Jeep Hard Top vs Soft Top Sound Level Comparisons
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- I swapped out my hard top for my soft top. I realized this would be a good opportunity to do some sound level comparisons between the two tops. I found that the difference between the two tops is most noticeable on the highway and there isn't a big difference at lower speeds. On a recent road trip, I put on the hard top for the added efficiency but I also like the hard top from a sound perspective when driving on the highway. This test sort of proves my theory that the sound levels are way better on the highway with the hard top.
I'm surprised to see how well the soft top performed, just got my 4xe and I'm loving every mile of it. Thanks for putting this out, it was very interesting.
How’s it holding up
As a gladiator owner I know the sound won’t be much different than a wrangler. However for other people deciding between hard top or soft top I can say from the research I’ve also done on these is winter temps and how well they retain heat. The hard sop basically being like a thermos cup creates a buffer zone between the interior roof and exterior roof helping to retain heat better during winter. However I personally invested into a soft top myself for vacation because I take a trip to Daytona beach almost yearly. It’s nice to have the roof completely open during that time because with a hard top there’s no where to store the back half when staying at a hotel. And if any of us bought a wrangler or gladiator for fuel mileage…. Well we would have bought a more arrow dynamic vehicle that’s had pretty much the same design since 1941…
Great! You answered an important question even a Jeep dealer couldn't. I already have a 2021 hardtop and just ordered a Rubicon with a premium soft top. The data in this video is very reassuring and now I know that I made a good decision. Thank you
I have questioned if my test was valid. I do feel like it sounds a little louder but it’s not bad. On long road trips I do prefer the hard top.
I test drove a hard top jeep 4xe and maybe I had a bad example but when I got on the highway it made a lot of noises. Maybe not nearly as loud but as it flexed up and down it made a lot of clunks and just disturbing noise. I then drove a soft top, not a 4xe, just to test it out and it was so much more smooth. Not a significant deal louder but no clunks. So, because I don't really have a place to store a hard top in my garage I opted to just get the soft top. Now that I have it I'm really glad I did and have not found there to bee too much road noise. Occasionally I get a wind gust that makes the canvas flex but in general not really noisy. I'm happy with just the soft top and that's what really matters the most.
Thanks for this test,
Pat
To TJ owners that whole time you were talking about hybrid mode it was like speaking in lizard language 🤣
Hey Chris. Thanks for the info. As a former sound guy, I would assume your phone placement is not giving you accurate info. Position it where people’s ears are located is best but I can tell you there is even significant difference between the front and the back seats, you can really hear the trucks next to you on the highway coming from the back window panels. I did upgrade to the OEM headliner and that makes a significant difference. Great video, keep them coming.
I started questioning this exact thing this morning. I started questioning if the proximity to the windshield skewed the results. Oddly enough, the mount didn’t make a difference. When I did the first run, I came back and wondered if the mount would transmit vibration in to the case and make it louder. So I drove around with the phone mounted and holding it in my hand and could see no change. But then this morning I thought “the mic should be in the middle of the cab, not right up next to the windshield. We were just moving a mic around the drum set at church a couple of weeks ago and found that it needed some space from the ride cymbal because it was picking up really low frequencies. I should have taken off my Jeep hat and put on my drummer hat when I was thinking up this experiment.
I'm really interested in this headliner you mentioned, planning on ordering a JLU Willys soft top this spring. Please tell me more.
@@larrygoodsell9273 I would order both. It’s much cheaper that way and then all the internals for the hard top are included. It’s more up front but you will regret it otherwise in my opinion. The soft top doesn’t last long if you leave it on all year round and it starts looking pretty ugly.
@@davidgrove5525 That makes sense it will just come down to $$ when I get it ordered. Thanks!
@@larrygoodsell9273 I like the aftermarket bestop fastback soft top better for summer use anyway, so order it with the lined hard top for winter
Please consider adding a comparasion graph chart
@@KentKolegue I’m not sure the difference was enough to quantify given the test results. I can hear a difference to my ears but my test process wasn’t really able to show it.
I went back and watched again, to jot down the data in a chart....and you are correct there is not much difference. You actually tested the soft top at 5mph fast levels than your hard top (30,40,50,60,hwy for the hard top vs 35,45,55,65, hwy for the soft top) and yet the soft top was typically about 1 decibal quieter.
I’ve wondered if my phone placement was an issue. My ears tell me soft top is louder. I didn’t understand the results at first but then I started thinking that the placement of the phones might have been a bad choice. I’d like to re-do this test some time and place the phone more in the middle of the vehicle.
@@Wrangler4XEFans that would be a great idea. Every time I see a test, its always inconclusive for one reason or another. It would be good to put the issue to rest. Thanks.
I ended up dressing up my hardtop with sound deadening and a water proof headliner.. It made a HUGE difference..
Smart idea. I’d like to do that to my hard top.
Thank you for doing the long day of testing the tops!!! I ordered a 4xe with the premium soft top last Monday, and I'm glad to see it performs so well. Living in SoCal, I figured there would be a bunch more soft tops here... all the dealers say they are custom order only, and I'd say about 95% of Wranglers in the beach cities are hard tops these days. Makes very little sense to me when we get such minimal rain, and only see snow up in the mountains.
Yeah, I would have figured you'd see a lot more soft tops out there. But that color match hard top does look nice.
As a one hour commuter five days a week, you kinda made me realize I should've gotten a hard top. Thanks for sharing this video you put a lot of time and work testing regardless of location of the phone point is tops do make some differences .
I was really surprised by how close they came in sound. But, I might need to replicate this experiment and have the phones not mounted to the dash and not that close to the windshield. But overall, the soft top isn't that much noisier than the hard top. I will say though that I put on the hard top for road trips as much for the better gas mileage as for the reduced wind noise.
I have the soft top. The one touch way better than popping the hard tops off. Especially for us older guys. Hard tops are for the young guys. Watching your video....I noticed on the sound decibels device there really wasn't much difference in the hard top verses soft top. As far as the gas mileage part. No...I doubt if it's much difference in the drag on the tops at all. Good video. I enjoyed.
I like that you say the hard top is for the young guys… I’m 27 and I’m in pretty fit condition if I’d say myself. The hard top takes a minimum of 2 people to remove the back half even for the gladiators. And if you really want to be safe 3 guys. However I was looking into investing in a soft top for my gladiator for vacations when I go to Florida… main factor between the soft and hard tops is if you live in northern states like me in Ohio the hard top is great for winter and does help with retaining heat. Soft tops are easier to deal with tho. Go on vacation and want put the roof down soft top is way easier to manage not having a huge roof you have nowhere to store at hotels compared to the soft top stays completely attached when folded down. The hard tops aren’t really for anyone no matter the age.
@@brentmarzec4292 loved your message on the hard top/soft top. Great points you made. Did not know. Love my soft top. SOFT TOP FOR ALL!!!!
Chris, thanks for putting this together.
My 2013 JK 10th Anniversary Rubicon had dual tops and while I liked the hardtop in the winter I ran a bestop trektop with wind jammer behind rear seats and a duster cover on the trunk area so it was louder but that's what I "signed up for." I chose convenience to pull the doors off, fold back the front part of the top and be pretty open (and loud) but with that convenience I paid for with more noise then one might find in a permanently enclosed vehicle. In my opinion anyone that buys a wrangler to have a quiet ride didn't test drive (shame on them) or can't be pleased (said in the voice of Goldmember from Austin Powers). If you want a quite convertible, you might just have to go with a Mercedes.
That’s what I say in my head every time I read a review that complains about the noise.
Thank you for doing this. I know the newer soft tops are better than the old, was considering a jeep with soft top again but ….didnt want the noise. What year is your jeep and 2dr or 4dr?
Oh, specs were after vid…..thanks for that
@@kimpatterson5576 I’m not sure I didn’t skew the results with my testing process. The phones might have been too close to the windshield.
Seems very similar....maybe a couple decibels at most
would like to see the difference head liners with sound dampers would make on the hard top
I keep wanting to get some headliners.
I have the one touch top. Seems fine, guessing it fits in the middle of your test. Cheers!
How much decibel with the Alpine system at max volume?
Hard top even though not much difference just feel safer and either cooler or warmer depending on climate weather.
I agree. And my ears don’t agree with the results in this video. I think the hard top is more quiet. I question if my test point screwed the test.
I had a Jk with the dual top package, and the freedom panels leaked at the center joint at the windshield. Nothing could stop it, the dealer couldn’t even fix it. They actually told me frequent removal of the panels will cause leaks. Wtf is the point of having them then? It was right at the windshield where the panels latches on. I’d have to shove paper towels in there to at least stop some of it. It was pretty bad leak. I think the panels were warped or something. The wouldn’t replace them under the warranty though because it was from taking them off. Dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.
@@Cr16604 That’s ridiculous. For that to be true, a whole bunch of other people would have to have the same experience. They just didn’t want to do the right thing.
@@Wrangler4XEFans This was 2009, and jeeps weren’t as easy to get at that time. The bankruptcy slowed production. And I think you’re right, they didn’t want to deal with it. Like I said , I think it was warped, because it wasn’t the seals. I think it was Chrysler more than the dealer. Tops were in short supply and they didn’t want to replace mine. Chrysler was in such bad shape in 2009 they offered the bumper to bumper lifetime warranty for $1500. $100 deductible to replace pretty much everything that wasn’t a wear item. I still have it. It hasn’t been my main daily driver for a long time but I’d be nuts to give up that warranty on a wrangler. I’ve had 2 heater cores replaced, both covered no problems. The window switches, parts on the traction control system, and the track bar bracket on the front axle. All that they covered, no problem. Except the damn top. That warranty has paid for its self and then some.
Db meter placement aside
I wonder how much louder the stock Rubicon AT or MTs would be
I need to re-do this test and swap out my KO2s as part of it.
Hi, thank you for this review but a quick question. Was the hardtop in this video had the liner installed?
No, that’s something I plan on getting. I’m also thinking my results were skewed by being so close to the windshield. I’m going to have to repeat that experiment.
Neat test, thanks!!
Is this the premium soft top?
Yes
With your ears on the highway on pure electric how much different is it versus gas for sound level?
On the highway, not much. At lower speeds, it’s way more noticeable.
Chris, do you have the liner on your hardtop or is the inside bare? Thx
I don’t have the liner. It’s something I plan on doing at some point.
Soft top in very windy days is horrible not for the sound but for safety the wind move the car to one of the sides
Thanks man ❤
You would have thought that if you were going to go through all this trouble that you would have compared at the same speeds.
To me it don't sounds like a big diffrenz
Might as well play 18
Its the same..
Could be a different frequency spectrum at similar db
The biggest difference is on the highway. But I also have to wonder if my testing process was skewed by the proximity to the windshield. I wonder if a better testing location would be more in the middle of the cabin. I didn’t think about that until this morning.
Is worst with the roof rack on
I’ve heard about that. Especially with the Sky One Touch.
I took mines down after two weeks of noise
@@jeepcam2692 Wow. That bad?