Double Cab Audio Upgrade. Sub or Speakers First?

What's up guys, now that my truck is lifted and looking the way I want, it's time to ditch the INSANELY bad stock audio system.

But, I don't have the funds to do everything all at once since I'm still recovering from the roughly 5 grand I spent on the lift, wheels, and tires.

So, my question is this. If you had around $1500 to spend, would you start with a sub and 5 channel amp, or would you replace the speakers and do a 4 (maybe 5) channel amp?

I'm looking at the JLAudio Stealthbox and their XD700/5v2 amp, along with an LC7i LOC which would be right around $1400 plus install.

I'm also looking at a pair of the new Focal PS165F components and a JLAudio XD400/4v2 amp, leaving the back 2 channels open to power a sub down the road, along with an LC7i LOC. This would also come in around $1400 plus install.

So tell me what you think fellas! Oh, and don't tell me to replace the headunit first, because that's not going to happen. I'm going with the LC7i, end of discussion.

 

if it was me i would start with the door speakers.. you will be very surprised how much better it sounds starting with that. Also are you upgrading the radio also or just the speakers? i know thats not one of the first thing your doing but with that kind of budget you can get a really good touchscreen setup.. i have a pioneer 3500BHS and i love it..

 

Yeah I'm happy with the factory touchscreen, so the headunit stays put until I can find a good enough excuse to replace it.

Thanks for the input on doing speakers first. I know they'll make a massive difference, and will probably tide me over until I can do the sub later in the year.

 

We did a HU and sub in my cousins 05 pre runner (Non JBL) and it sounds a thousand times better.
So I'd go HU first then sub (Unless all you care about is bass)

 

I would do the door speakers first, you might find that you don't even want a sub after installing some quality components.

 

Ha ha, yeah that's not gonna happen. I've never owned a car that didn't have a sub, so it's coming, it's just a matter of when.

 

Bump, anyone else?

 

Replace the factory door speakers front and rear. Hook up a line out converter to the radio wire harness and get a good amp to run 2 10" subs in a custom box behind the rear seat. I did this and makes a world of difference in the sound.

 

I've always done sub first in my past cars (luckily I was able to do everything at once on this truck), but if I had to choose now, I'd pick door speakers first. It's mostly due to my change in music tastes. I've always been a fan of hip hop (still am), but new music being put out makes me despise "hip hop" - if you even want to call it that. I've begun listening to more rock music and it sounds great when you really crank it up. You want clear mids and highs to really feel the instruments. Spend the time to choose really good component speakers and tune them right. You can crank it up until your ears bleed without audible distortion. You don't need to spend a ton on good components.

The Image Dynamics CTX-6.5CS is a good set with a good amount of midbass, and it doesn't cost a whole lot.

 

So my project has changed a tad as my wife put the axe in my plans due to all the money I just dropped on the lift, wheels and tires. Sooooooooo….

My new plan is to RAAMmat the doors, then use Alpine Type-S 6"x9" up front, 6 3/4" in the rear door running off the factory head unit, and a Kicker Hideway sub under the passenger seat. I know, I know….

BUT, I'm still hopeful it's going to sound decent. It CAN'T possibly sound worse than stock!
I chose the Alpines for a couple of reasons.

1. They have silk tweeters for nice mellow highs
2. They are fairly low power, moderately high efficiency (90db) so they SHOULD sound decent running off the stock head unit.

I chose the Kicker sub because the Alpines running off the sorry-ass 5 to 10 watts the stock deck puts out wasn't gonna give me the oomph I wanted in the low end, and I needed SOMETHING to add a little depth. This should do the trick for now, and then I'll sell it when I get the go ahead to go whole hog with a new system at some point in the (hopefully) near future.

So that's my plan. I appreciate all your input and will keep this thread updated with my results!

 

I ordered a new head unit, door speakers, amp and sub last week. If I had to do one first it would be door speakers and amp.

 

So it turns out all the installs I've seen on here of the Kicker Hideaway sub are on access cabs, as the double cab has a heater duct AND the stupid bar on the seat that are preventing me from installing the sub under the seat. Ugh!!!

Back to the drawing board I suppose.

 

You can install amps under the seat. My 600watt sits under my drivers.

Go to the hardware shop and get some spaces, 1 inch should work with most amps but you may need to measure. Space the amp over the heater. I added some raamat and isolation to keep the heat from rising up right on the amp.

Later I changed it as I live in Az and never use my heater. So I lowered it so the floor vents blast right into the intake port of the amp, keeping it nice and cool during the hot summer months.

 

I recall seeing where some folks flip that bar upside down. I have never personally done it but I remember seeing it talked about in threads here.

 

Yeah the Kicker Hideaway is a sub, not an amp. I know amps can fit under the seats. This thing is WAYYYYYY bigger than all but the biggest amps.

Saw that but that bar is where it is for a reason. I don't mess with structural or safety features on my truck. Unless of course it involves hacking a 7" section out of my frame to install my 6" lift. LOL!

 

Alright so I managed to wrangle up a couple grand my wife doesn't know about (LOL!) and think I might be back to my original plan, with a twist.

I went and listened to the Focal PS165F components again yesterday and just know I'm not gonna be happy with anything else. These things are absolutely incredible. Do yourself a favor and go listen to a set if you haven't heard them!

BUT, I've decided to swap the head unit out for a touchscreen Alpine. Just can't justify spending hundred of dollars on work-arounds just to use the crappy factory unit. For the time being, I think I'll run the Focal speakers off the deck power, as that is how I was listening to them at the shop and they still sounded great. Don't get me wrong, they sound better with 50 to 75 watts RMS pumping through them, but not so much better that I feel the need to amp them just yet. Plus, Alpine's got that power pack amp that connects to their decks and gives you 45 watts RMS x 4, so maybe I'll get that since it's only $130.

That SHOULD tide me over for a bit, as the mid bass on those Focals gets down to 45 to 50hz with surprising clarity and volume. I'll add a sub and amp at some point in the near future, but am gonna have to scrape together another grand for the JL Audio stealth box and a 300 to 400 watt amp to power it.

 

Have you looked at the enclosures made by Super Crew Sounds? They are well made boxes that you can add your own sub too and save a bunch of money over the JL Stealthbox. Just a thought. I looked at the Stealthbox and it is very nice but that thing is crazy high priced. You could get the same sub and put it in a Super Crew box for a bit more than half the price of the Stealthbox.

 

Yeah but the super crew boxes require that you remove all the plastic, which I don't want to do.

I might end up getting Mr. Marv to build me a custom box for the JL Audio 13TW5. 13.5" of JL goodness is VERY tempting.