For tailgating and other outdoor activities I used to take a pair of boxed 6x9s and set them on the roof so we could have music (speakers were run off an amp). I like this setup so I don't have to have open doors or blare the shit out of my truck's speakers.

However, the two pair of 6x9s that I've used were lacking (Sony & Infinity 3-ways). I'm not sure if was just those speakers or if the system was just that bad.

With that said, what would be the best option for running exterior speakers off my truck's audio system? I'm currently trying to piece together a system (HU, front components, amp). Basically, the external and internal speakers need to be compatible with the same amp (I disconnect the interior speakers while using the exteriors).

I'm looking for good sound with all types of music (previously, I had to have the bass all the way down and still couldn't play any music with heavy bass).

So brand, power, size, boxes, etc recommendations are what I need. I'm looking at amps that are 2x(100-150) @ 4 ohms for my interior components (~100 RMS speakers)

Thanks

[Edited on March 30, 2010 at 2:13 PM. Reason : .]

3/30/2010 2:10:36 PM

get some marine grade speakers, like for a boat

3/30/2010 2:17:17 PM

I've considered doing that (probably should). But I'm not familiar with sound quality/good brands in marine stereo equipment.

Sound quality is my main concern; I'm not looking for excellent/audiophile, just good enough to be played loudly with all types of music.

3/30/2010 2:20:55 PM

Kicker has a set of box speakers that sound very good for their size.

That being said, I use my Kicker I-Kick Ipod speaker system and hook it into my 120v jack on my batt jump box. That way I dont worry about my battery dying, and I dont have all that shit in the back of my truck rolling around.

3/30/2010 2:34:16 PM

Marine stuff is pricey. I know people who don't use it in their boats simply because it isn't worth the markup to a lot of people. Minor amounts of water/sun won't hurt normal speakers in a sealed box.

6x9s in a box should be fine. If you're not getting the sound you need then it's probably because you have cheap speakers, bad boxes, or a poor audio source.

3/30/2010 4:55:02 PM

Make sure they are big enough so when you're playing shitty music at a game I can hurl some water ballons in your direction and have no problem hitting them.

3/30/2010 4:56:28 PM

^^the speakers were just typical Sonys & Infinities in typical 6x9 boxes. interior audio sounded fine.

3/30/2010 5:01:57 PM

I recommend something like this:



[Edited on March 30, 2010 at 6:02 PM. Reason : you could remove the roulette wheel and use it for cheese dip or salsa]

3/30/2010 6:00:54 PM

lol, I think that's within my budget!

3/30/2010 9:35:30 PM

get some of the speakers like the wakeboarding boats have. I've ridden in buggies with them and they're VERY loud and will pump some bass also.

3/30/2010 9:36:10 PM

unfortunately, those are way outside my budget

perhaps: http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=38357&pdesc=Dual_LU_Series_3_Way_Indoor/Outdoor_Speakers_LU43&aID=604A3&merchID=4006

[Edited on March 30, 2010 at 9:41 PM. Reason : .]

3/30/2010 9:39:01 PM

4" Speakers = no bass.

Better off with these,

http://www.kicker.com/kb6000

3/30/2010 10:03:44 PM

nice, but outside of my budget. looking for <$100. and I don't need a lot of bass

3/30/2010 10:09:55 PM

The Duals are an ok option, but these are better.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_022AW190BL/Yamaha-NS-AW190-Black.html?tp=188

3/30/2010 11:09:09 PM

Just get some old home stereo floor speakers. They'll have woofers, tweeters, and will probably be a 4 ohm load. I really can't see anything Dual makes sounding better than the Sony or Infinity 6x9s you have already tried.

You may need more power. What did you have the 6x9s hooked to?

[Edited on March 31, 2010 at 12:22 PM. Reason : l]

3/31/2010 12:20:41 PM

^I've only been able to find 6 & 8 ohm home speakers (well new speakers). I'll try to search for used ones I guess.

I had the 6x9s on a 400-watt 4-channel jensen amp (tried bridged & not bridged).

My new amp will probably be 2x(100-150) @ 2 ohm

[Edited on March 31, 2010 at 1:10 PM. Reason : .]

3/31/2010 1:10:00 PM

I got a good deal on some Sony marine speakers last year when Boater's World was going out of business. I had a couple left over that I didn't put in the boat, so I bolted them in some premade grey carpet single speaker enclosures from Wal Mart. They still work like a champ and have been left out in the rain in my Bronco many times. I couldn't tell you anything about the specs about them though.

But it looks like you had something like that. Those marine speakers were noticably louder than a friend of mine's same setup, except he had typical Sony auto speakers. We even swapped them to see, and they were way louder.

3/31/2010 2:40:17 PM

so are you saying you have some for sale

3/31/2010 2:51:23 PM

get a suitcase generator

4/1/2010 8:19:27 PM

budget!

4/1/2010 9:29:58 PM

marine rated speakers

4/1/2010 10:02:35 PM

ok, I'm not so worried about rain as about sound. what's a <$100 solution for decent sound? would 8-ohm speakers really do harm to the amp or would it just reduce the power output?

is another set of boxed 6x9s worth a try, or is that size speaker just garbage in open air?

[Edited on April 5, 2010 at 7:18 PM. Reason : .]

4/5/2010 7:16:52 PM

8ohm speakers will do no harm to the amp, but you will get about half the power rating of the amp. If its 100x2 at 4ohms, it would probably be 50x2 at 8ohms.

6x9's in boxes sound crappy, plain and simple. 6x9's are designed to work in trunks with a biiiiiiiiiiiig space. You really are better off finding a set of older 12 or 15" floor speakers and just using them. They may only be 8ohm, but they are way more efficient than anything we have today, so they should play just as loud.

4/6/2010 9:17:41 PM