Need some ideas for upgrading my truck's audio

kc5deb · January 9, 2006

I have an 02 GMC supercab with the captains chairs and console up front, with the standard bench seat in the back.

I'm possibly going to be coming into some money next month in the form of a company bonus. Most of it will go towards paying off the rest of my debt, but what's left of it, I want to invest in a better sounding system than the factory POS that's in it now.

I'm looking to replace the head unit, replace all the speakers and run new speaker wire to all the speakers, and add some bass.

I have a general idea of what head unit I want (cd player, plays mp3's, has an auxillary input for my XM radio).

I'm having problems deciding what brand of door speakers to buy, so, I'm asking yall what brands have great sound clarity without exceptional bank-breaking characteristics.

I'm also having a hard time deciding on what to do with bass. I've had a bass cannon before, and while it sounded good, it wasn't the amount of bass I wanted (it was only a 6" tube). I imagine the larger bass cannons put out more bass, but, I haven't kept up with the technology lately, so, I just don't know. I just don't want a huge box underneath the back seat that doesn't allow me at least some storage under the back seat.

I'm not looking for tons of bass; grew out of that a long time ago. I want something that will reproduce the highs, mids, and bass of a great orchestra, but, I do want the ability to crank it up to a good Nickelback song and rock out occasionally.

What are your guy's recommendations?

asilverblazer · January 9, 2006

I'm looking for basically the same info as you are, only difference is I want to keep the factory head unit (for looks). So far my best recommendation is component speakers. The flexibility and clarity will be much better. I'm looking down those lines any ways...

kc5deb · January 10, 2006

Anyone here used bazooka tubes? Like I said, I had the 6" amplified, but, I see they have a 10" amplified

http://www.sasbazooka.com/productAutoAmpli...TsBT.asp?id=256

Wondering if it was worth the $200 that I'm finding them for online.

Wingnut · January 10, 2006

I'm looking for basically the same info as you are, only difference is I want to keep the factory head unit (for looks). So far my best recommendation is component speakers. The flexibility and clarity will be much better. I'm looking down those lines any ways...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's what I did.

Slick · January 10, 2006

Hey Guys,

Here is what I did and am very happy with the sound.

Stock Head Unit

Kenwood Components in the doors - amplified

10" sub in a sleath box under the rear seat

Alpine amp 4 channel

run 2 channels to power your front door components and bridge the other 2 channels for your sub. Run the rear speakers off the deck (if we want a little bit of sound fill in the back seat). This system looks stock to keep the thieves away, but sounds great. The best part is you wouldn't know any system is in the truck without looking for it.

My 2 cents!

kc5deb · January 11, 2006

I decided to go all Kraco; speakers and everything... Should only cost me about $49.99 total with subs, 4 speakers and headunit.... Ok, obviously kidding...

Here's what I'm really thinking about after doing some looking around online and talking to a few friends who have used Infinity speakers in the past, and love em. BTW, the linked pictures are only just for show, and not neccissarily where I'm thinking about buying the gear from.

Head Unit - Kenwood KDC-MP4028 with optional aux in adapter ~$199.99 +

Front Speakers - Infinity KAPPA 63.7L ~$123.99

Rear Speakers - Infinity KAPPA 462.7 CFP ~$92.99

Amp for front and rear speakers - Infinity Reference 7549a ~$149.99

Subwoofer encloser - Q-Customs (Q-Logic) 10" enclosure ~$229.99

Subwoofer - Infinity Kappa Perfect 10.1d ~$109.99

Amp for subwoofer - Kicker KX400.1 ~$199.99

This should provide me with a headunit capable of playing MP3's from burned cd's, have an auxillary input for my XM radio, enough pre-amp outputs for the front and rear speaker amp, plus a sub pre-amp for the subwoofer. The head unit will control a cd-changer, but, not with the aux-input cable installed. Not a big deal, since if I want a ton of music without having to change out cd's, I'll just burn em in MP3's to a cd, and have just as much music as I would if I put in a 12-disc changer.

The speakers are going to be Infinity all the way around. The front and rear will be powered by the 135Wx4 Infinity amp, and the Infinity Perfect 10" dual voice coil will be powered by the Kicker 400Wx1 (it'll be bridged to the 2 coils). The sub will be in the Q-Logic box that will fit nicely under my back seat, and still give me enough room to put crap under the other side of the seat, or add another sub in the future. I know the picture shows that it takes up the entire back seat, but, the picture is actually showing 2 boxes with an optional amp enclosure. I couldn't find a picture of just one.

The total cost is probably going to be around $1,200-1,300. It's more than I originally intended on spending, but, the setup I came up with will allow me to spend less if my bonus isn't what it's cracked up to be. I can save a few hundred bucks if I just decided to run the front and rear speakers from the head unit if money prohibits me.

This should provide me with a great head unit, great front and rear speakers cranking 540watts, and some nice responsive bass with the Infinity Perfect dual voice coil running 400watts. Total system wattage should be under 1,000 watts, giving me plenty of head banging power for the times I wanna "rock out with my cock out", but still give me great sound quality for when I wanna cruise down the road listening to anything else from classical to top 40 stuff.

Plus, I'll run new speaker wire to all the door speakers. I've got plenty of access to power cable around here at work, so, power cable is not a cost. Plus, since I'm not running SERIOUS wattage, I shouldn't need a capacitor. I should get a quality sound system at a minimum cost. And, the only thing from the outside that you'll notice is the aftermarket head unit, so, it won't stand out as much to would-be theives.

Comments, suggestions, etc?

Wingnut · January 12, 2006

I think that's about what I spent on my entire system, maybe a bit more. I kept my stock system, but I have a bit more power (and a cap).

The stuff you have listed should sound great. But your MP3's had better be at full compression, or they'll sound horrible. Even if they're full size, you'll still be able to tell. MP3's just don't (generally) sound as good. You lose the higher highs, and the lower lows with them.

That's based on my experience of course. And I'm no audio-pro.

kc5deb · January 12, 2006

I think that's about what I spent on my entire system, maybe a bit more. I kept my stock system, but I have a bit more power (and a cap).

The stuff you have listed should sound great. But your MP3's had better be at full compression, or they'll sound horrible. Even if they're full size, you'll still be able to tell. MP3's just don't (generally) sound as good. You lose the higher highs, and the lower lows with them.

That's based on my experience of course. And I'm no audio-pro.

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I know EXACTLY what you mean. I have a few friends that just love the size of their 128k encoded MP3's and swear they sound CD quality. I personally won't encode anything less than 192k, and typically I'll just do 320k. I know the files are huge at 320k, but, storage is cheap, and I don't like skimping on my sound quality.

Wingnut · January 12, 2006

That's about what I've figured. Anything below 192k sounds horrible on any decent auto-sound system.

I refuse to let MP3's get near my home theater. SACD and DVD-A have spoiled me flat rotten in that arena.

ma1nick · January 20, 2006

I have an '04 Silverado Ex Cab. I have all infinity speakers to include 2 - 12" 's in a custom box under the bench. I use Kicker 850.2 amp and the system is awesome. I love the Infinity sound and the power out of the Kicker. You cannot go wrong with either.

C.L. Nichols