Starter System

[Yota4WD 10+ year member]

Hey guys,

This past week I got an XM Radio hooked up in my '87 Toyota Pickup and am looking for a good stereo system to really bring it out. Right now I have an old Kenwood stereo (not even CD), 4" speakers in the front console, and like 5" Teacs in the back. It does good down low but there's no bass and if you want it loud you have to like distortion.

So, to replace it I'm looking for a good priced setup that will just get loud good (not looking for 130dB's) but get on up there and still sound good, but still provide good bass. Because of the small size, I'm stuck with keeping 4" in the front and for the back I'm going to go with 6"x9" in a truck-style box.

Here's the setup I'm looking at:

Radio- http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6981475&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat52600050035&id=1099388424999

Rear Speakers-

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2569445&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3947%3A96481%3A38981

Front Speakers-

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6195949&type=product&productCategoryId=cat03078&id=1067391222565

Rear Boxes-

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-PdBITcDH7Ms/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=178650&I=044QL69T&search=speaker+boxes

Is this a good setup. I don't know much at all about car audio and am just looking for some input. Is Pioneer a good brand? I'm looking for a good setup for under $350.

Thanks ahead of time for any help or replies.

Click to read more...

 

[turnstylez18 10+ year member]

i would just leave ur rear stock speakers and get a better hu or fronts...but seems good to me..

 

[Justinw303 10+ year member]

If you're going to get 6x9's, you don't really need the 4" rear speakers. I would either take them out completely, or replace them. Don't leave the stock ones in if you're going to upgrade everything else.

As for the gear you're looking at, I can't really comment because I don't have much experience with Pioneer.

 

[Yota4WD 10+ year member]

The Pioneer 6"x9"s are going in the rear, the 4" are the front in-dash mounts. I have no choice but to keep those 4", but as for the rear, that's where the 6x9's are headed in boxes. The speakers and radio that are in there now will all be gone.

 

[Yota4WD 10+ year member]

Anyone else? Any ideas or input on anything?

 

[mikescanlon 10+ year member]

that stuff is probably the best you can get for the price you're looking for, and it'll get plenty loud for a little truck like that.

leave some extra wire when you put the 6x9's so you can move the boxes around wehre you want em and where they sound good to you.

i have all pioneer, great stuff, Nice headunit you picked out too..

as for the locations you have for vendors.. you can do better prices on ebay... including shipping, unless you're weary about online purchasing.

let us know how everything turns out.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I'd ditch the 6x9's in boxes. I've never liked having that much rear fill...especially in a truck cab.

What about Boston Acoustics coaxials? Mine sound excellent with 80wpc of unclipped power behind them...you're going to want to get a small external amplifier to run the speakers, whatever you end up buying.

 

[Yota4WD 10+ year member]

Thanks for the replies guys. I really appreciate it.

 

[Yota4WD 10+ year member]

Well I went with the above setup, and got everything installed. I bought it from Crutchfield and saved around $50 not counting the free stuff they sent me.

Anyways, after all was installed, I have only one problem, but it may be natural. I'm running no amp right now, but if you have a decent amount of bass playing and you cut up the volume a ways above normal listening level, everytime there's a hit, the display dims a bit.

I'm not sure what the cause of that is, maybe someone could help me out there.

Got a couple of pics if anyone cares to take a look. Also, thanks for the help.

_________________________________________________________

 

[VOA_NIGHTMARE 10+ year member]

You really shouldnt have that much of a problem dimming on just that setup, but do a search for the "BIG 3" and try that, also have your battery tested and make sure it is still good and charging up all the way.

All that really is, when you turn it up like that your taking more power to the hu etc. and when it pulls that much juice and the battery doesnt have it, it will take it from anyplace it can.

On a larger system I was showing off to some friends and really turned my system up, and it had a surge and blew my hu.

You wont have to worrie about this, but when you get into throwing some amps in then you want to make sure you have enough power

 

[Spr0ket 10+ year member]

You need to upgrade your stock wiring and do the big three. The big three consists of the three major wires of your charging system. Most cars/trucks use a small gauge wire (the default on mine is 12AWG). Upgrade those wires to a minimum of 4AWG and you will be set. If by some chance you are going to upgrade your alternator, splurge a bit and go for the OTT gauge wire. The major wires are battery ground to chassis ground, battery ground to engine ground, and battery positive to alternator positive. When I say ground, you will need to sand down the paint where you are going to mount your new grounds... it's the only way to properly upgrade the big three. Also, don't remove the stock wires... you want to add to them giving the least possible resistance. Good luck.

PS - Don't buy a cap... it won't fix your problem.

 

[Yota4WD 10+ year member]

Alright, thanks for the tips guys.

Spr0ket, if you'd excuse my ignorance but what do you mean by AWG? I'm assuming gauge?

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Yup...American Wire Gauge.

 

[80INCHES 5,000+ posts]

hey yota4wd....check your pm

80

 

[chubby 10+ year member]

You need to upgrade your stock wiring and do the big three. The big three consists of the three major wires of your charging system. Most cars/trucks use a small gauge wire (the default on mine is 12AWG). Upgrade those wires to a minimum of 4AWG and you will be set. If by some chance you are going to upgrade your alternator, splurge a bit and go for the OTT gauge wire. The major wires are battery ground to chassis ground, battery ground to engine ground, and battery positive to alternator positive. When I say ground, you will need to sand down the paint where you are going to mount your new grounds... it's the only way to properly upgrade the big three. Also, don't remove the stock wires... you want to add to them giving the least possible resistance. Good luck.
PS - Don't buy a cap... it won't fix your problem.

there's no way in hell this guy needs to do the big 3.