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Sep 29, 2005 | 04:44 PM

F250SDPowerStroke

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New Sound Questions

Hey guys..thinking of installing some enhanced sound in new truck. I'm going to keep the stock single disk CD. I've already had it hard wired for my I-Pod, but now I want better sound. Does anyone have any suggestions on what speakers and or amps to go with?

Sep 29, 2005 | 05:27 PM

4S FED

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Quote:

Originally Posted by F250SDPowerStroke

Please replace the stock radio. You will be suprised at how much better sound you get from just changing the radio. TRUST ME. The stock unit puts out, like, 10wattsx4. If you buy all new speakers, you will still be putting 10watts, or so to them. Spend $150 bucks and get a decent radio first! Most new radios have a provision for your iPod. You may have to by a connector of some sort, but it will work.

Sep 29, 2005 | 05:46 PM

F250SDPowerStroke

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Even though I amp the system? Seems like the head unit is just a tuner/CD player and you can improve the sound through speakers and an amp. But, that's why I'm asking! Thanks for the advice!

Sep 29, 2005 | 06:09 PM

4S FED

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Quote:

Originally Posted by F250SDPowerStroke

Even though I amp the system? Seems like the head unit is just a tuner/CD player and you can improve the sound through speakers and an amp. But, that's why I'm asking! Thanks for the advice!

The sound is only as good as the radio can process. The main way to measure this is THD (Total Harmonic Distortion). The THD of most factory radio's is around 0.2 or higher. The higher the number, the worse the distortion. Most aftermarket radios you can buy at store have a THD of around 0.001 or better. Even the cheap ones. The lower you can get the sound distortion to the amp, the better. Because the amp dosen't only amplify the sound, it amplifies any distortion that comes with it. Amps have there own THD number too. The best way to get clean sound is to use a radio (Headunit) with a "RCA Pre-out". This means that it will send the raw signal to the amp without adding any THD. If you are going to amplify ALL of your speakers, you will need 3 sets of "RCA Pre-Out's" (front, rear, and subwoofer (Or Non-Fading)).

I would suggest using your factory speakers, for now. Buy a new headunit, and install a subwoofer (Like the JL StealthBox). The stealth box has a good amplifier built in already. I think this will give you kick *** sound in your truck. And, if you get tired of it, you can always add more later.

Sep 29, 2005 | 07:09 PM

TDCSILVER1

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From: Washington MO

4S ED Hit the nail on the head here! The aftermarket head unit will make a large difference, if you could hear them side by side you would definatly agree. I really like JL component sets and subs, their upper line of products is unmatched in my opinion. The W7 sub series is quite expensive per sub, but one is all you need. They are awesome, the only down side is the nicest subs are also the biggest, the W7 looks like a small rocket, the magnet on the thing is the size of a medium sized dinner plate which can be hard to deal with in a truck! It all depends on how much you want to spend and your amount of space available. JL component sets(speakers, tweeters) wont let you down though

Sep 29, 2005 | 07:54 PM

Paddy Whacker

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Agree with all above, I replaced my stock speakers with Infinity's, and the stock unit cannot push them. I turn the radio all the way up and the speakers are begging for more. Replace the deck first.

Sep 29, 2005 | 08:13 PM

Cuda444

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From: People's republic of MA

Agreed... I put the 6.5" infinity perfect components up front and some infinity 5x7's in the rear, amped with a jl 300/4 then two image dynamic subs behind the seat, amped with a 500/1 (250 watts to each sub). All in a regular cab! It makes a huge difference, my father has the exact same truck with the stock set up... yeesh, what a difference.

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Sep 30, 2005 | 09:39 AM

Toyman

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From: Wayland, MI

Hey F250SD, I have the original 6 disc in dash changer in my truck and the sound is great. I'm not running a ton of power, but I wanted a good clean sound. I am running 240 watts to the four mian speakers and 120 watts to the sub. I have found (for my ear) that I can't even get the bass setting over the halfway point, it drowns out everything else. For just a great clean, loud sound you really don't need 1000 watts. At the 360 watts that I have I can turn it up loud enough to not hear myself think anymore

. As stated in another thread the sound is awesome.

Toyman

I will try to get some better pics of the JL steath box for you also.

Sep 30, 2005 | 10:48 AM

#10

tvsjr

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Toyman-

How are you interfacing the external amps to the factory head unit? I'm in the same boat... I'm perfectly happy with the stock unit (especially with the in-dash changer), but I'm looking at an Infinity speaker/amp system. Are you coming out of the head unit some way with preamp outputs, or are you just running the amplified input to an amp that's designed to handle an already-amplified input?

Sep 30, 2005 | 07:55 PM

#11

rwilimo

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From: NJ

tvsjr, I can tell you this, if you are planning amps replace the head-unit, the difference will be tremendous.

F250SDPowerStroke, I have a pioneer head-unit with the Ipod controller. I just plug in the Ipod and control it through the pioneer head-unit and remote. I think alpine has a similar system, might be worth a look.

Sep 30, 2005 | 09:54 PM

#12

F250SDPowerStroke

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I looked at the Alpine and Pioneer head units that have the I-Pod adapters. They are very hard to use in my opinion. All you can really do is use the "shuffle" mode on the I-Pod. They way I have it set up, it's still hard wired, but I use the I-Pod itself to select songs, artists, etc.

Oct 1, 2005 | 03:29 AM

#13

tvsjr

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Quote:

Originally Posted by rwilimo

tvsjr, I can tell you this, if you are planning amps replace the head-unit, the difference will be tremendous.

The problem is, I can't get a replacement head unit that gives me a 6-disc in-dash CD changer. And I have no room for another box somewhere... the cab is already going to be full with a 30" Havis Shields Consolidator radio console, Panasonic Toughbook on an intelligent dock, etc. Another box is getting to be a real pain in the ***!