Full Audio Upgrade from factory 6 speaker Uconnect 5 8.4 head unit

[Bryan B]

This is my first time posting, but have been reading these for a long time. I've been doing tons of research on upgrading my sound system.

Current configuration:
- 2022 Ram 1500DT (new body style) Crew Cab Bighorn 4x4
- Stock Uconnect 5 8.4" head unit (would like to keep)
- Base 6 speaker system
- Equipped with ANC

Ideal Upgrade:
- Replace 6 factory speakers
- Add amp to power the 6 speakers
- Add 2x 10s or 2x 8s Sub
- Add amp for Subs
- Sub box i'm looking at (not stuck on sealed): Sealed Sub Box
** I picked this box because it was a mid range price and it fit under my seat without blocking the floor mats or cubbies in the floor.
- Behind seat mounting board for the components Behind Seat Mount

Alternate Upgrade:
- Replace 6 factory speaker
- Add Amp

For both options, I will add dampening matts in the doors.

The factory sound is crap and I would like to upgrade it. I'm not looking to go top of the line. I'm looking for a decent mid range setup. I'm open on price since I don't know what i'm even looking at for total build price on the 2 above options. What should I go with? Its much more complicated upgrading sound now than it was with my older vehicles. Between ANC bypass, DSP, the right ohms on the speakers..... its all a little confusing. I can do all the work myself and am comfortable with anything that is involved in the install. I just need to know what works well together and what harnesses I need.

 

[canadiankodiak700]

If you want to do it right make it sound good, forget about doing six speakers. Get yourself a nice set of component speakers for the front doors and use the tweeters for the dash. Get a nice four channel amp and by amp those doors and dash speakers. Leave your rear door speakers connected to your head unit just to act as rear fill. Use the money that you save by not buying a bunch of extra speakers and an extra amp for the rear and invest it into higher quality speakers and amp for the front. Same goes for the sub. Personally I would do a single high-powered quality Sub and amp versus duals. I personally like a sealed box better myself because I prefer that hard punchy base versus the boom boom base that you typically get from a ported box. Most of the music I listen to it's country classic rock and a little bit of rap and I find the hard-hitting punchy base just sounds better. The plus side of that is a sealed box is usually smaller which is nice when you're kind of limited for room in a truck.

 

[Bryan B]

If you want to do it right make it sound good, forget about doing six speakers. Get yourself a nice set of component speakers for the front doors and use the tweeters for the dash. Get a nice four channel amp and by amp those doors and dash speakers. Leave your rear door speakers connected to your head unit just to act as rear fill. Use the money that you save by not buying a bunch of extra speakers and an extra amp for the rear and invest it into higher quality speakers and amp for the front. Same goes for the sub. Personally I would do a single high-powered quality Sub and amp versus duals. I personally like a sealed box better myself because I prefer that hard punchy base versus the boom boom base that you typically get from a ported box. Most of the music I listen to it's country classic rock and a little bit of rap and I find the hard-hitting punchy base just sounds better. The plus side of that is a sealed box is usually smaller which is nice when you're kind of limited for room in a truck.

Thank you. Would I need to bypass the ANC with both amps? Or just the sub amp?

 

[CanuckRam1313]

This is my first time posting, but have been reading these for a long time. I've been doing tons of research on upgrading my sound system.

Current configuration:
- 2022 Ram 1500DT (new body style) Crew Cab Bighorn 4x4
- Stock Uconnect 5 8.4" head unit (would like to keep)
- Base 6 speaker system
- Equipped with ANC

Ideal Upgrade:
- Replace 6 factory speakers
- Add amp to power the 6 speakers
- Add 2x 10s or 2x 8s Sub
- Add amp for Subs
- Sub box i'm looking at (not stuck on sealed): Sealed Sub Box
** I picked this box because it was a mid range price and it fit under my seat without blocking the floor mats or cubbies in the floor.
- Behind seat mounting board for the components Behind Seat Mount

Alternate Upgrade:
- Replace 6 factory speaker
- Add Amp

For both options, I will add dampening matts in the doors.

The factory sound is crap and I would like to upgrade it. I'm not looking to go top of the line. I'm looking for a decent mid range setup. I'm open on price since I don't know what i'm even looking at for total build price on the 2 above options. What should I go with? Its much more complicated upgrading sound now than it was with my older vehicles. Between ANC bypass, DSP, the right ohms on the speakers..... its all a little confusing. I can do all the work myself and am comfortable with anything that is involved in the install. I just need to know what works well together and what harnesses I need.

Every approach is different in how one improves the detail and quality of the audio experience in ones vehicle.

This is the approach I took for my truck:

Started by replacing the six factory speakers with Focal (dash & doors).
At the same time I lined the doors heavily with sound-mat (this is important!).
I recommend replacing the stock speakers altogether as a great starting point. Just my $0.02

This was a significant improvement in detail, clarity, and a bit of a volume boost, too.
I enjoyed this for a little bit, but needed more.

I then upgraded the head unit to a Kenwood DMX957XR with an iDatalink Maestro module so it was a seamless integration.

The Uconnect HU is nonsense (in my opinion), and if one is looking to improve the audio experience and develop a great audio system, then a new HU is a thing.

More output, more tunability, just more improvements to be had overall on all levels.
One doesn't need to go to this level of HU replacement, but something mid-level is more than adequate.

With the new HU I also had a single Audiomobile EVO 2410 (10") sub installed in a sealed box filled with polyfil and put it under the rear seat.

Added my first Kenwood amp to the new set up as well, and had it all tuned to audio perfection.
I also upgraded my battery to an Odyssey H8 AGM at this time to ensure all was good.

This worked for a while and I was somewhat content, but I needed the sound to be richer and fuller, if that makes sense.

I then had a second Kenwood amp installed (now a total of 2100W) and a db 5-farad digital capacitor, and a second Audiomobile EVO 2410 sub in a sealed box filled with polyfil and put it under the other rear seat.

EDIT - The above was all in my previous truck, my 19'.
I had everything removed and put back to stock before I traded it in.

I traded it in for a new Warlock Classic this past February that had the Alpine 9-speaker system plus sub (factory sub removed and is in my storage closet).

So, I had everything reinstalled in my new truck (including my H8 Odyssey AGM battery), AND my installer did some audio wizardry and kept the factory dash center speaker and both factory roof mounted speakers, plus the factory amp and set them up to only act as surround sound enhancement. Then tuned it all to audio perfection.
WOW... what a sound dynamic improvement having the three Alpine factory speakers adjusted to just add in subtle surround sound into an already great audio system.

At the same time this was all being done in my new truck, I also had several more heavy gauge grounds installed throughout my vehicle. This was a SIGNIFICANT improvement in how my electrical system operated, and only adds to the dependability of an audio upgrade experience, too.

This was my audio journey, and it is done after all this. There's nothing more I need. I have extraordinary detail and clarity in my music. Hearing things in music I never hear before (especially listening to classic rock and country acoustic jams...lol).

With these two 10" subs, the bass is insanely rich and deep. I recommend a pair of 10's vs 8's any day of the week. Again, just my opinion.

If you get the right 10's, get the right boxes, get the right power to them, and tune it all properly.... 10's will provide a better music experience vs 12's and 8's. You get hard & crisp punch and deep rolling bass notes as well.

 

[toejam]

I did something similar - swapped out most of the components from my 3500 Dually to my 1500, but kept the 12" factory head unit as it plays 24bit 192khz flac files. Here's the layout - the KFC-X3C's in the dash are crossed over to produce midrange, and the ones in the rear head liner are crossed to produce highs. The tweeters in the front doors have had pods attached to plates that are centered in the grill openings for better dispersion. (may move them to the "A" pillars, not sure just yet). All the work was done with a buddy of mine who is a certified installer and myself. I won't go into the cabling and distribution blocks as everyone has their fav's. So - here's the basic layout: