Upgrading sound system - speaker and stereo questions

im interested in upgrading my sound system but I am not a kid, so no damn boom boxes or window rattling high output amp systems for me.

I do however want a very nice quality sounding system where I can crank it up so I cant hear the car playing "young people music" next to me.

I noticed my oem speakers (four 6x8 speakers) say they are 20 watt speakers and I bought a DUAL XD1228 CD radio (60 watts 15x4) to replace the oem one, so it should have matched the oem speakers power demand close enough but it doesn't seam like it plays loud enough to hear over traffic noise when I feel it is turned up high enough.

I think I just need a better quality balanced sound system but here is the thing, I need something under $200 for everything, that includes the four 6x8 speakers and a CD radio (preferably without those removable faces that always cause connection issues).

please suggest away and give links if you have em please

 

Within your budget, you might consider replacing only the front speakers (easier to do than the rear), or only the head unit, and spending the rest on sound deadening. Even with an upgrade to the head unit and speakers (which is easily your whole budget), you still need to overcome the baseline noise in the cab (which is quite high). I replaced my head unit with a $100 one from a major manufacturer, just after a year (end of warranty) 3 of 4 channels in the internal amp died. It was about $100. So beware the cheap crap... I now run with an external amp.

 

Did you see the new Mad Max movie, with the dude rocking on the truck in front of 10 foot tall speakers with the guitar that shoots fire.



Install that.

 

For that budget you might consider sound deadening your cab and getting new front speakers.

The sound deadner will do wonders for blocking out road noise and those damn pissants playing Elvis Presley and Beatles music.

Plus if done right, the deadener will make your speakers/system sound a lot better.

 

Best bet is to go ahead and get a decent radio, around $100 it will have more power going to your speakers, sometimes that alone meets most people's needs. Then I'd go with a good component set for door speakers. That will probably be your budget right there. But for the best sound you need to amp your door speakers. Night and day difference once I amped mine. But I spent a little more then 200

 

DATS WHAT IM TALKIN BOUT PAW PAW

I think that would be something I can here lol

so you guys think the better approach is to stop the outside noise with dynamat first then try a good quality CD radio first to address the sound issues? that makes more sense I guess because it does have a lot more road noise then any other truck I had.

what wattage stereo should I look for and any suggestions on brands to avoid? remember I would prefer one that the face does NOT come off on. had too many of those have face connection issues.

also, WHERE do I need the dynamat at? I seam to recall someone said in a post somewhere on this site that the floors don't need it

 

have you visited the audio section of this forum . there are write ups with prices and pictures to give you an idea of what your looking for .
I just installed an aftermarket deck and it made a world of difference .
You can see my write up in the audio section

 

I bought a $100 JVC and its been great. No CD player because only grandfathers still use those . Just a digital media HU.

Check out raamaudio.com for your needs. Cheaper and better than dynamat IMO. Their small kit will be more than enough to deaden the rear wall, both front doors and have some left over for a lot of the rear 1/4 panel. The kit includes all peel self adhering raammat (dynamat equivalent) and ensolite. When both are used in conjunction the results are amazing.

No need to do the floor at all with either of those products. You will not get any results. The best product for the floor is mass loaded vinyl.

I'm on my phone so I can't type much but if you want me to regurgitate all that I learned from speaking to Rick at raamaudio for an hour or so. There's also a great amount of info on the website.

Be sure to use the TW coupon. You get 5% off I believe.

 

crutchfield for the win!! they have the best prices and best customer support!

 

DOH!!! I didn't even think to look and see if we had one I wouldn't have even needed to make this thread
thanks, i'll check it out

 

thanks, will check it out, hope its not too pricey

 

We hope to install a set of 12" Rockford Fosgate speakers plus amp in ours...

 

To stay in the $200 range, for now I'd get the best speakers for the front that you can find and a cheap two channel amp(properly rated). Then later upgrade the head unit, rear speakers, then finally a better amp.

 

I might turn out to be happy with just the sound mat because right now I have to turn it like half volume to hear over traffic and road noise on the freeway buts its ok when running around town at 1/4 volume

 

Keakar – I’m in your boat and here’s what I’m doing for my ’04 DC.

I’m starting with an upgraded HU (nothing special – just want Bluetooth). JVC KW-R910BT is on order right now ($145ish).

If that doesn’t do the trick – will go to 2 speakers in front doors. Again nothing special – Pioneer TS-A1305C ($110ish).

That should do it for me. But if it doesn’t -- will go to small 2 channel amp or look at sound material...

Bob

 

I believe the small kit was $120 delivered to my door (after TW discount).

 

The sound deadening, when done right, will have the greatest effect for your needs. You can have the greatest components, amps, subs and HU and it will sound better. But if your door panels and rear wall resonate, it will sound muddy and have a lot of road noise interference.

Our rear wall and door panels resonate badly because it's just a hollow metal drum essentially.

I initially wanted to deaden so that I can have a phone conversation, hell a conversation with my daughter, while driving on the highway. Our cabs, as you know, are insanely load.

Now, when I roll the windows up, my cab is insanely quiet compared to stock.

Here's the kit you need: http://www.raamaudio.com/package-1-...s-ofensolite-iuo-peel-and-stick-41-625-sq-ft/

Here's great info on how-to and why-to: http://www.raamaudio.com/pages/How%2dTo.html

Here's Rick's award winning '96 Tacoma: http://www.raamaudio.com/1996-toyota-tacoma

 

Also, if you scroll through this post of mine, you can see where I placed the raammat and ensolite: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/madjik-mans-laugh-at-with-him-build.98326/page-13#post-6020821

 

I wish I would've sound deadened my cab.... Only thing I didn't do

 

thanks, that sounds like just what I need and the more im thinking of it, the more I think you might be right about just using the sound mat will solve the whole problem and I don't need to replace anything.