2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Anyone with aftermarket stereo's?

[y-knot]

just wanted to hear from those with 2nd gen trucks and up-dated stereos. I finally got around to looking into replacing my stock (Infinity) stereo. Truth is, I ordered some new Boss bars and and bed accessories, and this was the only area I haven't touched, so here I am.

What type stereo did you replace yours with?

Did you go with a normal height one or go with the taller 1. 5 Din models?

Speakers, what size and brand did you go with? The stock is 6x9 in the doors and 5. 25 in the rear.

I have already insulated the floor with Thermo Tec aluminized sound and heat barrier. I ordered some Dynamat for the doors, and rear. Behind the plastic coverings. I also ordered some spray on sound deadening from dynamat, and plan on using it behind the door covers, rear b-pillars, and on all bare places I can get to. Also ordered enough mat to do under the hood as well.



Your input would on this subject would be appreciated.

 

[metal tech]

I ordered my truck w/stock radio-cassette player since most of the aftermarket stuff is a better value. I went with a Sony std Din, and the mounting kit has it centered in the opening. I used Accumat on the floor, all doors to help it sound better. Infinity 6x9's frt doors and Infinity 63. 5I's(6 1/2) in the quad doors. The 63. 5I's required NO cutting to fit, they have a dual bolt hole pattern. One other thing is a box of trim panel retainers, Au-ve-co # 19213, 50ea for $19 delivered vs $2. 28ea from Dodge. I got the stereo, speakers, and amp from Crutchfield. You could probably find stuff cheaper, but I've been happy with them in the past.



Al

 

[SWells]

Hey. .



In my '02 I replaced factory unit with Pioneer deck, replaced 6x9 door speakers with JL 6. 5 and tweeters components in custom adapter plate. Replaced factory speakers in rear door with JL 5. 25" coax speakers.



Also lined entire floor, doors, and back wall with Dynomat.



Have locking storage area under rear seat, with JL amps, crossovers, etc, etc in custom rack.



Soon will have JL Stealthbox to replace center section of front seat, currently JL PowerWedge sitting on back seat.

 

[pgleavitt]

I went with kenwood head unit, mb quart 6. 5" front and rear, JL stealthbox(spendy but you will love it) and about 1000 watts(2 amps) and a 10 disc changer. Dynamat all the doors and sounds great. Head unit was a standard din size with a mount plate and turned out very clean install. Also ordered the door clips from same place as metal tech after the dealer said both front doors would be $38. 00(26 clips)

 

[tp0d]

I have a JVC head in mine. (standard DIN size) It does the cdrw/mp3 thing, which is very convienent. Having 4-5 cds mp3'd on one cd is nice heh. . I have Soundstream 5x7's in my doors, (gota watch speaker depth here, about 2. 75" at absolute max for window clearance), have Soundstream 5. 25's in my rear locations, a Soundstream 8" DV sub, and a Soundstream 40x4/100x1 5 chan amp to power it all... If you havent guessed, I like soundstream products, the newer amps are ok, but the older amps rock. New speaker products are good too, I have the new 5x7's, 3 way, not a problem yet with them. I`m thinking of getting a soundstream 4 chan upfront mount crossover for gain and freq control. Has nice knob analog controls, I hate all the new digital button crapolas. .



Good luck with the rear speakers install... that piece of plastic on the rear walls sucks to get out, gota remove the rear seat to get at it (thats if you have a QC)



-jerry

 

[y-knot]

You sold it all!! oh well it happens.



I have always put an aftermarket stereo in my other trucks, and yes you learn something that works or doesn't work with each installation. I have held off doing anything to the diesel because the stock unit, Infinity, was not that bad, and with the clank and clutter of the diesel, you don't hear much anyway.

Fast forward 5-6 years and after finally getting off my duff and insulating the cab and every other thing I thought would make a difference and it's now time for the stereo. It's probably one of the LAST projects, I think this is my 24th last project now.

I went on and ordered a Pioneer DEH-P77DH tuner/cd. I didn't get their better one the P5000 because it looked goofy, it did more but I am not that connected. It has great stats and I really wanted to go with a 1. 5 din unit, it takes up the whole area and the display has more room for titles. I suppose that is a personal thing, I just like the factory look, not the sound.

For speakers I wanted to go with something different and nicer. I choose the Polk Audio DB 6500 series for the doors, they are 6. 5" component speakers. And for the rear It's the Polk Audio DB 5250, they are also component speakers ,size is 5. 25". I bought the Pioneer CDX-P1280 12 cd changer, it plugs right into the rear bus on the head-unit, no rf modulation here.

I am going to wait untill everything is in before going any further. While I have the interior apart, I will pre-run all the rca pre-outs to the rear along with the necessary cables and control wires, for a later sub and amp install. I think it would give me a better feel for what I might and might not need, if I wait till I can hear the system. Right now I am leaning toward a MTX thunder box with two 10" subs and two amps, but I'll know more after I hear it.

Everything should be hear Friday (07-30-04), so I figure I'll get on it some time this weekend. The Dynamat supplies will be here tomorrow. I'll let you know how it went.



Any hints or tips about getting into the doors?

 

[Kalaehina]

Extra X-mas tree clips would be a good idea. When I replaced my passenger side door speaker, what I thought would be a "fast" job, ended up with me driving to the nearest (20 minutes away) auto store, with my inner panel off,(wow it can actually get louder in the cab after all), and buying 3 OVER priced, vital pieces of plastic.

 

[FDNYMOPARGUY]

600 watt amp with line level inputs($130), 300 watt speakers($150 with speaker boxes and cables) (mounted under rear seat with 15 feet of cable for tailgate parties), and 12 disc cd player($150). All wired off of factory am/fm cassette. What a difference! Sounds great in and out of truck. Still have a head unit with buttons you can press one at a time - not 60 tiny buttons crammed on there. Both cd and tape(yeah, I still have a lot of them) capable. Works for me.

 

[KLockliear]

Just finished mine.



Alpine CDA-9833 up front (CD/MP3 player) standard DIN. Front speakers are Infinity 693. 5 3-way 6x9's to replace the factory offerings. Rear doors got Infinity 52. 5i 5-1/4" coaxials. A Rockford Fosgate 551x (70x4) runs those.



Added a custom box under the rear seat for subs. Roughly 4 cu-ft, ported, with two Resonant Engineering SX 10's. A single Rockford Fosgate Power 1001bd (1000x1) runs those. Sounds pretty good to me.



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[SHobbs]

Replaced the stock unit with a Sony in dash cd unit. Bought the unit from Crutchfield, great set-up. No need to worry about the gap around the radio, they send a kit that will make it look like it belongs there. There is also a wire harness that allows you to hook up directly to the stock plugs, no cutting the factory wires. All you pay for is the radio, install kit comes free of charge.

 

[SMorneau]

I like my Alpine head and amp. Quietest system I have ever owned. I was somewhat limited by my desire to avoid motor driven pannels and flip down crap and the Alpine had good specs and a slot right in the front of the unit for CDs. I really like my Focal speakers but I can't recommend you buy anything made by the French.

 

[JGheen]

A friend of mine used to work at Circut City so he installed an awesome system in my rig.

My deck is a Sony flip face Explod. Not sure the model but it was $400 and has many different sound tweaks. I replaced my stock 6x9s with some Pioneer Compression horns which i believe they don't make anymore cuz I haven't seen them anywhere since I purchased them. Still got the stock 5. 25" in the rear but another set of 6x9s is ready to go in as soon as I can borrow a sawz-all from a friend to cut out the doors to fit the larger speakers.

As for amps and subs, I have a 350 watt MTX to power my 2 10" MTX 6000s and a 400 watt to power my system and speakers which I can still power up to 6 more, but will only be installing 2 more, so plenty of power left over. As for my subwoofer box, I purchased a modled box through Circut city that fits right under the stock rear bench seat without having to raise it up any. It is an MTX box and I got it and the 2 10" subs for $360. Not too bad for the box and subs all together.

Total was about $2500 with all the wiring, Dyna-mat, etc. But over all very pleased with the difference.

 

[Stroker Smoker]

I have had limited luck with aftermarker head units and the factory Infinity amp.



First I had a Sony CD Player but could never adjust the tone to sound really good.



Now I have a Pioneer DEH-P720 and can adjust the tone so it sounds perfect. I have always been satisfied with Pioneer car stereos.



I have been thinking about bypassing the factory infinity amp. I probably will when I get different speakers.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I've got a buddy who's a manager of a stereo/security shop... I've got an Eclipse CD/MP3 player, Eclipse amp, some cheap Pioneer replacement speakers (they were in the truck when I bought it), and a Memphis 12" M-class in a little truck box. Sounds great in my single cab.



Forrest

 

[nieters]

you can't go wrong with alpine. i work at the big red cube, and the alpine have the least problems. polk momo and alpine type r are great speakers. i am working on my set up right now. we are very limited as far as space goes. if you mount amp/changer under a seat, we have to level it. the dynamat spray has not been that good. we see problems with it a lot. oh yeah, hey keith, what is the aluminum square stock on the back seat for?

a lot of long legged passengers? lol. good luck y-knot

 

[y-knot]

Thanks for the info. I also think that Alpine is one of the best stereo manufacturer's out there. I have one in my Ford truck and it sounds great. I wanted to go with the larger 1. 5 din head unit so I was very limited on selection. I have had 4 Pioneer super tuners in my life, They were the first radio I ever bought. And the first one I ever had stolen. But they have always worked well, so I feel confident going with them on this occasion. I'll just have to see how it turns out.

The subs in the back under the seat look nice, but most people won't be able to reach the floor. ... . I might go with a sub package, if I do it will be the MTX Thunder box. They fit without modification and come in up or down firing models. I really did not want to go ballistic on this system, but I do find it hard to hold myself back. I am a sucker for new electronics and technology. My stuff should be hear today so I'll Install everything this weekend, I'll let you know how it goes.