Best speaker arrangement

[Joe-NC]

I bought my truck with no radio at all. Its killing me, so I'm going to fix the cracked dash and install a stereo at the same time. I want 4 speakers. What is the best location for them? What sounds the best?

I've never liked speakers in the dash. I'm not sure if its the vinyl covering too much of the speaker, or the sound reflecting off the windshield, but I just don't like the sound. I've seen the headliners with 4 speakers, but that looks too close to your ears. I've heard about putting them in the door, but wonder how hard that would be. I've seen the kick plate speakers near the floor too, and I think I like that the best. There aren't many options for the rear speakers other than the original location behind the seat. What do you think?

[ehjorten]

IMO - Speakers in the aftermarket kick-panels down low to keep from cutting the doors up and 6x9s in the stock 4x10 rear speaker location.  Putting the speakers down low on the kick-panel helps to equalize the distance between left and right for your listening position.  If you want more sound then you are looking at some sub-boxes behind the seat with an amp under the seat.

[mrnda]

There are brackets that fit in the back corners and are built for Chevy, I think they hold 10 X 4 speakers, and I use to have some mids in my doors.  Pretty easy to put in.  There are alot of 6X9 at teh bottom of doors but the brackets for the rear speakers are a good starting point.

[VileZambonie]

I've pretty much tried it all with the exception of the highliner and a center console like others have made. Here's what I think sounds good - dash speakers, either kick panel or door speakers. I like speaker boxes behind the seat powered by a seperate amp.

The kick panel speakers are nice. I've got 3 versions, one set from Chris here, one set from you know who and one set from Q-logic. Honestly, I can't tell a difference in sound with any of them but my least favorites are the Q-logics. I like the 3.5" speakers in the dash though. The stock ones are junk but you can easily upgrade them and I would still use them. As far as cutting the speakers into the door just do a nice job but most importantly protect the speaker from the elements and use a sound deadener. That stuff I used is excellent and I highly recommend it.

http://www.secondskinaudio.com/sound-deadener/spectrum.php

[slammed79]

I've got some little 3" speakers tucked up above the kick panels, they were there when I got the truck, and then 6x9's in a box behind the seat. All this is going to change to some 6x9's in the cab corners, some 6" rounds in the doors and a couple of tens behind the seat. Maybe a couple tweets under the dash, not 100% yet

[78 Chevyrado]

I have two 6" upfiring speakers behind the seat, two 6x9s in the front bottom of the doors, and two 3.5" in the center dash hole.  Best sound I've had in any of these trucks, and it makes more than enough bass without a sub at all. 

[1980c10]

I have two 6x9's in 6x9 boxes in each cab corner behind the seat and a kicker 4x10 in the dash center all powered by an amp under the seat. i will add another amp and sub box behind the seat in the future and maybe some mids in the kick panel location at some point but for now it is fine as i am limited by budget.

[jmj6879]

What are the factory sizes of the speakers in the dash. I'm probably going to do mine soon and I'd like to keep fabrication to a minimum and I like to keep everything looking stock..

[topp]

Factory side speakers in the dash are 3.5
The center is 4X10 AFAIK.

[GUITAR1989]

You could get these http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=18171.0

[Skunksmash]

I was thinking of one of those 1" thick, 13.5" subs from JBL. I think they're called the "thinline" or something like that. Should easily fit in our cabs. They're about $350 each though.

[beastie_3]

I have some sony subs in truck sub boxes behind my seat and the seat can be pushed all the way back without hitting. definitely cheaper than JBLs

I also have some 6x9 in each rear corner with 6x9 boxes. Planning on getting some 6" and speaker kick panels too.

[roger97338]

I recall that a buddy of mine bought a set of component speakers; the ones with the tweeter and mid-range speakers as separate units. He mounted the tweets and the mids in the plastic door panels on his Blazer. He had to hack up the door panels, but those are easier to replace than holes hacked into the steel doors. And having the mids and tweeters up high and closer to the passenger's ears made them clearly noticeable over the thumping bass of whatever huge, twin, mega-jigga-watt sub-woofers he always had to have in his rigs. (Pretend I inserted "facepalm.jpg" right about here.)

[nucknoel89]

I was thinking of one of those 1" thick, 13.5" subs from JBL. I think they're called the "thinline" or something like that. Should easily fit in our cabs. They're about $350 each though.

These apparently fit and they're cheaper.
http://www.amazon.com/PowerBass-PS-WB112T-Single-12-inch-Enclosure/dp/B003YL3IZQ

[beastie_3]

i went to the flea market and bought boxes that fit, and then the audio store for subs that fit the box.