Originally Posted by sullyman

I replaced the headunit with a Kenwood touchscreen DDX, Kenwood Excelon 6*8s in all four doors, and a Kenwood 1,400 watt shallow 12" sub in a custom sealed box under the rear seat powered by a 1,400 watt Kenwood mono amp. It sounds absolutely amazing at any volume all the way up through max volume (35). You really can't get any better sound in your truck. Everyone who's heard it loves it. Even buds with high end JBL and Alpine systems have given it the nod as sounding better. While there are louder systems out there, mines all about sound quality. The stock speakers are like playing sound through mud. Replacing the stock speakers makes a big difference, but you'll see even a bigger difference by replacing the headunit, if you have already replaced the speakers. The stock headunit is only 7 ways rms per channel. 10 max. If you replace the headunit and leave the stock speakers, you'll also see an improvement, but not as much over replacing the speaker first. A good Kenwood or Alpine headunit pushes 45 watts max and 22 rms. Enough to make your aftermarket speakers bump. If you go with a Sony or Pioneer headunit, you'll need a 4 channel amp to really get decent sound because they tend to be around 25 watts max, and 15 watts rms. Better than stock, but will distort out when the volumes pushed up. If you are really wanting good sound, replacing the sub is necessary. 30% of your music is in the bass sound range. No matter what you do, a 6*8 door speaker just isn't going to reproduce much bass, and it's going to distort at higher volumes. Simple matter of physics due to low excursion distance of the speaker and small surface area. If you are on a budget, and can only replace one component at a time, I'd recommend this order: 1. Speakers 2. Headunit 3. Sub

Originally Posted by sullyman

I replaced the headunit with a Kenwood touchscreen DDX, Kenwood Excelon 6*8s in all four doors, and a Kenwood 1,400 watt shallow 12" sub in a custom sealed box under the rear seat powered by a 1,400 watt Kenwood mono amp.

It sounds absolutely amazing at any volume all the way up through max volume (35).

You really can't get any better sound in your truck. Everyone who's heard it loves it. Even buds with high end JBL and Alpine systems have given it the nod as sounding better.

While there are louder systems out there, mines all about sound quality.

The stock speakers are like playing sound through mud. Replacing the stock speakers makes a big difference, but you'll see even a bigger difference by replacing the headunit, if you have already replaced the speakers. The stock headunit is only 7 ways rms per channel. 10 max.

If you replace the headunit and leave the stock speakers, you'll also see an improvement, but not as much over replacing the speaker first.

A good Kenwood or Alpine headunit pushes 45 watts max and 22 rms. Enough to make your aftermarket speakers bump.

If you go with a Sony or Pioneer headunit, you'll need a 4 channel amp to really get decent sound because they tend to be around 25 watts max, and 15 watts rms. Better than stock, but will distort out when the volumes pushed up.

If you are really wanting good sound, replacing the sub is necessary. 30% of your music is in the bass sound range. No matter what you do, a 6*8 door speaker just isn't going to reproduce much bass, and it's going to distort at higher volumes. Simple matter of physics due to low excursion distance of the speaker and small surface area.

If you are on a budget, and can only replace one component at a time, I'd recommend this order:

1. Speakers
2. Headunit
3. Sub

Originally Posted by MPETE

I have to be honest, I have had too many vehicles broken into over the years and I have no desire to have anything but a stock head unit. following the steps but excluding the h/u, what are my options? how difficult is it to amp the speakers off the stock h/u? if I want a sub too, do I need to run 2 amps and is that even possible with the stock h/u? I am NOT an audiophile, but when the windows are open and the stereo says MAX volume on it and I want more there has to be something I can do.......

Originally Posted by RES4CUE

Great advice!

I did it Speakers first, then HU, then powered sub and just added tweets.

I thought I would be happy with just new speakers but then you get bit and want more!

So I'm sure I'm headed for amping my speakers and adding a more stout sub!