I have a 1997 Ford Explorer XLT.

I usully drive the turnpike and other major highways with the windows down cruising around 80 MPH. I love listening to music, and the 4 stock speakers don't cut it that loud. I get horrible bass tone from the stocks. That and it crackles from the volume. This=bad. So I'm looking to upgrade. However, I know nothing of audio. So I need some help.

First off, what good 6x8 speakers are there? I was looking at 3- ways, I do know quite a bit about speakers. But if I replace the speakers, will that improve it a lot? What else would I need to do? What about if I install a subwoofer in the back panels (they make one to fit the exact corner box on Explorers)? Would I need an amp for it? Would I need an amp for the speakers? What about a new head unit? Would I need that to get better performance frm my speakers?

Any help would be appreaciated. I would like to get this all set up. Feel free to recommend any products or give any advice.

 

Welcome to this great hobby! Rule number one is that you'll never be happy! Just as soon as you install your system, you'll be wanting something better 10 minutes later

I'd first work on getting either some 6x8 coaxials and a 2 channel amp. But at high speeds and loud volumes, that may only get you going for a while. Then you'll be wanting more. Component speakers will almost always handle more power. Along with those, you may want some more power. While you're at it, you might as well throw the sub in, too.

The problem with first-time installers is that they usually just want to get something in asap. Because of this, the proper research on the best components for the $ and what is best for the person are usually not considered.

The typical noob buys a cd player, some coaxials, a 2 channal amp, and two 12" 4 ohm svc subs. This usually leads to not enogh power (distorted sound from built in amp in head unit), subs that are the improper resistance to get maximum output of the amp, and usually terrible sounding bass from cheep subs.

Here we go... This is what I'm going to suggest..

• Pick a CD player based on the features you want
• Rockford Fosgate Punch 700X 4 Channel Amp--$259.00
• Infinity Reference 605cs Component Speaker System $99.00
• DAYTON 10" QUATRO SERIES SUBWOOFER 4 OHM $64.59
• Knukonceptz.com--great prices on good qualiy wires/accessories

Whatcha think of all of that?

Tempe

 

The easiest way to elicit suggestions is to give a budget. Nothing us car audio geeks like doing more than spending other people's money What are your expectations? Are you looking to get loud (SPL), sound good (SQ), or both (SQL)? Most of the time, everything in a stock stereo system is "the weakest link", meaning everything will most likely have to be replaced. If you're not purchasing your whole system at once, a new HU will make the biggest improvement. You would think new speakers would yield the greatest improvement in sound, but your wimpy stock HU just doesn't supply enough juice (12-15 watts, rms). If you're going to piecemeal your system, I would purchase the following hardware in this order:

1) HU. Alpine, Pioneer, and Eclipse make great HU's at every price point.
2) Components and an amp to power them. Alpine, JL, Crystal, Focal, Adire, CDT, Diamond, Infinity, and Image Dynamics make great components at prices as low as $145 and up to just over $1000. Good amps to consider are US Acoustics, Phoenix Gold, Hifonics, Crossfire, Arc Audio, and Cadence all make great amps. There are a few brands of amps I skipped, solely because finding a good amp is easy and mentioning all worthy ones would take up too much space (as if I hadn't typed enough already )
3) Sub and amp. Again, many different subs to reccomend. "Internet darlings" like Adire, Elemental Designs, Reasonant Engineering are reccomended on most boards, and rightly so. All offer the best bang for the buck. JL, Alpine, Kicker, and Infinity are other names to look at.

If you're a real DIY'er, go take a look at parsexpress.com. Dayton subs get alot of praise. Home made components from Seas, Vifa, Peerless, Focal, Eton, Scanspeak, Morel, and a few Eminence drivers can all can sound great if chosen and installed wisely. They will offer, by far, the best bang for the buck. Tricky if your a total newbie, though.

As stated earlier, your selection process can be greatly reduced by giving a budget.

 

As stated from the others that replied do you have a budget? if you dont want to take up cargo space then yes JL Audio and MTX make a stelth box with a 10" sub that will go in a panel. If you want the easiest install than go with 6x8's coaxle or component or 5.25 components. Most of the time if you get a 5.25 from some one they will throw in or sell you a bracket to make it fit in perfectly.
A 4ch amp would be perfect to run you front ch and the sub.

Pioneer makes good radios for the $. If you want to see a big selection of pioneer radios just go to a Walmart. They usually have 5-6 models you can look at. With a Harness and install kit you can change your radio in no time. You can wire your radio on your kitchen table then go and throw it in the truck. Just dont scratch the table like I did She wasn't to happy...

 

Ok, I want good sound quality at a good loud volume. I really don't want to spend over 600 or so dollars right now, as I want to get a cold air intake kit. I also have the 6 disk in console CD changer.

So, your saying to get a new head fist, over speakers? If I were to buy a new head and new speakers, would I still need an amp, or could I just get away with that (price-wise I won't have all the money for this until mid-summer)?

Whats the difference betwen speakers and component speakers?
Do you have to install the tweeters with the component speakers? (read= I don't want to do much cutting/drilling) Also, what's the deal with crossovers with them? Do crossovers work that well or what? Would you use the crossover ones both front and rear? What about the first one with built in crossover's or the second without?

Oh yeah, how exactly does an amp work?

What abot these speakers:

Infinity Kappa 572.5cf
or
Pioneer TS-A6880R


Any good choices on head units if I already have an in dash CD player?

 

It looks as if you want a "drop in" solution. The Kappa's are definitely a solid choice. Get them at Ikesound, where they are $85 per set. A US Acoustics usb-2100 would be a great match to power the Kappa's. This amp also has speaker level inputs, so you can keep your current HU. That leaves you with close to $400 for sub/sub amp. If you wanted to stay all Infinity, Crutchfield has a Infinity Perfect 12" sub, with box, for $250. A JBL 600.1 amp from Ikesound would power it nicely ($195). That's a little over budget, and I could think of a million different combos, but it's a system that would be an easy "install" and provide you with the sound you're looking for.

$.02

 

k, so the Kappa's are drop in? What with the crossovers? And the sub isn't absolutely necessary. I don't want to sound like the rice rockets, I just want a good bass tone. (Weird, since I'm 17)

Any answers to my other questions?

thanks guys!

 

Yes, the Kappa's are drop in. They include an inline crossover, but it's not as powerful or versatile as crossovers that are included with component sets. If you were to get these, or any 6x8/5x7's, you would need a sub. 5x7/6x8 just don't have the ability to go low with any authority or sound quality. A simple 10" or 12" sub would fill everything out nicely. The Infinity sub I mentioned earlier is a sound quality sub. You will not be mistaken for a ricer if you ran one of these. They get plenty loud, but their focus is more on the sound quality side of the equation.

Componets are speaker systems with seperate drivers. A 3 way system consists of a midbass, midrange, tweeter, and crossover...for each channel/side. A 2 way comp set, which is more common, is the same except it doesn't have the midrange driver. Components allow for tweeter placement, so you can achieve a more accurate soundstage. They also have better power handling, usually have better build quality, and a crossover that...The crossover is used to seperate the audio signal before it reaches any of the speakers. You don't want your tweeters playing 100 hz notes, just as you don't want you woofers to play 6000 hz notes. The crossover, essentially, divides the signal so the the correct speakers play the correct frequencies.

Depending on how you mount your tweeters, there should be a minimum of drilling, and little or no cutting of the door itself.

 

ok, so what setup for for me, if have about 500 to spend (install myself). I also don't wnt a new had unit right how.

Maybe some pioneer speakers (front and rear) and a nice amp and sub? I also am not sure about component speakers and the installation with them. The front Explorer speaker grills are triangular so would they fit in the space and still use the stock grills? And where would I put the tweeters?

 

I think I see what you're looking for. With a $500 budget, this is what I would do...

Keep stock HU...6 disc changer, stock/natural appearance, simplifies install.

Speakers...Get the Infinity Kappas at Ikesound.com for $85 (free shipping). Go to Crutchfield and get the US Acoustics usb-2080. It should come out to around $105, shipped. The Kappa's are rated to take 100 watts, rms, but they don't need that much. The 2080 will make them sound as good as they can, and still get painfully loud. So far you've spent around $190. Crutchfield also has outstanding customer service and will hold your hand through the amp installation process, should you need it.

For the sub, I would go HERE and get a 12K.14 for $120. Again, outstanding customer service and great people to deal with. Their site even provides a blueprint for the sub box...with all the measurements! I would use another US Acoustics amp to power it. The usb-2150 would work great. 450 watts, bridged, into a 4 ohm load. Should cost around $195ish, shipped. Both US Acoustics amps have speaker level inputs, so you don't have to buy a Line Out Converter (LOC).

Soooo...

$85
$105
$120
$195

Grand Total: $ 505

I'm sure others will have different suggestions, but it will be pretty hard to put together such a good system for so little money. BTW, Crutchfield, in addition to their great customer service, provides a 3 yr. warranty on both of those amps. ED also provides a 3 yr. warranty on the sub. The Kappas only get a 1 yr. warranty...though I don't foresee any problems.

 

Hm, what about back speakers? And what's the use of amps? Which speakers exactly?

What about getting some Pioneer 4-ways and then a sub?

For an amp, do you put the speaker wires in, then wires for the speakers out?

Basically, do I need a amp for just the speakers? I thought I would only need one for the sub.

On the sub, how do you install one without having a previous one in the car, do you splice the wires in with another set?

Thanks for all the help guys. Whn Iinstalled the speaker system in the Cobra, I never had to deal with component speakers and subs. All I needed were 4- 6x9 Pioneer (hence why I much perfer them) speakers and an Aiwa head.

 

hi, welcome to FTE. i would definatly suggest the infinity kappa speakers for the front and powered by the US Acoustic amp (another good choice) will compliment the mid-high range. for the sub, couldnt have said it better then the Elemental Design K series.

as for hooking up the amp(s) to the stock headunit, u will need something called a line out converter which will take the rear speaker wires and convert it into usable singnal for the amp(s). reason speakers arent used much is most of the sound u want should come from the front and is better for the sound spectrum. if u decied to use mutiple amps u can dasiy chain them using the output on one amp to the imput of the other using RCAs. i would suggest going to wal-mart and picking up the Schoshe wiring kit for 300-1000w amps, it comes with all the wires, connectors and even a distrubution block for mutiple amps.

 

The US Acoustic amps have speaker level inputs, greatly simplifying the installation (I had mine installed this way, with my stock MACH MP3 for 3-4 months). A LOC can be a pain in the **** for the inexperienced because most have gains. So in addition to setting gains on the amp, you have to set the gains on the LOC. Matching the two will cause you to use very naughty language Speaker level inputs make this much easier. There are three wires that need to be soldered together (or crimped, choose your method) and *voila*

I agree with optikal illushun about the amp kits. Walmart actually sells some pretty nice ones (Scosche) for very reasonable prices. You would need the 1100 watt kit they sell (I think $25). It comes with everything (including a distro block) but speaker wire (which you could also purchase at Walmart).

 

eh im an audio newb and i just put in a pioneer for the HU and a pair of 6.5" infinity reference speakers for the doors. i was amazed at how much better this combo sounded compared to stock. in about a week-2 weeks im gonna put in duel infinity 10" 1000 peak watt subs with an 800watt amp to power them. they both run best 400 watts rms hence the 800 watt amp. i don't think this will be to bad of a setup for my 88 ford f-150. especialy since i won't be spending more than $500 or so. any currently with only the speakers and head unit in there i get no distortion what so ever!!! i set my head unit to super bass and cranked up the volume. i had to get out of the truck it was getting so loud. it rocks!!! i can't wait till i get my amp and subs in there. i don't see anything wrong with buying a setup that u described as newb? my setup sounds good!!!, and im not having any distortions. while i don't doubt mine isn't the best setup out there, it does in fact sound good. and i don't have my subs or amp in yet. so i don't understand why being a newb and replacing all ur stock sound stuff is bad? not flaming im just asking. whats so wrong with a setup like that?

 

modru, sounds like ur gunna have a pretty nice set up for the price. just watch the CD player settings or u'll kill those speakers and watch the amp gains ettings ur u'll kill the subs over time. im still using cheap **** pioneer speakers from wally world in my truck and a used and abused jensen amp and it rocks

also, im not fond of those speaker inputs, but i havent really used em much...but u made a good point on the gain settings.