Slatington Dodge Client Gets Ram Radio and Speaker Replacement

A client from Slatington recently contacted Mobile Edge to inquire about upgrading the radio in his 2011 Dodge Ram to something with modern features and technology. After inspecting the vehicle and talking to the client, we offered to let him connect his smartphone to a variety of our Pioneer multimedia receivers so he could experience how the latest phone integration technology worked. We also demonstrated how a speaker, amp and subwoofer upgrade would dramatically improve the detail and realism of his music.

Pioneer Radio Upgrade for Dodge Ram

A host of useful information is at the client’s fingertips.

Vehicle information gauges are now available on the display of the radio.

The Maestro RR is a fascinating piece of technology!

The backup camera will let the client backup more safely.

Our technicians added a custom Mobile Edge splash screen.

We started the upgrade project by removing the factory radio from the dash of the truck and preparing a Pioneer AVH-4201NEX multimedia receiver for installation. As part of the installation, we used an iDatalink Maestro RR data integration module. The RR allows the radio control buttons on the steering wheel to control the Pioneer source unit and feeds information like engine RPM, vehicle speed, fuel level, battery voltage and tire pressures to the 4201NEX. We also integrated a backup camera into the new radio so the client can see behind the truck when parking or maneuvering.

The AVH-4201NEX includes both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration systems. Having both systems means that the client can switch between an iPhone or Android-based smartphone anytime in the future and still be able to make phone calls, listen to incoming text messages and dictate responses while continuing to drive safely. Both systems include support for Google Maps and Waze turn-by-turn navigation. Should the client need directions anywhere, these systems will calculate an efficient route while considering real-time traffic flow information.

CarPlay and Android Auto are also great entertainment sources. The client can choose to listen to music stored on his phone, or pick from a music streaming service like Pandora, iHeartRadio, Tidal or Google Play Music. The system also works with several audiobook services like Audible and Audiobooks.com as well as a selection of podcast services.

Hertz and Audison Audio System Upgrade

The speaker upgrades helped to increase musical realism and output level.

The Hertz subwoofer provided the low-end reinforcement.

The Hertz HCP amplifier powers the entire system.

Next in line was for our team to install new speakers in the doors of the Ram. Our guys created a set of Type 1 PVC plastic mounting adapters to allow the woofers from an Audison Prima-Series APK 165 6.5-inch component set to be mounted in the factory 6×9 location in the doors. We mounted the tweeters from the set in the factory locations in the corners of the dash to help create a wide soundstage.

We mounted a Hertz Dieci-Series DS250 10-inch subwoofer in an Audio Enhancers DQP30C10 subwoofer enclosure. This enclosure fits into the passenger-side storage compartment under the rear seat. A four-channel Hertz HCP4 amplifier powers the new speakers with up to 65 watts and 190 watts for the subwoofer. Thanks to the efficient Class D design, the amp doesn’t draw a large amount of current from the truck’s electrical system.

The amp is mounted safely and securely under the driver’s seat on custom steel amp rack that we welded together from steel flat-stock. The amp rack bolts to the seat rails to keep everything solid and secure at all times. As you can see, we used four-gauge power and ground wire from Audison to connect the amp to the battery.

Carbon County’s Audio Upgrade Experts

With all the equipment installed, the last step was to set the crossovers and sensitivity controls to work with the new speakers and the Pioneer radio. Calibrating these settings correctly is fundamentally important to the overall performance and reliability of the sound system.

The client was excited to hear his new Dodge Ram radio and audio system upgrade. He loved the way it sounds and was impressed with the bass extension from the subwoofer. We showed him how to connect his phone to use the hands-free voice recognition features of the radio. The client thought that being able to see a virtual dashboard using the Car Sources button on the radio was really cool.

If you are in the Lehighton area and are interested in upgrading the technology or sound quality of the audio system in your vehicle, we invite you to visit Mobile Edge. You can use the red button below to schedule a personal consultation with one of our product experts.