AMPS AND SUBS

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I am getting ready to put together a nice audio system for my 2001. 5 quad 3500. I am looking for mostly sound quality, but want to hear it. I will be using a Nakamichi CD-45z head unit and a Audio Control pre-amp. Now my questions are, What are you guys doing for subwofers? Which amps and where are you mounting them. Is the JL Audio stealth box for the front seat worth the $500? Which aftermarket tweeters will fit in the piller mounts? Lets here from some of you guys. I know there is a few of you out there... .

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2001. 5 3500 ETH/DEE loaded silver. Mods? STEALTH

 

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MTX makes a box out of molded plastic and color matched that fits under the back seat of an extended or quad cab. They also have one that fits behind the seat of a regular cab. The box is completely air tight and holds two 10's. The cost is around 130 without speakers. I have a MTX Thunder 250 mounted under the center console. It sticks out the back just enough the allow access to gain and freq. I had to remove the rear drink holder to put it there. That requires removing the seat which was good anyway so that I could run the wires. Check out MTX's website for a picture of the box. The only thing I don't like about it is the speakers face down so you cant see them.

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98. 5 3500 QC 4x4, Driftwood/Mist Grey, 5 spd, 3. 54, 19. 5 Alcoa's, 245/70-19. 5 Michelin's, Ranchhand bumpers, DeeZee toolbox, "Scotty Air", TST PowerMax2, Autometer Gauges, Centerforce clutch, Upgraded fuel lines (JRE and Aeroquip), MagHytec Diff Cover, PacBrake

[This message has been edited by Jeff Clark (edited 10-10-2000). ]

 

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I am a fan of custom built boxes myself and have always built my own boxes...
As far as speakers (including subs) and amps I rank the following among the best... .
McIntosh 1st (shell out the cash)
Boston Acoustic 2nd place
Alpine 3rd
Rockford Fosgate 4th

 

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Bigmikie, kicker makes tweeters that will fit in the pillars, I have a new set. I also have 4- 5. 25in mids and 4-10" fosgate woofers for sale . email me for prices or questions. All this equipment was in my Z71 before I sold it. The system was really smooth but loud when I wanted it. The tweeters come with a 24db crossover and are very stylish and stealthy. All equipment was purchased in June and hasent been used since. I would build a custom enclosure for the subs. I built systems for 10 years. Many companies make enclosures but I always trusted my own figures and tuning.

 

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In my 2000 QC I have retained the factory radio with the steering wheel controls, but I had Kenwood Excelon 6x9 3 ways in the doors with a 260 watt rating and the Kenwood Excelon 6" round dual mags in the rear doors. I have the Kenwood 848 4 chanel amp under the drivers seat with the 4 door speakers hooked to the front channel and I have the MTX sub box with their 2 10" subs factory mounted, under the rear seat. The sub is bridged on the rear chanel of the amp.
THe sound quality is way better than the Infinity Gold in the wifes Jeep Grand Cherokee, and WAY louder, but still clear.

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2000 QC SHORT BED 4X4, 24 VALVE W/ 275 HP INJECTORS, 3. 54 GEARS W/ POSI, AUTO, BLACK WITH EVERYTHING EXCEPT LEATHER,285/75R16 KELLY SAFARI AWR, RAIDER NOMAD CAB HIGH CAP,FACTORY RAZ STEREO W/ STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, KENWOOD 848 AMP, KENWOOD EXCELON 6X9 IN DOORS AND KENWOOD EXCELON 6IN. ROUND DUAL-MAGS IN REAR DOORS, MTX FACTORY FIT BOX W/ 2-10"SUBS UNDER REAR SEAT

ORDERED: 2001 ARCTIC CAT ZR800 TWIN LE BLACK...

 

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The JL Audio box is pretty good, but you could make a custom box for less than $500. JL makes VERY good subs. As far as tweeters, M. B. Quart makes the best. You can probably fit them in the pillars, but they won't image properly. If you are going for sound quality, build custom kick pannels for your mids and highs. Also don't forget Dynamat. These engines are loud and you need all the help you can get to quiet the cab down.

 

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I've got a bazooka sub mounted on the floor under the driver's seat. There is room with manual seats. Works great, plenty of power unless you like to drive around and compete with the kids going boom-boom. I think it cost about $200.

 

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I forgot about the MB Quart products. They are a close second behind Boston Pro's in quality.....

 

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Originally posted by bigmikie:
I am getting ready to put together a nice audio system for my 2001. 5 quad 3500. I am looking for mostly sound quality, but want to hear it... . Lets here from some of you guys. I know there is a few of you out there... .

<font color=blue> Looks like we're almost on the same wavelength! I'm also seriously considering the JL Audio stealthbox but thought it went under the rear seat instead #ad
?? teamed up with a Nakamichi head unit on the same shopping list. Has anyone heard the JL Audio amps in a late model Dodge truck? Has anyone got some first-hand experience of 5. 1DD/DTS DVD/CD/FM/AM installations in a late model Dodge truck?

<font color=black>

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JMc

2001 Flame Red Sport 3500 QC, 5. 9L 24v Cummins, 4x4 Auto, 3. 54/LSD, 155 inch WB, Agate leather, Camper Special & Trailer Tow Groups , Sliding Rear Window, WAAG sidetubes with dually kickouts, Line-X UTR Bedliner & underseal, Grover Airhorns, Lance 1130 slide-in Camper, 60 gallon Aerotank, RS9000s, Reese Titan class 5 hitch, Roadmaster XX, in planning stages... . Gauges, Mag-Hytec, Exhaust Brake, Psychotty Air, PrimeLoc, 4" exhaust, Injectors, Rickson 19. 5" wheels, , Bill K. VB & TC.

[This message has been edited by JohnMcIntyre (edited 10-11-2000). ]

 

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Originally posted by jwgary:
Also don't forget Dynamat. These engines are loud and you need all the help you can get to quiet the cab down.

<font color=blue> got any more info on Dynamat?

<font color=black>



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JMc

2001 Flame Red Sport 3500 QC, 5. 9L 24v Cummins, 4x4 Auto, 3. 54/LSD, 155 inch WB, Agate leather, Camper Special & Trailer Tow Groups , Sliding Rear Window, WAAG sidetubes with dually kickouts, Line-X UTR Bedliner & underseal, Grover Airhorns, Lance 1130 slide-in Camper, 60 gallon Aerotank, RS9000s, Reese Titan class 5 hitch, Roadmaster XX, in planning stages... . Gauges, Mag-Hytec, Exhaust Brake, Psychotty Air, PrimeLoc, 4" exhaust, Injectors, Rickson 19. 5" wheels, , Bill K. VB & TC.

 

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I agree with jwgary. M. B. QUART is what I'm running in my truck. Two 6. 5 Referenz Premium series with MusiComp crossovers in doors with custom installed matching tweeters in door panal just above the speakers... forget A-pillar if you want good imaging... they look cool but don't sound as cool, more work but worth the effort. Also have two 5. 25 M. B. QUART in stock location of rear doors, Referenz Series with crossovers, and one custom 10-inch Orion sub under front passenger seat. Sub powered by Alfasonic 275-watt amp... other 4 spkrs. powered by Alpine MRV-407 4-channel with crossover built in. Major clean sound!! Best I've owned by far. Everything is out of sight under front seats and center console, including 12-disc Clarion changer. Head unit is a Clarion ARX6507Z. Lot's of options out there... this one sounds great.

 

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Bump it up

 

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The best period for amps are hyfonics,rockford fosgate, and precision power.
as for speakers it depends on hat kind of sound you are looking for. If you just want quality sound I recommend focal, or boston acoustic, and jbl makes some nice high end stuff.
Crank it up and rip the knob off!!!!!

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96,2WD 3/4t ext. cab-DC,tst performance kit,full pillar guages,5th wheel setup
wanting to add 2-3 lift, transmission kit, and rig style volosity stacks.

 

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John, JL has tow different stealth boxes for the Ram. One has two 10" woofers under the rear seat. The other replaces the center console with one 10" woofer. I hope this clears things up a bit. Also look at www.dynamat.com for more info on dynamat.

 

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Thanks #ad


JMc

 

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Big Mike and John,

It really depens on how much money you want to spend. I have a Eclipse Cd Player ($389. 00) I have 3 Solo Baric 8" square subs that pump 450 watts each ($660. 00) 2 Alpine v12 amps that power 2 of the subs ($398. 00). A pair of Boston Pros 6. 5" componet speakers that replaced the front infinities ($449. 00) powered by a Pheonix gold amp ($499. 00) that amp also powers the 3rd sub. $350 for the custom box under my rear seat for the Subs. Thats $2745. 00 not including installation charges. I think im going to get sick now that i just realized how much money I have spent. But needless to say I have a kick a$$ system that I can turn all the way up and not get one bit of distortion. And yes it pounds! #ad


Sky

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2001 QuadCab,SWB,Auto, 4X4,4" Flowmaster Exhaust,... ...
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4-Sale 1994 4X4 cummins, Two tone blue and silver, all stock 105k
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I have decided on the nakamichi CD-45z, Audio Control Four. 1i preamp, and will go with Dimond Audio seprates or MB Quart. The Dimond's will handle more power and I think sound a little better. The Amps I will be using are from a company in Calf, USAcoustics. I am a dist. for these and they are very powerful and clean. Car Audio mag. said "if you haven't seen them in the judging lanes yet, you shouldnt have long to wait" Check out there web site. The only thing Im still stumped on is the Subs. I built a nice box for my 97 with 4 JL Audio 8". And it sounded good, but not what I want this time. Those stealth boxes are to much money, especialy since I havent heard one. Any installers out there? Do you have any known custom box designs that will kick some butt. I have the power to drive it.

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2001. 5 3500 ETH/DEE loaded silver. Mods? I'll never tell... .

 

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Ok but what about a modest upgrade to the stock Infinity system? I want to improve the bass, and get rid of the distortion I hear in the front doors with the bass up too much. I'm thinking of adding a simple amplified bass tube like bazooka and replacing stock speakers. Will I be happier with some extra amplification on the door speakers? I don't want to give up the center seat to a speaker, or give up all of the rear underseat. I want to keep the factory CD/Cassette with steering wheel controls. Any suggestions on ~$500 worth of upgrades? not looking for extra loud, just more bass and a little cleaner highs and mids.

 

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Chris,

Yes get rid of the infinities. Infinities are good speakers but these ones are very low end speakers. If you get a good set of 6x9's or 6. 5 componet speakers it will really increase your sound and bass. it wont pound but will be much better then the stock.

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2001 QuadCab,SWB,Auto, 4X4,4" Flowmaster Exhaust,... ...
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4-Sale 1994 4X4 cummins, Two tone blue and silver, all stock 105k
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I got my truck 5 months old from a Car stereo/home theater installer (he needed a dually).

For the Sub, he build the face plate out of 1"particle board (I can't think of the acronym MDF?) to fit two MBQuart's.

He did the math and figured he could get enough volume if he raised the front of the back seat about 2 inches (it rests on the speaker cabinet now)

For the box itself he took some garbage bags and filled them with the shippers expanding foam, behind the front plate and under the seat, to create a mold.

Then he took it to a fiberglass place and they created the volume box.

You don't notice the seat difference unless someone tells you, the sound is great (I actually have the base turned down)

The Amps fit under the two front seats and the crossover is under the center seat. Both door speakers are replaced.