stereo help/opinions?

[sirdan]

The radio in my truck is not what I remember. My wifes 2009 nissan rouge stock stereo with blown out front speakers sounds better.

The truck radio just sounds really flat? Its like the high, mid and bass tones all sound like shit. Adjusting the speakers front or rear does not improve this. I have tried hooking to my phone but it still sounds like shit. I am leaning toward maybe a better head unit but I don't know if anything better is within my budget. Everything is at least 10 years old the stereo is a kenwood KDC-138 amplifier (22 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels), Front speakers are kenwood KFC-1660S 6 1/2 inch round 4 ohm impedance 35 rms watts. The rears are factory 2006ish ford taurus speakers 6x9 4ohm impedance marked 25w on the back assuming rms.

I really don't know much about stereo stuff. Could the head unit have degraded in some way? idk I don't want to dump a lot of money but if I knew a 100 dollar or less head unit would make it sound good I would do it.

[danf]

If everything sounds off have you checked the foam surrounds on the speakers themselves? If they go, it will not have isolation between the front and rear of the speaker and this can really affect the midrange frequencies.

[sirdan]

I messed around more with the stereo today. I realized the drivers side 6 1/2 in the door was not working so I took it out and found a break in the wire and fixed that. The speaker itself looked pretty good when I had it out.

[danf]

The only other thing I can suggest is to lightly press the foam surround on the speakers and see if it's still attached to the cone and basket. I actually had a speaker that looked OK but had a concentric tear around the basket that wasn't obvious without really close inspection.

[sirdan]

It actually sounds a bit better with the drivers door speaker hooked up. I think because now the speaker closest to me is hooked up now I can have the volume a little less loud. It still could sound a bit better but I think its bearable now for a little while. Maybe when I do get a head unit ill get a bluetooth one that way if it doesn't sound better at least I gained something. Id imagine the bluetooth is pretty nice not having the aux cord and all that.

[danf]

It actually sounds a bit better with the drivers door speaker hooked up. I think because now the speaker closest to me is hooked up now I can have the volume a little less loud. It still could sound a bit better but I think its bearable now for a little while. Maybe when I do get a head unit ill get a bluetooth one that way if it doesn't sound better at least I gained something. Id imagine the bluetooth is pretty nice not having the aux cord and all that.

Yeah my headunit in my truck is wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay. Once you get one of those you won't wanna go back to the old way lol.