The baffles aren't a bad thing. When you add them to your build, you run the wire through the back, make sure you seal it around the wire too. Boom Mat looks to be a popular brand.
I had a GMC I turned into a SQ/SPL competition vehicle. The guys that built all the custom stuff in it, used a sound deadening matting that was different than Dynamat...it was adhesive backed, and used roller to press into all the seams/crevices, then they heated it to the recommended temperature and it "shrunk" and tightened causing the metal to not flex. It was really cool stuff, wish I could remember the name of it. The guys that did all the work, were amazing and creative.
I used to be really into the car audio scene for quite a few years. Stuff is so much more advanced now, I wouldn't know what is good anymore. Back in the day, I was running a Panasonic head unit that had an automatic opening/retracting screen DVD/CD player, w/ remote, Diamond Audio Hex component speakers (carbon fiber cones) and 12 Diamond Audio subwoofers (aluminum cones) and the amplifiers/Eq's were Crossfire for the components and subs. I had three AlumaPro 15 farad capacitors with an Red Top Optima in the bed of the truck to keep everything going with a 220amp upgraded alternator. I think I was over 9800 watts total. I'll see if I can find any of my old pics of the setup.
From what I've checked out, depending on what you are looking to do, speaker brands that are top end, are Focal, Morel, Hertz along with the other big names. I put a set of Pioneer 4 way 6x9's in my 1500 (front doors) when I started upgrading speakers after that first set I had conked out...(Hifonics which were pretty decent sounding).
Good luck with getting things put together for your upgrades.