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Audio Improvements?

dubs_17

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dubs_17 Enthusiast

dubs_17

Posted
Posted

Hey,

I'm looking to get a little better sound out of my truck's sound system, but I'm not looking to break the bank. I don't want to change the head unit, as I'm fine with the way it functions. I just think that the factory sound sucks.

 

I have a 2003 Sierra regular cab. What I'm wondering is...is the crappy sound a result of a crappy head unit, crappy speakers, or both?

 

Has anyone JUST replaced the door speakers and left the rest as-is? Does this improve sound quality at all?

 

Has anyone added a sub or two to the factory system?

 

Post your thoughts, experiences here...I'm basically just looking for the best/most cost-effective way of getting some good sound goin' on... :thumbs:

alaska511 Senior Enthusiast

alaska511

Posted
Posted
Hey,

I'm looking to get a little better sound out of my truck's sound system, but I'm not looking to break the bank. I don't want to change the head unit, as I'm fine with the way it functions. I just think that the factory sound sucks.

 

I have a 2003 Sierra regular cab. What I'm wondering is...is the crappy sound a result of a crappy head unit, crappy speakers, or both?

 

Has anyone JUST replaced the door speakers and left the rest as-is? Does this improve sound quality at all?

 

Has anyone added a sub or two to the factory system?

 

Post your thoughts, experiences here...I'm basically just looking for the best/most cost-effective way of getting some good sound goin' on... :thumbs:

 

 

Yes, many of us have replaced the stock speakers for the cheapest, easiest improvement.

hossmp2500 Enthusiast

hossmp2500

Posted
Posted

Just swap out the factory speakers and if its in your budget possibly add an amp to the system and you should be satisfied. I have swapped the speakers on the majority of the trucks that I have owned over the years and been satisfied. When you remove the factory speakers you will be shocked to see how inadequate they actually are.

crepitus Enthusiast

crepitus

Posted
Posted

i am interested in this as well. I have a full system out of my s10 some years back. Is it worth it to hook up an amp to the stock head unit? i could never get a clean sound using the speaker inputs. Does anyone sell connectors for the line level inputs to the amp so you dont have to hack up you wires?

 

oh and with replacing the speakers in a xcab, do you just do the front and read and leave the small ones up in the pillar?

wastemilford Enthusiast

wastemilford

Posted
Posted
Just swap out the factory speakers and if its in your budget possibly add an amp to the system and you should be satisfied. I have swapped the speakers on the majority of the trucks that I have owned over the years and been satisfied. When you remove the factory speakers you will be shocked to see how inadequate they actually are.

 

What brand and model of speakers did you install? I would like to do the speaker swap but no amp if possible. This thing has the crappiest radio I ever heard!

hossmp2500 Enthusiast

hossmp2500

Posted
Posted
Just swap out the factory speakers and if its in your budget possibly add an amp to the system and you should be satisfied. I have swapped the speakers on the majority of the trucks that I have owned over the years and been satisfied. When you remove the factory speakers you will be shocked to see how inadequate they actually are.

 

What brand and model of speakers did you install? I would like to do the speaker swap but no amp if possible. This thing has the crappiest radio I ever heard!

 

 

 

I havent installed anything at this point in my 2009 CC however I am leaning towards Infinity. I went to listen to a few at a local place and thought they sounded the best for my taste. I would say any brand of speaker will improve what is stock especially if its a non-bose system. I have heard the bose and thought it was probably good enough for most peoples taste. I have a close friend with a 2006 truck that has Pioneer speakers and I even thought they sounded great. When I swapped speakers on the non-Crew Cab trucks I actually left the ones in the pillar alone. I was not looking to build a huge system just improve the factory sound.

 

I do agree the head unit in the new trucks is a real turd. I dont have the redundant radio controls so I may do a Head Unit and speaker swap on this truck.

 

Good Luck and just go to a local shop and have them play a few songs from one of your CD's or iPod if they can do that so you get an idea of what they sound like with your personal music choices.

hossmp2500 Enthusiast

hossmp2500

Posted
Posted
i am interested in this as well. I have a full system out of my s10 some years back. Is it worth it to hook up an amp to the stock head unit? i could never get a clean sound using the speaker inputs. Does anyone sell connectors for the line level inputs to the amp so you dont have to hack up you wires?

 

oh and with replacing the speakers in a xcab, do you just do the front and read and leave the small ones up in the pillar?

 

 

I see you are in NJ, so am I. If your anywhere near the Hamilton/Trenton area there is a great shop you can stop in and check out. Its called Soundautomotive. They are spendy but they were kind enough to play music from a few CD's I had on different speakers. I checked out Best Buy and the store is so big and wide open it was not easy to get an idea of what they would sound like.

97SierraGMC Senior Enthusiast

97SierraGMC

Posted
Posted

this isnt my thread but, what would you guys recomend for cheap good speakers in my truck? i plan to add a amp, but that will be quite a few months down the road.

 

my fronts are 6.5 inch and rears are 4x6 inch.. im willing to buy good speakers but dont want to spend 100+ for a pair either..

 

also i have a dynamat extreme kit for my doors when i put speakers in too ive been just waiting for when i put the speakers in to put that in as well

alaska511 Senior Enthusiast

alaska511

Posted
Posted

Check out my Bose speaker replacement thread.

 

I went with JBL and Infinity, those are good 2 ohm replacement speakers for your stock head unit

hossmp2500 Enthusiast

hossmp2500

Posted
Posted
this isnt my thread but, what would you guys recomend for cheap good speakers in my truck? i plan to add a amp, but that will be quite a few months down the road.

 

my fronts are 6.5 inch and rears are 4x6 inch.. im willing to buy good speakers but dont want to spend 100+ for a pair either..

 

also i have a dynamat extreme kit for my doors when i put speakers in too ive been just waiting for when i put the speakers in to put that in as well

 

 

When I had the vintage truck you show in your sig I had a set of Boston Acoustics speakers they were good not great. Then a while later I went to Infinity and it was fantastic and I never touched the 4x6 in the rear pillars. I had a small Alpine amp that I used and honestly I dont recall the model number but it was very small.

crepitus Enthusiast

crepitus

Posted
Posted

Check out my Bose speaker replacement thread.

 

I went with JBL and Infinity, those are good 2 ohm replacement speakers for your stock head unit

 

are most car speakers 2 ohm?

shaye762 Enthusiast

shaye762

Posted
Posted

In my Tahoe, I left everything stock and added a speaker box in the back with a 10" MTX sub (just for a little bass) and (2) 6 1/2" MTX speakers. I also have 2 amps. You can find a lot of good deals online for speakers. I bought the pair of 6 1/2" MTX speakers on the web for $30 brand new.

Just adding this made the truck sound a heck of a lot better. I plan on replacing the speakers in the doors pretty soon with some Infinity's.

 

In my old truck, I left the stereo alone and just replaced the door speakers with Infinity's and it sounded great.

takevin Senior Enthusiast

takevin

Posted
Posted

tweets in the air vents for better front staging, big difference, no cutting of door panels and they're hidden.

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