Is it my old ears going bad on me or do the speakers in our trucks suck. I've noticed that on the AM and FM stations they sound hollow but sound fine when I play CDs.

If I decide to change them out, what is my best option?

Jayhawker

 

Well, you can't expect too much out of Ford stock speakers. I even heard that mustang they put out with the subs and amps in the back, but it still wasn't anything fantastic. Mach 1 I think it was called.

I've also noticed that the FM tuning isn't all that great. AM is well, AM, not much can be done about that. As far as what speakers to put in, it depends on how much you want to spend I'm not up on what the latest and greatest are, but you could ask in the audio forums. If you do change out the speaker with higher grade ones, get an amp to power them. High end speakers sound a LOT better when they have good clean power going to them. Another thing that can be done, and would be my first thing to do if I was upgrading, it to replace the head unit with a nice pioneer, alpine, or one of the other good brands out there. For starters they put out cleaner power by themselves and they have low level outputs to plug amps into later. If you want to stick with the stock unit you can splice into the speaker wires and put in a line level converter. I did this in my Expi so I could attach my amp and sub. Gotta have some BASS you know

 

It's not your ears jay, it's the speakers, they do suck. I upgraded mine the day after I got my truck. Definately a major difference. JBL or Alpine should spruce up your speakers pretty well. Good Luck.


Joe

 

It isn't just the speakers. It is the deck mainly. I still have my stock speakers but an Alpine deck with an Eclipse amp and the difference is night and day.

 

I sure love my Pioneer 3-ways... they're in all four doors (with slight modification).

RP

 

you know, I've been toying with the idea of putting my JBL 6.5's in my expi, how hard is it to change em out?

Here's my opinion on an upgrade path for better sound, depending on how far you want to go. Listed in order of most improvement.

1. change the head unit (expensive to semi-expensive)
2. change speakers (can be done without spending a ton)
3. add an amp (the more money you spend, the more you get)
4. add another amp and subwoofer(s) (same as 3)


You could go all out with a total component system too but I doubt you want to go that far.

I miss my old buick LeSabre; 4 tweeters and 4 midrange/midbass (2 of each in front seat and back seat), electronic 3way crosover, one 4 channel amp for mids and tweets, one 2 channel bridged for 2 15 inch subs in the trunk. It sounded so good, and had good control over all sound ranges. I could probably put something like that together again for 3 grand, but I just can't justify spending that kind of frivalous cash any more. At least not when spending it on home audio and computer stuff.

 

uhhhhhhh, ok

 

Muhahahaha... the evil double post.

 

Thanks for the input on the speakers. I was thinking about looking into Alpine or Bose speakers.

I don't think the missus would let me spring for a complete unit change. I may drive by Car Toys and see what they can do for me.

Jayhawker

 

I guess that's one way to get the post count up

 

hehehe... I could just delete it for you.

 

sorry jay, but bose doesn't sell aftermarket automotive speakers. looks like you'll be going with alpine Good Luck.


Joe

 

Heck I thought my system sounded great compared to the 01 Supercrew I had before. This one doesn't sound distorted at all and has great base!!! Maybe new speakers will shock me.

 

Not to burst your bubble but, if they do, you're probably not much of an audiophile. I've never heard a factory system that astounded me... some are nice... I just haven't heard one on a Ford... ever.

RP