rear seats mainly. I started to like the idea of getting the upgraded audio and was hugely disappointed when they added the beats name and the 2016 came out before I got my order in. Since the upgraded audio had grown on me, I made the jump to order the premium audio. I wasn't happy they added the Beats name and the outrageous cost difference between what it was before, but did it anyway. I haven't taken delivery yet, but I fear when I do, how bad the audio may sound. I'm not one to go around pumping bass and listen mostly to classic rock, rock and roll, etc. And never too loudly, but want it to sound good. I'll see in a couple weeks I guess.

 

The whole "Beats" thing is one of the biggest scams ever. Not just the Renegade. Their "high end" headphones are nothing special. Dre is laughing all the way to the bank.

 

I only have the 6 speakers audio. Sounds ok to me but I am not expert. Only thing is when I turn up my favorite songs. The whole driver door shakes and rattles. Takes the joy out of it for sure.

 

Very odd, because even with having broken two door clips and having replacement speakers that can only use three of the screw holes to mount them in the doors, mine is really quite solid. I like the design of the doors a whole lot more than my last two cars in that regards. The seat belts can rattle like mad if positioned incorrectly though.

 

well I am pretty sure it is the door panels. When I press the door panel in certain spots the rattling stops. No big deal I am going to have the dealer look at it.

 

I was told when I called jeep, the 2015 "9 speaker upgrade" and the 2016 "beats audio upgrade" are the exact same thing and they are just rebranding it with a new name associated with Beats Audio. Supposed to be exactly the same speakers, radios ,etc. Only thing I have noticed is it seems to me there is an issue with the 2016 power amps either sending the wrong signal to the wrong speakers, or they have changed the speaker crossover frequency point inside the amp and it seems to be causing unbalanced sound issues and volume issues while listening to different mp3 files and different radio stations. Some iTunes mp4's, sound really great and some older mp3's sound very poor. Some XM stations sound really good, and some not so much. These sound issues were not so drastic on the 2015 renegade. Again, given that "IF" they are the exact same systems just branded differently for selling purposes, there is something wrong with the amplifiers. IF anyone is considering not purchasing a renegade for this issue or not spending the money for the 9 speakers, take a mp3 stick along with you and listen to a few different mp3 files of good quality and poor quality and you will understand what to expect. I think the 9 speaker option is totally worth it when it is working correctly.

 

THIS is the biggest issue I have, if true, with the beats audio option. Yes, I ended up getting it and paying for it, but comparing the prices from 2015 to 2016, if the equipment is the same, then I paid $545 just to add the Beats logo to my Jeep. Nothing better in the actual equipment. The only other thing that changed is the popular equipment package includes auto dimming mirror in 2016 while 2015 did not. I'm probably a moron for paying for it, but oh well.

@JeepCares, did I really pay Jeep $545 just to add the Beats logo to the same speakers I would have gotten in the 2015 Renegade Popular Equipment Group for far less?

 

I was one of the early adopters to proclaim poor Beats performance. It sucked but I am getting used to it, it is sounding better but it still sucks IMO. It doesn't sound premium at all and I have to constantly adjust the volume because some songs sound louder than others... and some sound better than others. IMO it's the lack of consistence Bass that makes it sound tinny.

What makes Beats sound good is... you guessed it, RAP and HIP HOP LOL. Bass heavy music sound rich but anything else sound tinny and flat. Sorry but Beats is a FAIL!!!

 

in 2015, the " 9 amplified speakers with subwoofer" option was an additional $495.00. In 2016, the "beats audio 9 speaker option" is $695.00 additional. So its a $200 difference from last year.

 

In 2015 you got the 9 amplified speakers with subwoofer for 795 included with the popular equipment group, which includes various other things. Now the Popular equipment group is 595 and the Beats is 695 making the difference 495 (not 545 like I originally posted, but well more than 200). I don't recall seeing the 9 speaker option separate from the popular equipment group.

 

I have a 2015 with the 9 speaker and I like it sounds better after 1500 miles. A little muddy sounding so i might upgrade the dash speakers but I don't think I would do more than that. Trying to keep ithe audio as stock as possible.

 

I'm very disappointed with the beats sound system on my TH. I refuse to add an amp or speakers. This should be recalled and addressed. I was under the impression that the beats sound system would sound awesome. This was one of the reasons I waited for a 2016.

 

You are paying $600 for a name, not good quality.

 

funny thing is a lot of people including dealers are not noticing any real problem with the "beats audio package"until you point it out or actually turn the fader to the rear while listening to it. The front dash speakers have 6x9 full range sound coming out of them and they are loud enough that when you turn it up, that is mostly all you hear and for most people that don't know, they seem to be ok with it. After you point it out to them that the sub bass is missing and tell them listen to the door speakers, then they realize there is a problem. And then when they open up the rear hatch and listen just to the subwoofer, then that's when it hits home. I have called a few dealers on the phone to ask opinions and they all say, "it sounds great! You should come and listen to it", but when I go visit them, pop in my own mp3 stick, adjust the fader to the rear, and point out the issue....their opinion changes instantly and they all agree that there is an issue that needs attention. Had someone from Jeep call me and ask me my opinion on how they are addressing my concern.......they don't really care. Only the dealer cares that you give them all 10 ratings. I will be amazed as heck if they actually make a recall on this issue and fix it, so I'm not holding my breath....Hopefully someone from Jeep reads forums created by actual users and has enough concern to make a difference.....

 

great and I ordered this
I was basing it on the my Cherokee and figuring it would perform the same go figure
the trans that works poorly no fix
the audio that worked great well that is now fixed I guess

 

In 2015 you got the 9 amplified speakers with subwoofer for 795 included with the popular equipment group, which includes various other things. Now the Popular equipment group is 595 and the Beats is 695 making the difference 495 (not 545 like I originally posted, but well more than 200). I don't recall seeing the 9 speaker option separate from the popular equipment group.










if you go to jeep.com and configure a new one either 2015 or 2016 this is where you get a more accurate price breakdown on what comes standard with what renegade model and what you have to order extra to have things such as leather seats. Kind of like, 2016 batman edition you cannot have leather as an option. Some renegade models require you to have popular equipment group such as limited and some don't. If you want leather seats in a trailhawk, you have to take trailhawk popular equipment group. I had a 2015 limited and popular equipment group was a standard option for limited models but speaker upgrade was extra cost. Easier to understand playing around on jeep.com and looking at dealers windows stickers on there as well. Sorry I'm off the topic of the radio...just trying to clarify the radio pricing

 

Also, anyone with this problem may want to consult a lemon law lawyer. I don't know that it is lemon worthy, but in some states you can go after them for selling you a vehicle materially different than advertised/described. If you paid for premium audio with a sub, and it sounds broken, it may be sufficient for them to claw back some cash.

I know this is possible in nj. Heck I've been told of a firm that does this pretty regularly with jeeps.

 

Interesting. Maybe because once you add the popular equipment group, the 9 speaker option disappears from the next screen. So what I could have gotten in 2015 for $745 (795 came from edmunds) and included:
40 / 20 / 40 Rear Seat with Trunk Pass-Thru
9 Amplified Speakers with Subwoofer
A/C Auto Temperature Control with Dual Zone Control
Power 4-Way Driver Lumbar Adjust
Power 8-Way Driver Seat and Manual 4-Way Pass Seat



In 2016 this cost me 595 + the beats option of 695 and included:
40 / 20 / 40 Rear Seat with Trunk Pass-Thru
A/C Auto Temperature Control with Dual Zone Control
Power 4-Way Driver Lumbar Adjust
Power 8-Way Driver Seat and Manual 4-Way Pass Seat
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror


As you can see, the 2016 popular equipment added only an auto-dimming mirror, so in essence, I paid $1290 in 2016 for the same thing I got for $745 (or $795) in 2015, except the Beats audio and Auto-dimming mirror seems to add almost $500 to the cost.


Leather seats come with premium package, not popular equipment. I only played around on jeep.com on the trailhawk. Now I see that without the popular equipment selected, you could add the 9 speaker for 495 in 2015, but what I was comparing my prices to was what I was getting in the popular equipment group in 2015 to what it costs to get those option in the 2016. That price seems to be more than what it was worth if I'm getting the exact same speakers but with the Beats logo on them. I have a problem with that, but will have to live with it now and have to see what it actually sounds like.

 

Got my 2016 TH w/ beats this last weekend. I have read on these forums about how bad the beats was, but it's way worse than that. I took my Jeep into CarToys today and learned that FCA is doing the Mid/tweet in dash with Woofers only in doors on several new models, apparently someone deaf is in charge of speaker setups over there. But not only was the system misbalanced, it was horribly under powered. I drove it to the dealership and had a slue of salesman listing to the system, they all agreed it was bad, but could not really offer any solution.


I want a balanced system, which means mid/woof in doors. Only way to get that is with a new amp. So.... New amp, new speakers in dash(2) and doors(6) and the new amp will push 200w to the existing subwoofer. We will test it at that point and I will follow up. I am having the work done tomorrow.


-Dailach

 

Looking forward to hearing how your new system sounds and details on what was installed. I too picked up my TH w/beats late last week and hate the sound...I have no idea what inspired them to set it up that way.

 

Dailach,

What amp are you getting and where are you putting it?

You're thinking that replacing the amp will allow for equal distribution of sound in each speaker? Not just base in the front doors, highs in the dash and mids in the rear doors?

I've replaced all speakers myself with kickers except for the sub in the trunk. I'm still getting the same distribution of sound and there's definitely not enough power. Definitely sounds better, more crisp and clear, but I still think it can be better...

Let me know and thanks.

 

I wonder if an amp from a 2015 model will plug right in? that would be sweet however it would cost a fortune I bet. I'm still disappointed. I'm against cutting and crimping wires in a new car.

 

I thought it was just me! I've been playing with the **** equalizer/fade ever since I got my Renegade! Prior to my 2016, I drove a 2006 Nissan Frontier with factory speakers in each door and two in the dash and I received a richer sound than what the "Premium" beats system offers. Just when I think I'm getting used to it, I get in my wife's 2015 Ford Explorer and the sound coming from the doors KILLS what's coming out of mine at 25/26 on the volume. Seems that 95% of my sound is trying to come from the dash.

 

Update --

So, 2 days in shop, 1 week to order new parts, and 1 more day in shop, and Car Toys decided to return the Jeep back to factory and refund my money. They could not get the failure warning in the dash to go away.

however ...

After the 2nd day, they had the new amp connected to the factory speakers while I waited for parts to arrive. This is what I have to offer...
- The full range sound being pushed to the front door speakers sounder much better.
- The dash speakers were still a bit pitchy sometimes, depending on the song the highs seemed a bit too powerful.
- The new amp was a 300/200 amp. 300w shared for the main (L/R)speakers, and 200w for the subwoofer. The Sub sounded great with real power connected to it.
- To get the same volume (loudness) as the factory amp at 38, the new amp was at 22/23. So, roughly 2x the power.

Now that the factory stuff is back in, it just will not do. I will contact other Car Sterio Dealers and see what I can find.

-Daialch

 

Just put in a formal complaint to Jeep UK on the Beats Audio poor sound quality. Hopefully enough others will do so too, so they do something about it.