Help designing/selecting a system for 99 F150

[sbelew 10+ year member]

I am hoping to find some help with selecting a system for my truck. I have been reading for about the past 2 months, and it seems the more I read, the more informed I become about car audio, the harder it is becoming to choose what to buy. I've been through crutchfield, sonic electronix and several other sites, reading different forums and it is just becoming too confusing. Ive read about JL Audio, Kicker, Kenwood, Elemental Designs, etc and I just need some help. I want to say my budget is around $1000 but I dont want to be stuck there since I dont know if that is a realisitc number to get quality sound.

I want to install a new head unit, 4 door speakers, a sub and amp or amps. I've looked at the 5 channel amps and quality ones, (JL, Kicker) seem to be in the $550 range. It masy be cheaper to go with a 4 channel and a 1 or 2 channel amp. I know from reading the F150 websites that I am going to have to purchase a rear seat lift kit to get clearance for a sub, preferrably a 12" sealed I think, maybe a 10.

I have also been to local shops, they want to push Powerbass or Kicker or Sony and some dont even have the stuff setup to demo.

So any help, advice, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank You!

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[kr15 5,000+ posts]

I would do a mono and a 4ch if you wish to save money. For example, MBQ DSC 1000.1 and a DSC 4.80 can be had for about 250$ total, and are very solid amps. You can even add a MBQ reference sub for about 100$ and be at only 350 with an all MBQ setup that is pretty good. This will give you plenty of money for a GOOD box and GOOD wiring, which is often overlooked, but very important

 

[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

cd player - Kenwood Excelon KDC-X794 CD receiver at Crutchfield Signature

components - Eclipse SC8365 - 6-1/2" Component Speakers System - Sonic Electronix

subwoofer - RWE-302 - MB Quart 12" 1000 Watt Reference Series Subwoofer

amplifier - Crescendo Audio :: Amplifers :: 1000C4 4 Channel Amplfier

That'll do.

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

2 posts, 2 suggestions for an MBQ sub..

 

[ocdadhd]

eBay is your friend.

Pioneer DEH-P6600

Image Dynamics CX62cs v2

PPI Art A404

Sundown SA-12 d2 (ported & tuned)

PPI Art A600.2

Knukonceptz (big 3; 1/0)

eDead

 

[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

eBay is your friend.
Pioneer DEH-P6600

Image Dynamics CX62cs v2

PPI Art A404

Sundown SA-12 d2 (ported & tuned)

PPI Art A600.2

Knukonceptz (big 3; 1/0)

eDead

Amazing.

But seriously, where's dude going to get these PPI amps...in decent condition...for a reasonable price?

 

[ocdadhd]

Amazing.
But seriously, where's dude going to get these PPI amps...in decent condition...for a reasonable price?

That's my system, I bought everything on eBay & spent less than $900. The Pioneer, SA-12, Knu, & eDead were all brand new. The ID CX62 & PPI Arts were used in great shape.

You have to be patient & don't settle on anything less than what you want. It took me 6 months, but I did it.

6600 - $120

ID - $90

A404 - $80

SA-12 - $160

A600.2 - $190

Knu - $150

eDead - $60

 

[sbelew 10+ year member]

Wow guys, thanks! Ive gotten more help here in a hour than I have other sites in 2 months. Thank you all very much.

The MB Quart 1000 amp seems to be discontinued though. Any other suggestions?

I went to the Knukonceptz website, but found nothing on Big 3, can you offer more info?

Will that MB Quart sub work in a 1.0 cubic ft sealed box?

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

If you have an extended cab F150, don't do rear door speaker. Buy a good 2 channel and a good sub amp. Rear fill in an extended cab is unnecessary //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif. I had an 03 F150 fx4. Trust me, you want to hear your mids and highs from the front, and want your bass in the back. Do you use your back seat?

 

[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

That's my system, I bought everything on eBay & spent less than $900. The Pioneer, SA-12, Knu, & eDead were all brand new. The ID CX62 & PPI Arts were used in great shape.
You have to be patient & don't settle on anything less than what you want. It took me 6 months, but I did it.

6600 - $120

ID - $90

A404 - $80

SA-12 - $160

A600.2 - $190

Knu - $150

eDead - $60

I'm doing something similar myself. I'm going to use high quality old school amps. ZED made Hifonics amps for my front stage (American Warriors series) and a Zapco Z300C2 for a sub. It's taking forever, but that's my fault. I'm also going to have a lnib Earthquake PA-2075c, but I don't know if I'm going to use it for anything.

 

[sbelew 10+ year member]

Yes I do use the back seat to haul my 3yo, as well as groceries, etc. So you are saying DO NOT put speakers in the rear doors at all? not even the factory ones that are already in there?

 

[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

If you have an extended cab F150, don't do rear door speaker. Buy a good 2 channel and a good sub amp. Rear fill in an extended cab is unnecessary //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif. I had an 03 F150 fx4. Trust me, you want to hear your mids and highs from the front, and want your bass in the back. Do you use your back seat?

That's pretty much exactly what I recommended to the guy, man. Just one problem, your bass isn't supposed to sound as if it's coming from the back.

A 3-way front stage on 125 watts per side and a 500 watt subwoofer. One amp powering everything. This, in my opinion, is the simplest/most cost effective way to accomplish a decent sound system...

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

That's pretty much exactly what I recommended to the guy, man.
A 3-way front stage on 125 watts per side and a 500 watt subwoofer. One amp powering everything.

I didn't read what anyone else put, lol. I only had 60 watts per side and 1200w on the subs. 60 watts go plenty loud for me.

 

[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

Yes I do use the back seat to haul my 3yo, as well as groceries, etc. So you are saying DO NOT put speakers in the rear doors at all? not even the factory ones that are already in there?

Having rear speakers is personal preference. Some people dislike having rear speakers, while other people go out of their way to buy really nice equipment for rear fill.

You can always leave the stock speakers in the rear doors, or replace them with some decent coaxials powered by the cd player. Either way, I'd fade them almost completely out of the equation...

 

[sbelew 10+ year member]

Thanks for clarifying misfit, I took your post to mean use 2 sets of the Eclipse in front and rear doors.