Need advice, new to the game

[Ford Mustang]

OK, so my last post was about the Big 3 on my '00 Protege, but she got totaled shortly after making that post.

I've got a '02 S-10 supercab truck. I've got a "basic" system in there now; subwoofer and door speakers. It's nice, but my goal is to make a system that's loud and clear - not hardcore SQ, but I don't need 150db either.

I've got a Power Acoustik FUBAR 12" subwoofer, rated at 700w RMS (bought from a friend, used, for cheap) - 4 Polk Audio db651s door speakers (was recommended by the local car audio shop), and a pair of tweeters. I can get loud, but it drowns out anything other than the boom, heh. I was also recommended to buy a pair of (cheaper) Fosgate tweeters, which helped - but still not the "clarity" I'm looking for.

I've still got the stock head unit, as I don't have the cash for a double DIN receiver at the moment. CDs sound better than radio, but again, the loudness wipes out the clarity. I don't have any amps pushing my door speakers, and I'm not trying (at the moment) to make a competition car. Just something in my daily driver that sounds nice.

Any advice greatly appreciated, I've been reading for a few days now and I'm still learning quite a bit. Thanks for taking it easy on me....

[MIKE-2U]

Is all that stuff installed ? i would get a new headunit for an ipod. IMO the ipod has the best quality over cd's and the radio. Also are your speakers and tweeters amplified ?

[Ford Mustang]

All the stuff is installed, yep. No amps running for my door speakers or tweeters.

I was going to get a USB head unit like my old Protege - I had a Pioneer in there... but I have to select my options when I get money for one.

[MIKE-2U]

To make the speakers spund better and louder imo i would amp them

[ALPINE408]

my advice ditch the fords

[Bakerman]

I would def get an amp on those door speakers. Will make a world of difference. Your stock hu does not have the options to set things the way they need to be. Even if its a basic alpine, pioneer, kenwood, etc. its gonna outperform the stock one.

[n8ball2013]

Until you ditch the head unit and go after market amping them is kinda pointless. You'll still have shitty input and to buy a decent loc you can buy a head unit.

[Ford Mustang]

my advice ditch the fords

Ha - that's only because I want a Mustang, just to have fun in.

I would def get an amp on those door speakers. Will make a world of difference. Your stock hu does not have the options to set things the way they need to be. Even if its a basic alpine, pioneer, kenwood, etc. its gonna outperform the stock one.

Yeah, I know it won't sound as good without an aftermarket head unit. Is there more "advantage" going with a Double DIN versus a Single? My current stock is a Double DIN - considerably higher pricing (which is understood). Probably easier to just pull out and replace with a Double.

Different subject, is the current "combo" of speakers worth a damn, in regards to what I'm looking to do, or is that subjective to the operator?

Thanks again for all your help so far, definitely a learning process!

[EricM9104]

Is all that stuff installed ? i would get a new headunit for an ipod. IMO the ipod has the best quality over cd's and the radio. Also are your speakers and tweeters amplified ?

I'd love to see how a ipod playing a file at 320kbps being higher quality than a CD which is well over a thousand kbps, just saying.

[Tarball]

Is all that stuff installed ? i would get a new headunit for an ipod. IMO the ipod has the best quality over cd's and the radio. Also are your speakers and tweeters amplified ?

I'd love to see how a ipod playing a file at 320kbps being higher quality than a CD which is well over a thousand kbps, just saying.

No skipping ! However, with said setup skipping may be a non-issue.