I am doing a little footwork before I buy a lightning this summer.
I will be buying a new stereo and would like to know what units and speakers can be installed? Do you need a kit, what speakers do you prefer,etc..?
I am thinking about cd with MP3 capability and a real kick #@^ sound without spending a ton!
All suggestions are welcome and very much appreciated!!
Thanks to all!
Regards;
Ralph

 

I spent about $1200 on my system and it rocks! I wanted to look stock, so I used the stock head unit and cd changer. Used a Hi-Low converter to give me the RCA's needed to run the amps. Ran Stinger RCA's to a Phoenix Gold Line Driver to amplify the voltage to the amps. Ran to Phoenix Gold ZX350's and one ZX500. The stock speakers blow, so I disconnected them. I installed Q-Forms kick panels and used Infinity Perfect Separates. The separates are powered by the ZX500. The 350's power two Rockford Fosgate HX2 subs in a custom built box. Used Stinger interconnects throughout. I am pushing about 1300 watts total, and the sound is incredible. I may upgrade the head unit to a monitor with a DVD player, but I am happy with what I have now.

Hope this helps!

Doug

 

Alpine 7892 with Metra adapter in dash
JLAudio 250/1 under driver's seat
JLAudio 300/4 under passenger seat
(jack relocated to bag at bottom front of passenger seat)
Alpine CHA-S624 under front of middle seat
Alpine XM tuner under rear of middle seat
Terk SR-1 thru-glass antenna above passenger headrest
MTX Thunderform on rear bulkhead
(storage bins removed)
Boston Acoustics RX-87 6x8 coaxials in doors and rear

No adapters needed other than dash DIN unit.

 

I have the Pioneer 7400MP and MB Quart 6.5" components in mine. They cost around around $650-675. I like the MP3 capability. Having over 150+ songs per CD kicks butt!!! I can't recommend the MB Quart's enough. They sound SUPER. To install 6.5" components in the front, all you need are simple adapter plates.
I may add XM in the future (the Pioneer is XM rdy) and have no plans to ad an amp or subs.

 

Thanks for the info! I will be doing in store research on Thursday.
Good day to all!!
rrrman;-)

 

ralph
i havent got into the subs yet
but i have a pioneer 7300 head
and 12 disc changer and xm tuner
im very happy so far.once i do the subs
and change the factory speakers ill be
even happier.
later

 

Does the truck have one or two sets of 5x7 speakers? Some of the car guides say both!?
Thanks again for the help!!
rrrman;-)

 

2 sets of 6x8 really
2 in the doors and 2 behind the seat
alot of guys switch to 5x7 though.

 

Pioneer 9400 head unit... slapshot's right... mp3 player kick a$$... anyhow, I opted for some polk speaker... they sound fine... I had $2000/pr ADS speakers in my last truck, so it's all downhill from there... anyhow, I got the MTX thunderform amplified subs... install is easy and it fits in pretty nicely... (after drilling a few small holes) with the 4 polks running on the pioneer's mosfet and the two 10's running on their own amp, the system is quite nice... not like my old show truck, but it still rocks... I just wish the thunderforms responded a little lower... some of the deep teeth rattling bass I had with my 6 12" boston pro's is no where to be found in this truck... on the other hand, this truck does 0-60 in under 4.6 seconds (after a few mods)...

I think I'll live....

oh yah,

deck $835 (with harness and mounting plate)
Thunderform $525 (with internal amp and power cables)
Polk's were like 2x $169 or something
Monster cables for subs, $30

call it 2k for the whole system... (compared to 22k on my last system... won't ever do that again... sounded great, but frickin 22k on audio/video ?!?!?! )

I got the polks from crutchfield, and they fit directly in place of stock and come with a nice little harness adapter that plugs into the stock speaker plug, so you don't need to cut or solder anything... very nice... crutchfield also sends installation instructions on how to remove the door panels, etc... they make it as easy as possible...

just my $.02

 

My system consists of a Kenwood eXcelon KDF-x917 head unit, Kicker RS6C Resolution components with the driver located in the door and the tweeter on the kick panel. Two Kicker 12L7 solo barics, along with a Kicker DX700 mono amplifier for the subs (2 ohms) and a Kicker ZR240 amp for the front components all mounted in custom fiberglass box. Still need to add a second set of components for the rear and set at 2 ohms. Box came out a little bigger than I had planned and I may end up re-doing it later. Box is in primer and will be painted black clearcoat.