Harman Kardon vs Alpine - Limited Level 1

[gwilburn]

I'm ready to order my 2023 Limited... I just don't know if the extra $5000 for the Limited Level 1 is worth it.
The only things I'd like to have
1. Charging pad
2. Spray in bedliner
3. Bed lights

I can do w/out #1. #2 and #3 can be easily added later for under $1000. And the remaining stuff (except sound system) is not at all interesting.

I have a 2014 Laramie with the "premium" Alpine 9 speaker (with subwoofer) system. It sounds amazing and will make your ears bleed. The subwoofer can be felt in your internal organs. The subwoofer takes up the entire space under my passenger side rear seat.
Is this the same system that is standard on the Limited?

I rode in a 2022 with the HK system and it sounds the same to me, but less bass than my 2014.

 

[CRS1968]

I have a 2023 Limited with the Level 1 package. The wireless charger is nice but very slow and overheats my phone. It’s really only helpful to slow the drain when using CarPlay. I wondered if I’d like the heads up display or not. I love it. Everything I want where I can see it and keep my eyes on the road. The HK system is good but perhaps not exceptional. I believe it has a 7 or 10 sub behind the back seat. It is adequate for my ears. All that said, I don’t regret getting the Level 1 package but could certainly live without it. Good luck to you!

 

[canadiankodiak700]

I'm ready to order my 2023 Limited... I just don't know if the extra $5000 for the Limited Level 1 is worth it.
The only things I'd like to have
1. Charging pad
2. Spray in bedliner
3. Bed lights

I can do w/out #1. #2 and #3 can be easily added later for under $1000. And the remaining stuff (except sound system) is not at all interesting.

I have a 2014 Laramie with the "premium" Alpine 9 speaker (with subwoofer) system. It sounds amazing and will make your ears bleed. The subwoofer can be felt in your internal organs. The subwoofer takes up the entire space under my passenger side rear seat.
Is this the same system that is standard on the Limited?

I rode in a 2022 with the HK system and it sounds the same to me, but less bass than my 2014.

I don't dough at all that system would make your ears bleed lol. Any actual audiophile will tell you the actual sound quality coming out of the so-called premium sound systems is absolutely horrible. Missing complete frequency ranges and rolling the base off to save the speakers because they can't put in actual quality components. But if I had to choose between Alpine or HK, it would be an HK system all day long. Even HK's basic JBL speakers are way ahead of anything Alpine has on the OEM market when it comes to sound quality.

I have a 2023 Limited with the Level 1 package. The wireless charger is nice but very slow and overheats my phone. It’s really only helpful to slow the drain when using CarPlay. I wondered if I’d like the heads up display or not. I love it. Everything I want where I can see it and keep my eyes on the road. The HK system is good but perhaps not exceptional. I believe it has a 7 or 10 sub behind the back seat. It is adequate for my ears. All that said, I don’t regret getting the Level 1 package but could certainly live without it. Good luck to you!

You really shouldn't be getting much drain on your phone using CarPlay. Bluetooth technology is very minimal. Battery drain unless it's just an iPhone thing which doesn't surprise me.

 

[gwilburn]

I looked closely at my dad's 2019 Laramie with the Level 2 package. He has the HK system, wireless charging and bed lighting. Once I adjusted his HK system it sounded pretty good... better than my Alpine, maybe. But I can hardly tell a difference. I'm 54 and have tinnitus (probably from riding the Harley with the stereo too loud) - so I probably can't appreciate the HK system.
The bed lighting was ok, not at all impressed.
The charging pad IMHO is useless... I had to remove my iPhone 12 from the case to get it to charge. Even then it intermittently lost connection. I charge it all the time on an Apple mag charger with the case on with no issues.

So for me, another $5k just isn't worth it... This truck is already almost $20k more than my 2014 Laramie, with the same equipment.

 

[MTGranite]

Just picked up my new Limited two days ago. Had a Laramie. Here’s what I added or changed.
1. Switched the tonneau to a hard folding one. Feels more secure and durable to me and for my needs.
2. Spray in liner.
3. Ceramic coating. Would prefer wrap, but I would have to drive 300 miles each way to obtain.
3. Mud flaps, molded, all 4. Helps to keep chips away. I live in the northern Rockies.

What I love so far:
1. Heads up display. Have on our CX-9 and have been missing it on the Laramie.
2. Harmon stereo. Still playing with settings.
3. Wireless Charging. No cable to get tangled in or brake. Longer playtime with Apple CarPlay.
4. Lots of console storage.

Don’t have any complaints yet. I’m still in the honeymoon phase.

 

[gwilburn]

I have a Bakflip F1 on my 2014... best cover out there IMHO. I'll buy a new one for the 23 Limited that I just ordered. Will add the spray in liner locally - $600. Considering the ceramic coating as well. It will be sprayed underneath and inside doors, rocker, fenders with grease.
Ultimately, I decided against both packages that would have provided the HK stereo and factory bedliner. Felt like I was paying for too many things I didn't want. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY at the packages as listed (Limited Level 1 and Night Edition) - many of the things they list in these packages are ALREADY INLCUDED in the Limited.

You can see this if you compare the package listed when building your truck with the window sticker from an actual 2023 already on the lot. Pretty crooked if you ask me.

 

[mikeru]

It's $5k now for the Level 1 EG? Wow, it was less than half that when I bought a '21 Limited. I'm not familiar with what all comes with the Level 1 group now, but in mine it included adaptive cruise control, surround view camera, and ventilated rear seats. For me it was worth the extra money, but I'm not sure I'd cough up $5k to get those now.

 

[gwilburn]

It's $5k now for the Level 1 EG? Wow, it was less than half that when I bought a '21 Limited. I'm not familiar with what all comes with the Level 1 group now, but in mine it included adaptive cruise control, surround view camera, and ventilated rear seats. For me it was worth the extra money, but I'm not sure I'd cough up $5k to get those now.

That's just it... they list lots of features, many of which are already included in the limited. The surround view camera, HK sound system, bedliner, led box lighting and wireless charging pad are the biggest features. I'm sorry, but that's just not worth five grand.

I looked at a 2022 Limited Longhorn window sticker... could not believe the price jump.

In fact, the base price of the limited went up $100 in the last week on the website... as did the delivery fee (which is now $2k).

I hope this "eTorque" thing isn't a PITA

 

[mikeru]

That's just it... they list lots of features, many of which are already included in the limited. The surround view camera, HK sound system, bedliner, led box lighting and wireless charging pad are the biggest features. I'm sorry, but that's just not worth five grand.

I looked at a 2022 Limited Longhorn window sticker... could not believe the price jump.

In fact, the base price of the limited went up $100 in the last week on the website... as did the delivery fee (which is now $2k).

I hope this "eTorque" thing isn't a PITA

Oh I absolutely agree, it wouldn't be worth $5k for me either. The '21 Limited I bought listed the following under the Level 1 Equipment Group for that $2295:
Pedestrian Emergency Braking
Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go
Lane Keep Assist
Parallel and Perpendicular Park_Assist with Stop
Ventilated Rear Seats
Surround-View Camera System

None of those were standard features, and you didn't get them without the Level 1 group. At least you didn't on a 2021 Limited. But they were worth that price (for me) when I bought that truck. I know the current Level 1 group also includes what used to be in the Technology Group (HUD, Digital mirror and LED CHMSL). But I wouldn't spend almost $3k more just for those extra options.

 

[gwilburn]

Oh I absolutely agree, it wouldn't be worth $5k for me either. The '21 Limited I bought listed the following under the Level 1 Equipment Group for that $2295:
Pedestrian Emergency Braking
Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go
Lane Keep Assist
Parallel and Perpendicular Park_Assist with Stop
Ventilated Rear Seats
Surround-View Camera System

None of those were standard features, and you didn't get them without the Level 1 group. At least you didn't on a 2021 Limited. But they were worth that price (for me) when I bought that truck. I know the current Level 1 group also includes what used to be in the Technology Group (HUD, Digital mirror and LED CHMSL). But I wouldn't spend almost $3k more just for those extra options.

2023 Limited includes Vented Rear seats, Blind spot and Cross Path and Power Running boards when you look at an actual Window Sticker...
Limited Level 1 (below) lists Power Running boards even though they are included. Now it's $4995

• 19 Speaker Harman Kardon® Premium Sound
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go
• Digital Rearview Mirror
• Head-Up Display
• Lane Keep Assist
• LED Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp
• Spray-In Bedliner by Mopar®
• Parallel and Perpendicular Park-Assist with Stop
• ParkSense® Front and Rear Park-Assist with Stop
• Pedestrian Emergency Braking
• Pick-Up Box Lighting
• Power Running-Boards
• Surround-View Camera System
• Tailgate Ajar Warning-Lamp
• Wireless Charging-Pad