Best speaker arrangement

[Radioflyer]

This is a hot topic for me as I'm getting my newest '85 Silverado going. I cut the 6x9's in the door in my older 85 but the newer one has power windows so that's not an option. I am thinking about replacing the 3.5" in the dash panel and 10x4's in the stock location. I'm also thinking about building separate boxes for 6x9's in the location of the 10x4's. I built a box for a JL Audio10W5 that sat in the middle of the truck dash and bench seat which made sitting in the middle impossible but made a great place to put a drink holder. Unfortunately the sub is so deep that a box will be hard to fit behind the seat. I like rear firing subs for best sound but I love the punch from a JL sub. I need a new radio too

Blessings,

Jay

[three8six]

I seen a bracket somewhere to put two 4 inch speakers in where your 4x10 used to go. It looks like something one could make at their house. You could do just four dash speakers if you want it to be low key.

[thachevythang]

When I purchased my truck I only had 6x9's in the doors. One was blown already and found out after another set that its not the best place for 'em. Since then I've put a cheap boss set up in to see how I like it.

I have two 3" tweeters in each of the back cab pillars. 30 bucks for two sets. I have four 6x9's in a box behind the seat. 40 bucks for all four. I have a custom box in my bed with two 12's and a 15. The 12's were 80 bucks for the two and the 15 I already had. 3 amps I already owned under the seat. 12's on one, 6x9's on one, 15 on one. IMO it sounds great. I hear it all, feel it all, and use it for all my parties no DJ needed! Need to get around to more sound proofing though.

Room for improvement? Heck yes. The 6x9's will more than likely end up in the bed as well. In an ongoing bed project. One more set with the brackets in the cab corners. One kick panel set and get the proper amps. I'll be satisfied. If I wasn't bogus on speakers it would be a kick panel set, 6x9's in the corners and probly just a bazooka tube behind the seat.

[Radioflyer]

I did some research over the weekend and I think I'm going to make spacers out of MDF with fleece and resin for some 6 3/4" for the door. Tweeter in the door panels up high near the door lock and window switches. Still thinking 3.5's in the upper dash although that was ill-advised. I wanted a (1) JL audio 13" shallow but the price made me consider (2) Rockford Fosgate shallow 12's in a custom box behind the seat. Still not sure on the amp. I have been talked out of a Pioneer deck for a Kenwood... there nice with great features

[thachevythang]

I did some research over the weekend and I think I'm going to make spacers out of MDF with fleece and resin for some 6 3/4" for the door. Tweeter in the door panels up high near the door lock and window switches. Still thinking 3.5's in the upper dash although that was ill-advised. I wanted a (1) JL audio 13" shallow but the price made me consider (2) Rockford Fosgate shallow 12's in a custom box behind the seat. Still not sure on the amp. I have been talked out of a Pioneer deck for a Kenwood... there nice with great features

I thought about placing them in the door panels too, but after them being in the vent with issues decided not to. I was advised some weather proofing for protection in the doors helps alot.

If I didn't already cover my dash, I would have placed one set of tweeters in there. I have all the music behind me but the tweeters help out the balance.

I myself have had kenwoods and pioneers. I like either as long as they aren't complicated with feature menus. I'm looking at getting a pyle 4.5 touchscreen. Pretty cheap brand but I like to get cheap and see if its a feature/setup I like. I won't have to cut my dash anymore for it to fit either. Anybody have some input/reviews on touchscreens?

[Bitzer!]

Hi guys,
When I got my truck it had two speakers "stuffed" down the side of the rear seat and only the magnet against the rear panel was the only thing securing it.

The front had what looks like a homemade box on the floor with 2x 6" in and the dash speaker disconnected.

It also had two huge holes hacked in the front doors that I have since deleted 'cos I'm looking for the "clean" look.

The thought at the moment and when time permits is to "slim-jim" the speakers in boxes to the side of the rear seats, 2 or 4 into the dash frame and two in the kick panel.

And I've remembered to run new wires before fitting new carpets etc!

[SUX2BU99]

For those that want to put door speakers in, be aware if you have power windows. The power mechanism is RIGHT where you would want to put the speaker, which is frustrating! Otherwise you are stuck with putting them at the rear of the door. I would have actually been fine if my truck DIDN'T have power windows because then I would have room to fit door speakers without having to build a huge build-out and they would be more reliable!

I put 7" midbass in custom kick panels that I made out of the factory ones and am currently running tweeters in the dash spot but am going to move them back down to the kick, with custom pods I'm making right now.

[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.

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

Yeah but the JBL's probly hit like a freakin truck. I've found that trying to cheap out usually ends up getting me nowhere. Unless I know exactly what I'm doing, and I'm not really much of a sound system guy.

[Radioflyer]

One thing I have heard about thin or shallow speakers is that they require a lot of power ot make them sound good because they are so " tight". Just and FYI from my 2 cents.

[nlauffer]

I am currently redoing the interior on my 83 GMC SWB.  I was thinking of a nice set of 3.5s (in dash), two 6x9s (replace 4x10 corners), and an  Infinity Basslink 200W powerd sub.  I think the setup should sound pretty decent.  I am not sure on the powered sub.  The good part is it's compact and has the amp built in.  Probably add a smallish 4 channel amp for the other speakers. 

Here is a thought:

How do you go about having the 3.5s and 4x10 in dash and 6x9s in rear corners, without an amp.  My CD player only has front R&L and rear R&L speaker wires.  Where does the fifth speaker get it's power? Would you run the 3.5s off the front right and the 4x10 off the front left?

[Skunksmash]

My neighbor says that either your radio has to have that extra output wire, or you have to run an amp. My radio supports sub out so I always assumed they all do. Maybe they just sell radios for a little bit cheaper for people who aren't interested in having a subwoofer.

[autorepr]

I just put a stereo and speakers in my 87.  I built some mdf wood boxes for the rear corners and installed Pioneer 3way 6X9s in them and hooked them up normal to the R and L rear radio channels. I put Pioneer 3.5"s in the stock dash location and wired them in series to the front L channel only of the radio. I put a 4X10 in the stock center dash location and wired it normal to the front R channel. The radio is a Pioneer 4X50watt with a USB hook up in the front for my IPOD. It sounds pretty good. Obviously it's not a super loud competition stereo system but it's a start for a truck that had no radio.  I plan to add a sub and amp in a box behind the seat and maybe another amp and speakers in the doors. That'll get the volume up!

If you get your high range speakers in the dash the highs will bounce off the windshield and hit you right in the ears at all volumes. It'll be especially clear at low volumes.

[nlauffer]

I was thinking about running the front speakers that way.  I also thought if you use two 4" speakers to replace the 4x10 you could wire the right side 4" with the right side 3.5" and the left side 4" with the left side 3.5".  As long as there is not a problem hooking two speakers to the same wire. 

Also, on the sub output.  My CD player also has a sub output, but it is an RCA type hookup and not a regular speaker wire hookup.  I think almost all CD players are this way.

I got 3.5" kickers for the dash, mainly for highs.  I was suprised at how much mid and bass come from them.  obviously not much compared to bigger speakers, but they have a good mix for such a small speaker.  these work great. 

[Skunksmash]

Also what is the best modern speaker size to cram into those old 4x6 mounting places in the back of the cab? They can quite easily be made bigger with the proper tools. No need to buy anything you can just make the hole bigger in the ones you've already got. I think...

[cheeba_c10]

i really kinda went the cheap route in mine.  they guy i got the truck from left the little boxes behind the seat...i believe they're 6's or something.  went to autozone and bought a tape deck.  it's cool cause i didn't have to cut the dash...fit right into the opening.  it also has aux input for my cell (i use it for radio since i don't have the antenna and also for more music) or you can hook up an ipod.  plus i've got a million tapes that i haven't heard in years.  the deck surprisingly had 1 set of cables on the back to allow me to hook up an amp.  hooked up the speakers behind the seat straight to the deck and it was too low...put an amp to them and it was too much.  i ended up going to pep boys and buying some cheap 4 way 6x9's for like $30 and some boxes for $25.  hooked the amp up to the 6x9's and they surprisingly sounded good.  they wouldn't fit behind the seat so what i ended up doing was putting them on the hump in the front between driver and passenger.  went to lowes to get some brackets so that i can screw them down into the floor board...but they don't move when i'm driving.  i've got to get some y-connectors so that i can run all channels on my amp...and i'll rehook up the speakers behind the door.  i'm not going for all out power...just something strong enough for me to ride around to...and this set up serves that purpose and it was relatively cheap.  along with the above prices mentioned...i believe the deck was less than $40 and the amp wiring kit was $20 from walmart.