A repeat client from Baltimore contacted Westminster Speed and Sound to ask about adding a dashcam and upgrading the audio system in his 2019 Ram 2500 pickup truck. We’d upgraded the audio in a previous vehicle for this customer. When it came time to upgrade the 2500, he visited the store so we could design a system that would sound even better.
Ram 2500 Audio System Upgrade
Starting with the signal source, we used a PAC AmpPRO interface to extract a full-bandwidth audio signal from the stock source unit. The output of the PAC piece is connected to a Helix DSP3 digital signal processor using a fiber optic cable. The Helix processor is used to divide the signal from the radio between the front and rear speakers and the subwoofer. We’ll also use it to equalize each speaker’s output and set signal delays to create an amazingly realistic soundstage across the dash of the vehicle.
For power, the system uses a pair of Helix M-Series amplifiers. A six-channel M SIX provides up to 100 watts to the rear speakers, the woofers in the front doors and the new tweeters in the dash. An M ONE X amplifier delivers up to 1,000 watts of power to the JL Audio subwoofers. The amplifiers and signal processor are mounted to the back wall of the cab.
JL Audio Subwoofers and BLAM Speaker Upgrade
For bass, we installed a pair of JL Audio 12W6v3-D4 subwoofers into a custom enclosure that fits under the rear bench seat of the truck. The enclosure is finished in a black carpet that matches the vehicle’s floor and includes a trim piece around the woofers finished in light grey vinyl. A Ram emblem in the center of the enclosure adds a little extra style to the installation.
For speakers, the client chose BLAM Signature S 165.100 6.5-inch components for the front of the vehicle. The woofers from the set are mounted on custom-machined expanded PVC adapters in the stock door speaker location, and the tweeters are on similar plastic adapters up in the dash. For rear speakers, we installed matching S 165.80 6.5-inch coaxial speakers in each back door. While we had the trim panels off the doors, our team treated them with SoundShield three-layer damping material to make the cab quieter and more comfortable.
Dashcam Captures Everything
In terms of a dashcam solution, we mounted a Momento M6 Wi-Fi HD Dual dash camera on the front windshield. The power wiring for the camera is routed behind the airbag in the A-pillar and the cable for the rear camera to the back window. The camera system activates automatically as soon as the vehicle is started to capture video of everything that happens while driving.
Maryland’s Best Car Audio Upgrades
After about three days of work, we had the amazing audio and video recording system integrated into this 2019 Ram 2500. The client returned to Westminster Speed and Sound to have a listen. He was thrilled! He planned for this to be his “forever truck,” and the stereo was exactly what he was after. If you are interested in upgrading the sound system in your vehicle, drop by our store, give us a call or send our team an e-mail.
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