Plans for a new system... but need help

Hi guys I want to redo the audio system in my 09 access cab. the stock one is awful and has to go. I want to put the new system in myself but have never done any stereo work before. When I bought it there was a cda-105 Alpine head unit in it as well as a small Alipine box in the glove box that is like a small amp. I want to replace the head unit because the Cd player doesn't work. You put a disc in and it spits it right back out ( not sure why, anyone have any ideas?). I want to replace the head unit, front speakers, and add a small sub and amp. as far as an amp I just want something that has enough juice to power the speakers and small sub to give me nice sound I'm not trying to be crazy here ( Any ideas on a good smaller sub and amp combo). not sure what to do in the rear because there are no speakers in the rear doors but in the head liner (awful spot to put rear speakers if you as me). This is my main issue, I have never done any speaker wiring ( which seams easy enough) but doing a sub and amp is where I have no idea what I'm doing. Anyone know some good threads to read to help me out or want too help me put it all in?

I will appreciate all the advise you can give me.

kris

 

What is your budget for this whole setup? Do you want a single din HU or a double din, ie one that would have the screen and nav dvd capabilities. You could get away with leaving the rear speakers alone and running those off of the head unit power and amping just the front speakers. Running wires isn't hard just time consuming and amping is really easy for a simple setup.

 

I was trying to stay about 500 is that to cheap. It's a single din. I wanted to get something that play CDs.other than that it works fine.

 

Well I have no clue how the fix or diagnose the problems with the existing unit but 500 can get you a very good sound quality setup. I'd suggest a Kenwood KDCX395 for a basic but very good head unit. For door speakers to get the best from them you could install a nice set of alpine or kenwood components and a JL 8W3v3 sub in a box.
Head unit: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KDCX395/Kenwood-Excelon-KDC-X395.html?search=KDCX395&skipvs=T
Speakers: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KFCP709/Kenwood-KFC-P709PS.html?tp=95
Amp for Speakers:http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KAC1502/Kenwood-KAC-1502S.html?tp=35757
Sub:http://www.woofersetc.com/p-7402-cp108lg-w3v3-single-8w3v3-4-sub-in-high-output-enclosure.aspx
Amp for Sub:http://www.woofersetc.com/p-6249-mrp-m500-alpine-mono-500w-subwoofer-amplifier.aspx

This come's out to around $600 but will give you the best sound for that price range. Most everything could be found cheaper on Amazon or other sites I just used pricing from Crutchfield because their website has the best info needed and if you buy your Head Unit from them they will send all of the needed install gear for free.

 

Wow! Thank you very much. I will be sure to look into it all. Thank you again

 

Wow! Thank you very much. I will be sure to look into it all. Thank you again. Also is a capacitor a needed item.

 

Cant go wrong with pioneer speakers, they seem to have some pretty dang good quality. Love mine! can't go wrong with JL Audio, their subs are top of the line if you want some sick bass.

 

Also Crutchfield offers free connectors for you speakers to factory wiring is that a good idea or should i run new wire?

 

I'm just running stock wires personally, no problems either. I can turn them up for my whole neighborhood to hear. Of course subs is another story, but you should be fine running stock, after market wires will only help if anything.

 

A cap is a waste of money and a bandaid to a bigger problem you won't need one with these amps. When you are amping the speakers you won't need the connectors that crutchfield will send if you order the speakers from them, if you run an amp you will need to run wires. Also a quick note the speakers I linked you to are component which means that the tweeter and mid's are separate so you will have to remove the stock tweeter and put the new one in its place and run wire's for the cross overs. It looks like a lot to do but as long as you follow the instruction and take your time it'll be well worth it.

 

You're running stock wires from an external amp to the speakers? If so, how?

 

Will, what is a good gauge speaker wire to go with? For the amp i was going to get this wiring kit, thoughts?

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_575RFK101/Rockford-Fosgate-RFK10i.html

 

when you are running the power to 2 different amps do you run two separate power lines all the way to the battery or is there a way to hook them together and run one line

 

what do you guys think about running just this amp with my speakers and sub hooked to it. will it be enough power to still get nice sound?

 

Yea that'll work fine but if there is a radio shack near by you can get all of that for around $20 and for amp power I don't like to use anything less than 8 gauge.

You can run 2 smaller wires or run a big, minimum of 4 gauge, wire to a distribution block and branch off from there.

Which amp? The amps I linked can only run either the sub or the speakers and one will blow the speakers while the other won't do much for the sub. It is possible to use one amp for all 3 speakers.

 

got it.... thank you sir. I think Im going to do head unit, components, and 2 channel amp now. And sub and mono amp later. Will that work

 

That'll work fine, to get a little more bass response out of your speakers you might want to look at deadner and cover the holes in your door.