Base 6 speaker upgrade options?

[rick619]

I think you don't really need the bypass unless you are adding a sub or amp. I got my amp harness out and cut the PAC harness and 16 solder connections later its ready to hook to power and install.

I felt like there wasn't as much bass without the ANC bypass. I finished installing the rear speakers yesterday, sounds great (for a system with no amp or sub). I'll have to try unplugging the ANC bypass and see if I hear a difference.

I'm definitely wanting an amp now and probably a sub, but that's out of my league as far as installation. I was pretty excited to get the speakers done. It's been 105 degrees here the last few weeks. So I got started at about 6:30AM yesterday morning. I got it done much quicker than the front. So developing my 'youtube speaker installer' skills.

 

[Alter Ego Trip]

With the PAC bypass and wire extension harness; it's pretty foolproof to add speakers/subs. The LPH harness extends the factory location wiring to the back of the cab where you can mount an amp. There is no running wire to any speaker locations, and no hacking or cutting harnesses. The CH41/42 plugs directly in between your oem radio and factory or aftermarket amp. Adding a sub/speaker amp is nothing more than pulling some 0/4 gauge cable from the battery to the back wall and plugging in the connections.

If you really want simple; Net Audio makes a pretty close to plug and play subwoofer that goes right in where the factory one was.
2019-up Ram 5th Gen Crew Cab 1500 Behind the Seat Audio

Or you could do an underseat with the Pac Sub option.
APSUB-CH42

 

[rick619]

With the PAC bypass and wire extension harness; it's pretty foolproof to add speakers/subs. The LPH harness extends the factory location wiring to the back of the cab where you can mount an amp. There is no running wire to any speaker locations, and no hacking or cutting harnesses. The CH41/42 plugs directly in between your oem radio and factory or aftermarket amp. Adding a sub/speaker amp is nothing more than pulling some 0/4 gauge cable from the battery to the back wall and plugging in the connections.

If you really want simple; Net Audio makes a pretty close to plug and play subwoofer that goes right in where the factory one was.
2019-up Ram 5th Gen Crew Cab 1500 Behind the Seat Audio

Or you could do an underseat with the Pac Sub option.
APSUB-CH42

I didn't know you could add an amp without having to run new wires to all the speakers. Which device would let me add an amp and a sub later? I'd probably do the amp first and then a sub later since it looks like an amp is much more affordable.

 

[Alter Ego Trip]

90% of all installers utilize the factory wires. Pulling wires through the door is time consuming and expensive. 18ga is sufficient in most cases.

The pac ch41r2, or ch42, with the harness extention I linked would allow you to add amp now and sub later. If adding an amp I'd seriously consider an amp dsp combo.

 

[Jedi9]

I actually used the PAC ANC CH01 that you have. One of the plugs connects to the factory speaker wire harness. You can cut the speaker wires on the harness and insert amp. Saturday I soldered the connections but I have not installed the Amp yet, need to run power for it.

 

[rick619]

I got my amp and sub done yesterday at a local reputable shop. I ended up getting:

Infinity Kappa Five (5 ch) amp
JL 12" 12W1V3 - Downfiring sealed enclosure
Wavetech Link6

Previously installed by me:
4X Infinity Reference REF697F
2X Infinity Reference REF307F

Very happy with how it turned out. Finally some clean power and bass. The estimate was originally for an Alpine 12" that got good reviews. I decided at the last minute to upgrade it to the JL. I had all JL in the last system I had done about 12 years ago and have been a fan of their equipment.

 

[Jedi9]

Very nice! I got my amp mounted over the weekend and my power wire ran to it. a few hookups this weekend and will be done. No sub for now, see if I can extract some more with the DSP in the amp. If I have to I will add one later just hate to give up any of my already limited floor space. Put it right by the ANC as you did. I cut two small metal tabs, riveted them to the anc mount, and then drilled and tapped holes for the amp (mockup shown)

 

[Alter Ego Trip]

You can fit a shallow sub behind the seat where the factory one is located, and get a nice boost in SQ/output.

 

[Jedi9]

You can fit a shallow sub behind the seat where the factory one is located, and get a nice boost in SQ/output.

I will look into that if I'm still lacking bass. either powered sub or get another amp just for the sub. I've seen aftermarket enclosures and they look real pricey. Is it possible to get a factory enclosure or are there alternatives?

 

[Alter Ego Trip]

There are some pretty cheap aftermarket options if you don't get crazy. It's when you get into custom leather/lighting/etc. that things get pricey. The factory enclosure sucks.

 

[rick619]

One of the Facebook groups I belong to is great for 5th gen audio: 5th Gen Ram Audio Upgrades

Though they get a little snobby sometimes haha. The favorite boxes on there are the Fox boxes: FOX ACOUSTICS LLC
Lots of options for single sub, double, ported, sealed, etc. I was tempted to get one, but got my sub and amp done as sort of an impulse buy.

 

[Alter Ego Trip]

One of the Facebook groups I belong to is great for 5th gen audio: 5th Gen Ram Audio Upgrades

Though they get a little snobby sometimes haha. The favorite boxes on there are the Fox boxes: FOX ACOUSTICS LLC
Lots of options for single sub, double, ported, sealed, etc. I was tempted to get one, but got my sub and amp done as sort of an impulse buy.

You just combined "snobby" and Fox acoustic enclosures in the same sentence lol. I'll be sure to avoid that group.

 

[rick619]

I was looking at reviews of higher quality speakers. Since I'm not very skilled, figured I should stick with a 2 way 6X9 because that's what my system is already tuned for. I saw that I had about a week left on my 60 day return policy with Crutchfield, so replaced my front Infinity Reference with a set of Focal ICU 690.

Focal ICU 690

Universal Integration Series 6" x 9" 2-way car speakers

www.crutchfield.com

I really like the sound on these and they have more mid-bass thump to them.

 

[Jedi9]

There are some pretty cheap aftermarket options if you don't get crazy. It's when you get into custom leather/lighting/etc. that things get pricey. The factory enclosure sucks.

Yeah I found some factory enclosures on ebay, but after reading reviews on the factory sub I was like why bother.

 

[spyder]

I was looking at reviews of higher quality speakers. Since I'm not very skilled, figured I should stick with a 2 way 6X9 because that's what my system is already tuned for. I saw that I had about a week left on my 60 day return policy with Crutchfield, so replaced my front Infinity Reference with a set of Focal ICU 690.

Focal ICU 690

Universal Integration Series 6" x 9" 2-way car speakers

www.crutchfield.com

I really like the sound on these and they have more mid-bass thump to them.

Are those plug and play? I don't really do/know stereo stuff beyond popping out the old one and sticking a new one in its place and don't really want to learn, but the base level speakers in my truck are trash. I'd buy a set if I could just stick them in and plug new wires in.

 

[rick619]

Are those plug and play? I don't really do/know stereo stuff beyond popping out the old one and sticking a new one in its place and don't really want to learn, but the base level speakers in my truck are trash. I'd buy a set if I could just stick them in and plug new wires in.

Yes, it would be plug and play. However, they're 4ohm whereas the OEM speakers are 2ohm. So they will have less volume, but not by much.

 

[spyder]

Ah got it, thanks.

I'll probably pass then as the lack of volume in factory speakers is one of the things I dislike.

 

[rick619]

Ah got it, thanks.

I'll probably pass then as the lack of volume in factory speakers is one of the things I dislike.

If you put your truck specs into Crutchfield, it will suggest 3ohm speakers which will sound pretty good. I started with the Infinity Reference when I didn't have an amp. Any of those 3ohm options would be good.

 

[spyder]

I talked to a Crutchfield advice person on their chat...probably a year ago now? when I was buying a new stereo and speakers for my 96 Bronco. At that point, they had no recommendations for anything for the 5th gen rams. I'll check it out now and see if it's different. Thanks!

 

[rick619]

I talked to a Crutchfield advice person on their chat...probably a year ago now? when I was buying a new stereo and speakers for my 96 Bronco. At that point, they had no recommendations for anything for the 5th gen rams. I'll check it out now and see if it's different. Thanks!

It's definitely in there now. Though the info isn't 100% accurate. For example, Crutchfield says the Focal 6X9 above won't fit in the front door, but fit in the rear. I saw in the reviews that someone put them in a Ram 1500. They fit just fine.

Another thing is if you select the base 6 system, it will only show you 3ohm speakers. There's no way to select that you have a base 6 with aftermarket amp. Plus a 4ohm speaker would work with no amp, they just don't recommend it. Other websites would say it's fine.

Though I do like using them because of the returns and support. This time I was using their 60 day return policy for the Infinity. They also matched prices about a month ago: The Infinity went on sale. I used their chat and they refunded the difference for all 3 sets of speakers. They are also very quick to answer on chat and on the phone. There was a shipping issue with these Focal speakers. They appeared to be lost or delayed, but couldn't get a straight answer. So they sent me a second shipment and said I'd have to send one back if I receive two. I figure many places would just have me wait to see if the first box eventually made it.