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2018 power wagon Sound system upgrades

ConnorP

ConnorP

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Hello,
I have a 2018 power wagon with stock everything. I want to upgrade the sound system without breaking the Bank what is the best way to do this? I want it louder and more bass.
 
I replaced all my stock speakers with Kicker coaxial speakers and it sounds 1000% better. Two 3.5inch in the dash, Four 6x9 in all the doors. I'm putting in a full sound system, but its definitely not cheap. Check out www.foxacoustics.com, California based company, makes custom sub boxes for many ram vehicles. If you want more info on what im doing just ask.
 
NY-HD-RAM said:
I replaced all my stock speakers with Kicker coaxial speakers and it sounds 1000% better. Two 3.5inch in the dash, Four 6x9 in all the doors. I'm putting in a full sound system, but its definitely not cheap. Check out www.foxacoustics.com, California based company, makes custom sub boxes for many ram vehicles. If you want more info on what im doing just ask.
Click to expand...
Which model of Kicker 6x9 did you get? Crutchfield doesn't show one that will fit in the front door of a 4.5 gen HD. The one that does show is 46CSC654 but that's a 6-1/2.
And did you get 46CSC354 for the dash?
I'm still in the research stage, hoping to keep it as simple as possible.
 
NY-HD-RAM said:
Kicker for Ram Crew Cab Truck... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6LNIR8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I bought this package from a seller on amazon. The front doors have a shallower mount so you’ll need spacers. That’s why crutch field doesn’t list them.

6x9 Speaker Spacers Depth... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J4Y00KC?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Click to expand...
Thanks for the links!
Did you find the 3.5" Kicker speakers overpowering given that the stock speakers they replaced were 8-ohm?
 
YES, you’ll need to replace the door speakers at the same time because the engineers are Ram decided to make the wiring in parallel with the front doors and the 6x9 stock speakers from the research i’ve done are something like 6 ohms. In the beginning when I replaced the dash speakers I tested them and they were screaming and clipping. Once I changed the door speakers then everything evened out and sounded fantastic. The 3-way dash and 6x9 are way way crisper than the stock.
 
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NY-HD-RAM said:
YES, you’ll need to replace the door speakers at the same time because the engineers are Ram decided to make the wiring in parallel with the front doors and the 6x9 stock speakers from the research i’ve done are something like 6 ohms. In the beginning when I replaced the dash speakers I tested them and they were screaming and clipping. Once I changed the door speakers then everything evened out and sounded fantastic. The 3-way dash and 6x9 are way way crisper than the stock.
Click to expand...
I’m good at breaking stuff when I don’t know the proper way to remove panels. If you don’t mind, How do you get to those dash speakers?
 
The dash trim just pops up real easy. I suggest getting a set of panel tools from harbor freight to change anything out in the vehicle. They use so many of those plastic anchors everywhere and without the tool to pry them up it will be just a nightmare. https://www.harborfreight.com/trim-and-molding-tool-set-5-pc-64126.html

You’ll need a small ratchet set to get the dash speakers out as the far nut is real close to the windshield. you basically need to just loaded the nut near the windshield then use your fingers with the socket to get it out. If i remember correctly it’s a 7mm socket. Good luck. The door panels are secured by those plastic anchors and also a hidden screw behind the door handle. Then lift and pull gently out.
 
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Also pick up a pick set. You’ll need it to get the little trim piece off behind the door handle. Use the angled one and push it behind the square and pull
www.harborfreight.com

Mini Pick and Hook Set

Amazing deals on this 4Pc Mini Pick & Hook Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com www.harborfreight.com
 
Not sure what the difference is. I tried to install a Kicker 6x9 (46CSC6934) in the front door this morning, the magnet of the speaker would still hit the window mechanism even with a 1/4" spacer. When I stacked two 1/4" spacers the speaker would hit the door panel, pushing it out by probably more than 1/8". It seems like there's no way to clear it on both ends or it would be super close. I'm thinking of returning them for a set of 6.5" (46CSC654).
 
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i have a 2019 3500 bighorn. I didn’t have an issue using the 1/4” spacers with the 6x9s. sorry there must be a mismatch. is it really bad? have you tried to tighten them down and operate the window?
 
NY-HD-RAM said:
i have a 2019 3500 bighorn. I didn’t have an issue using the 1/4” spacers with the 6x9s. sorry there must be a mismatch. is it really bad? have you tried to tighten them down and operate the window?
Click to expand...
Mine is a 2021 2500 Tradesman. I should have taken some pictures before I put the door panel back on... I was working on it in a parking lot... but there's at least an 1/8" gap even with the spacer. It will warp the speaker if I were to tighten them so I didn't. I double-checked a few times and the magnet was definitely resting firmly against the metal bar. There could be a number of differences between the design of the window mechanism or the speaker or the tradesman door panel...
 
i suggest you check the measurement of the stock speaker and buy a shallower 6x9 instead, unless you plan on using separates but you’ll still have to check the depth and mount a separate tweeter
 
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NY-HD-RAM said:
What did you decide?
Click to expand...
Ordered a set of 6.5" Kicker (46CSC654), should fit fine according to Crutchfield, the downside is that it's only 2-way. Component Speakers are beyond my capability... It's real tough to work on stuff without a garage or driveway... I will give the 6x9 another try before I installed the 6.5. I don't know how some people were able to use a 1/2 spacer with the 6x9, maybe there's more room behind the more premium door panel than my bare-bone tradesman's? I will take some pictures and measurements next time. Put a 6x9 in the rear and a 3.5 in the dash successfully today.
 
P1060780.jpg
It's about 3/16" too shallow for a Kicker 6x9 (46CSC6934) even with a 1/4" spacer.

P1060784.jpg
With two 1/4" spacers, the door panel's pushed out for about 1/8".

P1060788.jpg
Eventually went with a 6.5" (46CSC654), no interference.
 
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Sorry it took long to reply but unfortunately I can't say I'm happy with the sound. Maybe I was spoiled by the factory-installed Infinity system in my 3rd gen.

The most noticeable change comes from the dash speakers, which I first replaced with Kicker and later with Infinity. The highs from the Infinity is a little smoother than the Kicker but still too sharp for my liking even after wiring in 4-ohm resistors. For most music they are fine but the highs they produced are ear-piercing playing my favorite Jazz, while other frequencies are hollow sounding.

The 6.5" in the front doors have noticeably less bass so back to stockers they went, and I honestly cannot tell much difference from the 6x9" in the back doors.
 
I had a half-assed system upgrade in my '19 for a couple months. It just didn't sound right. I had an amp and 2x 12" subs under the back seat and factory everything else. After doing a bunch of research I learned I needed a DSR1 or a PAC ap4-ch41-r2 (I believe) in order to decipher the signal coming from the head unit to run a traditional amplified setup and eliminated the ANC.

So now I have the factory 8.4 head unit to the PAC ap4-ch41-r2 (I believe), to a 5 channel Rockford amp powering new Kicker 6x9's and 3.5's and 2x 12" Rockford shallow mount subs. Sounds incredible.
 
sdu said:
Sorry it took long to reply but unfortunately I can't say I'm happy with the sound. Maybe I was spoiled by the factory-installed Infinity system in my 3rd gen.

The most noticeable change comes from the dash speakers, which I first replaced with Kicker and later with Infinity. The highs from the Infinity is a little smoother than the Kicker but still too sharp for my liking even after wiring in 4-ohm resistors. For most music they are fine but the highs they produced are ear-piercing playing my favorite Jazz, while other frequencies are hollow sounding.

The 6.5" in the front doors have noticeably less bass so back to stockers they went, and I honestly cannot tell much difference from the 6x9" in the back doors.
Click to expand...
All that makes me want to just leave the stock speakers alone and wire in an amp and woofer.
 
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