Truck Audio the Long Way

I wanted to combine all of the audio posts I have in my build thread into a case study in how not to do the audio in a vehicle, and hopefully get people on the right track. Before I start moving over posts, I want to list out a few things that I have learned:

1. Don't follow group think. Just because something is popular in a web forum, doesn't mean it will be right for you.
2. Have a solid idea/concept. Ask yourself the following question
   - What is my goal - loud? clear?
   - How much do I want to spend to get to my goal line
   - How much will I have to spend to get to my goal line
3. Do as much research on your ultimate goal as you can before pulling the trigger on materials.

This thread is going to cover all of the revision up to the end point. Over the ownership of this particular truck, the audio has been ever-evolving.....

For timeline context, I purchased this truck on Dec 31, 2017......

 

Rev. 1 Just changing speakers

I joined this forum like the day I bought the truck, and right away started looking into audio ideas. I found the $250 audio upgrade thread and fell into the group think... However, I had drivers on hand from my Tundra and after many conversations with Mr. Marv, decided to go a different route.

These drivers didn't last long. While they did indeed improve the sound on the dash, I was still wanting something more.

 

Rev 1 (cont)

At this point, I had decided to shoot the works, but I still had no defined plan/goal on what I was looking for.

 

Rev 1 (cont)

Here I began to start noise/vibration abatement. The OEM head unit did a good job pushing the Kickers, but they are still mediocre speakers.

 

I'm doing the same ony 2000 regular cab prerunner. Put in new head unit and purchased some nice 6.5" coaxials for front door, might get a nice 2 channel amp and drive them properly since they will be my main output for sound in the truck. I'm going to be applying some sound treatments to ex/into door panels for proper resonance control to help get the most out my speakers. I do wish I had room for a sub of some kind, but being over 6 ft tall, and not wanting to cut out the jack accessories on back wall too badly.

 

Rev 1 (cont)
Jan 16-17, 2018

 

Rev 2 - Adding the amp and sub

When I first started the project, I was going on the premise that just changing the speakers out would be fine. Then of course I remembered how great my last truck sounded (PPI 3-way front stage with the JL Sub all powered by and NVX JAD900.5) and had decided that well, I need more.....

Getting a box from @Mr.Marv is like getting a gift on Christmas morning, and knowing it's exactly what you asked for. You know what I'm talking about. For the interest of space, I'm going to keep each month in one post.

 

Rev 2 (cont)

Here I get into the wiring as well as properly setting the gains using a pocket O-Scope. Mr. Marv and this web forum provided excellent instruction on how to utilize the OEM speaker wires etc by creating a speedwire harness. Hindsight being 2020, I should have used two sections of speedwire instead of speaker wire for the return trip up to the head unit.

 

Rev 3 - Changed out subwoofer

For some reason or another, I got it in my head that I wanted a new subwoofer. I came up with a few excuses to justify it to myself.

 

Rev 3 - speaker swap out - front

Uh Oh. Here is the indicator of me starting to go down the rabbit hole.

 

Rev 4 - speaker swap out - rear

I did this to match drivers front/rear. I didn't really need to and it was a waste honestly. These speakers ended up in my son's car.

 

Rev 5 - new head unit and new wiring

Phew. That was all in one year, 2018. Now to 2019! I kicked it off by buying a new head unit!

This is quite possibly the best item anyone can buy when doing amp installs.

 

Rev 6 - swap out of dash tweeters to widebands

I swapped out to widebands because I wanted to expand the sound a bit on the low end reflecting off the windshield. There is a startling revelation that maybe I just didn't know what I wanted to do.....

 

Rev 7 - add adjustable passive crossovers

Ah the money I have spent on stupid shit..... I never went this route, and decided it was dumb. I never installed the Kove speakers either.

 

Rev 8 - new amp

Some of this is my own fault, some of this is the 3rd brakelight's fault, but most of it was me wanting to try something else....

And then this happened.

 

Interlude: house keeping

Over this time period I started to take more of interest in car audio install cleanliness, and decided while I had the time I would do a little clean-up.

And then, oh poop......

 

Disaster Strikes AGAIN!!!!!

 

Rev 9 - add DSP

DSPs are a whole different animal. I had been avoiding going active for so long, and decided to just do it.

The Dayton Audio DSP had a very awful ground loop issue that would not be solved, so I returned it.

 

Rev 10 - add JL 12TW3 and tuning

 

Rev 11 - swap back to Morel Tempo Ultra tweeters