2018 2500 Megacab audio upgrade questions

lovecoldair · Jul 21, 2018

just bought a new mega cab with the 10 speaker alpine system in it . It’s not clean or loud enough for me so I have a few questions .

Looking at getting Focal components for the front doors and coax Focals for the rear doors.

I need a bright sound system . I plan on using a pac interface and keeping current oem head unit .

I would also like to have a audio source three for the ra to adjust to my liking on the fly .

The problem I’m running into is 3 stereo shops I have been to are recommending a 1k 5 channel fancy jl amp with digital out and Bluetooth app. The price in being quoted is between 2200 and 2600 depending if I want the doors dyna matted .

Now the reason I want the bright speakers and eq is I have issues with me hearing hearing the highs so I really have to have them up . With that being said why do I need a 1 k digital amp ? I would like to have quality amp focal seperates and an eq.

Any recommendations would help

Thanks for any input

TomT · Jul 21, 2018

It sounds like they are suggesting a quality amp to go with quality Focal components. You can find cheaper amps but they are often not very good. You’ll have a smaller selection if needing a five channel amp.

lovecoldair · Jul 21, 2018

Thanks for the reply . They say go with 5 channel Incase I want a sub later . Plan on using factory sub for now. I guess I was really suprised that I would even need a 1 k amp to run the components

Thanks again

TomT · Jul 21, 2018

Another option would be to use a four channel amp and then another single channel later if you upgrade the sub.

lovecoldair · Jul 21, 2018

That’s kinda what I was thinking . The sticker price was just shocking I guess

Thanks again

FS_Vaprco · Jul 22, 2018

Couple questions,
What was the quote including, PAC, deadener, Focals, Amp and install ? If that's everything I certainly don't think that's high.
If your providing everything except the Amp, deadener and install then yes that high. I would highly recommend going Five channel as well, their advice is solid, if you go with PAC unit that's a DSP you have your Eq built in and tuning ability, if you run JL's cheaper line of amps and run the 4 channel it should be half the cost of the higher end JL equipment, you can always add a sub amp and sub later they should be able to understand this and accommodate it. This is the PAC unit I was referring to
https://pac-audio.com/catalog/amppro-amplifier-interfaces/ap4-ch41

TomT · Jul 22, 2018

You definitely want to have the doors dynamatted. Even if you have to hold off on the rear door speakers to afford it. It will make a tremendous amount of difference.

Exactly what models of speakers and amp are you looking at?

TomT · Jul 22, 2018

FS_Vaprco said:
Couple questions,
What was the quote including, PAC, deadener, Focals, Amp and install ? If that's everything I certainly don't think that's high.
If your providing everything except the Amp, deadener and install then yes that high. I would highly recommend going Five channel as well, their advice is solid, if you go with PAC unit that's a DSP you have your Eq built in and tuning ability, if you run JL's cheaper line of amps and run the 4 channel it should be half the cost of the higher end JL equipment, you can always add a sub amp and sub later they should be able to understand this and accommodate it.

The PAC unit is not a DSP, it is an interface that creates a clean output from the factory head unit. The new JL Audio VXi amps have built in DSP functions.

Actually, with your hearing loss, you would be very well served with a DSP. It will allow you to tailor the equalization to what you need.

lovecoldair · Jul 22, 2018

Focal flax series and a jl XD I believe . That was me buying everything through them and them installing it

lovecoldair · Jul 22, 2018

And that is the PAC unit

TomT · Jul 22, 2018

Doing some research to find out the impedance of the Focal Flax 6.5” midbass. The Flax are great speakers and I’m thinking an active setup using the new JL VXi amps would be pretty awesome.

Are you looking at the two way or three way component system in front?

FS_Vaprco · Jul 22, 2018

TomT said:
The PAC unit is not a DSP, it is an interface that creates a clean output from the factory head unit. The new JL Audio VXi amps have built in DSP functions.

Actually, with your hearing loss, you would be very well served with a DSP. It will allow you to tailor the equalization to what you need.

I thought from their video it had DSP capability, stated it can be hooked up to laptop and parametric eq adjusted, maybe I misunderstood but it sounds as though its a basic DSP ? Guess I should look into this further

TomT said:
The PAC unit is not a DSP, it is an interface that creates a clean output from the factory head unit. The new JL Audio VXi amps have built in DSP functions.

Actually, with your hearing loss, you would be very well served with a DSP. It will allow you to tailor the equalization to what you need.

My apologies it is not a true DSP but does have parametric Eq adjustment and Q adjustments

TomT · Jul 22, 2018

It has some basic EQ functions but most installs just use it flat to feed a DSP.

Deepc6 · Jul 22, 2018

There is someone on this forum selling a complete set of Focal speakers is the for sale section.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Witch · Jul 22, 2018

Focal and JL amps is what I used.

I am really pleased with the results

mondo · Jul 28, 2018

Witch said:
Focal and JL amps is what I used.

I am really pleased with the results

Which Focals did you go with?

Witch · Jul 28, 2018

The Flax three way components up front co axels in the the rear and the 8” sub in the factory box

There is a thread somewhere of the build
2015 upgrade or something like that
Hardest part was modding the factory box to fit the sub

Wa tuning today so pretty deaf
But amazing results
The mid bass hits like a hammer
All that ******** sound deadening work paying dividends

mondo · Jul 28, 2018

Witch said:
The Flax threwway components up front co axels in the threat and the 8” subnin the factory box

There is a thread somewhere of the build
2015 upgrade or something like that
Hardest part was modding the factory box to fit the sub

How do you like the Flax so far? I just ordered a 2 way set from the local shop for a good deal. Listened to audiofrog and blam yesterday in Westminster, didnt want to spend 1500 on the frogs and the Blam's sounded good till they added a sub to the equation. For the price point and sound at the shop, i went with the Flax. Anxious to get them now.

Witch · Jul 28, 2018

Your going to love them
A little harsh until the larger drivers get broken in
The clarity is unbelievable
You are in for treat
The mid bass from these is like like going two rounds with Tyson
They really start to shine at 90 to 100 dB

Just make sure your amps are set up correctly
Factory head unit clips at 35

So 34 is the top

mondo · Jul 28, 2018

Witch said:
Your going to love them
A little harsh until the larger drivers get broken in
The clarity is unbelievable
You are in for treat
The mid bass from these is like like going two rounds with Tyson
They really start to shine at 90 to 100 dB

Just make sure your amps are set up correctly
Factory head unit clips at 35

So 34 is the top

Cool, i cant wait....lol. I had the 5.0 unit in my **** and replaced it with a kenwood ddx9904. I have one of my old jl slash 300/4 amps that i plan on using to drive them.

2018 2500 Megacab audio upgrade questions

Junior Member

Senior Member

Junior Member

Senior Member

Junior Member

Junior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Junior Member

Junior Member

Senior Member

Junior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Similar threads

Forum statistics

Share this page