Last edit by: IB Advertising
See related guides and technical advice from our community experts:
Browse all: Interior
- Dodge Ram 2nd Gen Stereo Modifications
Overview of popular modifications to customize your Ram.
Browse all: Interior
Stereo upgrade has been finished.
#1
Stereo upgrade has been finished.
OK, got my new amp and speakers in yesterday and started tearing stuff apart today. Decided to put the new rear speakers in first just to see how they sound with the head unit's onboard amp. I decided to make some new mounts since 5.25" speakers don't fit the factory hole completely. I also wanted to seal the door as much as possible, too.
Here's the rear door all stripped and ready
I made some mounting rings out of 1/4" MDF and screwed them to the opening and sealed them all around with silicone.
I siliconed any sheetmetal joints just to prevent any buzz from the bass.
I filled all the seams inside the door with expanding foam just to seal them for better acoustics.
The finished door with new speaker. The hole on the side acts like a big port and ported speakers require higher amp output to operate properly, so I filled it in with some Dynamat.
I decided to put the new amp under the passenger seat. I made a platform out of MDF for the amp to sit on. The bottom has legs to let it sit level and two mounting blocks in the middle that a screw goes through into the sheetmetal.
The top of the platform. I aprayed it flat black so it is unobtrusive. The slots are to bring the wires through and keep them neat.
To make installation easier I removed the bottom seat cushion. Here's the platform in place.
The amp on the platform. With it like this I have easy access to all the controls from the front of the seat.
The view from the back of the seat. I have easy access to all the speaker/power connections. Again, the slot keeps the wires neat and protected.
My back started tightening up and my foot was throibbing, so the wiring will have to wait until tomorrow or Sunday. Just the new speakers made an improvement, but the amp has separate crossover controls for front and rear channels that will allow me to better tailor the output to the speakers. Right now I have too much bass going to the rear speakers, but the only way to control it is to adjust the fader so they get less power. With this amp I can adjust the rolloffs independently and still retain my fader. More to come...
Here's the rear door all stripped and ready
I made some mounting rings out of 1/4" MDF and screwed them to the opening and sealed them all around with silicone.
I siliconed any sheetmetal joints just to prevent any buzz from the bass.
I filled all the seams inside the door with expanding foam just to seal them for better acoustics.
The finished door with new speaker. The hole on the side acts like a big port and ported speakers require higher amp output to operate properly, so I filled it in with some Dynamat.
I decided to put the new amp under the passenger seat. I made a platform out of MDF for the amp to sit on. The bottom has legs to let it sit level and two mounting blocks in the middle that a screw goes through into the sheetmetal.
The top of the platform. I aprayed it flat black so it is unobtrusive. The slots are to bring the wires through and keep them neat.
To make installation easier I removed the bottom seat cushion. Here's the platform in place.
The amp on the platform. With it like this I have easy access to all the controls from the front of the seat.
The view from the back of the seat. I have easy access to all the speaker/power connections. Again, the slot keeps the wires neat and protected.
My back started tightening up and my foot was throibbing, so the wiring will have to wait until tomorrow or Sunday. Just the new speakers made an improvement, but the amp has separate crossover controls for front and rear channels that will allow me to better tailor the output to the speakers. Right now I have too much bass going to the rear speakers, but the only way to control it is to adjust the fader so they get less power. With this amp I can adjust the rolloffs independently and still retain my fader. More to come...
#2
#3
#7
Trending Topics
#10
I'm really not wanting to put a sub in. I like bass, but I don't want to give up any cab space and I don't need to shake the windows. I just like good, clean sound.
The head unit has been in for little while. It's a Sony MEX-BT3700U. It has stereo bluetooth built-in so as soon as I get in the truck it connects to the phone and I can take/make calls and play music from my phone through it. I also have the HD radio module and a 10-disc CD changer that plays MP3s, so one disc holds like 10 albums. Enough music for even the longest road trip.
As for the Dynamat, yes, it makes a big difference in quieting the road noise down and making the cavernous doors a dead space so only the music comes through. I've only spent about $250 on the Dynamat, but it was worth it. The bass response is much better without all those sound waves reflecting off the back of the speakers.
Can't wait to finish it up!
The head unit has been in for little while. It's a Sony MEX-BT3700U. It has stereo bluetooth built-in so as soon as I get in the truck it connects to the phone and I can take/make calls and play music from my phone through it. I also have the HD radio module and a 10-disc CD changer that plays MP3s, so one disc holds like 10 albums. Enough music for even the longest road trip.
As for the Dynamat, yes, it makes a big difference in quieting the road noise down and making the cavernous doors a dead space so only the music comes through. I've only spent about $250 on the Dynamat, but it was worth it. The bass response is much better without all those sound waves reflecting off the back of the speakers.
Can't wait to finish it up!