I replaced the four stock speakers with direct fit Polk three ways. It is now apparent the stock head unit isn't powerful enough to really crank and distorts at high volume. I'm assuming it is direct result of the stock head units lack of power?

To complete my truck system i want to get the molded subwoofer box from Cructhfield that sits in the rear of the cab and a good head unit. Will this setup sound decent? Will i still need an amp to power the polk speakers or will the head unit be enough?

I know some of you go all out but I'm not really looking to thump my way around the streets. Just something that sounds good and loud.

Any help, tips to make a proper choice here.

Thanks
Anthony

 

I would recommend the Apline CDA-7875 it's a cd player that looks good and sounds good. It has speaker outputs of 60x4 to push to your speakers and has 3 different RCA outputs, 1 front, 1rear and 1 for your subs. Just incase you would ever want to upgrade your system. I paid $400 for it but I'm sure it is cheaper now. You can't go wrong with this radio. I'm very satisfied with it.
Here goes a link to my photo gallery I have a picture of the stereo under the Gen2 Lightnings.

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...y.cfm?gnum=468

Hope this helps!

 

I kept my stock head unit and added a 5 channel Alpine amp, Boston Acoutics speakers and a JL sub and it sounds good to me...

Doug

 

the alpine 7875 is a great face,,, but when i went to buy mine i had my dealer speak directly to an alpine representative and got this. I bought an alpine 7873,,, its the exact same model and features and power as a 7875, but in different colors,,, and 100 dollars cheaper. Plus when i looked at it the cool grean colored lights matched the grean backlight display on my speadometer. Just my opinion though. Both i think are the best systems out there for the money. there is no other system out there for even a comparable price which puts out 27w rms, and 108 sound noise ratio.

just my two cents

 

pioneer 8800 has a double din that looks awesome...its about 760-1000 though fits perfectly and is a tape/cd/xradio player..xradio..might be xmradio... is the new satellite radio subscriber radio like 10 a month your supposed to get hundreds of satellite radio stations and because its satellite you never lose signal...You can avtually see the head unit in a ford in this months issue of truckin..if anybody else ahs seen this issue lemme know what you think of that hood..the pineer and that hood are two of my future mods

 

I just put an Alpine 7871 HU in mine. Big difference. It cost about $230.00 and $15.00 for the dash kit. I got tired of having to move the seat to change CDs. If you want some good base, www.carmedia1.com has some amplified Bazookas for about $200.00. This way you don't have to mess with an amp.
Good luck.

 

I also kept the stock HU, added a MTX 5 channel amp, 4 kenwood speakers, and a JL sub. I think it sounds great, probably the same $ as (a new HU, 4 speakers, and a powered sub). Around $800 for everything.
-Glenn

 

By the way, no matter what aftermarket HU you buy, the sound will be dround out from a loaded thunderform. HU will have around 25 watts RMSx4, Thunderform has atleast 100 watts when it's powered. Either your way, or my way, you can always add an amp, or HU later on so nothing goes to waste.
-Glenn

 

I definately feel a new head unit will work great,, anything over 25 wats rms will give you more then enough power to power your speakers. just remember though,, distortion is usually caused by a lack of power to your speakers,, not too much power to your speakers. I think pioneer even advertises their mosfet sound engine to be powerful enough to power a sub ( though i wouldn't recommend that )

 

Nostromo - see if you can hook up with SVTDAVE, I believe he added a RF 5 channel amp. If you would rather have a new HU I'm a big fan of Pioneer Premier stuff, especially the the ones with the screen savers.

 

Let's not forget the RMS rating on those head units are rated at 14.4 volts. The thunderform amp is rated at 12.5 volts, and is always underrated at 100 watts, (as all MTX amps are) and its a class d sub-specific amp. I'm not saying it wouldn't sound good, but the size of a HU does not permit there to be a very powerful amp included in the chassis.

 

Be smart and buy yourself a 5 or 6 channel amp to power everything in the truck.

JL audio makes a sweet 5 channel amp now that has 75watts for the front, 25 for the rear and 250 or so for the subs.

 

That new JL 5 ch amp is SWEET! Big bucks though

 

Have any of you guys seen a din 1/2 installed in a Lightning or a F-150? I know alot of guys are running double dins. Alpine makes a sweet din 1/2 that I was looking at. Anyone??????