which speakers are best?
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Joined: Aug 2004
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which speakers are best?
want to add aftermarket speakers to bone stock HU. please give some info on the right speakers. something that will compliment the low (i assume) wattage of the factory HU. and what is the wattage of the factory HU. don't speakers perform best when driven by a HU with similar wattage output?
2004 F-150 5.4L
2004 F-150 5.4L
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Phoenix, AZ
you'd be well off changing the factory HU; it outputs somewhere between 15 and 20 watts rms per channel. while the volume isn't the problem, the clarity and lack of controls over the sound is I think.
in my experience, every deck sounds different and every set of speakers sounds different based on the deck... finding a good combo can be a pain sometimes. my JL audios in my truck sound a helluva lot better with an el cheapo kenwood deck, than they do with the double the price panasonic i have in the mustang... yet some clarion speakers that were 1/3rd of the price of the JL audios sound better in the stang than the JL audios ever did.
for your truck, I'd recommend JL audio speakers. they make 3-4 different models that are direct fit for our trucks, one for every budget...
in my experience, every deck sounds different and every set of speakers sounds different based on the deck... finding a good combo can be a pain sometimes. my JL audios in my truck sound a helluva lot better with an el cheapo kenwood deck, than they do with the double the price panasonic i have in the mustang... yet some clarion speakers that were 1/3rd of the price of the JL audios sound better in the stang than the JL audios ever did.
for your truck, I'd recommend JL audio speakers. they make 3-4 different models that are direct fit for our trucks, one for every budget...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,546
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From: Kemmerer, Wyoming
Kenwood makes some excellent speakers that matched up pretty good with the factory radio in the '04 I used to have.... they also have a few choices. The more you spend, the better they will sound!
Senior User
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I put infinity with the tweeters in front, pioneers in back and a 12" mtx sub under rear seat. Sounds great, volume is ok with cd but the radio is weak. Stock HU, only the sub has an amp. 36 square feet of dynomat extreme helps the sound out.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
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This will sound crazy, but go with the lowest watt speakers that sound reasonable if you stay with the factory head to maintain good "headroom" for your combination. If you buy a 50w speaker and hook to a lower powered head you can get static and speaker breakup which is not good. Example...you can technically blow a 100 watt speaker with only 1 watt of power, but a 20w speaker with 20 watts of power will sound great.
Problem is many of the aftermarket speakers out there are rated at 40, 50 watts and up. I had some lower watt Memphis speakers in my old F-150 and they were around $70-$80 pair. Sounded better than the Alpines too...for $20 less.
Problem is many of the aftermarket speakers out there are rated at 40, 50 watts and up. I had some lower watt Memphis speakers in my old F-150 and they were around $70-$80 pair. Sounded better than the Alpines too...for $20 less.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2001
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First, go listen to speakers at some retail store. Turn the bass and treble to flat on the head unit that is the speakers source. Everyone has different listening tastes. No one hear can tell you what your ears will like.
For me, I am sensitive to harsh sounding tweeters. I like a cloth or silk dome tweeter. I have had 4 sets of Infinity Reference 5x7/6x8's over the years and have been very happy. They are one of the most efficient speakers and this is what you should look for as they take less power to play at the same volume as a less efficient speaker. Swapping out the stock speakers is a good upgrade for most people. The oem speakers are worse than the cheapest swap meet speakers.
Again, go listen to a bunch of 5x7/6x8's until you find one your ear likes.
For me, I am sensitive to harsh sounding tweeters. I like a cloth or silk dome tweeter. I have had 4 sets of Infinity Reference 5x7/6x8's over the years and have been very happy. They are one of the most efficient speakers and this is what you should look for as they take less power to play at the same volume as a less efficient speaker. Swapping out the stock speakers is a good upgrade for most people. The oem speakers are worse than the cheapest swap meet speakers.
Again, go listen to a bunch of 5x7/6x8's until you find one your ear likes.
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From: Kzoo
I think to each their own, but i got eclipse 3 ways, only because i dont have tweeters in my truck so i thought if i got a the three ways at least i would have some high range, and im not saying get eclipse but i am saying look at some 3 way speakers, but if you really want to hear the difference in the speaker change get an aftermarket headunit
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I started trying to upgrade my '05 speakers and ended up doing the head unit also before I was happy. I don't remember the make/model of my speaker replacements off the top of my head, but I went with good sound over brand name and something with the lowest hz for bottom end base and a separate tweeter with crossover. The tweeter holes are already there in the door and a crossover fits really nice in a space that pops open in the front of the arm rest. I upgraded the head unit to a panasonic and added sirius radio to the thing since there is so much room under the dash where the stock radio went. End product gives me much improved sound quality with a more pronounced bass punch without going gonzo and no major surgery. Watch out taking the door skins off - they lift UP to remove. If you pull out like *normal* door skins, you'll snap off the molded in fastenings and then you're skrEwd!
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