98 Dodge Ram extended cab

[Tank]

Factory left front speaker fried. Was debating just replacing it but may upgrade. I have a really nice home system, but do not know much about car audio. I'm not into the house shaking car systems I hear drive by - I just want good, clean, rich, sound that I can crank a little bit. Do you think that a sub and amp make the huge difference, or would a new, quality head unit with two good front speakers suffice... front what I've read here, rear speakers are pretty much optional. I know that many will say - "it's whatever your taste is." My budget will probably be 400-500 max. I just want nice sound that doesn't cause my wife to kill me (I spent a lot on my home system last year hahahahaha). Lastly - are kick panels the way to go with a pickup truck?

Tank

[exalted512]

yes, kick panels really are the way to go, but youll never get them if you budget is only 4-500 $$
first off, kick panels, $130
http://www.cardomain.com/item/QLCQLK3001BA1

head unit:
$190
http://www.electronicscity.com/produ...6d3df6d8bf869c
polk db components for kicks
$200
http://www.sounddomain.com/item/POLDB6500
mtx 2 channel amp
$160
http://www.cardomain.com/item/MTX342
without kickpanels, youre looking at $550 with no box for the sub and no wiring, you can get a wiring kit for like$25 at wal-mart though, youll also need about $30-40 of stuff to install your headunit, so i went past your budget by about $100...
you can get CDT components for $150 off thezeb.com, but i would never recommend ordering from there. by far the worst customer service ive ever dealt with in my entire life, but itd save you $50. also, you could go to onlinecarestereo.com and look up hifonics amps. they have a falcon?? amp thats $90 and would go along with those cdts pretty well, so that would put everything under your budget, but you wont have a sub. if you wanted to get a sub, even if you wanted to get it in a few months or a year, id get a 4 channel amp and just not use 2 channels until you get a sub. this way you could run your components off of 2 channels and when you get a sub, you could bridge the last 2 channels
-Cody

[MacLeod]

Kick panels are only necessary if you want precise imaging. Other than that, the stock locations with tweeters mounted high will be just fine.

For speakers on a budget, I agree with Cody's choice of the DB's. Awesome speakers for the money. However I would go with the DB675 for $20 more. Im pretty sure you can get them in your doors. If I could get Momo 6x9's and then the MM6s Im sure you can squeeze the 675's in there with a little minor bending. It would be worth the effort.

For an amp you could go with this MTX Thunder404 for $170. You will use this to power your DB's and your sub. Ya gotta have a sub.

For a sub I would go with this DB104 for $100. Build your own box which would save you a bunch of money. It shouldnt cost you more then $30 if you have some basic tools.

The head unit Cody suggested would be a great one but for $30 more check out this
P7 for $220. I was an Alpine man but lately Ive been liking Pioneer gear more and more.

All toll, youre looking at about $700 for this particular setup which I know is over your stated $500 budget but for a little more you could have a stout system with a sub.

[Tank]

Great info guys. I'm going down to my local electronics store tomorrow to check things out given the info I have. I get pretty good deals there and they have a big selection. Install is reasonable too if I have them do it - only costs for the wiring harnesses, etc. that they have to use. I see my wallet starting to wince a bit. My wife actually encouraged me to pick up an XM receiver to go with it that I can pull out and use in the house too - she has a built XM in in her car and loves it an tells me that it isn't too much to add another reciever to an existing account. Guess I had best go shovel some neighbor's driveways and get a few more $$$ in my pocket hahahahaha.

Thanks,

Tank

[MacLeod]

LOL!

Every little bit helps!

[exalted512]

i pull in about $150 a month donating plasma :D
-Cody

[AustinKP]

Originally posted by exalted512
i pull in about $150 a month donating plasma :D
-Cody

You go twice a week? I used to do that before I got married for extra non-taxable spending money. Made almost $200/mo. I still have my track marks :)
-Austin

[exalted512]

twice a week when im at college, theres no place here to do it damn it...but if i go every time i can i get just at $160
-Cody