I have a 2006 F150 Supercab and was thinking about which way i should go with this. I have a set JL Audio 10w3's, and a stealth box for under the back seats. Wondering where i should go from here (size Amp, capacitor, ect.), I'd like to keep it all JL. Did i mention i know absolutly nothing about systems, usually the last mod i do to a car or truck. I'm planning on the Kenwood or pioneer head unit with navigation and all the goodies. Any input would be appreciated Thanks!

 

Why is it that the first thing people mention when they plan an "audio system" is the stupid subwoofers?

My personal advise it to throw the damned subs in the trash and do yourself a favor by purchasing decent component speakers, a nice clean amplifier and better signal processing units that the crap that Ford passess off as a head unit. The Kenwood or Pioneer is a good start. Just pick some nice quality components and power them with a reasonable amp and you're good to go.

Subs are the absolute last thing you should consider and designing your entire setup around a subwoofer is about a amateur-esq as one can get...

 

This is your money, if you want subs get subs. I'd sure miss mine if it was gone. Although, components and head units/nav are a good place to start. You do sound like you are going for the whole show. Get the amp to match your speaker selection, don't worry too much about capacitors(yet if at all)

 

Like i said before, i know nothing about audio systems, the subs i got off of a friend for 50 bucks used. When someone says system to me, i think of exhaust system or fuel system. With my mustang i concentrated on giving the car some serious ***** before the new paint, still haven't touched the stock audio system in it yet. What size/channel amp should i be looking into?

 

Don't worry about the power rating of the amplifier. Try to stick with better manufacturers (Zapco, a/d/s, McIntosh, etc...). Theroetically, it is impossible to overpower a speaker as long as the power is "clean."

With the size the F150 lends, you'd be best off just putting the subs on a shelf somewhere until down the road. Amped subs without adequate amplified high-frequency speakers would sound terrible. Doing both at once (correctly) would require a substance investment in time and money.

The easiest thing to do is to buy a decent set of component speakers for the front and maybe a set of decent co-axials for the rear (or a second set of components if you have extra cash to burn on the rear speakers), power the speakers with a nice 4-channel amp (rated at maybe 35-75 watts per channel, anything over that is overkill on the investment and too big to mount anywhere without a lot of hassle). See how you like the way it sounds and if it needs subs, then install a custome sub box (with the F150, you'll need it because nothing pre-fab will fit).

However, it gets more expensive/complicated when you start adding two amps (one for subs and one for speakers) becuase you start dealing with too much amp draw so you wind up adding capacitors, distribution blocks, thicker power cable, additional patch cords, etc... Space is definitely an issue.

All I'm saying is, the easier the better.

 

Gotta give the Ford stock HU a little more credit. It uses a Philips DSP to run the whole show, and it's fairly decent. It's more than likely one of the same DSPs that the aftermarket folks use. The injustice is in its power amp stage. No need to say anymore

Do the big 3 upgrade to get more for your buck. If you are using amps that have regulated power supplies, there's very little gain in hanging caps all over the place because they won't care about voltage fluctuations. You're just wasting your money on some marketing bull. Why pay $100 for some stupid cap when you can get a far better amp for $100 extra instead?

BTW, I'm running a JL 300/4, 250/1 + stealthbox straight off my stock MP3 6CD HU. I have no caps, no dimming headlights, etc. Yeah, it'll flatten my battery less than an hour or so without the engine running, so I run a battery charger when I need to. It sounds damn good if I don't go deaf first, and you wouldn't know I have all that equipment stashed on the rear seat wall by looking inside cuz it looks bone stock.

 

i have a HD f150 02 with a pioneer DVD head unit install and i need to remove the unit to send to maints because no picture shows when dvd is playing.