I'm looking to upgrade my speakers in my 05 XLT 4.0. I'm wanting some bass boosted speakers, trying to avoid a sub and amp but if I need one I'll get them. Any recommendations on speakers? Also what size of speakers should I be looking for? Thanks!

 

The simple physics of it is bass requires long sound waves, the smaller the speaker the shorter the waves it can generate, 6" speakers are mid-range, 2" or smaller are high-range, often called tweeters.

Humans can only hear longer waves down to about 40hz, we "feel" lower frequencies than 40hz, often called the "thump" of the bass.

So the larger the speaker the lower the frequency it can generate, but.......
Larger speakers can not do higher frequencies and it will effect lower frequencies if you send higher frequencies to a larger speaker.
That's where 2-way speakers or 3-way speakers come in, they have Cross-overs, a circuit that splits frequency ranges in to 2 or 3 bands.
A 2-way speaker, often used in cars, will have 2 speakers, a larger speak for lower frequencies and a smaller speaker for higher frequencies, and a 2-way cross-over
3-ways are usually only used on larger speaker cabinets, and would have a 1" speaker, 5" speaker and 8-10" speaker.

The full signal from amp comes in to the cross-overs which sends correct band to correct speaker.

If you were to just add an 8" speaker it would sound bad, it needs something to remove the high frequencies.
So removing the 6" 2-way speakers and adding 8" 2-way speakers would give you more bass.
Powered subwoofers have a range control, also volume control, these are often easier to add to a system because they "fill in" the missing lower frequencies without trying to cut in larger speakers.
And in a designed enclosure a 6" or 8" speakers can "act like" a 10" woofer using reflected sound waves.

 

So I can use 8" 2 way speakers or 6" speakers with subwoofers?

 

Well yes and no, you have 6" now, they call them 6x8 but they are 6" as far as bass goes.

You can go with round 8" for more bass, not subwoofer bass, just more bass that with 6".

These are all 2-way speakers.

Or you can add a powered sub, which would give you more bass than even 8", it has to do with the design.
So you would add powered sub to either 6" or 8" 2-ways for more bass.

It is like home theater, surround sound is nice, but add a powered sub and just using the TV speakers with sub most people would think Home theater setup, lol.

Because that is what is lacking with smaller speakers, a presents, lower frequencies are what our ears tell us is "power" and richness, i.e. thunder.
Crack of lightning is one thing the rumble of thunder is where the "power" is, lol.


Article here 0n ranger speaker swap: http://www.therangerstation.com/Maga...t_speakers.htm

Most powered subs can be hooked up to closest speakers wires, just splice two wires in, and that goes to subs 8ohm connection.
It doesn't effect the stereos amp because it is not actually an 8ohm connection, it is a transformer.
And of course a fused power wire.

 

Awesome, thank you!