Newbie Here To Car Audio

[aridranger03]

I'm sure this has been asked a billion times, but i'm new to the area of car audio and i was wondering what options i have for my truck. It's a 2003 Ranger Edge Regular Cab. What kind of upgrades can i do to my sound system that is relatively easy and inexpensive. It sounds great now, but i was wondering if it could get better. I would like to keep my 6 cd changer if thats possible. Thanks

 

[RangerFabWorks]

amplifier and speakers, infinity basslink, amp and sub.

what are you looking for??

 

[aridranger03]

I would just like to get a better sound than i have. My oem sounds great, but i think it could be better. I was just wondering if there were any inexpensive ways to do it. How much do you think a good set of speakers for the doors and behind the seats would cost?

 

[4x4fun]

you have to start with the HU, it will produce a cleaner shsarper sound.
its the brains of it all start there and work your way out.

hu then speakers then subs, then amp your speakers

 

[4x4fun]

thats too was a drunking post ill edit in the moring

 

[snomaker321]

new headunit and speakers are easy and can be pretty cheap, but if it already sounds good then some of the cheaper aftermarket stuff probably wont make much improvement. Depending on how much you want to pay, get a decent hu, a set of component speakers for the front, and some coaxial speakers (should be 6"x8") for the rear for fill.

What kind of music do you usually listen to? This can be a big factor in designing a system

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Well you can always upgrade the speakers first, but beware the factory speakers are ment to produce all sound ranges low mid and high, aftermarket speakers usually focus on the mid and high. or they have all 3 but the bass is less noticable due to the highs being clear. To keep your factory changer... is it a changer or is it an actual 6 cd player? if its a changer you may be able to hook it back in with an aftermarket HU.

 

[exbass94]

I think the single best thing you can do to improve sound qaulity is replace speakers. After all, this is what actually produces the sound. It doesn't matter how good the head unit or other components are, if the speakers are crap, the sound is gonna be crap.

 

[aridranger03]

Well you can always upgrade the speakers first, but beware the factory speakers are ment to produce all sound ranges low mid and high, aftermarket speakers usually focus on the mid and high. or they have all 3 but the bass is less noticable due to the highs being clear. To keep your factory changer... is it a changer or is it an actual 6 cd player? if its a changer you may be able to hook it back in with an aftermarket HU.

I don't know exactly which it is, all i know is that its the factory unit.

 

[aridranger03]

Are all four speakers 6x8s? Also are 5x7 and 6x8 interchangeable? Thanks for the help!

 

[aridranger03]

new headunit and speakers are easy and can be pretty cheap, but if it already sounds good then some of the cheaper aftermarket stuff probably wont make much improvement. Depending on how much you want to pay, get a decent hu, a set of component speakers for the front, and some coaxial speakers (should be 6"x8") for the rear for fill.

What kind of music do you usually listen to? This can be a big factor in designing a system

I listen to classic rock

 

[Original_Ranger84]

I don't know exactly which it is, all i know is that its the factory unit.

Well where do you put the CD's? Do you just slip them in the radio or is there like a unit in the glove box or somewhere? I am assuming the radio in which you wouldn't keep the 6 cd player if you replaced the head unit.

Are all four speakers 6x8s? Also are 5x7 and 6x8 interchangeable? Thanks for the help!

I am not completely sure in your ranger... I know my 99 ex cab 4 door has 4x 6x8's but i have heard the newer regular cabs only have 2 speakers... not sure when that started but if you do have 4 speakers I would imagine they are all 6x8's. I believe 5x7's are interchangable... but I got some killer speakers for my truck that are 6x8 aftermarkets, good bass and mid/high's, they weren'tlike sub loud but with classic rock i bet they would... ROCK!! (pun intended) ateast my AC DC and Van Halen sound amazing with them..

I listen to classic rock

 

[snomaker321]

get a good set of component speakers for the front as well as a good amp to push them and you should be good to go. you can replace the rear ones if you want but if the stock ones sound good you can just leave them as they are mainly used for fill.

 

[4x4fun]

I think the single best thing you can do to improve sound qaulity is replace speakers. After all, this is what actually produces the sound. It doesn't matter how good the head unit or other components are, if the speakers are crap, the sound is gonna be crap.

im gonna have to half fight you on that, and give in to they go hand and hand.
how ever, it is my 2c that the as far as tech goes HU will be a better investment then speakers, just do to all the new compatibilities, there like small computers now, and speakers are just still speakers,
on that note, idk how good, or whats all in there now, as you progress you will need a hu, how ever you might be able to get away with stock speakers for now. but you also have the 6 disk so its kinda in your court, we cant tell you what to do.

 

[4x4fun]

get a good set of component speakers for the front as well as a good amp to push them and you should be good to go. you can replace the rear ones if you want but if the stock ones sound good you can just leave them as they are mainly used for fill.

to amp them you need a HU first, you can tap into the OEM system, but that's getto, and do all 4 speakers. if there good enuff to mix and match there good enuff to leave alone for now.