Upgrading new F150 speakers

[afplayboy18 10+ year member]

so i went out and got a new truck. i'm not going to go all out on this truck like i have cars in the past, at least not all at one time. i want to start with speakers.

i know speaker brand preference is subjective so if you want to throw out a specific choice, go ahead. but please dont yell out Pioneer and thats it...if you have a specific model, go ahead.

the speakers in the front and back doors are 6x8. my main question is should i just grab a pair of 6x8s or would it be better to grab a 6.5 adapter and get a set of those???

i have a tweeter in the A-pillers and i figure i can keep thost stock unless i find a decent set of comps. another question is if i get a set of comps, the tweeter that comes with it, is that a direct replacement? can i take the stock tweeter out, plug the new tweeter in and be good? ive read i dont need the crossover that comes with it because its in the stock radio so i should be ok with that right?

i know anything, even a set of 40 dollar 6x8s, will be better than stock but if i can use 6.5s, the selection is so much more....not sure if thats a good thing or not...haha.

let me know what you think and if im missing any information, ask me.

i'm not going to upgrade the stock radio, if ever, and if i add a sub it'll be in the distant future.

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[fly_marlin]

Will you be getting an amp with high level inputs or an amp (with LOC) at all? As far as the x-over in the head unit, I'm not sure about that. I wouldn't use it for aftermarket speakers. I'm not sure how easy it is to install 6'5" comps in ford's 6x8, but make sure you have enough depth there. Also, I think it's much easier to fit 5.25" comps in there.

 

[gstokes]

using 5 x 7/6 x 8's severely limits your choices, speaker adapters allow to expand your horizons but as me and many others have found out the hard way a 6.5" speaker will not fit into the Scosche Metra or Xscorpion speaker adapters, 5.25" is max unless you have one custom built or you can try to find a find a 6.5" driver that only needs a 4.75" hole..

 

[MakkMar10]

Same struggle here Bru....I want to glass some components in my Explorer but I need to practice first. I think these Kenwood KFC-p680c will work for the mean time....****'n Ford's Rite?

They'r 6.5 w/ tweets all ready on a 6x8 plate made for Ford/Mazda

 

[bluemarvin3030]

I had the same struggle with my Mercury Grand Marquis. Ending up settling on pioneers, because they are a perfect fit. True 6x8's, not 5x7's, and correct mounting depth. Just a cheap alternative until I can afford a high power/quality component set and custom adapters.

I spent like $50 total and they sound meh... Still much better than stock

Model numbers are TS-A6885R and TS-A6874R.

 

[afplayboy18 10+ year member]

i will go with an amp in the future, but not right now.

the mounting depth has me a little worried too. here's an exerp from a guy on the f150 forum that has the same truck as me and did an install. he's running Infinity Kappa 680.9 Front Component Speakers so i need something with a more shallow mounting depth than that...:

"First is that the front door speaker depth is pretty shallow. I ended up having to use 3/8” standoffs to keep the Infinity Kappa speakers from interfering with the windows. The good news is there is plenty of room between the door frame and the interior door cover so once I got the speakers clearanced from the back they fit fine. I ended up using some ½”- 13 nuts as standoffs since I had some laying in my toolbox."

but anyways...so yall are saying go with a 5.25 adapter if i do that instead of the 6x8 if im looking at that route. interesting.

im looking at some PRECISION POWER (PPI) BI.573 or some Soundstream PCT.573 right now...6x8.

i could do coaxial all the way around or grab something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kicker-DS68-2-6x8-Component-Speakers-DS68-6x8-2-Way-Speakers-Car-Audio-/351082537740?pt=Car_Speakers&hash=item51be26630c&vxp=mtr

 

[MakkMar10]

NVX has a couple 6x8 packages on Sonicelectronix....

 

[pauli18c]

I have a 2011 F150 (Same body style as 09-14) and I'm running Zapco RH 13.2 5.25" which claim to have a mounting depth of 3". I have them mounted to some 1/4" HDPE cutting boards that i hacked up into speaker adapters with a jig saw. They clear the windows and door cards just fine.

Also, I used the PAC-FRD24 LOC adapter

 

[afplayboy18 10+ year member]

i ended up getting 4 JBL GTO8628 6x8 speakers.

hoping to install them this weekend and looking forward to some better sound!

ETA: thanks for the input guys