Scott Killman

Yeah I would be pretty disappointed as well. I've watched a video how their stealthboxes are made and I have to say it's pretty remarkable. I'm looking forward to getting it all hooked up and being able to feel that bass. My 2005 had a sub under the center console and it hit hard. I went with AudioControl LC-1.800 for the subs. It's rated at 800 watts @ 2ohms which the subs are wired for. For all of the other speakers I'm using an AudioControl LC-4.800 which is more than enough power. Bought the stealthbox from Crutchfield but you can get it onlinecarstereo.com for the same price, no tax and free shipping (I didn't realize they didn't charge tax after buying my Alpine i209). https://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/p_50011_JL_Audio_SB-GM-SLVCC310TW3BK2.aspx

Like SWOYER said, $250-500 doesn't get you much. I bought JL Audio C2-650 Components and C2-650x coax for a little over $500. I've also purchased an Alpine i209 headunit, JL Audio Steathbox (crew cab so under rear seat) and waiting on my amps (AudioControl LC-4.800 & LC-1.800). Minus the wiring kit and a few odds and ins, I'm at just under $5k. I originally intended to just replace the stock speakers...... Go big or go home!

That sucks to hear about their customer service because I just bought the stealthbox for under the rear seat of my 15 crew cab. I'm deployed so won't have a chance to check it out for about another 5 months. Crossing my fingers that it's all good.

I had an 05 crew cab and when I upgraded to the 2015 I knew I couldn't go back to a double cab. I like the extra space. My 05 had a sub under the console and man did it hit hard. It was like that when I bought the truck so I couldn't tell you what box or brand of sub because I never took the console out. It was all aftermarket equipment. I'm going for sound quality in this one. I will eventually sound dampen the doors, back wall and maybe the floor but right now I'll just add the speakers and other gear. I sure hope the sound quality of that stealthbox is on par with the price. That 9" modular unit is nice and a heck of a lot cheaper too. The Metra dash kit is pretty nice. Better than some of the others I've seen.

Yeah I went back and forth on the i209 for over a week. One minute I was going to upgrade the HMI/radio then I decided to go aftermarket because I was going to replace the speakers and run amps. But I didn’t like any of the dash kits. Didn’t look enough like the stock setup. Most of the dash kits looked like an afterthought. I found the i209 for $1849, no tax and free shipping from onlinecarstereo.com which is close to $300 cheaper than crutchfield. This is the stealthbox I purchased. https://www.crutchfield.com/p_13694647/JL-Audio-Stealthbox-Jet-Black.html Again, another expensive investment but I like the look of the box and the fact that I can mount both amps in the boxes recess. I had considered building a box but didn’t want to hassle with it. Did you have to cut the dash to fit that Pioneer headunit? That was another reason why I liked the i209. If I ever did sell this truck I’d go with a slightly newer model and could still use the equipment.

I just ordered everything for my system and I think I went a little overboard as far as price. Went from just wanting to replace the factory speakers and adding carplay by upgrading the HMI/Radio module to an entire setup. Alpine i-209 (I like the way it looks and I found it for about $300 cheaper than Crutchfield) JL Audio C2-650 components up front JL Audio C2-650x coax in the rear JL Audio Stealthbox AudioControl LC-4.800 AudioControl LC-1.800 I still have to purchase the wiring kit and some odds and ins like sound damping material. I also purchased a center console to get rid of my jump seat. I'd also like to upgrade to katzkin leather seats and a heated steering wheel. But those will have to wait.

Did you get the cluster from WAMS also? I've been looking into getting the cluster as well as the HMI/radio upgrade.