I'm looking into upgrading my pitiful factory stereo and need a little input. What are a nice set of matched components for approx $150. I'm looking for good sound overall including bass, but I don't need glass-shattering bass (just a good amount of it . If possible, I would like to power them w/o an amp from a Pioneer 5200 (good HU choice?). Thanks for the help.

-b

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'97 2wd F150 XLT, drk red/tan, 3 door, 5.4L, auto.

No mods yet. Future (in order of priority): ~6" lift, grille guard w/ 2 KC auxillary lights, Flowmaster 40, air filter

 

If you want a nice set for under 200 Pioneer Premiers are nice w/ very good highs, but they like more power then then headunits put out. In my old truck I had a regular pair of 6.5 Pioneer components, they sounded good with my old HU, but did have more to give with an amp. So I'd say look into regular pioneers or lower end Rockford's, those components are pretty nice all around to and don't need alot of power.

 

If I were to go with an amp, what would be a good economical supplement to the Pioneer HU (22x45)? Crutchfield has an amp for $130 that is 3 ch (75x2 +100x 1). Is this just a crappy amp? The specs seemed decent.

 

If your gonna get a set of components that require some power I would go with an amp that puts out at least a clean 35 watts x2. B/C your HU is good, but I'd say it puts out about 14 or 15 clean watts before the sound starts to get distorted. If your trying to get a better sound without breaking your wallet I'd suggest finding a pair of components that work well at lower wattage (the only ones I know that sound good with head units are regular pioneers and lower end Rockford's, all the others I've heard like at least 35watts), and a small powered sub along the lines of a bazooka tube.

Once you get a sub to take care of the low frequencies and EQ your system properly to it, the regular speakers can concentrate on the mids and highs only, so they won't distort over low frequencies, and your system will sound better overall.

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black 97' x-cab 4x4, 5 speed 4.6, black westin nerf bars, pilot ground searchers, borla SS split rear exhaust, K&N genII, bosch +4 plugs, superchip, flexalite electric fan, v-tech oval side window covers, IAS shocks

premier 720, pioneer 6cd changer, 12 premier sub, premier componets, 2 soso amps

still to come: new spark plug wires, new rims and tires, maybe a supercharger eventually.

 

Sounds good, thanks for the advice. Hopefully I can get this thing going within the next couple of weeks.

 

I'll let you know in a day or two. I'm about to install a set of Cerwin Vega SS-2502s from Crutchfield in my ride. They're about $130 had have nice specs, at least to the amatuer like me. I'll be powering them with a Sony C7000X HU, no ext. amp, for now. I'm not going for big power, just clean sound.

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2000 F150 XLT 4X4 Off Road 5.4L Reg. Cab 3.55
K&N, WMS Velocity Tube, and Gibson Sweptside...

(For now)