Aftermarket stereo

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I just took the broken tape deck out of my '97 standard cab, and ordered a really cool CD head unit from Crutchfield. It plays regular CDs, as well as MP3's burned to CDR or CDRW. It's possible to get 10-12 full CD's on a single disk with MP3 compression.

I have a problem with the speakers, and am hoping that you guys with trick stereos can help.

I got Polk Audio 6 1/2" coaxial units for the doors, and for behind the rear seats, at the recommendation of Crutchfield. I'm not impressed at all. I think having tweeters behind the seats is a waste, and am thinking of a 8" or 6" seperate - mostly for bass.

I'm also thinking of 6" or 8" separates in the doors, and tweeters in the doors where the factory Infinity units would go. Mine doesn't have the Infinity option, but there are holes in the doors (not in the door panels).

I have 40 watts per channel in the head unit, and the cab is smaller than my Pathfinder which has a similar quantity of power, and sounds fine. I can add a powered sub if I have to, but I'm trying to not throw too much more money at it, so I can spend it on BOMBing. #ad


Any tips on what fits with minimal messing around? I don't mind cutting into the metal make something larger fit, but don't want to go nuts either.

I'm not trying to build a show truck, or a Honda that you can hear at the end of the block, or to spend thousands. I just want something that sounds clean at reasonable volume levels.

Thanks for any ideas.

Tackett

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'97 2500 4x4, auto, stock at this point, but adding goodies as fast as I can.

[This message has been edited by Tackett (edited 10-30-2000). ]

 

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Tackett,I like my rock to have pretty good sound quality and can't think of anyway to improve the stock high end Infinity sound. I think speaker wise if you duplicate the Infinity system,with non-Dodge speakers of course,you'd be happy. All the cutouts are there already,woof behind the seat,mid lower door and tweeter upper front door. Of course the joystick and equalizer helps. I tell though,no jive,I like listening to the Cummins better than music!About the only time I turn the stero on is on long drives.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,driftwood,Banks&phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

 

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Tackett,

I have a very large stereo system in my truck. As far as your speakers go, I went with the 6. 5" component seperates. The brand is Boston Pro's. All I can say Is WOW! I have a Amp, for the pro's along with my eclipse cd player and I can turn it all the way up with no distortion. Has great mid bass, that goes good with my 3 10" solo barric subs. I "had" the infinties speakers, there is no comparison between the two. I didnt bother to even mess with the rear speakers as its a waste of money for what you get out of them, spend the money on an amp or better front speakers. I love music and it was all worth every penny!

Sky


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2001 QuadCab,SWB,Auto, 4X4,4" Flowmaster Exhaust, Bosch 275 Injectors... ... ...
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4-Sale 1994 4X4 cummins, Two tone blue and silver,Auto, all stock 105k very well looked after
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[This message has been edited by Sky (edited 10-31-2000). ]

 

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You definitley want rear fill speakers in your truck. This sets up the staging and in my opinion sounds fuller. These don't have to be huge 4 1/2 " to 5 1/2" is plenty. As far a amplification. The head unit will do OK but is not equal to say a 40 watt Rockford or Alpine. I currently run a Rockford 25x4 for my top end. This amp will stomp any head unit amp into the ground. Subs are a definite must have. You can go as simple as a couple of 8"'s under the seat to as big as your mind cand make it. The secret to good bass is the enclosure, more so than the speakers. Years back I put a set of Rockford series one 15"s (the cheap ones) in a Ford Escort GT with a 150 watt Rockford AMP. I blew away a guy with the Rockford Pro Series 12"s and a Rockford Mossfet 1000 watt amp. The basis for this was because his enclosure wasn't tuned for his speakers and power. Study a little. Go to some stereo shops and talk to the people. Surf the web. There is a wealth of info out there concerning stereos.

Good Luck.


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2000 RAM 4x4 2500HD Reg cab. Properly valved 5. 9 Cummins. 5 spd. 4. 10 LSD. Stock except for K&N Air Filter.

 

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If any of you guy's have a factory front door speaker from a quad cab let me know. One of mine has fried and I can't afford to buy a new pair yet... especially with xmas coming up.

Thank, 243



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99 QC 2500 ST 4X4 SB 24V/5speed 3. 54/LSD Driftwood/Agate
Walker 21468, VDO, Bridgestone 285/75/16 MT's, RS9000's, Hella 500's

-- email address removed --

 

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Diesel Doug,

What im saying is it is a waste IMO to buy new rear speakers. The stock infinities or what ever is in there are just fine for the cause. Like I said if you go buy new rears to replace the old rears it wont justify the cost, unless you get alot bigger speakers.




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2001 QuadCab,SWB,Auto, 4X4,4" Flowmaster Exhaust, Bosch 275 Injectors... ... ...
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4-Sale 1994 4X4 cummins, Two tone blue and silver,Auto, all stock 105k very well looked after
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I am looking to replace my stock Infinity speakers in the front. Bottom is a 6X9 and top is a 6. 5 I think. My bottom speakers are shot... ... . any suggestions as to what might fit?? I am also thinking of replacing the rears. With the fronts off and the rears all the way up, I can bairly hear them... . anybody else have that problem???

I put a new receiver in it this past weekend (Pioneer). Now the speakers sound like crap!!! I knew the 6X9's were shot before I put in the new receiver, but now they all sound like crap... ... . am I missing something??? New receiver puts out 45W/channel.

Thanks.

Matt

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'96 Auto, Reg Cab, 4X4, SLT, Line-X, Rancho 9000's, Dunlop Radial Rover 33X12. 5's

 

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Tackett,

I recently purchased a MP3 deck as well! Did you get the Kenwood or the Aiwa deck. Those are the only two available that I could find. The Aiwa was on bigtime backorder so I sprung for the extra bucks and got the Kenwood... Been happy with it ever since.

I replaced my stock speakers with Boston Acoustics and shoehorned a powered subwoofer (bazooka) under the drivers seat (no power seats). The Boston Acoustics speakers are being driven by a 4 channel amp (100w/channel or so) under the passenger seat.

The three sets of pre-outs and the electronic/programmable crossover in the Kenwood deck make it sound real nice. Best setup I have heard in a long time.

Have fun with those MP3's!

 

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Just looked at your post again and saw the link to the Aiwa deck. When did you order it? When I tried, they said they were on indefinite back order and would not give me a delivery.

I purchased the Kenwood unit for almost $200. 00 less than Crutchfield from a local reatail dealer. But I still think the Aiwa is a much better bargain.

 

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Sky
I agree that the factory speakers are probably sufficient for most of us. I am currently using the crap Dodge speakers for rear fill in my truck. They're nothing to brag about but they do the job.

Remeber guys. A system is only as good as the equipment driving it. A good amp (or amps) takes precendence over everything else in my mind.

As far as speakers go. Boston, MB Quart, B&W, McIntosh are some of the best. A set of Boston Pro 6. 5 seperates in the front and a set of 5 1/2's in the rear will easily out do the factory speakers. Too many speakers can create problems with sound cancellation and cause more problems than it's worth.

Just my $. 02

 

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Originally posted by Sean Flanagan:
Just looked at your post again and saw the link to the Aiwa deck. When did you order it? When I tried, they said they were on indefinite back order and would not give me a delivery.

I purchased the Kenwood unit for almost $200. 00 less than Crutchfield from a local reatail dealer. But I still think the Aiwa is a much better bargain.

I got the Aiwa from Crutchfield, and it was delivered in lass than two weeks - faster then they said they would. I knew it would be two to three weeks, but I couldn't find one in LA.

It's a little too busy and flashy for my tastes (all the lights flash when you change the volume, for example) but other than that, I like it.

One of the main reasons I got it was that it plays CDR/CDRW which are essentially free. Having a stash of 10 to 20 CDs stolen from your truck will cost you $150 to $300 to replace, and the unsurance companies will never buy you new CDs or tapes.

Part of my frustration with speakers is that customer service in LA is so bad. I understand that I can get real customer service by paying more, and I'm willing to do it to a degree. So far, all I've found is jerks selling overpriced components, and fools selling volume. Oh well.



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'97 2500 4x4, auto, stock at this point, but adding goodies as fast as I can.

 

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Originally posted by Sky:
What im saying is it is a waste IMO to buy new rear speakers. The stock infinities or what ever is in there are just fine for the cause.

There must be an upgrade on your truck, or the newer trucks have better speakers than the older ones. The rear speakers in my standard cab, bottom end stereo equiped, '97 were not much better quality than my $10 clock radio. Fuzzy & distorted at even the lowest volume, and always at low volume - turning it uop just made more distortion, but not more sound.

Perhaps mine were broken; I have no idea what the last owner ever did to this truck.



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'97 2500 4x4, auto, stock at this point, but adding goodies as fast as I can.

 

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Tackett,

Yea the new ones (like mine) has the infinities in it so I see your point. Now that I think of it the speakers in my 94 pretty much suck.

Diesel Doug,

Id have to say the Boston Pro's are the best on the market over any other after market speakers that I have herd. Heh they better be for $450. 00 a pair. Kicker makes some decent speakers too.

Sky


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2001 QuadCab,SWB,Auto, 4X4,4" Flowmaster Exhaust, Bosch 275 Injectors... ... ...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4-Sale 1994 4X4 cummins, Two tone blue and silver,Auto, all stock 105k very well looked after
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[This message has been edited by Sky (edited 11-01-2000). ]

 

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Boston Rocks!!!!
My quarts are going down the road one of these days for the PRO's. Gotta get some bombing done first.....

 

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Heh, so much to do. I just want the whole truck Bombed NOW! #ad