1995 Suburban K1500 Audio Plan

[shovenose]

It's already been converted to a standard single-DIN head unit by the previous owner. Some day I want to modify the truck to fit a nice double-DIN head unit but they don't make that easy in GMT400 trucks.

I want to replace all of the door speakers. Also I think the burb has two speakers in the back by the rear hatch/tailgate. So that's six speakers.

Then I want to put in a subwoofer (which of course needs an amp).

I was trying to figure out if I should use another amp for the other six speakers but if I get a decent head unit I don't think that will be necessary, and I don't want to deal with a crapton of wiring and expense to do that. Do you think it would make a big difference?

As far as head units, I don't really know what to get. I have a Kenwood KDC-152 in there that I pulled out of the Silverado but I just never liked the sound it made, with these speakers: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A0LZHYS

Well, you might say, maybe the speakers are crap. Nope. My friend ordered the exact same speakers for his GMC Envoy with a Pioneer head unit and they sound 1000x better. So I've simply come to the conclusion that Kenwood head units suck.

I have this head unit in my Colorado and it sounds great even with the stock speakers: http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-FHX-72...dp/B00MRYHOQU/ Unfortunately it's double-DIN and would require custom fabrication (aka hacking apart the dash) to make it fit and I don't want to deal with that right now.

I am considering this Pioneer head unit: http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-DEH-15...dp/B0091V0A9U/

I don't know if Blaupunkt is good but this head unit has the same power rating (50Wx4) as that Pioneer I just linked. It's a bit more expensive but it definitely looks less retarded and more sleeker. I do like having Bluetooth. Is it garbage or good? http://www.amazon.com/Blaupunkt-Toro...dp/B008FYFBVG/

For the speakers I could try those Pioneers again that I got for the Sivlerado that didn't sound good in there (probably due to the Kenwood head unit) but sounded great in my buddy's Envoy: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A0LZHYS

I'm just afraid I won't like them. LOL. We did use a pair of Kenwood speakers from Best Buy in his 7.3 Powerstroke F550 that sounded really, really nice. BUT that was with an expensive double-DIN head unit. So it seems to me that the choice of head unit matters more to how it sounds than the speakers.

What I don't know is how to power all six of the speakers. Wouldn't the head unit only support four speakers?

For the subwoofer I need to decide whether I want the louder unit or the one that will use less space. The Suburban is very large so it's not like it really matters but I don't like I'd like this huge box sitting back there. Here are the two I'm considering:
http://www.amazon.com/PIONEER-TSSWX2...dp/B00JQTU3QC/
http://www.amazon.com/MTX-Terminator.../dp/B001JECAM2

Clearly the MTX unit will make more bass but it's a huge enclosure. I have to go out and look at the Suburban and try to figure out where I want to put the sub either way. Then the subwoofer will need an amp. Here's where I start becoming cheap and stingy. I'm sure that even if it's an over-rated 200W unit like some of the reviews state it will be more than enough for the subwoofers above:
http://www.amazon.com/Boss-Audio-R11...dp/B004S4XNEO/
On the other hand I'm afraid it's like a cheap chinese PSU and will blow up and catch fire. So I found these two that are both a bit more expensive but probably of higher quality:
http://www.amazon.com/Rockford-Fosga...dp/B00BF6HYDE/
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-GM-D86...dp/B00CFX58YI/

So yeah, I don't know much about audio, except I do want my Suburban to sound good. I would get the head unit and speakers first to see if those are satisfactory without a sub but it's such a large vehicle it probably wouldn't be, which is why I want to know about the subwoofers too. Also how to power all six of the speakers. Thank you for any input.

After looking at all this, I'm thinking this setup is the way to go. Could I do better, or is this reasonable?

Head unit: http://www.amazon.com/Blaupunkt-Toro...dp/B008FYFBVG/
Speakers: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A0LZHYS

Subwoofer: http://www.amazon.com/PIONEER-TSSWX2...dp/B00JQTU3QC/
Amp: http://www.amazon.com/Rockford-Fosga...dp/B00BF6HYDE/

[stj]

Re: 1995 Suburban K1500 Audio Plan

it's a V8 - that's all the music you need!

[shovenose]

Re: 1995 Suburban K1500 Audio Plan

it's a V8 - that's all the music you need!

Yeah, well, I don't have my Flowmaster 50 yet

The exhaust manifold leak does sound wonderful though /s

[dmill89]

Re: 1995 Suburban K1500 Audio Plan

After looking at all this, I'm thinking this setup is the way to go. Could I do better, or is this reasonable?

Head unit: http://www.amazon.com/Blaupunkt-Toro...dp/B008FYFBVG/
Speakers: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A0LZHYS

Subwoofer: http://www.amazon.com/PIONEER-TSSWX2...dp/B00JQTU3QC/
Amp: http://www.amazon.com/Rockford-Fosga...dp/B00BF6HYDE/

I can't say I've heard many (or any) good things about Blaupunkt head units. Since you don't like the sound of Kenwoods (and JVC is now owned by Kenwood) Pioneer is probably your best option, though I'd personally want a USB port (haven't used CDs in a car in years) which the DEH150 does not have, so I'd recommend going up to at least the DEH-2700UI or DEH-2800UI (~$90). As for the 6 speakers they are most likely split into just 4 channels (front and mid/rear) so they would work with any aftermarket head unit (with the appropriate harness) but I can't 100% guarantee that.

[shovenose]

Re: 1995 Suburban K1500 Audio Plan

Gotcha. I will stick to the Pioneer. What about this?
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-MVH-X3...dp/B00MRYHMOE/
Edit: that doesn't have a CD player. I never use CDs but I like to have the option to if needbe. Guess I could do something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-DEH-X6...dp/B00MRYHNPM/

[dmill89]

Re: 1995 Suburban K1500 Audio Plan

Gotcha. I will stick to the Pioneer. What about this?
http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-MVH-X3...dp/B00MRYHMOE/

Decent unit, no CD player in that one (Just USB, AUX, Bluetooth, & radio), but if you don't use CDs in your vehicle, that is a non-issue and just one less thing to break.