Premium Audio Upgrade for less than $250

I just replaced the crappy tweeters by cutting out the entire cone and voice coil and installing Bose units inside the OEM bracket.

 

I just order everything and it came out to $262 shipped with tax. I can’t wait to install them! Thanks for the awesome write up!!

 

Swapped out the dash speakers this week. Great simple upgrade, you can hear the difference. If the door speakers are a similar jump in sound i'll be pretty happy.

 

Howdy folks - for any folks who've recently installed, please let me know if anything in the OP needs to be updated/added to for any potential truck variations w/ 2018/2019s or available components. This has been a very popular mod so I want to ensure the OP remains accurate and valuable to all who buy their truck and quickly realize the sound sucks (and is easily fixable)

 

So I got my speakers. I decided to call Crutchfield and talked to Drimmer. Asked if there was anything they could do on the price and he gave me some extra $$$ off!

 

All info still good for 18/19!

 

How much??!!

 

Was an extra 20$

 

Awesome!!!

 

K So I pulled the gun and completed the system with the kickers in the doors also .. my thoughts definitely a lot clearer sound . Good highs and mid's now for you bass junkies this setup by itself hits most bass loads but most are none existent don't expect a 6x9 to sound like a 10 inch sub .For some its enough for me I wanted more so I went to a stereo shop said even if I added a amp on these speakers u still wont get that low bass out of these speakers they will just be loader that's it … so what to do next hmm well I decided go a step further and run a JL audio micro sub these things are unbelievable in sound cant even describe it till u here it your self . they do come with a built in amp or without and only require 250 watts max .Over all I can say kudos on the speaker recommendation . Hope this helps others to decide .

 

PICS???

 

Yes pictures!!

 

And did you get a separate amp for the other speakers?

 

I did all 6 and some noise cancelling material in speaker ports and doors.
I’m willing to spend more money for more volume.
People with amps speak up.

 

I have an amp and it’s worth it

I’m an installer and do tons of amps and they’re worth it

Most 6x9’s won’t produce good bass in a door panel. Especially these CS series, and ESPECIALLY from the factory head unit power. They’re just not made for it, and it’s just not strong enough. Single digit watts per channel.

They Kicker Key is the best budget-friendly, easy install amp you can do for this setup. The 40 band auto-EQ makes up for the factory radio’s shortcomings. It has plenty of power to drive these speakers very loud and very clean.

I personally can’t have a system without a sub. Whether it’s my tv setup at home or my commute in the truck, I need a sub. I’m not a bass head, I don’t listen to much rap, but I like my volume, I like my clarity, and I like to feel the bass guitar in Red Hot Chili Peppers and I like to feel the kick drum in Metallica.

For some, the hideaway is perfect. Cheap, easy to install, and rounds out the system. For myself, a 12” shallow sub and 400-500w of power is enough. Can hit low but stay tight and clean. Has the volume I want without being heard in the car next to me.

Others won’t be satisfied with anything less than two 12” subs in a ported box and 1200+ watts of power. I install that system all the time and it’s fine for those who want it.

Long story short, if you turn the radio up and hear distortion, it’s because the radio is out of juice and can’t push any harder. You need an amp.
If you are fine with your volume and clarity but find songs don’t just get you in the mood, and you can’t feel the music (both physically and mentally) then you need a sub.
I think everybody needs both.
The longer you’re in your truck, the louder you want to play, and the cleaner you want it to sound, the more money you want to spend.

 

I'm waiting for an LS2 sound processor. Then I will post picks of all my parts and my install plan.

 

K Sorry for the delay, hear is my build. I went with the Subaru tweeters no pic it was hard to get a pic with them in . The doors kicker CS series 6x9 in the front and the 6 3/4 in the back . for the sub I went with a JL audio 8" sub got it used for 140 bucks on offer up . the amp I already had alpine 450w mono amp pushing at 220w at 4homs .Plenty of power to run that sub since the max u need is 250w figure under power it a little bit to extend the life of the sub .Don't get me wrong with only 220w that little sub is a ear full lol .So I had a local shop install the amp kit and the amp at first hated the way they mounted the amp in the back so I decided to build my own rack . I bought a piece of pine at Lowes had them cut it to my spec. Wish I had measured it better … lol .. I bought a perforated piece of steel to mount the board to. So there is 2 screws on top that hold the plastic box in place, my original thought was to use the steel bar and mount it to those by using longer screws . Well since I cut the piece of wood a bit larger than what was required it didn't line up very well .So I improvised I got 2 L shaped mounting brackets mounted those first to the screws holding the box then I mounted those to the metal bracket .At the end it worked out better . I posted a pic of the material I used to build the amp rack if anyone else is interested to make one cost me around 25 bucks to build it . So System is done time to move on to off road stuff … lol its never ending …

 

I painted the speaker grills on the doors and tweeter grills as well with chrome colour paint to make them stand out a bit.

 

Thanks for sharing the system!!

 

I was going to originally but after talking to the installer recommended that I get a sub for what I was looking for in sound . He said with amp to the kickers it would just clean them up and make them louder would not increase my bass .For what I was looking to accomplish it would not happen with just amplifying the speakers . I'm glad I did the sub it makes for that perfect sound now I love it .