Help Choosing System For Dodge Dakota

[drew_james]

Help choosing sound system for Dodge Dakota wanted please!!!

I will try and keep it as short and basic as I can from what I know (I would consider myself still a beginner to car audio and SQ) and what I want in a stereo system...

Trying to accomplish: Short of it, I have Event Tr-5 entry level studio monitors for bedroom speakers (lol) and I absolutely love the sound...they can get pretty loud at 100 watts/each. They might not be the best audiophile speakers but to me they sound great. If I could get as close to getting that "type" of sound in my truck, that would make me very happy.

Music I listen to: Jack Johnson, Mumford & Son, Chevelle, Tool, Bob Marley, White Stripes..... Blue grass, Indie Rock, acoustic folk, Rock, reggae, some hip-hop, some country...You get the gist, very open and I like detailed/clear/ but loud music.

Truck: 2002 Dodge Dakota 4 Door

What I have now:

-Head Unit: Alpine CDE102

-Front Speakers: 6.5" Alpine SPR-17C (coaxial 100 RMS Per Speaker)

-Rear Speakers: 6.5" Stock crappy ones from Chrysler...

-Bass/Sub: None yet

-Amps: None yet

My Original Plan: Get a Alpine MRX-V60 5 channel amp , speakers for the rear, and a shallow sub box that goes behind the rear seat with a shallow 10" sub.

After thoughts: The Alpine speakers I got require 100 RMS and the 5 channel Alpine amp is 50x4 and 200x1.

My new thoughts:

-Move Alpine speakers to rear

-Get components for the front (There seems to be a place to mount tweeters in the sail panel on the dodge)

-Get a 4 channel amp and add a mono amp later when getting the sub (or) Stick with the 5 channel amp idea.

-Seal the doors and prep them with Second Skin products in attempt to get better sound from the speakers.

-Use MDF baffles to connect the speakers to the door instead of plastic ones.

-Someone online makes a sub box for a 10" that will fit behind the rear seat in the Dakota Crew Cab and this is what I want to use for the sub.

I guess a budget would help too:

Head unit: If I absolutely have to get a new head unit, I guess I could.

Components For Front: $150

Amp(s): $325

Damping and Acoustical treatment: $125

Of course not sure if this is feasible.

1) Throw anything out the that could help me....Please steer me in the right direction if possible.

2) I guess if I had to start from scratch I could try and sell the alpine speakers at that.

3) I dont mind spending a little more $$ if I can get the sound that I am searching for. If It does not sound good and loud enough (please see studio monitor reference above), then this whole thing would be a waste of time and money. That's where you come in....

4) I am not stuck on the Alpine 5 channel.... Just thought it was a great deal at $250.

5) I have never heard a good sounding car system before... I wasn't sure if 50x4 RMS for the speakers would be enough or if I would need more??

It took me 20 minutes to write this thread so any help is appreciated

Click to read more...

 

[dirtyunclerandy 10+ year member]

Look into a nice set of components for the front, CDT, Image Dynamics or Boston Accoustics. As for an amp, I would recommend a two amp set-up with at least 75-100 watts going to each of your components. How much bass do you want?

 

[UnderFire 10+ year member]

I'm working on the same truck.

I would recommend moving the Alpine Coaxs and going with a component set. The tweeter install is very easy, the factory door panels have a marked cut-out on the sail panel area for a tweeter, makes the install super easy.

For the sub, it sounds like you want pure SQ way more than loud thumping bass... You should check out the Elemental Designs 3.8 subs, on sale for 40$ right now since they are closeouts. Rated at 200, you would need the D2.

Elemental Designs: Car Stereo, Home Speakers, Electronics

The speakers should sound fine off of 50W per channel, you aren't going to have enough sub to need 400W on the highs.

Do seal the doors with deadner, and do make MDF baffles for the doors.

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

i can help if you wanna buy all new. you can ask around ,i am a cdt dealer with great prices too.but i also sell other companies equipment too. i can get almost anything from any manufacturer