Replacement speakers for my truck

coolrunner989 · #1 02-02-2009, 11:18 AM

I just bought a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 and the rear speaker is blown and need to be replaced and I have some questions

- Any suggestions on speakers? I assume it's just a matter of taking the panel off and swapping the old one with with the new and re-wiring it so I'd rather do it myself than take it to a shop.

- Should I replace all of the speakers? This is obviously more expensive and work intensive but it would be worth it if changing the speakers would radically improve the sound. I've had a 1997 dodge ram for a few years and the sound has been alright - not amazing in terms of volume or clarity but not bad..

My budget isnt alot, but I'm looking at this like an investment so I'd be willing to go a step up from the basic generic speakers and be happy for a while.

Any other points I might be overlooking?
Thanks

Pilgrim · #2 02-02-2009, 11:38 AM

You can learn a lot at Crutchfield's website. They have the most comprehensive information about replacement speakers you will find. Darn good people to work with - and free tech support via phone after you buy.

And yes, aftermarket speakers probably will sound better than the factory ones if the truck didn't come with a significantly up-graded system. Just don't turn it into a boom box, please.

http://www.crutchfield.com/

coolrunner989 · #3 04-12-2009, 11:20 PM

So, after spending a LOT of time on crutchfeild (an awesome site!), I'm worn out! I talked to an advisor from the site, and what he ended up recommending was a little beyond my price range and my ability/willingness to modify my door panels to accomidate speakers - I want them to be drop in.
I think I'm going with a totally Kenwood setup: speakers for the front and back ($50 bucks a pair), a new stereo ($169) with an ipod input, and possibly a sub ($250-300).
I'm undecided between the Kenwood and the Infinity - I think I can put the Kenwood under my seat, whereas the Infinity would have to mount in the footspace of the middle seat in the front - I'm worried about it being in such an open/exposed space, but I dont really have any other place for a sub to go, and the more I think about it the more I want it. Mostly to fill out the bottom (not to turn my car into an oversized, overly loud baby rattle) and compete with my quad exhaust system (the previous owner's doing). Nobody sits in the middle, I'm just worried about it accidentally getting kicked or spilled on.

I'll probably spring for this stuff in a few days, paycheck time, and then install the weekend after I get it.

Any thoughts? Anything I'm missing going to Kenwood? It seems their not the best of the best, especially for the price, but I figure they've gotta be better than what I have now..
I'm interested in input from those who have swapped a few speakers out for themselves - any tips for installation? I'm a newb at this.
Thanks!

coolrunner989 · #4 04-15-2009, 02:59 PM

Nobody has modded out their car speakers?

I'm going with sony's now - I dont have room for a traditional sub, and the one that is made to go under my back seat is 300 bucks just for the enclosure, not including speakers or an amp, so I need better speakers for bass than the kenwoods would have given me.

85vf500rr · #5 04-15-2009, 03:27 PM

I had a Pioneer setup in my old truck. It took 3way 6x8 speakers in the back and 3way 6.5" in the front with a cd head unit. The 6x8 is the wierd size that Ford uses. One interesting note is that the magnet on the new speaker was bigger than the stocker and I had to space out the upper mount on the speaker to keep it from contacting the cab corner at the top. It all still fit behind the factory speaker grilles when I was done, so no big deal. The head unit was only 35W per channel (bought it in 1996), but the improvement over the 1992 Ford tape deck was incredible. I also added a 45Wx2 Fosgate amp with a 8" Bazooka tube subwoofer later on. Not too bad for the amount invested. The Mustang I replaced the truck with had the Mach 460 factory system, but it never sounded as good as the setup in the truck. The factory system in my Honda CR-V sounds almost as good as what I had in my truck, but I'm thinking of replacing the speakers and adding some Dynamat to the doors. I already made a custom enclosure for a 10" sub in the back, but I'm still not completely happy with the way it sounds. I had to use a line out converter with the factory head unit to get a signal for the amp and I still need to tune it a bit to keep it from clipping. It would be better with an aftermarket head unit, but I like the 6 disc changer in the dash on the Honda head. Light years better than the Ford changer in the Mustang.

Anyway, as far as advice goes, the speakers should swap really easily. There's really not much to it. If you order your parts from Crutchfield, they actually offer installation sheets and advice specific to your vehicle. That can be very helpful for a newb. I ordered the line out converter from them for that reason. I wasn't sure which wires to tap into, and for some reason couldn't find a diagram online. They e-mailed it right to me, specific to my vehicle and the particular stereo option my model came with.

coolrunner989 · #6 04-15-2009, 05:21 PM

Cool, thanks man. I'll definitely be ordering from Crutchfeild. I saw that dynamat stuff, I'm not sure if it's worth it. I have really loud side mufflers, which are cool standing outside or with the windows down, but for actually having a quite cabin to listen to music in, it's a PITA. Have you used it before?

iamlowsound · #7 04-15-2009, 08:28 PM

Get Hertz speakers. You will thank yourself. For putting a sub under your seat, build the box yourself, it isn't that hard.

lowsound

85vf500rr · #8 04-16-2009, 09:38 AM

I haven't ever used Dynamat, but I have been in vehicles that had it installed and it makes a huge difference. One of my friends in college installed it in the doors of his Tundra and it cut out a ton of road noise and eliminated the rattle he was getting from the doors at high volume levels. It basically adds mass to the surface you are insulating, thus dampening unwanted vibration, noise, etc. I'd like to do the entire interior of my CR-V with it to reduce the road noise in the cabin, but that would get a bit pricy and would probably take an entire weekend after remove all the interior panels, carpet, headliner, etc. I just don't have that kind of free time anymore. I'll probably just end up doing the doors at some point and possibly the cargo area floor. When you closed the doors on my buddy's Tundra they gave a solid thunk like a new BMW or other more expensive ride. Definitely not like a truck door.

Godbody · #9 04-17-2009, 09:55 AM

I'll go on record as promoting anything Infinity. When I first put a system into my vehicle, I was planning on mixing and matching brands to get what I wanted. I wound up with all Infinity speakers (Kappa speakers and a Perfect sub) and an Alpine 4 channel amp. I'm not real up to date on how amp technology has progressed lately, but I know Infinity will never let you down. They reproduce with the most clarity I can imagine outside a studio, and I've never had one blow out on me.

coolrunner989 · #10 04-17-2009, 03:38 PM

thanks for the input guys, I'm ordering the sony's. I'd like to go with the infinity's, maybe when I have some more money and/if I'm dissatisfied with the sony speakers. I'm grabing some dynamat too, that should help. They should get here by next weekend, hopefully I'll have time to do it then.