Desperately need Installation Help

[Italiano86]

Hey guys. I'm a total n00b with car audio, so please forgive my ignorance ahead of time. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

I work at BB so I get a nice discount on car audio, except for the installation itself, it's only like 20% off now cuz they are lame. So basically I want to setup the stereo in my car on my own to save money. They would charge me about 100 just to put the deck and woofer in, am I better off just having them do that much or is it risky for me to try?

I drive a 91 volvo 240 and the speakers in it right now are pretty much blown. I was looking at the following parts to replace for the system:

1. Alpine 50w x 4 CDA-4856 Deck

2. Alpine Type-S 5.25' speakers

or

3. Infinity Reference 5012i 5.25' speakers

4. Kenwood KSC-WD250T 10' Woofer with built in 200w amp

That's what I've been looking to buy. Only getting them at BestBuy because I get a discount, so anything else you guys recommend I would like to hear. I can only mount 5.25' speakers in the front, so I'm sticking with that sort of basic setup.

I'm willing to spend like 450 max with my discount, so you could probably add like 250 to that for regular price.

Basically, the sub/amp will be going into the trunk, so I was wondering what would be the easiest way to route the wires to the front deck. Do I really only need to get the wires to the front, connect them right and I'm all set for the woofer?

When putting the deck in I suppose it's pretty straight forward, just hook up the right color wires to each other. I will need new speaker wire for the 2 front speakers, so what size would you guys recommend for this type of setup? Also, I saw that the deck takes rca cables, what would these be used for?

Will I need a new wiring harness or bracket for the deck at all? There is an aftermarket deck in the car right now but it's cheap.

So basically I have no clue where to begin with the installation as far as routing the sub to the deck from the trunk and if I will need anything else at all.

I don't need a whole lot of beat which is why what I'm looking for is so basic, I just need something newer. Any help you guys could give me I would appreciate, since doing this myself will save me some money. Thanks

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[chucku 10+ year member]

Start reading here for about 2-4 weeks, especially the stickies. Then make a decision if you understand enough to do the install. Talk with the guys in car audio, some may know thier stuff and some might not, but you will gain info and opinions, the final decision is yours. You have to start somewhere, so I say try it. Personally, I would not buy a powered sub. BB has kenwood amps cheap, look at those and a kicker sub, 10 or 12 ''. Good luck.

 

[mtlhead 10+ year member]

The RCA's will need to go back to your sub amp

you'll probably need a new wiring harness, but you shouldn't need to wires to run to your speaker, those are fine

for the amp, youll have to run power cable from the battery to the back of the car, and then ground the amp with the same size power cable

you also shouldn't need a new bracket if theres already an aftermarket stereo there

hope that helps a bit

 

[Blove1991 10+ year member]

HYonestly if your friends with one of the installers pay the money and watch everything they do and try to learn of do as chucku said and read on here for a little while

RCA's are run to the amp that are essential to have.

 

[Italiano86]

I wish there was a real basic wiring diagram out there, just showing me where power wires and grounds need to go. I didn't realize I would have to run the sub/amp wires form the trunk to the deck, then run a power line on back again. Thanks for the help guys, maybe I should at least try installing the deck, then have them just do the woofer/amp, that way I don't have to worry about the power or where the wires need to go.

 

[perfecxionX 10+ year member]

even with a 20% discount at best buy, you could probably get better stuff online for the same price, if not cheaper

just google this stuff and youll probably be able to find all the answers you need.

http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/ISEO-rgbtcspd/learningcenter/car/amplifiers_movie.html

http://www.caraudiohelp.com/how_to_install_a_car_amp/how_to_install_a_car_amp.htm

installdr.com (dont think they have your car though)

bcae1.com ( BEST RESOURCE BY FAR for everything car audio )

if you do decide to do the install yourself, you may want to look into alot of the less mainstream brands that you see alot of people on these boards raving about. make sure you do all your research before you start making purchases

hope this helps, and if you have any other questions dont be afraid to ask

 

[expo5.0 10+ year member]

yeah-

i happen to have the bestbuy employee discount site/log-in info

i can DEF. get you better equipment cheaper

 

[expo5.0 10+ year member]

ooh-

it's all super easy- don't pay them

 

[Italiano86]

Thanks for the input guys. I just checked out bcae1.com and I learned a ton of stuff from there. My head feels like it's gonna explode from reading so much tonite, so I gotta go over it again tomorrow, lol. It looks like my best bet would be to just get the deck, amp, speakers, and sub and just hook it all up.

When the speaker wire comes from the amp and goes to the speakers, does it matter that the distance is kinda far, since it goes to either side?

I think the moron that owned the car before me did away with an aftermarket harness and just directly spliced the cars main wiring directly into the deck, so I'll probably have to re-wire it myself.

What's a good watt rating on an amp to get me started? Just to power a pair of 5' speakers and a 10' sub, with maybe some watts to spare for future upgrades?

Thanks again for the help and links guys, I don't feel like such a moron anymore, lol.

 

[perfecxionX 10+ year member]

When the speaker wire comes from the amp and goes to the speakers, does it matter that the distance is kinda far, since it goes to either side?

it can matter, but probably not in your case

What's a good watt rating on an amp to get me started? Just to power a pair of 5' speakers and a 10' sub, with maybe some watts to spare for future upgrades?

if you want to power your front stage you may have to get two amps. there are thousands of choices, so that question is kind of hard to answer. try deciding on speakers, and then find an amp suitable for your needs. profile makes reliable budget amps. also ..... power acoustik, lanzar, hifonics....

alot of these cheaper amps dont usually quite do rated power so your going to have to leave a little headroom