*I figured I would get more valuable information in this forum vs. the stereo forums.*

Looking to do a simple upgrade to the head unit along with the speakers in my 04 XLT F150. I'm looking at going with a kenwood double din, along with pioneer 4 way speakers. Does anyone have any opinions about my choices or recomendations? I am really a novice, and I'm just trying to get a crisper and smoother sounding system in my truck vs. the factory setup.


If anyone has any input at all with the install, reciever, speakers, etc. please feel free to post.

Thanks for everyones time,

jrbhc8

 

I've got a kenwood double DIN, it's ok but I believe there is better. I've got a dpx 301, go with a higher model and it will benefit you more. Although, my unit has done great for me. As far as speakers, forget the 4 ways, they will do you no good, your best bet is to get a good pair of components and an amplifier. MB quartz, rainbow, or I hear good things about the polk momo components. Get 6.5" by the way. There are many, many more things you could do to your system to improve over stock. Go to the speakers and subwoofers forum and post, those guys are great at recommending systems for all budgets.

 

I just installed those same pioneer 4-ways in the front doors in my truck, they really do sound very crisp, clear, and clean, i also put some tweeters up front too for good measure. I put Kicker KS68 speakers in back.

I think you will be happy with the Pioneers. Easy install. If you need some help let post again and i'll help you out if i can.

 

I just bought my Kenwood DDX6019 recently.

They can be had for around $600.

If I were doing it over again, I 'think' I'd go up one model to the 7019. It adds quite a few cool features. Not things I NEED, but definitely things that would be 'nice to have'. (like, AAC ability, USB port on the back for a HDD so I don't have to burn DVD's all the time)

Otherwise, the x019 lineup is a nice system so far as I can tell. (only been about a week)

E.

 

I just recently installed a new Sony CDX-GT710 and some Infinity Ref 2 way speakers and it made a world of difference over the stock stereo setup. Got em at Crutchfield.com So I am sure that what ever upgrades that you do to your stereo will be of great improvement.
I know what you mean about getting more valuable info here rather than the stereo forums, because in those forums they tend to favor the high priced strereo components and if you mention the cheap stuff they just laugh at you and continue to recommend the expensive stuff. Where some of us just want something that is much better than stock at an afordable price.

 

I agree with BestNTx. A nice component speaker system will give you the best sound imaging. Full range speakers (aka 3 way, 4 way) try to be a jack-of-all-trades and tend to fall short when it come to producing clear, crisp sound. Component speakers split the frequency using a passive crossover and send only the lower frequencies (bass) to the mid woofer and only the high frequencies to the tweeter. Thus producing the best sound quality. Fortunately, the F150 already has holes in the front door panel to accommodate the tweeters. For the rear doors you might consider a simple 2 way speaker unless you want to modify the door panel because there are no openings for tweeters.

Out of the box, most after market head units push less than 20 watts RMS/channel. This doesn't lend itself to clear, crisp sound especially at increased volume. To fix this, you should look into getting an amplifier. Most of the distortion that people hear isn't really the speakers' fault, but rather the head unit isn't producing enough power constantly to drive the drivers (speakers). IMO an affordable 4 channel 60 watt RMS/channel @ 4 ohms amplifier should do the trick.

A good audio setup doesn't have to be a bank buster, however it's important to remember to buy quality components if you expect to get quality performance.

 

Thanks for all the responses everyone, keep them coming. I'm still trying to decide what to do.

jrbhc8

 

+1 on the amp being the most critical factor in determining the quality of sound. That said, don't get something like an Alpine PDX and run it through the crappy stock speakers.