2001 Screw. Can't replace stock HU AND add an amp. So between the two, it seems the better route is to replace the existing HU. I'm looking at Pioneer, Alpine, Eclipse, all basically with around 50 peak watts x 4.
I've got great home audio and home theater, but that was before kids. My budget is not so great for my Screw. But I'm hoping I can get greatly improved sound with a new HU and the proper speaker selection.

Without an amp but with the new HU, what do you think about these speakers?

1. Polk DX7 - will the new HU without amp drive these?
2. Polk DX 5.25 components - same concern as #1
3. Polk EX2560 components - will new HU without amp make these sing better than # 1,2?
4. Fosgate FNP2514 components - best buy has these on sale and they also have a nice selection of Pioneer HU. These are not the higher Fosgate lines - will these give me satisfying sound.
5. Eclipse Point Source - will HU without amp do them justice??

I know the general rule, whatever sounds best to your ear! But listening to them on a wall in a shop is quite different to the way they will sound in the Screw. General physics laws ought to apply to the choice to some degree.

Thanks for any and all input!!



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2001 XLT 4x4 Screw Gen III, Off Road, 3.55 slip, Capt Chairs, Bedliner, Ford BugShield, Two-Tone, Cab Steps

 

Keep your HU for now and change just the speakers. Pick your faves and you will be surprised how good the HU sounds with new speakers instead of the paper crap Ford and everyone else uses as stock. This way you could spend a little more on speakers now and enjoy the improvement and save up for an amp or high end head. I am looking at Kicker Impulse 5x7 components for mine but may try others.

Just my .02!

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01 Black XLT 4x2 Screw Gen I, 5.4, Moonroof, 3.55LS, Cloth Captains, Slider, Extender, ClassIII towing, 6 Disc etc.
Mods planned:
Gibson Single Sweptside, AirRaid, Superchip, Line-X bed liner, Fog/driving lights, Tint, Speed grill.

 

screwd - replied in the other forum you posted this

norm - your idea is very good, replacing those stock speakers will do wonders. Also to let you now, so far I replaced my stock HU with a Premier 720 and it sound amazingly better even with stock speakers. So changed either one will result in a significant change.

The only problem with your suggestion, is the stock HU is not powerfull at all, and it easily distorts at 1/3 to 1/2 volume. So it wouldn't be worth it to replace factory speakers with really good speaker and running the risk of the HU distorting and damaging the new speakers.

I know using the money saved on a HU to put towards mid or high end speakers instead of low end speakers is a great idea. But the stock HU's won't come close to putting out the watts the speakers would want, and they could be damaged, which makes it not worth it.

Screwd- if you looking for budget, I know people would not agree, but got to Walmart. The one by me has pioneer 6x8 2 way speakers for $67 a pair. Then go to other stores like 6th ave, Circuit City and look for clearence HU's. Then get a wiring harness and a metra dash kit, take half a day and you got a new system, better then stock, and cheap.

 

If he is looking to save money. The Pioneers are a good choice and their high sensitivity will allow them to operate with the stock HU. If you use lower sensitivity rated speakers like the Polks or even the Kickers I am looking at then a head swap will improve things. Alternatively an amp with High level inputs will allow you to keep your stock HU as well but now we are getting out of the Budget line and spending more of your cash. I may go this route but I am not sure yet. I have the "Premium" unit with 6 disc changer and cassette and I do not think a full custom install would get past the wife and budget constraints around my house. Maybe if I do her Focus first.....hmmm....

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01 Black XLT 4x2 Screw Gen I, 5.4, Moonroof, 3.55LS, Cloth Captains, Slider, Extender, ClassIII towing, 6 Disc etc.
Mods planned:
Gibson Single Sweptside, AirRaid, Superchip, Line-X bed liner, Fog/driving lights, Tint, Speed grill.

[This message has been edited by Norm (edited 06-04-2001).]

 

The first two things I got were the Sony HU CDM-X600 and the Polks DX7, big improvement. The speakers made a big difference. They sound even better with a 50x4 amp,

Alf

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2000 Silver XLT 4.6 Extended Cab



More pics at http://www.zing.com/album/?id=4292750561

Stuff I Got:
- ARE Z-series color matched cap (for my Rotties...)
- Flowmaster 40 series with Edelbrock oval tips
- Airaid intake system
- 500 watt sound system (Sony CD player, Lanzar EQ, Profile amps, Polk speakers, Kenwood subwoofer)
- carbon-look emblems
- dropped 3/5
- clear corner lenses
- color matched Street Scene mirrors
- Superchip
- 20" Alessio Daytona with 275/45/20 GTII rubber
- SVT bumper cover
- black powder coated Street Scene grilles

Stuff To Get:
- supercharger (twin screw type)

 

I LOVE my Eclipse deck. I have yet to hear a brand that sounds as good. I think I might change the stock speakers first though too.

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1997 F150, reg cab, 2wd, v6
Eclipse 5341R cd player
Eclipse 3242 amplifier
Eclipse 2101 Eq/pre-amp
JL Audio XR 5x7s
JL Audio 12W3 subwoofer

 

Before you replace your HU, read this article:

http://www.carsound.com/columns/nav0007.shtml

I just had a Sony X-Plod 1805gx (4x40, 1x150) amp, four Infinity Kappa speakers and a Cadence subwoofer in a subbox.net custom under the rear seat box installed in my S'Crew. I kept the HU and it sounds great. I just couldn't justify spending the money on the 6 CD/premium sound option just to rip it all out. I also don't need to give thieves an excuse to break into my truck (park in the city). Now that I read the article at the above site, I feel even better.

You didn't mention whether or not you went for the 6 CD/premium sound option... but if you did, don't be hasty in chucking it right off the bat.

 

I don't have the changer, only the prmium single disk player. Can't add both amp and hu, hence looking at replacing hu. At this point I'm looking at one of the Alpine's with BBE, 45-60 watts x 4. I want to get the best speakers I can using this hu, as I doubt I'll get the amp down the road (but one never knows. I would love to get into components, but don't think the hu will drive them. Thoughts?
In addition to Polks dx7, looking int JL audio 5x7, Boston (mid level series, not pro). Thoughts?

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2001 XLT 4x4 Screw Gen III, Off Road, 3.55 slip, Capt Chairs, Bedliner, Ford BugShield, Two-Tone, Cab Steps

 

screwd - You can run components off of an aftermarket HU if thats what you want to change to.

Just look for a set that have lower watts handling, such as Pioneers or Infinity Reference. I think Rockford Fosgate and maybe Polk have comps that would work also.

Thats it's peak power, so you looking at b/n 20-25 wattsx4 RMS. So look for a set that can take that low of power, and not require alot like 75+ watts RMS

 

I have the JL 5x7s(XR series), and they do sound awesome. A buddy of mine has that ALpine you are thinkig of getting. It sounds ok. IT does only have 2 sets of RCA outs on it which kinda sucks, and the display is way too busy for my taste. The voltage impedance is pretty high too(the lower, the better). It won't sound as good as an Eclipse, but it does have a ton of features. The VR series of the JL audio coaxials sounds really nice too if you want to save a little money(about $100 cheaper than the XR series I think). Good luck with whatever you get.

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1997 F150, reg cab, 2wd, v6
Eclipse 5341R cd player
Eclipse 3242 amplifier
Eclipse 2101 Eq/pre-amp
JL Audio XR 5x7s
JL Audio 12W3 subwoofer