willscary
Junior Member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2015
- Posts
- 6
- Reaction score
- 2
- Ram Year
- 2015
- Engine
- Pentastar 3.6
Hi. Bighorn RCLB 2WD with factory 6 speaker system and 8.4a touchscreen (no nav).
For a factory system, this sounds OK, much better than any of my other trucks did. I just wasn't happy with the sound as this is now my daily driver. I read tons of threads and posts, both here and on other forums, and I consulted manufacturers and installers on what would get me to where I want to be.
I had at first decided to go with the Mopar by Kicker upgrades...the 77Kick42 components with the 1" dome in the dash and a Kicker Hideaway sub for under the seat. Greygoose was very helpful in this regard.
Prior to pulling the trigger, I got cold feet on the tiny sub, so I looked for other small enclosure aftermarket solutions. I stumbled on a CDT closeout sale of their QES-820 8" subwoofer. I have heard really good things about it and the price was right, so I picked one up along with a 400 watt amp that was recommended by the CDT factory installer. I had thought about a 3/4" Baltic birch plywood enclosure with 1" solid birch corner bracing, but the materials were very high. Then I noticed the dimensions of the sub, and now I am most likely going to bolt the sub to a 12"+ piece of 8" schedule 80 PVC plumbing pipe. I figure that this will be an ultra rigid enclosure and with the way I have it planned, the walls will be a solid 7/8" thick or more.
I have the parts, but have not yet assembled it...
Now, for the speakers. I had gone back and forth on speakers and a processor and amp for the entire system, but life got in the way, at least temporarily, and I needed a less expensive solution.
I wanted everything to fit without modifying my brand new truck, so after great deliberation, I took a chance on the Mopar by Kicker upgrades. I say that I took a chance because I did NOT follow the instructions that tell me what to install. I did not like the idea of simple tweeters in the dash. I figured that in order to get the best imaging, I needed a 3-1/2" coax in the dash. I was told by many parts sellers that the speaker set I wanted did not fit my truck and was only for the "premium" systems.
I went ahead and gambled. I purchased 77Kick11AB speakers from a local RAM dealer. Also, although it was recommended that I leave the existing rear speakers in the truck, I purchased 77Kick41 coax speakers for those locations behind the seats.
I spent about an hour installing the Kicker upgrades this afternoon.
I had read that dropping 3-1/2" coax speakers into the dash was a huge improvement, but overwhelmed the rest of the speakers, so that all that was heard were the highs (not with these speakers, but in general...apparently the factory speakers are not very efficient). I installed the coax units in the dash and turned on the system and listened. I was not impressed. They were loud, but did not sound good.
OK, perhaps the 6x9 door speakers will help. I installed them and then I listened. OK, things sounded better, but still, the lower midrange, upper bass and lower bass were lacking. I tried the factory EQ, but it really did not help.
Well, I bought the coax 6x9s, so I figured I may as well install them. Others had said that the rears do not really need to be upgraded, but I wanted to try it anyways. I installed them and turned the system back on.
HOLY SMOKES!!!!!!!!!!!
My truck ROCKS!!!!! The rear speakers really beefed up the lower midrange and the bass areas and brought the entire system into sync. I have plenty of solid bass. The midrange sounds good and the highs are much better...they no longer dominate the system. Imaging is night and day better than the factory junk. Even without the sub installed, this thing is awesome after playing with the EQ a bit. It cranks very loud with minimal distortion.
This truck sounds incredible to the point that I really can't imagine how much the sub can add...
Everything was plug and play and for $275, these speakers are a must have for those of you wanting a huge upgrade for minimal cost in your regular cab trucks.
Just my opinion...
For a factory system, this sounds OK, much better than any of my other trucks did. I just wasn't happy with the sound as this is now my daily driver. I read tons of threads and posts, both here and on other forums, and I consulted manufacturers and installers on what would get me to where I want to be.
I had at first decided to go with the Mopar by Kicker upgrades...the 77Kick42 components with the 1" dome in the dash and a Kicker Hideaway sub for under the seat. Greygoose was very helpful in this regard.
Prior to pulling the trigger, I got cold feet on the tiny sub, so I looked for other small enclosure aftermarket solutions. I stumbled on a CDT closeout sale of their QES-820 8" subwoofer. I have heard really good things about it and the price was right, so I picked one up along with a 400 watt amp that was recommended by the CDT factory installer. I had thought about a 3/4" Baltic birch plywood enclosure with 1" solid birch corner bracing, but the materials were very high. Then I noticed the dimensions of the sub, and now I am most likely going to bolt the sub to a 12"+ piece of 8" schedule 80 PVC plumbing pipe. I figure that this will be an ultra rigid enclosure and with the way I have it planned, the walls will be a solid 7/8" thick or more.
I have the parts, but have not yet assembled it...
Now, for the speakers. I had gone back and forth on speakers and a processor and amp for the entire system, but life got in the way, at least temporarily, and I needed a less expensive solution.
I wanted everything to fit without modifying my brand new truck, so after great deliberation, I took a chance on the Mopar by Kicker upgrades. I say that I took a chance because I did NOT follow the instructions that tell me what to install. I did not like the idea of simple tweeters in the dash. I figured that in order to get the best imaging, I needed a 3-1/2" coax in the dash. I was told by many parts sellers that the speaker set I wanted did not fit my truck and was only for the "premium" systems.
I went ahead and gambled. I purchased 77Kick11AB speakers from a local RAM dealer. Also, although it was recommended that I leave the existing rear speakers in the truck, I purchased 77Kick41 coax speakers for those locations behind the seats.
I spent about an hour installing the Kicker upgrades this afternoon.
I had read that dropping 3-1/2" coax speakers into the dash was a huge improvement, but overwhelmed the rest of the speakers, so that all that was heard were the highs (not with these speakers, but in general...apparently the factory speakers are not very efficient). I installed the coax units in the dash and turned on the system and listened. I was not impressed. They were loud, but did not sound good.
OK, perhaps the 6x9 door speakers will help. I installed them and then I listened. OK, things sounded better, but still, the lower midrange, upper bass and lower bass were lacking. I tried the factory EQ, but it really did not help.
Well, I bought the coax 6x9s, so I figured I may as well install them. Others had said that the rears do not really need to be upgraded, but I wanted to try it anyways. I installed them and turned the system back on.
HOLY SMOKES!!!!!!!!!!!
My truck ROCKS!!!!! The rear speakers really beefed up the lower midrange and the bass areas and brought the entire system into sync. I have plenty of solid bass. The midrange sounds good and the highs are much better...they no longer dominate the system. Imaging is night and day better than the factory junk. Even without the sub installed, this thing is awesome after playing with the EQ a bit. It cranks very loud with minimal distortion.
This truck sounds incredible to the point that I really can't imagine how much the sub can add...
Everything was plug and play and for $275, these speakers are a must have for those of you wanting a huge upgrade for minimal cost in your regular cab trucks.
Just my opinion...
