New Stereo System

[Darth Bama]

If you are installing it yourself then you might want to check out what Crutchfield has to offer. They have always treated me well and their tech support is great.

Seriously, their prices are always competitive and they usually have free shipping. Not to mention when you order something like say a head unit, it comes with everything needed to install it. Same thing goes for the speakers. They also have a great support/help line in case you get confused. It'd be worth it to at least check their site out.

 

[thunderstruck]

Use 12 gauge speaker wire.

and I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to rewire. I would, but that's me.

Well, if you are going to power the speakers with an amplifier, you might as well. In my truck's case, it was easier to run all new wire from the amp straight to the door panels than it would have been to run them into the dash and splice into the factory wiring.

However, using 12 gauge wiring for the speakers is absurd. 12 gauge wire is capable of carrying 20 amps of current, that's huge overkill for any ordinary speakers. It does NOT make it "sound better," and if there actually would be an improvement between a 12 gauge speaker wire and a more reasonably sized wire, you'd never be able to notice it inside a vehicle. As long as you use good quality wire, 16 gauge wire will be more than enough in most cases. Lots of good info @ http://www.bcae1.com/wire.htm

Something you can consider is deleting the rear speakers all together and running a nice set of components up front. Our truck cabs are easily filled with just front speakers, and since you're not going for competition or anything I think front speakers would suit you fine. I am running a set of components up front with deleted rears and it goes louder than I can stand to listen to. Stays clear the entire time, too.

+1 The best rear speakers IMO, are no speakers. Your system is only as good as it's weakest link, and in most cases that would be the rear speakers. Keeping the rear speakers would just be wasting money to make the entire system sound worse, IMO.

As for the head unit I'd stick with the usuals: Pioneer, Alpine, or Kenwood.

Don't forget Eclipse and Clarion.

I'd say get a new head unit, 2 nice components for the front, a 10" sub, and a 4-ch amp to run both the components and sub. I think that would suit you just fine based on your criteria.

That is the same setup I'm using and I'm very happy with it. That would also likely be the cheapest route as well. However, I do wish that I had ran larger wire to the amp so that in the future I could add an amp dedicated for the sub(s) and use my existing 4-channel amp to power my midbass woofers and tweeters seperately.

Go to a local car audio store and take a listen to different things. Figure out what your ears like. It's different for everyone.

Best. Advice. Ever.

 

[gmctrucks]

I have seen that video it's funny. I have a Alpine stereo in my truck I bought it on Ebay rather cheap. Say guys if up-grading your home speakers look into KEF speakers they sound good even the ones that are placed in the wall.

 

[mblouir]

Use 12 gauge speaker wire.

and I'm pretty sure she doesn't want to rewire. I would, but that's me.

Well, if you are going to power the speakers with an amplifier, you might as well. In my truck's case, it was easier to run all new wire from the amp straight to the door panels than it would have been to run them into the dash and splice into the factory wiring.

However, using 12 gauge wiring for the speakers is absurd. 12 gauge wire is capable of carrying 20 amps of current, that's huge overkill for any ordinary speakers. It does NOT make it "sound better," and if there actually would be an improvement between a 12 gauge speaker wire and a more reasonably sized wire, you'd never be able to notice it inside a vehicle. As long as you use good quality wire, 16 gauge wire will be more than enough in most cases. Lots of good info @ http://www.bcae1.com/wire.htm

Something you can consider is deleting the rear speakers all together and running a nice set of components up front. Our truck cabs are easily filled with just front speakers, and since you're not going for competition or anything I think front speakers would suit you fine. I am running a set of components up front with deleted rears and it goes louder than I can stand to listen to. Stays clear the entire time, too.

+1 The best rear speakers IMO, are no speakers. Your system is only as good as it's weakest link, and in most cases that would be the rear speakers. Keeping the rear speakers would just be wasting money to make the entire system sound worse, IMO.

As for the head unit I'd stick with the usuals: Pioneer, Alpine, or Kenwood.

Don't forget Eclipse and Clarion.

I'd say get a new head unit, 2 nice components for the front, a 10" sub, and a 4-ch amp to run both the components and sub. I think that would suit you just fine based on your criteria.

That is the same setup I'm using and I'm very happy with it. That would also likely be the cheapest route as well. However, I do wish that I had ran larger wire to the amp so that in the future I could add an amp dedicated for the sub(s) and use my existing 4-channel amp to power my midbass woofers and tweeters seperately.

Go to a local car audio store and take a listen to different things. Figure out what your ears like. It's different for everyone.

Best. Advice. Ever.

 

[bubbatrucklover]

To much to quote and seperate(since some others didn't)

I rewire and YES I use 12 gauge. Absurd? to each their own when I rewire I do it ONE TIME. 12 gauge insures no matter what I upgrade to it's done. Call it a warm fuzzy feeling. It doesn't really cost more. I rewired my whole truck with 12 gauge and it is so I can switch over to a different setup with minimal waste and headache.

I will gladly agree to disagree as to "deleting" rear speakers. Most any sound system I've heard has better sound quality with a rear fill from them. Certain music (not ghetto shit ! that's NOT music) has certain notes and other sounds that are lost without them.

To me it's no different then a home theater surround sound vs. 2 speakers and a bass.(2.1)

As to head units I'll stick with agreeing with the Alpine-Kenwood as stated.

Yes going to a stereo store is "OK" to get an "idea",but not only do they usually have demos set up with certain brand specific components the acoustics between a speaker wall, a sound room ,a truck(then factor in RC,EC or Crew) and car are WAY different from one another.

The above is strictly my opinion and personal preference(s) much like trucks we all have our own likes/dislikes.

In most cases no one person is necessarily right or wrong.

 

[bubbatrucklover]

Harley2 check your inbox. I put a little something together.I even provided links.
You can listen to Howard ,BTLS or kick it with AC/DC.

 

[mblouir]

As for rear fill, let me ask you this, Harley. What percentage of the time out of all of your driving do you have passengers riding in the back? I wouldn't waste the money on rear fill if no one rides back there more than 70% of the time. That's money that can go elsewhere to greatly improve the quality of your system, especially on the $1K budget. If you're the main listener you don't want to pull the stage behind you. A front stage can easily fill a whole cab.

There are only a few reasons I'd put rear fill in a truck:
- If I had a 5.1 head unit with access to 5.1 material
- If passengers rode with me more than 60/70% of the time
- Competition

I have a set of amped components up front and rear speakers deleted. I have people ride with me quite often and all of them agree it gets plenty loud for them when they're in the back. It can get as loud as you can stand while retaining quality. What I'm getting at is that I see no reason to spend money on rear fill, especially on a budget.

 

[bubbatrucklover]

As for rear fill, let me ask you this, Harley. What percentage of the time out of all of your driving do you have passengers riding in the back? I wouldn't waste the money on rear fill if no one rides back there more than 70% of the time. That's money that can go elsewhere to greatly improve the quality of your system, especially on the $1K budget. If you're the main listener you don't want to pull the stage behind you. A front stage can easily fill a whole cab.

There are only a few reasons I'd put rear fill in a truck:
- If I had a 5.1 head unit with access to 5.1 material
- If passengers rode with me more than 60/70% of the time
- Competition

I have a set of amped components up front and rear speakers deleted. I have people ride with me quite often and all of them agree it gets plenty loud for them when they're in the back. It can get as loud as you can stand while retaining quality. What I'm getting at is that I see no reason to spend money on rear fill, especially on a budget.

I went off since she didn't specify cab it was a regular.(Wouldn't change my rear fill preference)

I put together for her 2 dash,2 rear, a set of door components,and one 12" or 2-10"s an amp and a decent head unit for $765-$855 (all new not auction)


I've sat/ridden in vehicles with deleted speakers and full set ups. I CAN tell the difference,but again(as I said) it's personal preference.


You can ABSOLUTELY get plenty loud with JUST doors and subs NO argument there.

 

[mblouir]

Didn't realize it was regular cab. I'd say try to save as much money as possible. Along with the head unit try out two components and a nice sub amped off a good 4-ch and see how you like the sound. Keep the other speakers stock and play with your fill. Fade it from front to rear with different sources playing. If you like the rear fill, then look at upgrading them. If the components are enough then you saved some money.

 

[Black02Silverado]

Didn't realize it was regular cab. I'd say try to save as much money as possible. Along with the head unit try out two components and a nice sub amped off a good 4-ch and see how you like the sound. Keep the other speakers stock and play with your fill. Fade it from front to rear with different sources playing. If you like the rear fill, then look at upgrading them. If the components are enough then you saved some money.

Yeah, it is hard to thing of a truck now a days as a regular cab. You just don't see them any more.