Advice on 4" components/How difficult for a first time installer?

[JTriz87 10+ year member]

Alright, I got some advice on a setup for my MR2 in the past week, and thanks to the fine folks at caraudio.com I've got a 10" Kicker CVT, Kicker ZX400.1 and a 10" Kicker Grill for $277. I've also got an Alpine iDA-x100 head unit on the way.

The CVT is pre loaded in a Kicker box, I've measured and it will drop right behind my passenger seat, amp will probably be mounted underneath the passenger seat, gonna paint the grill red and throw that bi*ch on as well (anyone know what kind of paint I should use? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=310119522181 this is the grill).

Is this the amp kit I would need to order to complete my install? If it matters my sub is 2 ohms SVC and amp is ~400 watts RMS @ 2 ohms. Originally I was planning on taking this all to my local car audio shop and having them install it all, but I can save so much money doing it myself. I've never done a whole install before but I've helped my boys fu*k with their's in the past and I'm sure these *****s will be willing to help me out (just takes about and 1/8th and a 12 pack of bud light). Are those free tweeters thrown in with the kicker wiring package worth installing?

Besides that amp kit (I've got a wiring harness for my head unit) Is there anything else I would need to do this entire install myself? Based on the equipment I have (2 ohm SVC sub, 2 ohm amp, HU) seems like it would be a pretty straightfoward install, only thing I can see myself having trouble with is maybe finding a proper ground.

Also, does anyone know of any decent 4" components? I know they are a difficult kind of speaker to find.

These are the only two I found:

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-NEW-AUDIOBAHN-AS40V-4-INCH-CAR-SPEAKERS-COMPONENT-SET_W0QQitemZ320338068379QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCar_Speakers?hash=item320338068379&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-MTX-THUNDER-AXE-4001-4-CAR-COMPONENT-SET-SPEAKERS_W0QQitemZ290291357052QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCar_Speakers?hash=item290291357052&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Out of those two I could afford the Audiobahn's right now, and the MTX's in the next few weeks. Anybody heard either pair? Also does Kicker, Alpine or Boston Acoustic happen to make any 4" components-- I don't want to stick too many different brands in my car. Right now my setup is looking like this

HU:

Alpine iDA-x100

4" Dash Speakers: [$70-120 budget]

Undetermined components, have Polk coaxials in now

3.5" Rear pillar Speakers: [$20-$50 budget]

Planning on installing 3.5" Boston Acoustics (can be had for $35 on dealer cost audio, $50 on ebay), stock speakers in rear (they ****). Whatever speakers I throw back here will get powered off the iDA-x100.

Subwoofer:

10" Kicker CVT

Amps: [$100-$150 budget on 2nd amp]

Kicker ZX400.1, Nice amp to power components

The places where I have a budget listed is where I need recommendations at. I've been recommended to have 5.25" or 6.5" components put in my door, but I don't want to make that much modification to the vehicle right now, so I absolutely need a decent pair of 4" components

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[JTriz87 10+ year member]

Bump.

is THIS the amp kit I would need or would I be better off with 8 gauge? Are there any advantages to running a bigger wire than recommend?

Oh yeah I found a pair of 4" components. CDT Audio CL-41/19 - CDT Audio Classic 4" 2-Way Component Speakers. Any reviews on these or is anyone familiar with the brand because I have never heard of them.

 

[C3 Customs 10+ year member]

bigger wire means less resistance

 

[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

My advice is to skip the dash and rear speakers and instead install 6 1/2" component speakers in the doors with lots deadening. It will slaughter the sound of what you have suggested for about the same money. Alot more bang for your buck.

 

[JTriz87 10+ year member]

My advice is to skip the dash and rear speakers and instead install 6 1/2" component speakers in the doors with lots deadening. It will slaughter the sound of what you have suggested for about the same money. Alot more bang for your buck.

I've had the thought and it certainly has been recommended before, but I'm not ready to make that kind of modification to this car yet.

bigger wire means less resistance

So should I grab 8 gauge or 4 gauge wires? The amp is Kicker ZX400.1

 

[kustomotion 10+ year member]

4ga

 

[JTriz87 10+ year member]

Thanks guys. Now this install looks like it'll be easy from the outside looking in... especially when the alternative is paying someone else at least $150 to do it... as an amateur should I expect to run into much difficulty installing all this?

and my question about 4ga vs 8ga was am I better off running 4ga even though 8g is recommended.

 

[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

3.5" and 4" speakers powered off the H/U aren't worth wasting time and money on. They will always sound like crap. It's just physics.

The kicker amp needs a 4 gauge wire. Get a stereo amp and power some 6.5 door speakers. It's not hard. It's not a big deal. It's a good modification.

 

[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

According to crutchfield, 4 gauge is recommended.

"4-gauge power and ground leads recommended — wiring and hardware not included with amplifier"

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-LgnQnU67xRo/p_206ZX4001/Kicker-ZX400-1.html

A 400 watt class D amp is right on the edge between 4 and 8 gauge. I had the same issue with my alpine 400 watt class D. I used 4 gauge to the sub amp and a 4 channel amp.

 

[JTriz87 10+ year member]

Yea the guy at Hi Fi Sound recommend 8 ga to me but it just didn't sound right... what names can I trust as far as wires? Are they all the same, I'm planning on ordering these Kicker wires today but will order something else if I can find it cheaper!

Sorry I have so many n00b questions but I'm really excited to get all this shit hooked up, I recently started driving again after not having a car or license for nearly two years!

Also, that Kicker amp kit has no RCA's included, will I only need one or will I need two RCA's in order to get my HU, Amp and Sub all properly set up.

 

[grimreper912003 5,000+ posts]

Yea the guy at Hi Fi Sound recommend 8 ga to me but it just didn't sound right... what names can I trust as far as wires? Are they all the same, I'm planning on ordering these Kicker wires today but will order something else if I can find it cheaper!
Sorry I have so many n00b questions but I'm really excited to get all this shit hooked up, I recently started driving again after not having a car or license for nearly two years!

Also, that Kicker amp kit has no RCA's included, will I only need one or will I need two RCA's in order to get my HU, Amp and Sub all properly set up.

Copper wire is just that. You will need a set of RCA's to go from the HU sub out to the 400.1. I would try www.knukonceptz.com for cheap wire.

 

[Fender5 10+ year member]

for wires- i'd go with Knukonceptz.com personally

they have a 4 gauge kit for like $28. so $30 something shipped.

what happened to the infinity speakers.. weren't you considering them

 

[JTriz87 10+ year member]

for wires- i'd go with Knukonceptz.com personallythey have a 4 gauge kit for like $28. so $30 something shipped.

what happened to the infinity speakers.. weren't you considering them

I can't find any 4" infinity components, I guess they just don't make them. Having larger speakers added to the doors is an option right now... but one that's probably still a few months down the road.

I pulled off my speaker covers to discover the previous owner upgraded all four to Polks, hopefully when I install my HU they will sound a little better.

And as for the wires, I couldn't wait and bought kicker wires from ebay for $65, still beating the $129 i would have spent at my local car audio shop. Only problem is the kicker pk4 wiring kit doesn't include RCA's. Can I use the ones I used to connect a DVD player to a TV for this or do I have to buy car audio specific ones?

Do you guys think I'll have a difficult time installing all of this? My sub and amp match up perfect, and I have a wiring harness and dash kit for the head unit.

 

[DidUHearThat? 10+ year member]

I can't find any 4" infinity components, I guess they just don't make them. Having larger speakers added to the doors is an option right now... but one that's probably still a few months down the road.
I pulled off my speaker covers to discover the previous owner upgraded all four to Polks, hopefully when I install my HU they will sound a little better.

And as for the wires, I couldn't wait and bought kicker wires from ebay for $65, still beating the $129 i would have spent at my local car audio shop. Only problem is the kicker pk4 wiring kit doesn't include RCA's. Can I use the ones I used to connect a DVD player to a TV for this or do I have to buy car audio specific ones?

Do you guys think I'll have a difficult time installing all of this? My sub and amp match up perfect, and I have a wiring harness and dash kit for the head unit.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

So two people here gave you good advice on where to get good wires for cheap, but then you spent twice as much and you still don't have RCA's?//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif Normally I would say you should have no trouble intalling it yourself if you follow the advice here, but since you don't seen to want to follow our advice I predict you may have serious problems trying to do this your self.

Good luck, you'll need it. Try not to burn down your car.

 

[groove269 10+ year member]

Just have a pro do it, I wouldn't really mess with it, you might cross some wrong cables then KABLAM! Explosion! LOL jk. Seriously though, have someone install it for you or have someone that knows help you. Just my 2 cents.