Seeking Advice on Upgrading Truck Sound System

[Thresher61]

Hello everyone,
This is my first post so please bear with me and forgive me if posted in wrong area. Gonna be a long message you need to know everything, plz be patient I really need help.
1st off I’m 63 years old into 3rd month of retirement, it sucks, not enough money to put into my hobbies, I’m not used to having to shop around for cheapest price, going ba k to work for while longer anyways.
I just bought before retiring a:
2024 Ram Laramie 2500 4x4 6.7 mega cab w/9-aloine speaker system in it. 3- 3.5” dash speakers, 2-3.5” speakers in headliner in rear, 1-6x9 speaker in each door, I’m going back with all speakers period, plus maybe add 2” tweeters in sail panels in front, and 12” sub rear. I started upgrading outside bumper on front working on wheels tires yadda yadda. I love my music 70’s rock loud and clear concert style, bad ears to prove it. So I got this idea I want better music sound so I’ll swap out my speakers, I got them ordered and received them few days later, wife helped me research and felt depressed upon discovering there ain’t no just swapping speakers out least in this truck, I was floored after spending a solid week or researching what all it takes to swap out speakers, do factory amp bypass, add 1” tweeters in front sail panels & add 1-12” sub in back under seats. Wholly crap I’m still trying to make sense of it. I just shipped speakers bank 2-weeks ago, after couple months of trying to make a list of all the parts, wholly crap what a list, now I’m highly mechanically inclined hv a great shop make all kinds of things and town go to guy. Building a racing tube frame 2-seat buggy in garage now. So after spending last 2-months and well over 150 hours researching getting ahold of companies to help me, found alot don’t want to mess with you only want the money. I got the 2- PAC harnesses needed to keep all controls and bypass amp, I believe I hv the right speakers picked out in my price range, tell us at end of post. But now I’m at the point of I don’t know Megan it is fir or why I need it but Crutchfield & Sonic Electronics said I need it also and it’s a DSP digital signal processor, never knew they existed, rams stereo system is so fragile and wired goofy that I need the DSP to mailing tain music sound quality using factory speaker wiring. So joined a ram forum everyone said I need bla bla and looked it up and it was 1,800.00 way over my budget, looking at used ones now like to find it under 300.00 but not going to 400.00 better but think I’m going to hv to spend 500.00, told I need it to hv, please let me know if these things are needed:
BT, user friendly software, least 13+ equalizer channels, phase adj. delay, but main thing I need a 10-channel in & 10-channel out DSP. I hv found a few just under 500, I need help with finding or what DSP to buy and channels, tuning it lol funny yea right, lol. Someone said I can get by with a 6-8 channel DSP, but if I hv 9 speakers 10 including sub where are all the wires going from speakers to DSP, I know going to ry the PAC harnesses but seems to me I’m short some channels, I’m not a audio guru as you can tell, just totally lost and don’t want to get taken advantage of when I go to buy a DSP, ya know, I will post another shorter text on amps but gotta take one step at a time and I’m up to my DSP, then I’ll move on to amps.
CAN ANYONE OUT THERE please please, help me with figuring out the DSP channels I need? I tried to make this as short as possible. I will post my speaker selection in the post with amp questions so it won’t be so long. I hv to watch my money I only get 1 time a month. Any help so greatly appreciated wished I was smarter at audio but I’m just not, or wished there was someone close to me that knew. At audio id pay them 40.00 a hour to help figure this out and help them install it all. Thank you in advance I appreciate anyone’s help
Steve

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[Doxquzme Premium Member]

I can help.

Is this the infotainment system from Harman-Kardon that has the 12", 8.4", or the non-HK w/the 5" screen?

 

[Doxquzme Premium Member]

Nevermind, checked, and it appears that the 9-speaker system is an Alpine setup.

Before we jump into the whole DSP debacle, and forgive me, but the post is SOOOOO long, just want to clarify what's what at this point.

What speakers do you currently still possess (make, size, and models)?
What amplifier(s) do you currently have (make and models)?"
Is your preferred genre still 60s/70s?
Which PAC/Line out converter(s) do you have?

What is your skill level for installation - ie, if there is a factory hole and even if I get the grills off and the screws line up, I'm in tgrouble or I've done fiberglass fabrication and used to work in an audio shop as an installer?

 

[Old_Slapper]

I posted on your other post, but I will post more details here, in case you decide to install it all yourself.

First off, my understanding is, you wish to replace all of your speakers and bypass your factory amp with an aftermarket one. Will you be getting a 10-channel amp, where each speaker has it's own output, or a 5-channel amp, where you have front, rear, and sub channels? What is your overall budget?

Here are my thoughts, depending on your budget:

• 6-channel DSP with 6-channel high level inputs. You won't need extra lineout convertors.
• Replace all 6x9's with 3-way 6x9 component speakers. You end up with 4-6x9's, 4-3.5's, and 4-tweeters. Yes, that's a total of 12 speakers. You will also get 4 crossovers, 1 for each set.
• 1-3" speaker for the center channel. This speaker is really not needed if you get the above 6x9 setup. The tweeters can go into the center channel location.
• One 4-channel amp for 6x9 components.
• One very low wattage mono amp for the 3" center channel speaker, if you keep the center channel.
• One mono amp for the Sub.

This system will rock pretty hard with this setup. Make sure to sound deaden your doors.

The DSP and amps will hook up like this:

• 1 channel, each, will go to a 6x9 3-way component set. Totally 4 channels and will run off the 4-channel amp.
• 1 channel will go to the center speaker and will be run by a mono amp. The least wattage ones I have ever seen are the 100 watt Fosgate marine mono amps, but they come in pairs. Use one and sell the other, I guess.
• the 6th channel will run a mono amp for the sub.
• Total channels used, for all amps, will be 6.

 

[Thresher61]

I can help.

Is this the infotainment system from Harman-Kardon that has the 12", 8.4", or the non-HK w/the 5" screen?

Thank you I think I figured out another route I do appreciate your help and may need it befire it’s over yet lol thanks

 

[Thresher61]

I want to thank everyone for all your inputs & help I am just hoping this posts where everyone can read it, I’m totally new here and kinda lost on where to put things or do things. If everyone. An read this I’m going a total different way with this speaker thing, I don’t really feel I need 9 speakers besides a concert is in front of me not behind me I was thinking right, right agreeing with myself lol. So I am going to go with new company as far as I’m concerned it’s new but I’m putting All In One 3” mb3.e speakers in each corner of I’m dash, putting 8” in each front door, using OEM speaker in back just for anyone sitting bank there I won’t hear them in front and leaving overhead OEM won’t hear them either, running a Marty Digital 8 BTX8 DSP(not top of the line but will do the job I need and value packed price I love),& VA22008v2 amp, so far going a/CR Sounds 12” sub I don’t need cars 5 up hearing me lol, let me know your thoughts on the way I’m doing this, front speaker is shallow mount and will get speaker in door just takes little elbow grease but putting some rubber mating inside door and behind door panel.
I cannot stress enough how greatful I am that so many folks responded thank yiuv

 

[1aespinoza Premium Member]

Thank you I think I figured out another route I do appreciate your help and may need it befire it’s over yet lol thanks

There is a simpler route. Using the signal from the front doors, use a 2 channel LOC, a 2 channel amp, a mono amp, and a sub. We did this in a nephew's 24 Ram with the UConnect radio.

 

[supernov4]

BTX 8

VARIATIONS: | DSP PROCESSOR 8 WAYS BLUETOOTH SPECIFICATIONS: Inputs 4 Type Electron symmetry Connectors RCA Input level max 4.00 vrms (+14dbu) Input Impedance 100kohm Outputs 8 Type Electron symmetry Connectors RCA Output level max 3.50 Vrms (+13dBu) Output 100 ohm DSP Frequency Réponse 10Hz...

www.digitalmarts.com.br

Be sure you don't exceed the 4v input sensitivity on the dsp

 

[Doxquzme Premium Member]

I want to thank everyone for all your inputs & help I am just hoping this posts where everyone can read it, I’m totally new here and kinda lost on where to put things or do things. If everyone. An read this I’m going a total different way with this speaker thing, I don’t really feel I need 9 speakers besides a concert is in front of me not behind me I was thinking right, right agreeing with myself lol. So I am going to go with new company as far as I’m concerned it’s new but I’m putting All In One 3” mb3.e speakers in each corner of I’m dash, putting 8” in each front door, using OEM speaker in back just for anyone sitting bank there I won’t hear them in front and leaving overhead OEM won’t hear them either, running a Marty Digital 8 BTX8 DSP(not top of the line but will do the job I need and value packed price I love),& VA22008v2 amp, so far going a/CR Sounds 12” sub I don’t need cars 5 up hearing me lol, let me know your thoughts on the way I’m doing this, front speaker is shallow mount and will get speaker in door just takes little elbow grease but putting some rubber mating inside door and behind door panel.
I cannot stress enough how greatful I am that so many folks responded thank yiuv

Keep in mind that a good 6"x9" is the same or has slightly more cone area than your average 8" driver. If you already have the opening for 6x9s, use them!

Some very good models out there from CDT, Audiofrog, SkyHigh, Audison, Hybrid Audio, just to name a few. Probably the best bang for the buck in an IB installation, such as your doors, the CDT ES-0690 Gold at around $25.00 a pair are very good for their sound quality and midbass output.

I would go fully active, skip the Martz (poor S/N and noise floor), and get something like the Hertz S8 DSP, or this guy at about $280.00, much cleaner output.

Down4Sound EZY DSP68+ All-in-One Hi/Low Level DSP 6-in-8 Out

The EZY DSP68+ is your ultimate car audio solution, offering the Down4Sound difference with unmatched flexibility and performance. Whether you're upgrading a factory system or creating a custom setup, the EZY DSP68+ has you covered. With both high-level and low-level input capabilities, it...

www.mooncarstereo.com

Run something like these (a pair skip the center) in the dash, shooting straight up from around, crossed at 250Hz:

PNW-35 3.5" Car Audio Coaxial Speakers, 25W RMS (Pair)

AudioControl has over 45 years of experience engineering top-quality audio components. Buckle up and get ready to embark on a wild new auditory adventure with AudioControl’s PNW speakers! Experience the vibrant landscapes of the Pacific Northwest through your music when you combine...

audiocontrol.com

Run a good pair of 6x9" midwoofers in the door, crossed from 70-80 to 250-400hz, great front stage right there.

 

[Old_Slapper]

I want to thank everyone for all your inputs & help I am just hoping this posts where everyone can read it, I’m totally new here and kinda lost on where to put things or do things. If everyone. An read this I’m going a total different way with this speaker thing, I don’t really feel I need 9 speakers besides a concert is in front of me not behind me I was thinking right, right agreeing with myself lol. So I am going to go with new company as far as I’m concerned it’s new but I’m putting All In One 3” mb3.e speakers in each corner of I’m dash, putting 8” in each front door, using OEM speaker in back just for anyone sitting bank there I won’t hear them in front and leaving overhead OEM won’t hear them either, running a Marty Digital 8 BTX8 DSP(not top of the line but will do the job I need and value packed price I love),& VA22008v2 amp, so far going a/CR Sounds 12” sub I don’t need cars 5 up hearing me lol, let me know your thoughts on the way I’m doing this, front speaker is shallow mount and will get speaker in door just takes little elbow grease but putting some rubber mating inside door and behind door panel.
I cannot stress enough how greatful I am that so many folks responded thank yiuv

That is what I would lean towards, but in your original post, you sounded pretty adamant on replacing all of the speakers. The only thing I would question would be the 8" subs in the doors. Those don't do well with midrange. The 3" speakers are good for the upper hz, but not really good for anything below 300hz.