Will new speakers make a huge difference?

[jh90731]

Several years ago, I replaced the stock speakers in my 2014 regular cab express model (non-Alpine system) with the following:

Dash: Kicker DSC350
Front doors: Pioneer TS-G690
Behind seat in pillar: MTX Terminator69

In my 2014, there is a door brace you need to be conscious of in the front doors (not sure about the rear doors on the 4 door models). The Pioneer 6x9’s in the door are shallow enough to fit without any needed spacers. The Kickers in the dash bring a lot of clarity to the mids and highs. The Terminators fit no problem in the posts behind the seat in the regular cab.

I also ordered and used wire harness adapters from Crutchfield. Here are the part numbers I used.

Dash: Metra 72-7902
Door: Metra 71-050
Behind seat rear pillar: Metra 72-6514

The head unit is still the stock without an added amp. These speaker upgrades alone made a huge difference.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Just adding aftermarket speakers will improve sound quality (and you won't be disappointed). Try a crawl, walk run approach. Replace the dash speakers first. The biggest improvement to the listener will likely be had there. I use a set of these...

Amazon.com

If it's not enough, replace the front door speakers (I have the bespoke Ram Kicker upgrades in all 4 doors).

If it's still not enough, get a Kicker Key Amp and run it in Bi-Amp mode (front doors and dash amplified)...

Exactly!!!

One step at a time really makes it a great experience as one can hear and feel the improvements at every upgrade along the way.

I started with my stock HU and just added in Focal dash and both door speakers... that six speaker upgrade alone was excellent!

The sound quality was a huge improvement to say the least.

Then, I needed more...lol!
So, I got a new HU and a single competition style 10" sub in a sealed box (stuffed with poly-fil) and an amp.
Plus a full interior lining with high quality sound mat.
And I added the H8 AGM battery and several new heavy gauge grounds throughout the truck as well.

That was excellent, but after several months I needed more...lol.
So, I had another amp added, another 10" sub and a db 5-farad digital capacitor.

I was at 2100W total power and an audio system that was tuned to audio perfection.
This was all in my 19' that only came with the 6-speaker system.

FFWD to my new rig bought in Feb 24' - all the stuff above was removed from my 19' and put into my new truck (new sound mat and several new grounds were installed throughout, too), but my new truck came with the Alpine 9-speaker system.

My installer did his wizardry and kept the Alpine center speaker, the two roof speakers, and the Alpine amp in place but made them so they only acted as surround sound to compliment the other speakers.

He phased/timed and tuned it all to perfection, and now this audio system is off the charts clear and detailed.

I need nothing else in terms of sound upgrades as this system is the s_hiz-nit now!

 

[Hardracer]

Try Crutchfield for wiring info.They also have adapters to wire everything up easily.
Their charts definitely tell you what fits and what dont...then give them a call and they can explain why one fits and not the other.

 

[jmc921]

Regarding connecting an iPhone, I have had a similar problem with having to turn up the volume when connecting with Bluetooth. Originally, I had an iPhone 8 and connected using the lightning cord with no issues. I “upgraded” to an iPhone 15 and found that when I used the lightning cord I had an intermittent but constant clicking. When I connect with Bluetooth, no clicking sound but I had the problem with volume plus album artwork no longer appears in the radio display.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggested solutions? Thanks.

BTW, I have the 5” RA2 radio and stock speakers.

 

[rjohnson7581]

Adding aftermarket good quality door speakers will make the system sound much cleaner and in your mind louder. I have not run amps for my main speakers in years i just run them off the head unit and then put a small sub and amp in so i can pull some bass out of the main speakers to clean it up and balance it out a bit. Im long past having killer system in my veh. You can get adapter wire harnesses for the speakers that will give you the pigtail to go from factory wiring to your aftermarket speakers. Its a quick clean way to do it instead of running all new wire.

Their is a setting in your phones that may partially fix the volume issue and on samsungs its under the developer options.

I'll have to look into this. I enabled developer options a while back but haven't messed with it too much.

 

[rjohnson7581]

If it's Bluetooth input for music, the most common thing is simply turning up the music using your phone's volume rockers while music is playing on the Bluetooth input of the radio.

That's the crazy thing. My media volume on the phone is at max and still need to turn the truck volume up high. Can hear it on lower volume but once you get driving, the wind and road noise is heard over any music until I have the volume around 25.