Newbie here.. lookin to upgrade the sound in my Ranger

[daweinah]

Hey guys.. tax return came and its time to improve the sound in my truck. I've been wanting to do it for a long time and it's about time it finally got done.

Budget: $500 tops, prefer nearer 300, but it looks like its gonna cost at least that just for the sub box.

I currently have the stock head unit and front speakers, but the back ones I replaced with some old 6.5" 3-ways I got from a friend a couple years ago. The tweeters are starting to get scratchy and it sounds like the large speakers aren't working either, because they produce no discernible bass sound. They're both in boxes sitting behind my seats. I also have a small amp sitting in my parents garage, I can't remember the name or stats of it.. but its at least something.

So, I'd like to replace the head unit and front speakers, add a sub and hook up the amp to it, and get rid of the 3-ways - but I don't know where to start.

For the head unit (radio, cd player, reciever, whats the real name for this piece?) I want it to have three main things: iPod input, HD Radio, and .mp3 compatibility. My pick: Jensen HD5212

For the speakers, I'm thinking some component speakers in the front doors. But I have a question.. there seems to be a difference between between front door speakers and kicker panel speakers. I'm guessing front door speakers would be a single speaker that would fit right where the factory ones are now, but the component has an extra tweeter that has to be custom mounted someplace else. And what are kicker panels? Is that something I mount onto the door panel that has a spot for the component tweeter to be mounted? My picks: Kenwood KFC-C6882ie, Infinity Reference 6822cf, Pioneer TS-A6872R], Sony GT5725A

Lastly, the sub. I don't care to have two 12s blowing me out of my seat, a single 8 or 10" would be fine. And since I just have a small amp, it'll be easier to power that way. My picks: MTX ThunderForms — Unloaded Single 10" + Pioneer TS-W252R, MTX ThunderForms Loaded Single 10"

Do you guys have any recommendations as far as parts I should look into, or any general corrections to the assumptions I've made about the way this stuff all fits together?

Click to read more...

 

[bsean63 10+ year member]

budget??

 

[benchambers80]

Do you want component speakers or coaxials for ease of install

 

[benchambers80]

get the name of the amp, that will help us help you decide if its worth a crap for using or not.

 

[benchambers80]

pass on that jensen, you can pick up an alpine or pioneer for that price.

 

[benchambers80]

kicker panels are like little boxes built into the small plastic peice that coves the area around where your feet rest.

 

[benchambers80]

ditch the speakers in the back. If you dont want to remove them just dont connect them.

 

[benchambers80]

post your budget or else this has hit a dead end.

 

[zierbox 10+ year member]

Stay away from the JENSEN !

Diffidently go with separates in the front (even cheap ones,OK)

Spend the money on the front speakers, not the back

One 8” or 10” good, custom Box; no Pre-Fab

 

[daweinah]

Ok, budget is about 3-500 bucks. I prefer closer to the 300 end of course

I do plan on ditching the rear speakers. Won't be any room in my single cab truck for anything in the back (see above pic).

The Jensen HU was the only one that came up on search and fit the three criteria I'm looking. But I didn't include optional HD or optional iPod connection.. wtf is "optional"? I want it to be there!

Kicker panels are pretty expensive, so I think I'll skip on them and thus no component speakers either. I'll save that for round 2. That means regular 2 or 3way speakers that can replace the factory ones in the front door panels.

Hope that helps //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif And I'll get info on the amp as soon as I stop by my parents place

 

[bad @SS chevy 10+ year member]

CHeck out my forsale thread

Ill sell you my set of Alpine type r speakers

6 1/2 comps

6x9's

155shipped for both pairs.

 

[daweinah]

Those speakers don't fit in my truck //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[daweinah]

I've been doing some more research on head units and I think I've narrowed it down to the JVC KD-HDR30 ... but of course its out of stock.

I have one big question left.. what's the cheapest way to get HD radio and iPod hookup? Built in HD + optional iPod, or built in iPod + optional HD?

Built-in HD Radio choices...

The HDR30 has a front aux input, so can I just plug my iPod straight into that? I'm not sure what kind of cable to use though.. some kind of male/male headphone jack type cable?

The JVC KD-HDR1, on the other hand, doesn't have the front aux input, so I'd have to run a cable from the back and down around to my center console or something, and in that case do I have to buy BOTH the JVC KS-PD100 adapter and then PAC iPod Adapter for JVC cable?

Built-in iPod choices...

JVC KD-PDR40 and JVC KD-PDR50. The only difference seems to be that the 50 has 2 preamp outputs, which I would need(?) if I wanted to hook up a sub.

Crap.. I just noticed those two don't have optional HD Radio. That means I'd have to get the much more expensive JVC KD-PDR80 AND then $120 JVC KT-HD300?

Thanks for any help!

 

[craigzter 10+ year member]

i got a mint alpine cda-9826 mp3/cd-r just your basic unit, for sale...and i also have a couple 15s sitting around, they dont require alot of space..but you got a ranger o.0...

g/l man!

 

[daweinah]

I think I've made my decision: JVC KD-HDR1 + JVC KS-PD100 playing through Infinity Reference 6822cf.

I don't think the front aux input and 5V preamp outputs are worth $50 to justify getting the KD-AHD39. This is the first system I'm building so I don't need much more than the basic models. The HDR1 has a 2V subwoofer output, so I'll be able to expand in the future if I decide I need more bass.

This is a comparison of all the speakers I'm looking at. The Infinitys dominate every category, except they have the worst low frequency response, which means I'm going to get the least bass out of them, which stinks. However, I noticed its the only with with 2ohm impedance, which I think will be a large factor for me since I won't be driving them with an amp - that means they'll be getting pushed alot harder than any of the other ones. Please correct me if I'm wrong //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif