Sick of Low Quality Stereo...

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Yoox_II

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When it comes to sound, I don't expect much in my 84. The wind noise is too loud to bother getting a big sub and nice speakers. BUT, why can't I find a stereo that has high quality hardware? They all feel cheap and plastic. The buttons click and wiggle around, the volume dial is always loose, and there is never a TUNER dial... only left and right seek buttons! I want one with maybe softer touch buttons, a tuner dial, and better use of what little space they have to work with. There is so much space in between each button that serves no purpose. Why can't I find a smart designed stereo that fits my dodge truck??
 

crazzywolfie

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usually if you hold the seek button for a second you can tune in a station manually and subs and nice speakers can overpower the wind noise. i put together the stereo setup in my 81 for $65. not the greatest but for $65 can't go wrong. better than the stock setup in my 93.

could always look at a stereo with a flip out screen. i would imagine it would fill the space nicely but it would also cost good money for it.
 

Blue Chaos

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I just put in a pioneer system last week. I will do a thread tomorrow with pics if I remember lol, but the HU is badass, it is a nice blue display, high quality feeling everything, gloss black. Dial isn't loose and everything is well laid out. I bought two pioneer 6x9's and two 6.5's to go with it. I put in the 6x9's but haven't figured out how/where I'm going to do the 6.5's yet. Probably build a custom box for the hump and put them under the dash facing the seats. But it is loud and the sound quality with just the 2 6x9's is fantastic! Easily overpowers the wind by themselves. I ran new wiring to the speakers which I think really helped. (12 GA) The wire I got for free, I'm an electrician. But everything else I have $105 into and I couldn't ask for more.
 

crazzywolfie

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you could put the 6.5's behind the seat. on the bit newer 1st gen they had speakers in the rear cab corner. i use to have speakers hind my seat and they always sounded good. currently i got a sub back there with some speakers.
IMG_2665.jpg
 

Peristaltic Rush

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I just put in a pioneer system last week. I will do a thread tomorrow with pics if I remember lol, but the HU is badass, it is a nice blue display, high quality feeling everything, gloss black. Dial isn't loose and everything is well laid out. I bought two pioneer 6x9's and two 6.5's to go with it. I put in the 6x9's but haven't figured out how/where I'm going to do the 6.5's yet. Probably build a custom box for the hump and put them under the dash facing the seats. But it is loud and the sound quality with just the 2 6x9's is fantastic! Easily overpowers the wind by themselves. I ran new wiring to the speakers which I think really helped. (12 GA) The wire I got for free, I'm an electrician. But everything else I have $105 into and I couldn't ask for more.

Was it hard to pull the wires? We're they entangled with anything else?
 

Sniper X

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There are a few options. I also use to hate head units that didn't have a pot for the tuner but got over it. If you hate the tactile feel of the buttons, go to a place where they sell them and try all of them until you find one you like. The new button orented untis all have buttons for everything even volume but some with at least a pot for volume are makig a comeback. I stuck a period late 90s vintage CD tuner in my Dodge No Power Wagon because I had it sitting in my shed and got it free. Luckily, it rocks for a simple head unit. so option one is looking on craigslist and finding an older unit with a better tighter feel. My Alpine "feels" as high quyality as it is and sounds great.

Secondly, you can defeat as someone here said, the seek feature and just tune it yourself. I always do this due to the fact it seems every station I want to listen to is on the verge of being weaker than the trendy new pop crap stations. Now it is going to be impossible to find a head unit with a pot for tuning. and if you do it'll be a low end crappy one.

I'd go get a newish or new Kenwood Excellon head unit like the one I put in my Focus and be done with it. They are excellent sound, feel like they aren't going to break everytime you change something, and aren't very expensive. I spent less than 175 on mine and it rocks. Then I'd swap in some good 6x9s in the doors from Amazon like the super sweet Rockford Fosgate 6x9 3 ways for 50 bucks and the system will kick butt.
 

Sniper X

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Was cruising round on craigslist yesterday and found a guy selling a brand new still sealed in the box Dual XDMA760 for 75 dollars. They retail for 119 but you see them for 80 plus tax at Walmart so I asked if he would take 60 and he did so I bought it for the No Power Wagon. It's cool because I can hook my phone up to it which I need because I live so far outta town my radio reception sucks
 
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