Start-up system opinion. New to this and need Help!!!!

[richard5795]

I have a 2000 Pontiac Grand AM GT. Plan on installing MB Quart 6 1/2 inch front speakers with Massive Audio NX4- 4 channel amp bridged to two channel running at four ohms with 400x2, 3 Sundown Audio 8inch sub-woofers, unsure about which mono amp to use yet. Any suggestions about anything? Please post your opinion on any component. Kinda new to this and need help.

[Mr.meyhem]

well thats a pretty big electrical load. what awg wiring u gonna run? how many amp alt u got? and r you planning to do the big 3?

[Mr.meyhem]

and my buddy is running 2 sa 8s on a saz 1500. a saz 2500 would prbly be a little over kill, but they are nice amps. look into hifonic brutus amps. ( plus what is ur budget for the whole build?) are you going for sq or spl?

[richard5795]

not sure about the awg. Prolly lookin for more spl. and what is the big 3? Im very new to this, sorry. My dad knows a lot but he said i need to do my own research. lol

[Mr.meyhem]

lol we're all still learning lol. big 3 is upgrading ur electrical from bat to alt to chassis/ engine block. helps dining and voltage drop. if ur running that many watts id suggest 0/1 awg. I'm running 4 awg for 1500w. and thats barely cutting it but it varies from build to build.

[lionfamlee]

^^^Agreed! Make sure you don/t skimp on your 0/1 wire. Not all of them are true 0/1 gauge. Some of it looks good until you notice all of you see how much wire is actually being used...some companies use a very thick skin with very thin wire. So instead of getting 0/1 wire it is actually 0/2 or worse.

[richard5795]

Ok. Thanks. Now we've decided that we arent gonna bridge the amp to the highs. And We r gonna do the big three. So What kinda amp for the subs would you recommend?

[daboyfrumdabx]

^^^Agreed! Make sure you don/t skimp on your 0/1 wire. Not all of them are true 0/1 gauge. Some of it looks good until you notice all of you see how much wire is actually being used...some companies use a very thick skin with very thin wire. So instead of getting 0/1 wire it is actually 0/2 or worse.

I know what you meant to say, but nothing in bold actually represented what you were saying. Learn a bit more about notation or stick with "2awg" form.

Ok. Thanks. Now we've decided that we arent gonna bridge the amp to the highs. And We r gonna do the big three. So What kinda amp for the subs would you recommend?

Do you already have the SA8s? If so, what voice coil configuration do they have? Let me know if you have trouble finding ground locations or anything for the Big3, I can get pics as I have the same car.

[Mr.meyhem]

figure out how many amp alt u got. daboyfrumdabx could prbly tell us too. but u don't wanna get too big of an am unless you are looking to get a new alt. (would be a waste of money) and a lot of ppl will say u can just add a battery but that doesn't work until you have an alt that can actually charge ur first batt.

[daboyfrumdabx]

Stock alt is rated at 105A. From what I've found, that's not at idle (not sure exactly what RPM), but either way it's low. HO alt is def in my future. The stock alt has handle give or take 1800watts with a 2nd batt. Seems to do fine even at full tilt while in motion, but at idle, I'll dip into the 11's very quickly.

[Mr.meyhem]

yeah i got an 80a alt lmao, tell me bout it. (again) check out the brutus amps from hifonics.

[richard5795]

I really appreciate the help and i will try to find out more. If i have more specific questions i will personal message both of you.

[mylows10]

the brutus amps are not very efficient and will be hard on the electrical.look at a saz2000 or dc 2.0 amp,or maybe even an ia 20.1 or ab 100.1,all these amps will give more CLEAN power and be easier on the electrical.

[lionfamlee]

I know what you meant to say, but nothing in bold actually represented what you were saying. Learn a bit more about notation or stick with "2awg" form.

Do you already have the SA8s? If so, what voice coil configuration do they have? Let me know if you have trouble finding ground locations or anything for the Big3, I can get pics as I have the same car.

I understand notation. I was tired and late when I replied, but I got my point across. Don't skip on your power and ground cables.

[lionfamlee]

I really appreciate the help and i will try to find out more. If i have more specific questions i will personal message both of you.

Check out the effeciency of the amps. What configuration do you want to run on your subs (1 ohm, 2 ohm, etc)? Remember that running a lower impedance will mean an increase the strain (amperage draw) on your system. This is not a bad thing if you have an upgraded electrical system that can maintain it. Having a effecient amp won't be as hard on your electrical either. I have seen quite a few people buy new subs and amps and run their stock alternator into the ground quickly or burn out their amps, becuase their electrical system couldn't keep up with the amperage draw of their system. Voltage drop can be an amp killer...I found this out the hard way with my first large system in 1993. I burnt up one of my Rockford Fosgate Power 1000's that way...LOL I wasn't a noob then, but never dealt with amps that drew that much power.

What's your budget? I would check out the Big "3" upgrade tutorial, gain setting tutorial, etc on this board. There some good info in them.