Bit of a noob here, after about 15 years away from doing car audio installs. Thrilled with all the new gear out there, though. Looking to do a conservative little system in my 2005 Dodge Ram Quad Cab, as the stock 4-speaker AM/FM/CD system just doesn't cut it with the windows down and wind rushing thru the cab. Not looking at anything to impress anyone, just wanting to up the SPL's a good 3 to 6 dB.
This truck has the regular 4-speaker system, not the upgraded Infinity 7-speaker system. As I understand it, that means 6x9's in the front doors, 6.5's in the rear doors, and the amp integrated in the head unit. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Head unit aside, I'm debating two options for amps and speakers. One would be a 4-channel amp and simply upgrading the four door speakers. I'm guessing the factory head unit is below 25W x 4, so this could be one easy way to really improve things without much hassle. The other option would be a 5-channel amp and adding a single sub under the rear seat in a Q-logic enclosure. I do not want to give up both of my under-seat storage bins (need them for trailer hitches, tie downs, etc.), so an MTX Thunderforms is out of the question. Besides, I'm mostly listening to straight up rock, and a single sub should keep up fine with the rest of the rig.
Since I want to keep things clean and simple (time is a bigger obstacle than money), I'm wondering what my options for routing the speaker wiring would be. I assume the most popular location for installing an amp in these trucks is under the driver's seat. That means running at least four pairs of wire from the head unit to the amp under the seat. I'm also assuming that it's easier to just keep using the factory wiring to the (upgraded) door speakers, which I guess means running another four pairs of wiring from the amp back to the factory speaker connector behind the head unit. That's eight pairs, fished from the head unit to under the driver's seat, in addition to feeding power to the amp.
That's how I'd have done it in the past, probably using coax for the feeds to the amp, and twisted pair or rip cord from the amp back to the factory speaker connector. Is there an easier way these days? Since this is going to be a pretty modest system (probably 50W x 4 + 160W), I see no reason to run new wiring to the door speakers, unless it would somehow be easier and cleaner. Any advice?
Still debating on what to do about the heat unit. Very tempted by one of the Bluetooth & USB-capable head units with aux (phono) inputs. My primary MP3 player is a Sony Ericsson w580i walkman cell phone, although I also have an iPod classic 40GB that I use on occasion. I mostly listen to the w580i thru stereo Bluetooth headsets, although I haven't tried running Bluetooth for streaming audio in the car.
Thank you.
Your best bet nowadays is to get a headunit with front, rear, and sub lowlevel outputs. (RCA) You connect it to the amps with RCA cords. Yep, regular (good) speaker wire from the amp to each speaker.
My pics for your application -
http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_130TSD902P/Pioneer-Premier-TS-D902P.html?tp=27919
http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_136C2600X/JL-Audio-C2-600X.html?tp=27919
http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_236TE404/MTX-Thunder-Elite-404.html?tp=27743 or
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500MRPF300/Alpine-MRP-F300.html?tp=115
Good luck.
The first choice is what you want overall from the system. The stock system is most likely less than 15Wx4 RMS.
Essentially, you have 4 options:
The installation is basically the way you said, RCA's to the amp and speaker wire either back to the HU or to the factory speaker wire closer to the speakers or to the speakers themselves. Make sure you don't have both the amp and new HU connected to the speakers at the same time, though.
Hope This Helps!!!
2002 Ford Focus Sony CDX-GT410u Sony XT-100HD HD Tuner Stock speakers, no amp, no subs
Let me know when you want to get serious.
2005 Dodge Ram Quad Cab DC Sound Labs Soundstream Blow-through See it here http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/index.php?showtopic=34090
namosh:Let me know when you want to get serious.
^ Good advice!!!