Filthy Filbert
01-25-2012, 10:17 PM
it's been a slow process, but I'm finally done and happy with my sound system!
I'll post pics here for all others to see what I did.
First, as soon as I got the truck, I noted it had pioneer speakers in the doors with the factory tweeter "hot wired" to the pioneer. first thing I did was put in a new head unit so that I can plug my phone in to play my music without having to mess with CDs all the time.
simple sony explode head unit. it was like 18 watts RMS x 4
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c6/filbert383/Dakota%20RT%20forum/photo11-1.jpg
then I added Alpine componets. the factory tweeters with aftermarket 6.5s flat out sucked. the highs were so shrill it made my ears hurt with no way to tune it. just adding the alpines made a huge difference in sound. WAY better!
nice stealth install. almost looks like factory, and really blends in with the door well.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c6/filbert383/Dakota%20RT%20forum/photo41.jpg
now, I'm no audiophile, but I felt I was missing something. I needed bass. just a little, and I needed a sub. but, where to put one? they take up so much room!
not anymore! I picked up a Boss 1500w (its more like 200-300w RMS I don't know and don't care) powered compact sub for about $130 shipped.
Installed it today and it's perfect. it's not punchy. it won't rattle my license plate off the truck, it won't shake house windows 3 miles away. but it's a clean deep bass that gives you a full sound image. (holy crap, did I just say sound image...maybe I am turning into an audiophile!)
Great thing, is that it's compact and fits behind the passenger seat with room to spare!
here it is installed:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c6/filbert383/Dakota%20RT%20forum/photo2.jpg
and I added the seperate bass volume to the panel below the head unit as seen here. easy to reach, but not in the way of anything.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c6/filbert383/Dakota%20RT%20forum/photo1.jpg
and with the seat pushed back, there's still a ton of room back there! again, really adding to the stealth look, as you really can't see it unless your in the driver seat and looking back at it. (ignore the camo pouch. that's my advanced first aid kit, velcroed to the wall there for quick and easy access if I come across an accident scene)
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c6/filbert383/Dakota%20RT%20forum/photo21.jpg
I'll post pics here for all others to see what I did.
First, as soon as I got the truck, I noted it had pioneer speakers in the doors with the factory tweeter "hot wired" to the pioneer. first thing I did was put in a new head unit so that I can plug my phone in to play my music without having to mess with CDs all the time.
simple sony explode head unit. it was like 18 watts RMS x 4
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c6/filbert383/Dakota%20RT%20forum/photo11-1.jpg
then I added Alpine componets. the factory tweeters with aftermarket 6.5s flat out sucked. the highs were so shrill it made my ears hurt with no way to tune it. just adding the alpines made a huge difference in sound. WAY better!
nice stealth install. almost looks like factory, and really blends in with the door well.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c6/filbert383/Dakota%20RT%20forum/photo41.jpg
now, I'm no audiophile, but I felt I was missing something. I needed bass. just a little, and I needed a sub. but, where to put one? they take up so much room!
not anymore! I picked up a Boss 1500w (its more like 200-300w RMS I don't know and don't care) powered compact sub for about $130 shipped.
Installed it today and it's perfect. it's not punchy. it won't rattle my license plate off the truck, it won't shake house windows 3 miles away. but it's a clean deep bass that gives you a full sound image. (holy crap, did I just say sound image...maybe I am turning into an audiophile!)
Great thing, is that it's compact and fits behind the passenger seat with room to spare!
here it is installed:
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c6/filbert383/Dakota%20RT%20forum/photo2.jpg
and I added the seperate bass volume to the panel below the head unit as seen here. easy to reach, but not in the way of anything.
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c6/filbert383/Dakota%20RT%20forum/photo1.jpg
and with the seat pushed back, there's still a ton of room back there! again, really adding to the stealth look, as you really can't see it unless your in the driver seat and looking back at it. (ignore the camo pouch. that's my advanced first aid kit, velcroed to the wall there for quick and easy access if I come across an accident scene)
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c6/filbert383/Dakota%20RT%20forum/photo21.jpg