1997 Dakota SLT Sound System..Need New Stuff
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Far NorthEast Texas
6 speakers? Do you have the Infinity system? Must be. My CC has 4 speakers.
Less resistance- or impedance, in the case of speakers- allows more current to pass through a circuit. I've read that some installers use 2-ohm spkrs to allow for something closer to a true 4-ohm load(the resistance of the speaker wire adds in series to the spkr impedance) to match amps set upfor 4-ohms per spkr. Total power remains the same, while less voltage is dropped across a 2-ohm vs a 4-ohm. Because of wire resistance it won't be double though, probably more like 4-ohm total vs 6-ohm total per speaker.
As to whether this makes enough difference for you to hear it- it may very well, but I don't know for sure, we need a stereo expert here. I do know that some aftermarket speakers used to be labeled as "4 to 6 ohms".
BTW- I passed not terribly far from Mansfield last Friday, went from the east on I-20 up through Hurst, back through Grand Prairie, then headed back east again on 20. Drove over 350 miles that day & got goodies for the truck!
Less resistance- or impedance, in the case of speakers- allows more current to pass through a circuit. I've read that some installers use 2-ohm spkrs to allow for something closer to a true 4-ohm load(the resistance of the speaker wire adds in series to the spkr impedance) to match amps set upfor 4-ohms per spkr. Total power remains the same, while less voltage is dropped across a 2-ohm vs a 4-ohm. Because of wire resistance it won't be double though, probably more like 4-ohm total vs 6-ohm total per speaker.
As to whether this makes enough difference for you to hear it- it may very well, but I don't know for sure, we need a stereo expert here. I do know that some aftermarket speakers used to be labeled as "4 to 6 ohms".
BTW- I passed not terribly far from Mansfield last Friday, went from the east on I-20 up through Hurst, back through Grand Prairie, then headed back east again on 20. Drove over 350 miles that day & got goodies for the truck!
Legend
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8,058
Likes: 184
From: Fort Worth, TX
6 speakers? Do you have the Infinity system? Must be. My CC has 4 speakers.
Less resistance- or impedance, in the case of speakers- allows more current to pass through a circuit. I've read that some installers use 2-ohm spkrs to allow for something closer to a true 4-ohm load(the resistance of the speaker wire adds in series to the spkr impedance) to match amps set upfor 4-ohms per spkr. Total power remains the same, while less voltage is dropped across a 2-ohm vs a 4-ohm. Because of wire resistance it won't be double though, probably more like 4-ohm total vs 6-ohm total per speaker.
As to whether this makes enough difference for you to hear it- it may very well, but I don't know for sure, we need a stereo expert here. I do know that some aftermarket speakers used to be labeled as "4 to 6 ohms".
BTW- I passed not terribly far from Mansfield last Friday, went from the east on I-20 up through Hurst, back through Grand Prairie, then headed back east again on 20. Drove over 350 miles that day & got goodies for the truck!
Less resistance- or impedance, in the case of speakers- allows more current to pass through a circuit. I've read that some installers use 2-ohm spkrs to allow for something closer to a true 4-ohm load(the resistance of the speaker wire adds in series to the spkr impedance) to match amps set upfor 4-ohms per spkr. Total power remains the same, while less voltage is dropped across a 2-ohm vs a 4-ohm. Because of wire resistance it won't be double though, probably more like 4-ohm total vs 6-ohm total per speaker.
As to whether this makes enough difference for you to hear it- it may very well, but I don't know for sure, we need a stereo expert here. I do know that some aftermarket speakers used to be labeled as "4 to 6 ohms".
BTW- I passed not terribly far from Mansfield last Friday, went from the east on I-20 up through Hurst, back through Grand Prairie, then headed back east again on 20. Drove over 350 miles that day & got goodies for the truck!
Any given day, I can be anywhere between mansfield and mid-arlington. I (usually) sleep in Mansfield, but UTA is my home. I'm there pretty much 9am to 7pm almost every day for class and work. My truck is my third home, I live in it and you can tell (sadly)
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Site Moderator-Dodge Tech
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 22
From: Nashville, Tennessee
Yeah, just as luck would have it I get in the truck this AM and start fooling with the radio and now the volume **** has gone ape $hit. (typical) Looks like a package deal for me now 
I'll fill you in on what I get. I would like to have someone put it in for me, BUT I have a few issues with some JOE hacking my dash wires and pulling on my 13 year old plastic trim panels 
I'll fill you in on what I get. I would like to have someone put it in for me, BUT I have a few issues with some JOE hacking my dash wires and pulling on my 13 year old plastic trim panels
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 461
Likes: 1
From: Sussex,WI
almost all stereo shops will not hack in your radio. every thing is pretty much plug and play. they should use adapters for the wire harness and a mounting kit for the head unit. getting the dash apart without scratching thr crap out of the rest of the truck is the hardest part now adays. if you can get your dash apart yourself, you could put the radio in.
Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 511
Likes: 0
From: California
its actually really easy to install a headunit. Just get the wiring diagram for your truck and the one for the headunit and play connect the dots(wires). You will have to cut off the stock plug tho!
Haha, good luck!
Haha, good luck!
Record Breaker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 20
From: Clermont, Florida
It's easy to install a new deck in a 97 Dakota, you can do it yourself in 30 minutes. The dash panel just snaps off, no screws in it at all. Open the ashtray to be able to grab the back of the dash and work from right to left to remove the dash panel, it is held in place with metal push-in retainer pins. Remove the 2 10 mm screws holding in the radio, disconnect the gray and black power and speaker plugs, unplug the antenna and remove the 10 mm bolt holding the ground strap to the back of the radio.
You can buy an installation kit for the new radio at Autozone, Advance, Walmart, Best Buy or any independent car audio store, and you can also buy a wire harness that you wire to the new radio and it will just plug right in to the factory radio connector plugs. The installation kit and harness together should cost maybe $20.00 to $30.00. The mating harness has the exact same wire colors as the wire harness for the new deck. You just wire it color for color, and if there is a light blue wire on the new deck don't use it, it is for a cell phone mute input. Ground the new radio by extending the ground wire for it down to one of the kickpanels and ground it to clean bare metal under an existing nut or bolt there. It is not a good idea to use the factory radio ground strap, they become contaminated over time and are not a good enough ground for today's high-powered decks.
Be sure you connect the blue/white remote on wire from your new deck to the blue/white wire on the mating wire harness so the factory Infinity amplifier will turn on, otherwise there will be no sound. Sometimes depending on the manufacturer of the mating harness, the amp remote on wire in the mating harness is just solid blue, but no matter which color it is, that is where you connect the remote on wire from the deck.
If your new deck does not have dedicated illumination or dimmer wires on it, tape up and insulate the orange and orange/white wires on the mating harness. And if there is a brown wire onthe mating harness, tape it off as well. It is for a factory mute circuit which Dakota's don't have.
It's super easy to install a new deck in your truck. I would say don't have someone else do it unless there is a free installation deal on it.
Jimmy
You can buy an installation kit for the new radio at Autozone, Advance, Walmart, Best Buy or any independent car audio store, and you can also buy a wire harness that you wire to the new radio and it will just plug right in to the factory radio connector plugs. The installation kit and harness together should cost maybe $20.00 to $30.00. The mating harness has the exact same wire colors as the wire harness for the new deck. You just wire it color for color, and if there is a light blue wire on the new deck don't use it, it is for a cell phone mute input. Ground the new radio by extending the ground wire for it down to one of the kickpanels and ground it to clean bare metal under an existing nut or bolt there. It is not a good idea to use the factory radio ground strap, they become contaminated over time and are not a good enough ground for today's high-powered decks.
Be sure you connect the blue/white remote on wire from your new deck to the blue/white wire on the mating wire harness so the factory Infinity amplifier will turn on, otherwise there will be no sound. Sometimes depending on the manufacturer of the mating harness, the amp remote on wire in the mating harness is just solid blue, but no matter which color it is, that is where you connect the remote on wire from the deck.
If your new deck does not have dedicated illumination or dimmer wires on it, tape up and insulate the orange and orange/white wires on the mating harness. And if there is a brown wire onthe mating harness, tape it off as well. It is for a factory mute circuit which Dakota's don't have.
It's super easy to install a new deck in your truck. I would say don't have someone else do it unless there is a free installation deal on it.
Jimmy
Legend
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8,058
Likes: 184
From: Fort Worth, TX
It's easy to install a new deck in a 97 Dakota, you can do it yourself in 30 minutes. The dash panel just snaps off, no screws in it at all. Open the ashtray to be able to grab the back of the dash and work from right to left to remove the dash panel, it is held in place with metal push-in retainer pins. Remove the 2 10 mm screws holding in the radio, disconnect the gray and black power and speaker plugs, unplug the antenna and remove the 10 mm bolt holding the ground strap to the back of the radio.
You can buy an installation kit for the new radio at Autozone, Advance, Walmart, Best Buy or any independent car audio store, and you can also buy a wire harness that you wire to the new radio and it will just plug right in to the factory radio connector plugs. The installation kit and harness together should cost maybe $20.00 to $30.00. The mating harness has the exact same wire colors as the wire harness for the new deck. You just wire it color for color, and if there is a light blue wire on the new deck don't use it, it is for a cell phone mute input. Ground the new radio by extending the ground wire for it down to one of the kickpanels and ground it to clean bare metal under an existing nut or bolt there. It is not a good idea to use the factory radio ground strap, they become contaminated over time and are not a good enough ground for today's high-powered decks.
Be sure you connect the blue/white remote on wire from your new deck to the blue/white wire on the mating wire harness so the factory Infinity amplifier will turn on, otherwise there will be no sound. Sometimes depending on the manufacturer of the mating harness, the amp remote on wire in the mating harness is just solid blue, but no matter which color it is, that is where you connect the remote on wire from the deck.
If your new deck does not have dedicated illumination or dimmer wires on it, tape up and insulate the orange and orange/white wires on the mating harness. And if there is a brown wire onthe mating harness, tape it off as well. It is for a factory mute circuit which Dakota's don't have.
It's super easy to install a new deck in your truck. I would say don't have someone else do it unless there is a free installation deal on it.
Jimmy
You can buy an installation kit for the new radio at Autozone, Advance, Walmart, Best Buy or any independent car audio store, and you can also buy a wire harness that you wire to the new radio and it will just plug right in to the factory radio connector plugs. The installation kit and harness together should cost maybe $20.00 to $30.00. The mating harness has the exact same wire colors as the wire harness for the new deck. You just wire it color for color, and if there is a light blue wire on the new deck don't use it, it is for a cell phone mute input. Ground the new radio by extending the ground wire for it down to one of the kickpanels and ground it to clean bare metal under an existing nut or bolt there. It is not a good idea to use the factory radio ground strap, they become contaminated over time and are not a good enough ground for today's high-powered decks.
Be sure you connect the blue/white remote on wire from your new deck to the blue/white wire on the mating wire harness so the factory Infinity amplifier will turn on, otherwise there will be no sound. Sometimes depending on the manufacturer of the mating harness, the amp remote on wire in the mating harness is just solid blue, but no matter which color it is, that is where you connect the remote on wire from the deck.
If your new deck does not have dedicated illumination or dimmer wires on it, tape up and insulate the orange and orange/white wires on the mating harness. And if there is a brown wire onthe mating harness, tape it off as well. It is for a factory mute circuit which Dakota's don't have.
It's super easy to install a new deck in your truck. I would say don't have someone else do it unless there is a free installation deal on it.
Jimmy
I used the crutchfield harness and opening adapter, looks pretty good really. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1302100...EH-2100IB.html
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
From: Far NorthEast Texas
Yup, +2 on what Jimmy said. It's obvious that he has more experience than me at installing car stereos, even though my experiences do go back to about 1970! The first one I put in was an 8-track, we hung 'em under the dash or hid 'em in the glove box back then.
The mounting kit and head unit wiring adapter harness that he mentions- yes, you can track 'em down & buy 'em yourself. *However*:if you buy a head unit from Crutchfield they'll throw those in for free, plus specific-to-your-vehicle instructions for installing speakers & head unit.
The mounting kit and head unit wiring adapter harness that he mentions- yes, you can track 'em down & buy 'em yourself. *However*:if you buy a head unit from Crutchfield they'll throw those in for free, plus specific-to-your-vehicle instructions for installing speakers & head unit.
Legend
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8,058
Likes: 184
From: Fort Worth, TX
The mounting kit and head unit wiring adapter harness that he mentions- yes, you can track 'em down & buy 'em yourself. *However*:if you buy a head unit from Crutchfield they'll throw those in for free, plus specific-to-your-vehicle instructions for installing speakers & head unit.
Thread Starter
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Site Moderator-Dodge Tech
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,724
Likes: 22
From: Nashville, Tennessee
Finally ordered my new system after mulling over reviews and such. I tend to be a little OCD when it comes to buying electronics. But I guess that's a good thing.
Here is what I settled on>>>
Head Unit http://www.crutchfield.com/p_158GT64...I.html?tp=5684 I like that it seems to be pretty straightforwrd layout. One of the very few I saw with actual presets BUTTONS for AM/FM. I found this for a few bucks less on a couple other sites, but it was unclear what was included unlike Crutchfield.
2 Pairs of these for doors and back seat quarters.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500SPS6...600.html?tp=95
However I didn't buy them from Crutchfield, Onlinecarstereo.com had them for $67.00 a pair instead of $90.00.
Tweeters, I went for these. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1081031...1t.html?tp=107 Again...bought these somehwere else for $59.00 rather than $90.00
Total cost $352...
Any thoughts or opinions?
Here is what I settled on>>>
Head Unit http://www.crutchfield.com/p_158GT64...I.html?tp=5684 I like that it seems to be pretty straightforwrd layout. One of the very few I saw with actual presets BUTTONS for AM/FM. I found this for a few bucks less on a couple other sites, but it was unclear what was included unlike Crutchfield.
2 Pairs of these for doors and back seat quarters.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500SPS6...600.html?tp=95
However I didn't buy them from Crutchfield, Onlinecarstereo.com had them for $67.00 a pair instead of $90.00.
Tweeters, I went for these. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_1081031...1t.html?tp=107 Again...bought these somehwere else for $59.00 rather than $90.00
Total cost $352...
Any thoughts or opinions?