2012 Ram 1500 Build

[adamwsmith1980]

Hey Guys,

Need some advice on my build. I just traded in my 2003 ram with the infinity sound system. For a stock system in a truck, it wasn't really all that bad. It had tweeters up in the dash and the door speakers bumped. I just got a 2012 ram 1500 Big Horn and the stereo *****.

Here is what i want. I'd like to keep my budget under $1K and have a system that is better than my 2003 ram infinity stock system. I'd like a little bit better bass, but not sure if thats possible without getting a sub.

Head Unit:

I have seen a lot of pics of the aftermarket HU installed and i hate how they look. I don't like the fact that they all have the two pieces of plastic on each side of the HU to fill the void. I found this and have heard decent reviews. The power output *****, so the solution is to just amp the speakers right? I love how this has an OEM fit to it. I could care less about name brand and would rather the stereo look like its supposed to be there as long as it doesn't drastically kill the ability to have a good sounding system

RAM 1500 2500 3500 Aftermarket GPS Navigation Car Stereo (2007-2012)

Here are a couple questions:

1. Does anyone know if i can swap out the 3.5" speakers in the dash and put tweeters from a component speaker up there? I have heard of some guys putting a 6.5 component in the door to replace the 6x9 but never heard of anyone putting the tweeters where the 3.5" speakers are. I don't want to cut a hole up where the windshield meets the door where most people put them.

2. Is it possible to get a better sounding system than my 2003 with just new speakers and an amp? I don't need major bass, but i want to feel it a little. If i can achieve this without a sub great, if not then i am thinking 1 10" sub.

Obviously i am basing everything off of my 2003 ram, which like i said was a decent stock system. I'd like to improve on that and call it good. No point in putting in 2 12' in the back and a $1000 HU. I want good sound, but not willing to break the bank to do it. Any and all input is greatly appreciated!

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[C1500martin 10+ year member]

Your install will make or break your system. Good deadened doors make a night and day difference in midbass. If you didnt have a sub before you didnt have bass. You NEED a sub in order to have bass. Mids dont play that low. If on the dash there are 3.5" speakers yes you just make a little bracket of some sort to mount the tweeters so they reflect off the windshield im assuming is where they will be. With $1k you can deff get a nice component set, quality amp and deadener. A nice little 8" sub in a ported box might even do the trick for you. And it can probably all be had for around 1k.

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

Dodge RAM Quad Cab 2002 Up Sin 10" Passenger Side Subwoofer Sub Enclosure Box | eBay

Boston Acoustics G310 44 10" 375 Watt RMS Dual 4 Ohm G3 Series Car Subwoofer Sub 690283478834 | eBay

Precision Power P900 5 900 Watts 5 Channel Class D Full Range Car Amplifier New | eBay

4 Kicker Speaker Upgrade Set 2007 2014 Dodge Chrysler Vehicles 77KICK28AB | eBay

Alpine SPS 619 Type s 6"x9" Coaxial Car Speakers 3 Way SPS619 Brand New 793276601612 | eBay

Stinger Sound Quest 0 AWG Gauge Complete Car Amplifier Installation Kit 0g Amp | eBay

Audiocontrol*lc6i 6 Channel Line Output Converter with Internal Summing New | eBay

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

Hey Guys,Hope my above post helps you.

Need some advice on my build. I just traded in my 2003 ram with the infinity sound system. For a stock system in a truck, it wasn't really all that bad. It had tweeters up in the dash and the door speakers bumped. I just got a 2012 ram 1500 Big Horn and the stereo *****.

Here is what i want. I'd like to keep my budget under $1K and have a system that is better than my 2003 ram infinity stock system. I'd like a little bit better bass, but not sure if thats possible without getting a sub.

Head Unit:

I have seen a lot of pics of the aftermarket HU installed and i hate how they look. I don't like the fact that they all have the two pieces of plastic on each side of the HU to fill the void. I found this and have heard decent reviews. The power output *****, so the solution is to just amp the speakers right? I love how this has an OEM fit to it. I could care less about name brand and would rather the stereo look like its supposed to be there as long as it doesn't drastically kill the ability to have a good sounding system

RAM 1500 2500 3500 Aftermarket GPS Navigation Car Stereo (2007-2012)

Here are a couple questions:

1. Does anyone know if i can swap out the 3.5" speakers in the dash and put tweeters from a component speaker up there? I have heard of some guys putting a 6.5 component in the door to replace the 6x9 but never heard of anyone putting the tweeters where the 3.5" speakers are. I don't want to cut a hole up where the windshield meets the door where most people put them.

2. Is it possible to get a better sounding system than my 2003 with just new speakers and an amp? I don't need major bass, but i want to feel it a little. If i can achieve this without a sub great, if not then i am thinking 1 10" sub.

Obviously i am basing everything off of my 2003 ram, which like i said was a decent stock system. I'd like to improve on that and call it good. No point in putting in 2 12' in the back and a $1000 HU. I want good sound, but not willing to break the bank to do it. Any and all input is greatly appreciated!

Hope my above post helps

 

[adamwsmith1980]

Yes i agree i didn't have bass before, by true bass definitions. Im wondering if what i had is as good as it gets without a sub. If i go with a sub, do i need to deaden the doors?

 

[adamwsmith1980]

Dodge RAM Quad Cab 2002 Up Sin 10" Passenger Side Subwoofer Sub Enclosure Box | eBay
Boston Acoustics G310 44 10" 375 Watt RMS Dual 4 Ohm G3 Series Car Subwoofer Sub 690283478834 | eBay

Precision Power P900 5 900 Watts 5 Channel Class D Full Range Car Amplifier New | eBay

4 Kicker Speaker Upgrade Set 2007 2014 Dodge Chrysler Vehicles 77KICK28AB | eBay

Alpine SPS 619 Type s 6"x9" Coaxial Car Speakers 3 Way SPS619 Brand New 793276601612 | eBay

Stinger Sound Quest 0 AWG Gauge Complete Car Amplifier Installation Kit 0g Amp | eBay

Audiocontrol*lc6i 6 Channel Line Output Converter with Internal Summing New | eBay

Yes it was helpful thank you for taking the time to post all that! I am a noob somewhat so i don't necessarily know what amp and how much power etc. I'm wondering if i need component speakers of i just replace all the speakers with better aftermarket.

 

---------- Post added at 04:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:25 PM ----------

 

Any thoughts on that head unit and whether it will affect overall sound? And, anybody know if there are any other head units out there that fit a 2012 ram without those two dumb plastic spacers on the sides?

 

[adamwsmith1980]

Audiocontrol*lc6i 6 Channel Line Output Converter with Internal Summing New | eBay

What purpose does this serve?

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

Thats for keeping your factory head unit. Sorry didn't see that head unit in the original post. Those head units are really hit or miss. Find someone who has bought one and tried it out. Has to be someone on the ram boards. Replacing the front 6x9's is difficult as you don't have much mounting depth. The kicker upgrades are not bad options and sound pretty dang good. The inner skin of your door is a solid abs plastic piece. With the kicker upgrade speakers they sound quite nice without deadening them. In the factory location, modified to fit the kickers sounded better than my jl's or my focals. And to mount the jl's and focals I had to whip out my dremel.

 

[adamwsmith1980]

Thats for keeping your factory head unit. Sorry didn't see that head unit in the original post. Those head units are really hit or miss. Find someone who has bought one and tried it out. Has to be someone on the ram boards. Replacing the front 6x9's is difficult as you don't have much mounting depth. The kicker upgrades are not bad options and sound pretty dang good. The inner skin of your door is a solid abs plastic piece. With the kicker upgrade speakers they sound quite nice without deadening them. In the factory location, modified to fit the kickers sounded better than my jl's or my focals. And to mount the jl's and focals I had to whip out my dremel.

Yes there are some threads on the HU i posted, but nobody has done a full system upgrade to include amp and sub with it that ive found. They were just replacing the HU. Im limited on my stereo knowledge, but my understanding is that if the amp is powering everything, the HU is just sending the signal and doesn't really affect sound quality. The amp and speakers will determine that mainly.

Those kickers you posted don't have a tweeter right? That makes them a 2way correct? Would i be able to tell a noticeable difference if i put in a component speaker and put the tweeter up in the dash vs the kicker replacements you mentioned or something similar to them?

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

That kicker is a 6x9 and matching tweeter in a housing meant to just bolt into the front dash speaker spot

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

That head unit looks decent. If someone has not had an issue with sound quality then you should be allright.

 

[adamwsmith1980]

Hey guys. Got all my gear now i have a couple questions.

1. To wire my 4 ohm speakers, i just connect the positive on the speaker to the positive on the amp and the same with the negative and do that for each of the 4 channels correct?

2. The sub i got is the Infinity 100.9 and it has the ability to select 2 or 4ohm. If i wanted to run it at 2 ohm, how would i wire it? The sub is rated at 375RMS, and my amp is rated 440 at 2 ohm, and 270 at 4 ohm. Would you recommend 2 or 4ohm? If i run at 2ohm i obviously need to turn the gains down.

3. My amp is the precision power 900.5. It has a switch to run ST (Stereo) or 4ch. The manual states: "ST allows the front, rear, and subwoofer channels to receive signal from only the front RCA inputs and 4CH allows for independant front and rear RCA inputs and the subwoofer signal is taken from the rear channel input." I am assuming ST will limit my ability to fade front and rear? I have 3 sets of RCA's so i have no problem just running for front, rear and sub, just wasn't sure exactly the difference.

4. I am holding off on the head unit for a month or so and am going to put in a Line Out Converter by taping into the speaker wire at the back of the deck. The line converter i bought has one set of RCA's for a sub. My guess is by using this i will only be able to add a sub to my current system but not power my new speakers from the amp? I would need a line output converter that has front, back, and sub RCA outputs right?

5. My amp manual shows a big drop in output if im only running 12.0V vs 14.4V. This is the power coming from the battery correct? Is the best way to test that by going to the auto part store and having them throw a volt meter on it?

I think thats it!! Looking forward to getting all this set up!

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

The line out converter should be able to tap a full range signal. So you could run the whole system off the rear inputs on the 5 channel. What LOC did you get? The sub should have a switch or in the manual it will show a jumper that you connect for 2 ohm operation. You should be getting around 14v at your amp, if your alternator is working you'll get decent voltage. Speakers hook up positive to positive, negative to negative.

 

[adamwsmith1980]

The line out converter should be able to tap a full range signal. So you could run the whole system off the rear inputs on the 5 channel. What LOC did you get? The sub should have a switch or in the manual it will show a jumper that you connect for 2 ohm operation. You should be getting around 14v at your amp, if your alternator is working you'll get decent voltage. Speakers hook up positive to positive, negative to negative.

So there is no advantage to running the amp on 4CH vs ST? I just picked up a LOC from Best Buy that has 2 ground wires, and then 4 other wires for connecting to the speakers. Its a small LOC. Not as big as the one you posted from ebay.

The Precision amp came with very minimal instructions and im a novice when it comes to these. There is nothing in the 2 page manual about how to run the amp at 2 or 4 ohm.