Haven't posted in awhile. Not much has changed on my Ranger except that I think that I've blown my stock speakers. I was looking at a new Crutchfield catalog an seen a new Pioneer H/U that I really liked. Now first off im kind of trying to stick with one brand. Pioneer. I've seen and heard them in person and was pleased with their bang for the buck ratio.

The H/U - Pioneer DEH-P5900iB

Now I think that is a nice H/U and has nice pre-amp volts. For the door speakers I was thinking of either 6x8's or 6x9's. Now this is where the thinking hurts. I know 6x9's wont just bolt right it, that's why I have a dremel. Will the 6x9's be better than the 6x8's? If so how? Now I know most 6x8's are usually 2 or 3 ways, but I've seen a 4way Pioneer. Would I notice a difference? The same goes for 6x9's I've seen a 5way instead of the usual 4 way. Again. Would I notice a difference. If you wonder what I typically listen to it's Trance, Techno, Rock, and sometimes Rap.

Then I got to thinking If Im back there should I dynamat the door? Would that help any?

Another thing on my mind is an amp for the doors. I know a aftermarket H/U is nice. But nothing can compare to an aftermarket amp driving aftermarket speakers. I noticed a Profile amp in Crutchfield as well. Is Profile a decent brand. For 149.99 or the 99.99 I was looking at and 80x4 rms its not bad sounding.

I really need help I have so many questions and I dont want to blow my money on anything that wont last or sound good pair with eachother.

 

Disclaimer: This is information is based solely from my experience/knowledge. I am not now nor have I ever been a professional audio installer, but I get by. :)

Borrowing from another thread, take your time and do a bit of research. I have a truck similar to yours ('00 Supercab) and am doing the same thing now. I already have a few components and will be slowly adding more as $$ is more available (when I sell my ghia). The idea of an aftermarket HU is a good one and the one you mention looks to be a pretty good start. A 4ch amplifier is also the route I will eventually be taking after better speakers are added. The AP740 that I've seen looks like a pretty good choice to me. I myself have only an old alpine F240 with 40W/ch. I've found that it is more than enough power for what I will be picking up for the main speakers.
Speaking of speakers, my plan is to go with what fits in the stock location simply to eliminate extra headaches of hacking apart the truck anymore than is necessary. True, 6x9's will give better bass response than 6x8/5x7's, but if you're adding a sub in the rear, that won't really matter in the grand scheme of things. It just won't be worth the time/effort/swearing/bloodied knuckles of grinding away metal to make something fit. (Plus, it opens to path for unwanted rattles in certain cases.) My suggestion would be to get a set of (stock sized) speakers that you like for up front. The best ones that you can afford (ie. seperates or really good 3/4-way) should go up front as this helps set up for a really sound stage if you prefer to listen to your music from the front. (If you prefer to listen with the music behind you, reverse the ideas I'm showing you.) I've found that adding a decent set of coax or 3-way in the back will do just fine. Something with decent mids and highs should do the trick. You don't have to throw big money into these unless you want to. I will most likely be buying a cheaper set for the rear and I may even leave the stock ones back there for a while (since nobody sits back there anyway.) Get an amplifier that matches these speakers in the power department. You can get really solid sound from a 40W/ch amp and speakers that are matched for it. Remember the stock sound system does 'ok', and it probably has no more than 20w/ch if that.
As for the sub, this is the problem that I am currently working on. If you you are using the read for storage (like I am), you might want to go with something smaller. If you can spare the space, you are limited only by your imagination and bank account. My plans are either a) two 8's sealed and tucked into the corners (my seats are removed, I don't need them) or a single 10 also sealed behind the drivers seat. Ported or sealed is your choice. ported= lower bass response and better 'slam' and less power required, while sealed = tighter more controlled bass within a smaller space, but needs more power. (I had a 10" Solobaric in a tight sealed box with 500W on it and it took it all. It's currently in my brother-in-laws truck. Now I wish I hadn't traded it...) The choice is yours but in previous years, I've gone with sealed boxes and have been happy as a clam. On the other hand a friend of mine has 2 8" Audiobahns in a ported enclosure in his Colorado and they get low and loud. And again, find a driver(s) that matches your amplifier or vice versa. If you can afford it, find a 5/6 ch amp that will power all of it at one go. (Wish I'd done this a while ago.) This makes amp mounting easier as you've got only one to deal with.

Hope this info helps. Looks like you've already got a few good ideas. Good luck with your setup!

-Chance

 

Thats for the response. I may or may not go with 6x9's but if i get 6x8's they will be 4 ways for sure. Once again thanks.

 

I have the DPH7800MP that i will sell for 165 shipped

 

4 ways aren't always that spectacular

You might be surprised how well infinity 2 ways are

 

Crutchfield is way overpriced. Find the ones you may want in the catolog and hit up froogle or eBay.

 

^ Yeah i use crutchfield for finding what I want then i Froogle the item. They are usually the cheapest on H/U's tho. Usually a 10 or 20 dollar difference, and Crutchfield give you all those free goddies, and shipping is free.

 

I'll give you a little heads up as I enjoy audio. Good choice getting a Pioneer, but IMO, not to good if you want to amp your mids and highs. I have owned two different pioneer head units, Pioneer 4700 and the Pioneer Premier DEH860 and ran into the SAME problems on both of them. It doesn't matter how well I grouned them, I would always get engine noise. I don't know what it is about their design but I finally figured it out on my second Pioneer that you need to wrap the rcas where it connects from the headunit cable to the cable headed to the amp in wire and ground each of them. It was pretty rediculous to have to go and do the extra work just to get that working properly. The Pioneer head units are good and the 2 year for the Premier models is worth the while. I owned a kenwood and enjoyed that, had no problems with ground noises or anything but the buttons did begin to fail. I have had tha Panasonic in-dash 7003u for about 7 months now and have not had one problem with it. It was a big more expensive than the basic head units becasue it is a 7" screen, but it was well worth the money. i would also stick with the either 5x7 or the 6x8s as rangers can handle both sizes. Dynamat does help out yes, but there are other brands out there that do the same job if not better for cheaper. You may have just said dynamat because everyone knows what you are talking about instead of sound deadening << thats longer anyways. I agree about the no need to try the 6x9s as it may just add work that may not be as hyped as one would think. Good luck and keep us posted with what you plan on doing or have done.