I have a screw with all stock sound in it. I do not want to go the whole amp/sub/$300+ radio route but would like a little better sound. See I listen to mostly talk/sports radio and country anyway but I'm a bit hard to hearing. So I'd like it to be louder than it is and clearer when it is up louder. Seems that when I turn it up loud enough for me to hear it well there's crappy treble and even crappier bass.
So with stock radio would it be a waste to just put after market speakers in my doors? Front and or back doors? I don't know if these radios have a built in amp or something. So I don't want to waste my $ on speakers if they will just sound the same basically.
What you guys think?


Thanks

 

Small 4 channel amp and some efficient speaker replacements should solve your problems with ease. Look for a quality 4 channel that does around 50 RMS per channel, and maybe pick up something like Polk db571 replacements. I did this in my brother's escape for not much $ and its plenty loud for him and hes in highschool.

 

All an amp will do is make things louder, it won't do anything for quality. New speakers will help but only to a point. The OEM stereo is designed to reduce bass output as volume increases. This is done to protect the speakers.

In order to improve sound quality you need to use something like the Cleensweep by JL Audio in addition to the amp and speakers:

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_c...hp?prod_id=369

I use the ReQ:

http://reqsound.com/

Both of these do the same thing. They restore the bass and clean up the signal so you can get the most out of the amp and speakers while keeping the stock HU and all it's features.

 

Ah good point. I assumed he had an aftermarket deck in which case the cleansweep is not necessary.

 

So just adding after market speakers would be a waste when looking for more clarity and sound?
Thanks

 

ttt

 

If I were you, I would either buy a good set of replacement speakers or a new head unit. In looking for the speakers, look for a high sensitivity level and a really low number in the frequency response. The low number in the frequency response is how low the the bass can be. The lower the number, the more bass you can hear and the less it will be distorted. Getting back to the sensitivity, the higher the number, the louder the speaker will be because that number is representing how efficiently the speaker utilizes the input power. Now to the head unit. With a newer head unit than stock, there are so many options that you can play with using the built in equalizer. With the equalizer you have settings for high, mid and low, not just bass and treble. The high, mid and low can each be set to anywhere between say -6 and +6. Since I have a supercab and 2 15" subs in my backseat, I leave the low level set at about +1 so my other speakers don't put out the bass which still leaves enough bass level for the subs. You will get a difference with better speakers but I think the best route to go would be the head unit so you can eliminate bass from your speakers if you need to and you would be getting more power to whatever speakers you have because new head units have higher power outputs than stock.You would also have more customization using the equalizer.

 

On my last F150, I replaced the stock speakers with 6x9 Infinity 2way cappas ($100 a set) and got myself a good Pioneer head unit for $200. The sound was much more clear over the stock speakers. When I sold the truck I took them out and put the stock speakers/radio back in, I couldn't believe how bad they actually sounded.

 

You will see an improvement in sound by just replacing the factory speakers with a decent set of aftermarket. It will not be louder but it will sound better. If you need louder you will need and amp as well. But either way you are going to need to replace the stock speakers. I would suggest doing that first. From what you describe it may meet your needs. If not then you can go out and get an amp.