Anyone got a good DIY amp install writeup?

[xlr8_87]

Did a search and didn't find anything, also no having much luck with google, it's turning up pretty vague stuff.

so does anyone know of an easy to follow but detailed writeup of how to install an amp?

cheers!


oh, and while i'm here, what are Kicker like these days?
would this package be good or average?
240WRMS 4ch Amp
300WRMS Mono Amp
150W 6" splits
195 6" speakers
Dual 12" 600WRMS subs in box

and what would you pay for the above?

[Philthy]

I haven't used a lot of kicker gear so I can't comment on their sound or build quality, but I will say that you will probably want more than 300wrms to drive 2 12" subs.
The 4ch amp (assuming 60wrms/channel) would do the job of powering the speakers. No idea what the speakers are like though. Maybe post up some model numbers of the gear. Quoting power claims really doesn't tell us much at all.

If those are all the basic models, then I don't imagine it would be much more than $1500, probably less. If you buy everything at once most places would do you a pretty good deal as well.

Also, don't forget that you will need a fair bit of wiring to hook up 2 amps and 4 speakers as well.

As far as the install write-up, I'll hand-ball that to someone else coz I'm lazy but if you have never done it before you will probably end up needing help at some point.
Depending where you are in Melbourne, myself or someone else might even be able to come around and give you a hand.

EDIT: Do you really want 2 subs? You might be happy enough running one sub off that amp

[xlr8_87]

yeh cheers, it's just a package JB have at the moment, they don't quote model numbers. it's priced at $1346 but with their 30% off this weekend comes down to just under a grand.

any particular brands you'd suggest for a fairly decent sound quality? Mainly looking at some 6" splits and a sub/amp combo at the moment.

[Kal123]

How to Install a Car Amp

How to Install a Car Amplifier | eHow.com

How To Install a Car Amp | How To Do Things.com

WikiAnswers - How do you install a car amp

[Philthy]

Personally I'm an alpine fan, but a lot of people say they are overpriced.
Soundstream make some good splits for not too much, and I have listened to a couple nice sets of eclipse speakers and subs but again, I haven't heard much as far as their quality goes. There was even a decent set of pioneer splits I heard a year or so ago that sounded good for the price.

With speaker and sub selection, a lot of it comes down to personal preferance so I suggest taking in a CD of whatever music you listen to into a car audio place and listen to a few different setups to see what tickles your fancy.

For under a grand that first combo you mentioned is probably pretty good but naturally you will be able to get a better system if you are willing to spend a bit more.

It could even be worth getting that combo, selling the splits and subs, then chasing down a good single sub and splits. That's probably a lot of mucking around for not much $$$ saving though.

Then again, I'm not thinking the clearest at the moment so I may be forgetting obvious things

[xlr8_87]

cheers Kal, must have been using the wrong combo of words when I searched google as I didn't come up with anything like that! first one is a good link...


philthy - cheers for that info, might just go in and see what they all sound like. I'm willing to pay extra for quality, but don't want to go over $1500 for sub, amps, splits and wiring. wiring will probably take up about $150 of that easily.

[sycvs]

amp wiring kits are round 30-50 each or if you dont mind ebay then go there i did got a kit for 1.99 3.00 postage and it is great dont buy amps subs splits from ebay power sellers there not as good as it seems im a clarion man my self but like alpine people think it pricey but 2 x 12 inch would cost you around 150 amp around 200-300 each auto barn for that

[Philthy]

amp wiring kits are round 30-50 each or if you dont mind ebay then go there i did got a kit for 1.99 3.00 postage and it is great dont buy amps subs splits from ebay power sellers there not as good as it seems im a clarion man my self but like alpine people think it pricey but 2 x 12 inch would cost you around 150 amp around 200-300 each auto barn for that

Just a comment on the wiring - I would be using the biggest wires the amps will support, which will either be 4g or 8g, and it's likely the cheap kits on ebay will be 8g. I picked up a 20m roll of 4g for around $30 so there are bargains to be found if you look hard enough.

And when you are buying it, remember that you are going to be running 2 amps, so it might be worthwhile not to buy 2 kits, but to run 1 length of a larger gauge cable to the boot and split it with a distribution block. That way you aren't running 2 expensive cables the length of the car.
If you were to run the wiring this way, you would need about 5m of the larger cable, then just a couple meters of the smaller stuff to run from the distro block to the amps, and a bit for earth wires, 2x5m RCAs, about 6m of remote wire (just a small gauge wire, don't bother with the fancy expensive crap), then speaker wires to all the speakers and some bigger stuff for the sub/s. It can quickly add up, so don't be too shocked when you figure out what it will cost for the lot.
Oh, and fuses. Don't forget fuses on every power wire you use

[xlr8_87]

good advice there philthy

so will an amp specify what the thickest wiring it can take is?
and say from the battery to the rear of the car, I can run the thickest wire possible, then just jump down to the maximum allowed for the amp after the distribution block? if that makes sense?!

[acarmody]

I'd be buying a slightly different setup. The new Cadence range is supposed to be pretty good, have you had a look at them. I do talk about Cadence alot don't I, hmmm.

JB Prices for these.
Cadence XA125.4 4-Channel amp for the front splits. 80WRMSx4 at 4ohm or 250WRMSx2 at 2ohm. $298
Cadence XA400.1 1-CHANNEL for the sub. 425WRMS @ 2 ohm. $267 (I'd get two of these and link them)
$300 odd for some splits
About $400 for a L7 or Orion or some decent sub.

Total $1500ish then minus 30% so will work out better splits and heaps more bass.

My 2 cents anyway.

[Philthy]

I'd be buying a slightly different setup. The new Cadence range is supposed to be pretty good, have you had a look at them. I do talk about Cadence alot don't I, hmmm.

JB Prices for these.
Cadence XA125.4 4-Channel amp for the front splits. 80WRMSx4 at 4ohm or 250WRMSx2 at 2ohm. $298
Cadence XA400.1 1-CHANNEL for the sub. 425WRMS @ 2 ohm. $267 (I'd get two of these and link them)
$300 odd for some splits
About $400 for a L7 or Orion or some decent sub.

Total $1500ish then minus 30% so will work out better splits and heaps more bass.

My 2 cents anyway.

That sounds like a good setup as well. A bit more power from the amps and the splits would be better for that price. It also means you get your pick of speakers and sub

I'm not sure if it will say anywhere on the amp spec sheet what the biggest wire it takes is, but if you can take a look at the terminals you will be able to figure it out.
Then run 1 size bigger wire from the battery to distro block. Eg, 1x4g - 2x8g or 1x2g - 2x4g

I don't think I've mentioned it yet, but you don't need to spend much on the rear speakers, since they wont be the ones you are listening to

[acarmody]

I don't think I've mentioned it yet, but you don't need to spend much on the rear speakers, since they wont be the ones you are listening to

Very good advice. That is why I didn't put up prices for them, spend the money up front.

[xlr8_87]

alrighty ended up getting a JL sub and kicker amp, wired it up myself (went with this link as posted above How to Install a Car Amp, thanks to Kal)

[Philthy]

^^^ Best boot install ever

[acarmody]

I agree very good boot install, almost practical for day-to-day use.

One question, does that sub impede your rear-view mirror view? Because that would be bad and possibly dangerous.

[xlr8_87]

yeh its good! not finished yet, got another drawer to makke in the back and a couple of extra little touches here and there.
sub slightly impedes rear view mirror but only slightly. The bit it does cut out is covered by drivers side mirror anyway.