Upgrading Sound

[rob01302]

Ok I finally fed up with the crappy sound system gmc has in there trucks. I hae 08 crew cab with non bose system. What is the best route to go to get quality sound and not drop a fortune. I just want a quality crisp sound system that is not going to break the bank....Any suggestions are welcome.

[gregrocks89]

what you could always do is throw 2 10" subs in your truck with just a 250w amp to throw some bass out and just turn the bass down on your deck. I hate the factory speakers in my truck. Yours are way better then mine!! I run two 10" kenwoods with a 500w amp. It pounds.

 

Even just a 10" sub and 250w amp and get some 10awg wiring for the amp and standard speaker wiring will run ya a couple hundred. Depending on the name brand of course. But if thats what your looking for

[KMGZ400]

you could just get new speakers... infinity refrences are real good

[tyhuck]

I dont know for sure, because Im sure the electronics have changed a lot in 15 years, but I had a 96 and I ended up replacing the HU because the stock was just a tape deck. Just swapping the stereo itself was a drastic improvement.

 

I bought an 05 over Christmas and it had a few stereo issues so I replaced the HU and door speakers. The door speakers were torn, and the factory CD player was eating CDs (loaded and never ejected). So I replaced the HU, replaced the blown speakers, and added a sub box loaded with 2 Kicker 10s powered by a Fosgate 400w amp. I added the subs because I had them out of another truck that I had sold and had a piece of MDF laying around the shop. All that being said, Ill get back on topic. after replacing the door speakers, I noticed a little more highs because they were 3 way speakers, not really any higher quality, but just different. Then I replaced the HU and that helped a little. It seemed to mellow the highs some and boost the mids so the sound was a little more pleasant. Then I added the subs and wired the amp remote on a switch. So, now I can get a fairly stock sound (because my door speakers are still wired directly to the HU and not an amp), or flip the switch and get a well rounded concert type sound, or crank up the amp gains and rattle some windows.

 

Heres a breakdown of what I spent

 

HU - $120 (factory Refurb)

Speakers - $60 (only replaced the fronts. ext cab doors are still stock)

Subs - $110/pair

box - $25 (built myself)

Amp - Got free from my father

 

Moral of the story, start with a replacement HU that you can afford and it may fix your issues. Most HUs are fairly equal in the performance area. Then move to speakers, but dont cheap out here because they arent all created equal. You could probably come out even better if you put your door peakers on an amp too. The sound quality ultimately depends on how much you want to spend.

 

 

The good thing about car stereo is that a lot of it can be built in stages. Look for deals and a good system can be built for a decent price.