Installing Speakers (New to this)

[tonster307]

Hello All,

I just bought my first RAM (2015 1500 Black Express Edition), and I am not very mechanically inclined but I would like to get better, so I figure I have to start somewhere.

Right now all speakers that are inside the truck are stock, I am looking to get rid of all stock speakers throughtout the entire cab. First thing I really need to know is can I just buy speakers that are the same size at the stock speakers and switch them out or does more need to be installed with the speakers. I found a thread that has how to take apart the door in order to get to the speakers but before I get into installing anything I really want to do as much research as possible and pick as many brains as possible.

Down the road I am thinking about getting some sort of sound outside of the vehicle as well but that is going to be further down the road.

If you guys could point me in the right direction as to where I would need to go what I would need to buy and your opinions on what works and sounds best that would be greatly appreciated.

Please be gentle with me, I am completely new at all of this

Thanks in advance!

 

[HeavyD]

I just replaced my speakers, the one problem I had was the size of the basket, the speaker frame even with the stock spacer hit the door, I put spacers in.
My truck is a different year.
I know the more expensive alpines fit easy, my truck had alpine type R.
the kenwoods I put in had bigger baskets.

whoever put them in my truck soldered the wires right to the speakers - I cut them and used connectors to attach the ones that came with the ken's.

Other than that it was easy.

 

[woojyee]

These are direct fit

2015 Ram 1500 - Audio/video And Electronics Accessories | Mopar

 

[cgeorgemo]

I replaced all the stock speakers with Kicker speakers. The dash and both door sets. Do you have a regular cab or a 4 door? Crutchfield.com can help you find the ones that will fit and they will have the wiring adapters that will be helpful as well.

 

[tonster307]

Awesome! Thank you guys all for the help, when I install new speakers do I need to install an amp or anything with them? Or is it just getting the speakers installed and than your good to go?

Also I am thinking about installing one of the 8 inch screens(I currently have a 5"). I have read that you need to install the volume buttons to the steering wheel but I was just curious if that was just to make it easier access for the volume. If you don't install those buttons will you not be able to control the volume at all?

Also, I have a quad cab.

Thanks again for all of the help! I really do appreciate it!

 

[hipnotikrcr]

Also I am thinking about installing one of the 8 inch screens(I currently have a 5"). I have read that you need to install the volume buttons to the steering wheel but I was just curious if that was just to make it easier access for the volume. If you don't install those buttons will you not be able to control the volume at all?

From what I read from others who have posted, the need for the steering wheel audio controls is if you also do not change the radio bezel. The 8.4" radio doesn't have the audio controls built in so without either the steering wheel controls or the proper bezel (which also require an additional harness and a different heating control module), you won't be able to control your volume or use the Tune options that are initiated by the knobs.

 

[HemiXpress]

Awesome! Thank you guys all for the help, when I install new speakers do I need to install an amp or anything with them? Or is it just getting the speakers installed and than your good to go?

Also I am thinking about installing one of the 8 inch screens(I currently have a 5"). I have read that you need to install the volume buttons to the steering wheel but I was just curious if that was just to make it easier access for the volume. If you don't install those buttons will you not be able to control the volume at all?

Also, I have a quad cab.

Thanks again for all of the help! I really do appreciate it!

Watch this video, this will explain to how to upgrade your radio from the 5.0 to the 8.0 w/nav without having to worry about adding the volume controls to your steering wheel. But you have to get it through them. Or I think you can buy the just the bezel and harness, if you can get the radio cheaper. But you would have to get it updated to your vehicle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIxubC9hxt8

 

[tonster307]

After watching that video I think getting that bezel with the volume knob is going to be the way I go with this. I see that on their website they have package deals for both the headunit and bezel (which is the way I am going to go).

This maybe a stupid question but I got my truck recently and it came with a 1 year subscription to sat radio and I was wondering if I changed the headunit if that would have any effect on it. I am guessing it won't but I just want to make sure before I do any changes.

Finally, I have been looking on crutchfield and am thinking I am going to end up going with kicker speakers for the doors, will I need to get an amp to get the most out of them or is that not even worth it?

Thanks!

 

[cgeorgemo]

After watching that video I think getting that bezel with the volume knob is going to be the way I go with this. I see that on their website they have package deals for both the headunit and bezel (which is the way I am going to go).

This maybe a stupid question but I got my truck recently and it came with a 1 year subscription to sat radio and I was wondering if I changed the headunit if that would have any effect on it. I am guessing it won't but I just want to make sure before I do any changes.

Finally, I have been looking on crutchfield and am thinking I am going to end up going with kicker speakers for the doors, will I need to get an amp to get the most out of them or is that not even worth it?

Thanks!

If you can wait a couple of days I'll sell you my bezel with the volume knob and the wiring harness that came with it for $200 instead of the $300 that they charge.
Also the satellite radio is tied to the head unit.

 

[5hole]

All you need to transfer satellite over is the numbers on back of radio. They will charge you about $20.

 

[cgeorgemo]

They wouldn't do that for me when I called them.... I think a call back is in order.

 

[tonster307]

If you can wait a couple of days I'll sell you my bezel with the volume knob and the wiring harness that came with it for $200 instead of the $300 that they charge.
Also the satellite radio is tied to the head unit.

I don't plan on buying it right now anyway, but I believe it's just $150 If you buy the package with the headunit. I will call Sirius tomorrow morning and see about it.

 

[cgeorgemo]

If you are willing to spend what they charge for a head unit you should really shop around. I got my 8.4 with Nav for much less than what they charge. There is one on eBay right now for $550.
And if you double check they are charging $250 more for a bezel with volume knob over just the radio alone. The additional $150 is to add the volume knob to a package that already has a bezel.

 

[cgeorgemo]

Rather than just post a link to a long thread about upgrading to the 8.4 I'm going to sum it up for you. The radios are a plug and play upgrade that you can even shove the factory 5.0 bezel onto for a pretty good fit but you will lose the volume control unless you add steering wheel controls.
If you don't want to add the steering wheel controls you can buy a bezel from OEMAUTOPARTS with a knob and that is pretty much plug and play. You do have to move your climate controls over to the new bezel.
Finally if you want to you can buy a few parts and put together your own wiring harness and have an oem bezel with full functionality.
Let me know if you want links to the threads for more info.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[tonster307]

Thank you for clearing that up, is the bezel you have the same exact one that they are selling? Also, I did look around on eBay and such but I thought that I read if you buy it from OEM everything is setup, no need to do anything extra. But, if you buy it off ebay you have to do a bunch of extra things just to get it set up.

I could be completely wrong but I'm just trying to get as much information as possible.

 

[cgeorgemo]

Thank you for clearing that up, is the bezel you have the same exact one that they are selling? Also, I did look around on eBay and such but I thought that I read if you buy it from OEM everything is setup, no need to do anything extra. But, if you buy it off ebay you have to do a bunch of extra things just to get it set up.

I could be completely wrong but I'm just trying to get as much information as possible.

The bezel I'll be selling is the one they have with the knob. I paid $300 for it and I've been using it for about a month now.
If you buy an 8.4 off eBay or from car-part.com then you will have to take the serial number of the radio into a dealership part counter and have them give you a security code for the radio. (This is the "setup" that OEM provides for you) It's free and takes about 2 minutes at the most.

There was 2013 8.4 with NAV on car-part.com this morning for around $350 and a 2015 8.4 without NAV for $250.

 

[tonster307]

Why did you buy something for $300 a month ago and trying to get rid of it after only a month for half the price? Just curious. I think you said this already but, does it come with the wiring harness for the volume knob?

 

[cgeorgemo]

Why did you buy something for $300 a month ago and trying to get rid of it after only a month for half the price? Just curious. I think you said this already but, does it come with the wiring harness for the volume knob?

Because SWMBO said she wanted a volume knob. Until I was able to fabricate the harness to achieve the factory bezel installation I needed something for her.
The DIY for the harness was posted with parts links on 3-26 and I ordered all the stuff and got it this done over this past weekend.



I am going to sell the one I used in the mean time that I ordered from OEM.
And to answer your second question the bezel has the wiring harness and the bezel as well as a module that connects to both. It's the complete $300 set.

 

[tonster307]

Could you send me a private message with a picture of it?

 

[cgeorgemo]

Could you send me a private message with a picture of it?

I'd be happy to once I get it ready to sell. If you don't want it I'm going to post it in the classified section. Picture should be there this afternoon.