[Guest]

Hi Everyone,

I have been reading through this section of the forum, lots of info but can't say I have figured out the answer to my question.

I have a 2012 Ram Express Quad Cab, and I don't believe it has any sort of premium audio, it does have Sirius and the Uconnect option though if that changes anything. I am interested in upgrading my speakers for better audio quality. I don't want to change the head unit or amplifiers so that I can retain the stock appearance. Any recommendations for which speakers to swap out and what models to replace them with? I don't need super high end stuff, just something with cleaner sound than the stock equipment.

Thanks in advance!

 

[GTyankee]

It may help if you get the 3 letters on the radios face, lower right corner
RES 730n, most expensive with Navagation
RBZ 430n, has Navigation
RHB 430, no Navigation
RES 130, no screen, no Navigation, base radio

some of these radios have had a recent Gracenotes upgrade, i believe that is the sound
your radio may have already received this update
Most dealerships have not heard about it yet

 

[Guest]

Thanks, I just checked and it only sais RES on the bottom right side. The only speakers I can locate are the front and rear door speakers along with what appears to be speakers on top of the dash on each bottom corner of the windshield.

 

[Guest]

So after doing some more research, it seems I have a few options.

For the dash.
It seems like I could either go with Kicker DS35 ($32) or Polk DB 351 ($70).

For the doors.
I could try to stuff Kicker DS693 6x9 3 ways in ($80 f/ $80 r). They should fit right in the rear but the fronts will take some custom modification to make work from what I've read. I'd rather avoid cutting up my new truck.

I could go with Polk Audio db65q 6.5" circular 2 ways (effectively $75 f/ $75 r). These were recommended by the Crutchfield rep.

Or, I could go with the Kicker DS525 5.25" Circular 2 ways ($48 f/ $48 r).

These prices are all off crutchfield. I would like to improve sound over stock for minimal investment. Any thoughts? Should I be paying most attention to sensitivity since the stock head unit only puts out 20W RMS X 4 (at least from my research)? Upgrading amp power may be an option in the future, but for now I would like to keep the factory head unit. If anyone has any ideas for an amp I could run off the stock headunit that wouldn't sound bad, I am all ears.

Thank you!!!

 

[Guest]

I'm just thinking out loud here, but since the rear channels on the stock base Media center 130 head unit are full range, couldn't I just run a Line out Converter from the rear speaker output on the head unit to an aftermarket amplifier? Then run my own wires from the amplifier to the 6 speakers I would install?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Miami Son]

It may help if you get the 3 letters on the radios face, lower right corner
RES 730n, most expensive with Navagation
RBZ 430n, has Navigation
RHB 430, no Navigation
RES 130, no screen, no Navigation, base radio

some of these radios have had a recent Gracenotes upgrade, i believe that is the sound
your radio may have already received this update
Most dealerships have not heard about it yet

You got the RBZ and RHB mixed up. RBZ has no navigation, RHB does.

To the OP, I'm in the same boat. I have a set of Kicker DS693s for the doors and 3.5s for the dash coming next week. Not interested in an aftermarket radio or in adding amps and a subwoofer, just want something better than the stockers. WIll post a DIY/review once everything gets here.

 

[Guest]

Sounds good. For now I just decided to order the 6 speakers and see how it sounds, then decide if I need to amplify them further.

For the dash I went with the Polk db351 3.5" units and for all the doors I went with the Polk db651s 6.5" speakers. I'm hoping their high sensitivity will work well with the stock setup. Now anxiously awaiting their arrival.

 

[Guest]

So got the polks installed. Sounds pretty good and I am happy with it. The mids and highs are clear but the lows are less than sufficient. I think I am going to research a small sub to complement the system.

 

[Guest]

So this is what I am thinking of going with for the subwoofer setup.

Box: Console Box From SuperCrewSound
http://www.supercrewsound.com/02RamConsole.html

Subwoofer: Kicker 10" Solo classic
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_20609S10C4/Kicker-Solo-Classic-09S10C4.html#details-tab

Amplifier: Sound Ordnance M-1500
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_777M1500/Sound-Ordnance-M-1500.html