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5th Gen Stock Stereo Upgrade Options?

Atvdinner

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for the 6 speaker base (either w/ANC or without) I highly recommend taking audio directly out of radio sending it to a JL Audio FIX 86 processor which does a really good job of flatting out levels and provides nice clean signal for your choice of Amp(s).. This is nice set-up retaining all your factory radio controls giving an aftermarket effect.. When installing aftermarket speakers, the radio will need to see a load specific to factory speakers.. I used this Harness https://www.netaudiowf.com/product/2013-18-dodge-ram-radio-t-harness-with-load-resistors/ with load resistors, which also gave me an easy way to splice into my speaker outputs.. Trust me folks.. the factory radio will perform at a professional level. Build it right and you will be happy
Here's another dumb question. When you say the JL Audio fix 86, does it require the $400.00 or does something like this https://www.abt.com/product/123762/...W9ZnUlA40_qvCySrmMtKLBKEqwNB8UUQaAvzfEALw_wcB work.

I don't know anything about such a device. If it helps I only wish to add an amp for a sub or two.
 

Jperconte

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Hey Guys, Firstly, thanks for providing some much detailed information regarding the Audio System in the Ram. This is my first Ram, so I'm still on the learning curve, but no stranger to Car audio. I don't have the Alpine system, and personally, I have never invested in a factory upgraded audio system because they are just junk! In my 2019 Ram 1500, I have the 8.4 screen with 6 speakers and Active Noise Cancellation, or ANC. I'm planning to upgrade the speakers, add two subs under the rear seat, and add two amps. I will most likely use line level from the radio, with a DSP into the amps, and tap into the output of the ANC for the speakers. or I may run new wire.

Anyway, I'm torn between these two Digital Processors, either the Audio Control LQi-7, or the Maestro DSR1. The AC seems to be a fairly a straight forward installation and adds some EQ and bass restoration. However, the DSR1 offers a few more features but needs to run in universal mode, and needs to be flashed from both Rockford Fosgate and Maestro before installation. Therefore, really not taking advantage of all the features, and does not tie into the databus. Has anyone had experience with either one of the devices?

I have attached a diagram of the ANC and wiring harness for your review.
 

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JKelly

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Hey guys, I just bought a new 19 Laramie Limited and love it! It has the Alpine stereo that I am in the process of upgrading thanks to these posts. It is all great information.
So far I have upgraded the front dash and door speaker with JL C2-350s and C2-690tx and am very happy with them. I've always been a JL fan.

I would like to upgrade the subwoofer with the JL 10TW3-D4 but am not sure if will fit.
  • does anyone know the stock enclosure's depth?
  • does anyone know the watts per channel going to the factory sub?
  • does anyone know the ohm of factory sub?
  • I know it is 3 channels, would i be able to just use 2 of them on the new JL sub?
    • any issue other than not enough power going to it?
Thanks, I appreciate all help and suggestions
 

kirkelli

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Here's another dumb question. When you say the JL Audio fix 86, does it require the $400.00 or does something like this https://www.abt.com/product/123762/...W9ZnUlA40_qvCySrmMtKLBKEqwNB8UUQaAvzfEALw_wcB work.

I don't know anything about such a device. If it helps I only wish to add an amp for a sub or two.
That is a two channel version of the FIX 86 which is a 4 CH.. The Ram 6 Speaker Radio is 4 CH system. The two mid speakers are bridged from the front speakers. If you want to run a symbol two ch. system, this would work but i don't recommend as you'll loose two channels and some functionality of your radio. i.e. balance control and chimes etc. The $400 is kind of step price for the FIX 86, but i looked at from perspective of either buying a new head unit or keeping factory.. A new head unit with necessary vehicle specific adapters would be well into $1,000 Plus.. I gambled and tried the FIX and totally satisfied. I would not do it any other way given a second choice.
 

kirkelli

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Hey Guys, Firstly, thanks for providing some much detailed information regarding the Audio System in the Ram. This is my first Ram, so I'm still on the learning curve, but no stranger to Car audio. I don't have the Alpine system, and personally, I have never invested in a factory upgraded audio system because they are just junk! In my 2019 Ram 1500, I have the 8.4 screen with 6 speakers and Active Noise Cancellation, or ANC. I'm planning to upgrade the speakers, add two subs under the rear seat, and add two amps. I will most likely use line level from the radio, with a DSP into the amps, and tap into the output of the ANC for the speakers. or I may run new wire.

Anyway, I'm torn between these two Digital Processors, either the Audio Control LQi-7, or the Maestro DSR1. The AC seems to be a fairly a straight forward installation and adds some EQ and bass restoration. However, the DSR1 offers a few more features but needs to run in universal mode, and needs to be flashed from both Rockford Fosgate and Maestro before installation. Therefore, really not taking advantage of all the features, and does not tie into the databus. Has anyone had experience with either one of the devices?

I have attached a diagram of the ANC and wiring harness for your review.
If you want a really sweet set up (ihave this system) go with a FIX 86 and feed an 8-CH JL Audio VXi amp for your 8 speakers (considering you go with all new speakers including Tweets in the front) and a VxI Mono for your Sub(s). The VXi amps have built in DSP and are configurable with their free TUN software. You will be blown away with the ease of using the software and the tuning abilities this will provide. The neat thing w/the VXi amps, you also have a second optical input you can use and easily switch with their digital remote control switch. I also a FiiO DAP w/optical output and all my music files are burned in FLAC. When i hit my VXi amps with this DAP input, i never want to leave my vehicle.. It's complete Heaven.. In fact, i get excited just writing this.. I love the tunes in my truck.
 

Atvdinner

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That is a two channel version of the FIX 86 which is a 4 CH.. The Ram 6 Speaker Radio is 4 CH system. The two mid speakers are bridged from the front speakers. If you want to run a symbol two ch. system, this would work but i don't recommend as you'll loose two channels and some functionality of your radio. i.e. balance control and chimes etc. The $400 is kind of step price for the FIX 86, but i looked at from perspective of either buying a new head unit or keeping factory.. A new head unit with necessary vehicle specific adapters would be well into $1,000 Plus.. I gambled and tried the FIX and totally satisfied. I would not do it any other way given a second choice.

Excuse my ignorance. I would only have to tap into my speakers for signal and run it to a line out converter them to the amp? Just when I thought I understood something
 

Walski

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I’m over playing games trying to intergrate the base 6 speaker no amps/no anc I’m replacing the head unit
 

tuner1129

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Anyone in So Cal better yet in or by the Inland Empire with the stock 6 speakers and ANC done a complete amp, dsp and subwoofer install? I would sure like your help in person so I can finally get all these crappy speakers which if I read correctly here its actually a 4 channel and the 2 front shield speakers are bridge I love my truck but wow my versa note has a better sounding speakers.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
 

onelochevy

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New speakers came in yesterday. Gonna try and get them installed this weekend.
 

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kirkelli

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I’m over playing games trying to intergrate the base 6 speaker no amps/no anc I’m replacing the head unit
if you have the 8.4 radio there is no need to install aftermarket head unit. The 8.4 radio performs just as good with bonus of retaining all your vehicle specific stuff tied to factory can buss and radio radio system. There have been a few people that tried it and ran into issues with radio communicating with vehicle Can Bus. If you have the 6 speaker non-8.4 unit, then your Can Bus will work with an aftermarket
 

Hackmunch

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Hey Guys, Firstly, thanks for providing some much detailed information regarding the Audio System in the Ram. This is my first Ram, so I'm still on the learning curve, but no stranger to Car audio. I don't have the Alpine system, and personally, I have never invested in a factory upgraded audio system because they are just junk! In my 2019 Ram 1500, I have the 8.4 screen with 6 speakers and Active Noise Cancellation, or ANC. I'm planning to upgrade the speakers, add two subs under the rear seat, and add two amps. I will most likely use line level from the radio, with a DSP into the amps, and tap into the output of the ANC for the speakers. or I may run new wire.

Anyway, I'm torn between these two Digital Processors, either the Audio Control LQi-7, or the Maestro DSR1. The AC seems to be a fairly a straight forward installation and adds some EQ and bass restoration. However, the DSR1 offers a few more features but needs to run in universal mode, and needs to be flashed from both Rockford Fosgate and Maestro before installation. Therefore, really not taking advantage of all the features, and does not tie into the databus. Has anyone had experience with either one of the devices?

I have attached a diagram of the ANC and wiring harness for your review.
i have the dsr 1 and 2 amps. 1 running the fronts and 1 running the subs. mine was the factory alpine setup. the dsr1 will do everything you could ever imagine. crossover, quasi-parametric eq, time alignment and gain controls for every channel. the dsr1 also uses the can bus so you retain everything just like the factory setup. all the chimes and warning volumes are completely adjustable via the dsr1. the flashing and downloading updates for the dsr1 is cake. you can even customize some of the factory radio options to do other things. like in the eq settings of the factory radio i have the bass setting controlling the subwoofer output gain this way i dont need any type of "bass knob". the dsr1 really is a great tool.
 

Patsy1099

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if you have the 8.4 radio there is no need to install aftermarket head unit. The 8.4 radio performs just as good with bonus of retaining all your vehicle specific stuff tied to factory can buss and radio radio system. There have been a few people that tried it and ran into issues with radio communicating with vehicle Can Bus. If you have the 6 speaker non-8.4 unit, then your Can Bus will work with an aftermarket

@kirkelli I thought I had it all figured out. I think I am almost there. I have the load resistors on now which was causing me headaches. I have a question regarding the canbus. I am not using a wiring harness, just tapping the speaker wires (in/out) after completely removing the anc module. Does anything need to happen with the canbus wires? Do they need to be jumped from one harness to the other? I’d be curious to know exactly how the harness you bought is wired from the bigger harness (radio out) to the smaller harness (speaker inputs). Maybe I’ll just break down and get the harness you got.
 

mustard54

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I just installed all JL Audio equipment into my 2019 Rebel. I went with 5 1/2 separates in the front door; installed the tweeter in the 3 1/4 front windshield location and then 6 x 9’s in the passenger door. The amp is a 5 channel JL Audio amp and custom built a 10” sub box based on air volume needed without sucking up a ton of space in the rear seats. You need to tie into the existing factory amp with resistors to make the amp think your still stock and won’t loose any functions. I kept the factory 8.5” head unit and pre-anp’d out for both sub and speakers and added a sub volume control button under the dash. Sounds great now!!well worth the time and energy.
 

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Patsy1099

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I just installed all JL Audio equipment into my 2019 Rebel. I went with 5 1/2 separates in the front door; installed the tweeter in the 3 1/4 front windshield location and then 6 x 9’s in the passenger door. The amp is a 5 channel JL Audio amp and custom built a 10” sub box based on air volume needed without sucking up a ton of space in the rear seats. You need to tie into the existing factory amp with resistors to make the amp think your still stock and won’t loose any functions. I kept the factory 8.5” head unit and pre-anp’d out for both sub and speakers and added a sub volume control button under the dash. Sounds great now!!well worth the time and energy.

Did you leave the anc connected? Where did you tap the speakers wires and did you use a harness to do it?
 

mustard54

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Did you leave the anc connected? Where did you tap the speakers wires and did you use a harness to do it?
I disconnected the ANC which is under the drivers seat, three wires. It made for horrible noise from the amp (obviously drowns out by low tones) but with the amp and sub it about blew my ear drums out.

I tapped into the speaker wires at the factory harness at the amp. Easiest place to tap and run after you add the resistors.

Good luck!!! It will sound amazing when done!
 

Patsy1099

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I disconnected the ANC which is under the drivers seat, three wires. It made for horrible noise from the amp (obviously drowns out by low tones) but with the amp and sub it about blew my ear drums out.

I tapped into the speaker wires at the factory harness at the amp. Easiest place to tap and run after you add the resistors.

Good luck!!! It will sound amazing when done!

Thanks. Sorry if I missed this but what stereo did you start with, 6 speaker bass or alpine or hk? You mention stock “amp“ which is why I ask. Also, it sounds like you unpinned the anc mics, but did you leave the wiring harnesses connected to the anc or did you physically remove the entire anc module (silver box)?
 

mustard54

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Thanks. Sorry if I missed this but what stereo did you start with, 6 speaker bass or alpine or hk? You mention stock “amp“ which is why I ask. Also, it sounds like you unpinned the anc mics, but did you leave the wiring harnesses connected to the anc or did you physically remove the entire anc module (silver box)?
Started with the stock 6 speaker system. The factory amp/cu is what I was referring to. I did unpin them so I have no noise cancelling now in the truck.
 

Patsy1099

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Started with the stock 6 speaker system. The factory amp/cu is what I was referring to. I did unpin them so I have no noise cancelling now in the truck.

Sorry I’m still confused. I’m not familiar with factory “amp” I’m the stock 6 speaker. I thought it only had the radio/head unit and the anc module (under the driver’s seat), which isn’t really an amp.

- Just to clarify. You unpinned the anc mics but did you leave the wiring harnesses connected to the anc module or did you completely remove the anc box?

- Where to you tap the speaker wires for you amp, at the radio/head unit or at the anc (under the driver’s seat)?

- last question. I see you installed a jl amp and subs. Did you add any dsp like the fix-86 or did you just add resistors and then go straight into the amp?

Sorry for all the questions.

@mustard54 if you also happen to have any pics of the layout/wiring that you could post that would be great.
 
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kirkelli

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@kirkelli I thought I had it all figured out. I think I am almost there. I have the load resistors on now which was causing me headaches. I have a question regarding the canbus. I am not using a wiring harness, just tapping the speaker wires (in/out) after completely removing the anc module. Does anything need to happen with the canbus wires? Do they need to be jumped from one harness to the other? I’d be curious to know exactly how the harness you bought is wired from the bigger harness (radio out) to the smaller harness (speaker inputs). Maybe I’ll just break down and get the harness you got.
If you are tapping the speaker wires on the input of the ANC you will not need to do anything further with ANC, I will be disconned. At this point you want you load resistors on each ch. into your DSP. I highly recommend going into a DSP before feeding Amps. Otherwise you wont be cleaning and flatting your levels and you'll end up very unhappy.
 

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