teach me about car stereos

[Lao Tzu]

I have a ford ranger 99 with the stock radio. the radio is good, just taking the volume up 2/3 of the way produces pretty good sound but i want more. BUt im afraid of taking it up higher for fear of damaging the speakers.

Im thinking i may need new speakers, and maybe an amp. Teach me all you know about these subjects, i would be ever-so grateful.

Go.

 

[ZKaudio]

i used to run a car audio shop... be more specific.

my reco... get a new deck, a 4 channel amp and all new speakers. You'll be happy. 4x30 RMS or so should be plenty loud for you.

 

[timrock]

I HAVE A 99 RANGER TOO!!!!!!!!!!!! we're pals.

i went to best buy and picked out a stereo and a couple of speakers.........i know nothing else about them. i didn't get an amp but plan on getting one when i get my bazooka tube.

yea the stock system suks.

 

[tiger88]

ok first off.......if u want subs you can get new ones which are ment for trucks( they go under the seat) they are nice if you dont have extended cab.. since u have a small cab you wont need large speakers (sound waves my friend dont have much area to travel)

i am not into the whole huge bass thing so i feel subs are only needed if u are into that .....good speakers will give you enough for rock N roll music and every thing else.....just find out what size speakers you have and up grade them .....have it done proffesionally dont do it your slef.... your truck will sound nice since it is a small cab


go here and look at some speakers

http://www.crutchfield.com/

 

[ZKaudio]

don't get subs, you will be tired of them within a year

 

[tiger88]

don't get subs, you will be tired of them within a year

very true.....if u do get them, get the ones that are ment to go under your seats... not having a trunk would kill me

 

[Crazy Ivan]

do you havea nice garage bor ?

 

[timrock]

what do the pros think of bazooka tubes, 6" maybe 8"

i'm not into the boom thing, just want a little extra deep bass sound. i listen to rock mostly

 

[Lao Tzu]

I HAVE A 99 RANGER TOO!!!!!!!!!!!! we're pals.

i went to best buy and picked out a stereo and a couple of speakers.........i know nothing else about them. i didn't get an amp but plan on getting one when i get my bazooka tube.

yea the stock system suks.

yehaw. I like my system though, but i have the XLT model so maybe its different. With just the volume 2/3 the way up the vibrations are pretty good.

My main fear is blowing the speakers out, i do not want to do that. I want a little more amplification and speakers that can handle it.

Where would you put a bazooka tube? my cab has almost no room behind the seats.

ANd im a cheapass, in case anyone wonders.

 

[Lao Tzu]

i used to run a car audio shop... be more specific.

my reco... get a new deck, a 4 channel amp and all new speakers. You'll be happy. 4x30 RMS or so should be plenty loud for you.

go into more detail. I dont want to spend $600 and rip the cab apart in the process, i just want a slight increase in sound (its pretty loud as is). A 4 channel amp, i've seen those for $60 or so for a 1600 Watt. What is an RMS? ANd what kind of speakers should i look for that can handle high volume?

 

[tiger88]

do you havea nice garage bor ?

i am still looking one of those

 

[timrock]

i got the ext cab-sport

 

[juiceddreadlocks]

i used to run a car audio shop... be more specific.

my reco... get a new deck, a 4 channel amp and all new speakers. You'll be happy. 4x30 RMS or so should be plenty loud for you.

i run 100 watts to all my speakers, and 200 to each of my subs.

 

[Imnotdutch]

Mullet boy is sad.......

 

[juiceddreadlocks]

Mullet boy is sad.......

y is that?

 

[canadianhitman]

This takes being an unoriginal repeating bastard to a whole new level.

 

[anabolicmd]

Nord, what size speakers go into your truck? Do you like to have backfill, that is rear speakers? Because the simplest upgrade is a two channel amp on a set of components up front. Then you can still power the factory rears with the head unit, or buy some cheaper speakers for the back too. Rear fill isnt all that important.
Bazooka tubes are ok for just adding some bass.

 

[beefybull]

Replace all of the stock speakers with some quality brand (MB Quart, Pioneer, Kicker, etc.)

Get a new head unit, preferably one that plays mp3s.

Get your ideas on Crutchfield, then order online or on eBay.

 

[spongebob]

yehaw. I like my system though, but i have the XLT model so maybe its different. With just the volume 2/3 the way up the vibrations are pretty good.

My main fear is blowing the speakers out, i do not want to do that. I want a little more amplification and speakers that can handle it.

Where would you put a bazooka tube? my cab has almost no room behind the seats.

ANd im a cheapass, in case anyone wonders.

nordstrom, seeing as how your a tightwad let me make some suggestions.

the very first thing you should do is replace the stock radio with a radio that puts out some decent power. this is the cheapest move. because most stock speakers will sound alot better if you put some cleaner power to them.

this move alone will probably satisfy your needs.

if not change the speakers.

if still not satisfied, add a 4 channel amp.

still want more, add another amp with a sub.

 

[Code]

www.google.com
www.askjeeves.com

 

[juiceddreadlocks]

great advice spongebob... here's my .02 on that...

the very first thing you should do is replace the stock radio with a radio that puts out some decent power. this is the cheapest move. because most stock speakers will sound alot better if you put some cleaner power to them.

this move alone will probably satisfy your needs

buy a couple year old pioneer 6200 reciever, you can probably get one online on ebay for 50 dollars. this would sound decent and have some bells and whistles.

id be careful, if you like loud music and you put a decent head unit in it, you may roast your speakers playing with your equalizer and bass boost.

if not change the speakers.

www.sonicelectronix.com (something like that) ive dealt with them for several things, good people.

if you have 4x6's dont spend more than $50 or 60 dollars at the very very very most

if you want components, buy a plate and some $75-100 5.25 inch components in the front

if still not satisfied, add a 4 channel amp.

a 4 channel 37.5 watt amp you could get for really cheap, use the crossover in it (probably goes to 200 hz) or buy some inline bass blockers for your front speakers ($6 online).


still want more, add another amp with a sub.




if your truck has 4x6's in the front dont spend more than $50 on a set, or you could buy an adapter plate ($10) and get some 5.25 inch components ($100)

 

[Lao Tzu]

nordstrom, seeing as how your a tightwad let me make some suggestions.

the very first thing you should do is replace the stock radio with a radio that puts out some decent power. this is the cheapest move. because most stock speakers will sound alot better if you put some cleaner power to them.

this move alone will probably satisfy your needs.

if not change the speakers.

if still not satisfied, add a 4 channel amp.

still want more, add another amp with a sub.

The radio is good. Its got in dash CD and the volume, even when only 2/3 the way up provides sound 'almost' as loud as i want. I'm figuring going all the way up with the volume with good speakers might be all i need. If i replaced the radio i'd have to rip the dash apart and spend $130 on a new radio because i want one with in dash CD.

I'm not a stereo expert, but my main concern was the radio was good, but the speakers couldn't handle turning the volume up higher.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

is this the thread about stereos?

 

[spongebob]

The radio is good. Its got in dash CD and the volume, even when only 2/3 the way up provides sound 'almost' as loud as i want. I'm figuring going all the way up with the volume with good speakers might be all i need. If i replaced the radio i'd have to rip the dash apart and spend $130 on a new radio because i want one with in dash CD.

I'm not a stereo expert, but my main concern was the radio was good, but the speakers couldn't handle turning the volume up higher.

ok, i was under the impression it was a cheap stock radio. ok, so if its good then the next move would be replacement speakers of higher quality. the cheapest route would be replacement in kind, the same size. if you believe this will do it just by some two way or three way replacements.

if you do this you will probably not have to go all the way up with the volumne, the new speakers will be more efficient. they will take less wattage to produce more sound.

realistically you dont want the volumne no more than about 2/3 capacity. it would probably start producing more distortion at that point. especially an in-dash radio with amplification. seperate amps are better at producing high volumnes with little distortion.

rock on dude!