help me build my system from scratch

[velko 10+ year member]

Hi -

I have a 97 Accord and wanna build my system up. I'm a newbie but I've done some speaker installs before so I know the lingo just a bit. Won't do the install myself. I'm gonna buy the stuff and have a shop put it in because I have NO time. Want to get your opinions as to what I need to get. I like rock music so I don't need to be shaking buildings with the subs - just want GREAT sound.

New HU - Pioneer

6 1/2" components in front door with tweeters mounted on sail pillars

6x9 on rear deck

sub in the trunk

Questions:

1 - what size/type amp do I need for all this since I'm guessing I won't be powering ANY of the speakers off the HU - please recommend some brands. I do have an old Sony 2 channel MX250 - can I use this for the fronts?

2 - what wattage would you suggest for all the speakers? Do the rear ones need more power from the amp to balance out the sound since I'm closer to the front speakers?

3 - where would you put the amps?

4 - do I have to worry that my alternator won't provide enough power?

5 - wire! what size, type? The shop uses the stock wire from the HU to the speakers - is that OK?

6 - any questions to ask the shop - or can you recomm a good install place in L.A.?

Any other suggestions APPRECIATED! Thanks! If you can keep me in the neighborhood of $800 that would be great! And I don't mind buying used stuff on ebay.

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[CP400M 10+ year member]

6 - any questions to ask the shop - or can you recomm a good install place in L.A.?

Where in LA do you live

 

[jemorgan85 10+ year member]

First off, I would remove the rear speakers because of undoubtable phasing issues....

But if you are just wanting some nice sounding bass, check out the TC-7 woofer at http://www.audiohole.com

They have an extrememly low motor force and high Qts..... you should get some nice sound out of one....put 4-500 watts on it.

 

[BBB 10+ year member]

I'm pretty new to this as well, but it sounds like I'm a few months ahead of you, so I'll share what I've learned.

Pioneer HU - Cool

6.5 Comps - cool, but go with kick panels if you are really going for SQ

6x9 - if you're upgrading factory speakers here, go with 6.5's with an adapter(better than 6x9), or drop the rears all together.

I'll answer as best as I can in order:

1. Generally the higher end comps, the more power you'll need. Plan your whole system out first before buying anything. If you buy high end, power hungry comps(expensive), then you'll need high power amp(expensive), then you'll need powerful sub($) with a powerful amp($). Domino effect!

2. Less power, not more for the rear (run it off the HU, or ditch them altogether). Do a search for staging for an explanation.

3. Depends... mainly on where they fit.

4. Depends on how much power, probably not if your budget is $800

5. Use wire recommendations for speakers/amp etc. If they use factory speaker wire on high end equipment I would be worried. If all they charge you extra for, is the price of the wire, pay for the good stuff. In general factory wire will not be sufficient. (except for factory or = equip)

6. Listen to the speakers before you buy. Find a few different brands in your price range and listen before you buy. Ask questions at the shop only after you do some research in this and other forums. Otherwise you prob. won't be able to tell if they know what they're talking about. (my experience)

I bought everything in my system off ebay and I have nothing but good things to say about everyone I dealt/bought with! Check out the thread on store reviews found in the general forum, it mentions many online/ebay sellers.

 

[packerfan 10+ year member]

If you like your rear fill, keep it, you dont have to get rid of it all together. Just because one person doesnt like it doesnt mean you DONT have to like it either. Its all up to the user, i myself like rear fill. I use my car for a daily driver and not a sound quality car.

 

[BIG_SUPERMAN72 10+ year member]

Rear fill is the shit. Packa. Im getting underbody neons *****. --()~~

 

[s5pitfire 10+ year member]

hey i'm just like you

starting from scratch, just ordered a Pioneer DEH 4600 (look on sounddomain.com fro GREAT deals)

 

[velko 10+ year member]

I'm in West LA.

So, no suggestions as to what approx wattage speakers i should get?

And why are the 6.5 comps better than 6x9s?

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

I'm in West LA.
So, no suggestions as to what approx wattage speakers i should get?

And why are the 6.5 comps better than 6x9s?

if i were you i would get a class a\b amp to power your fronts and rears (4 speakers = 4 channels) that is like 200-400 w. and if you get an amp that is, for sake of explination- 400w, get speakers that will use that powerl. RMS (rated max- ie, continious power) power that is, not max power.

so there are many choices for amps like this. ask somone who knows "what kind of 4ch amp should i get for front and rear speakers?"

as for your HU, whatever.. thats fine as long as it has pre-outs for your SUB\FRONTS\REARS ... and you will be all set.

as for your sub. i would suggest about 400-500w like he said up there. go get yourself a 10" or a 12" mediocre sub- and a little classD amp for it. go ask the question "im looking for 400-500w in a sub\amp combo. not too expenisve, i mostly listen to rock, i just want good sound quality, what should i get?"

other than that, its all up to you. those are just starting points that you need to look into. find out what people would suggest for your $800 budget. divide it (after you ask people the costs and find out some price ranges) into SUB\AMP and COMP\AMP and then state those. i would say its gonna be like 60\40 SUB\COMP on the prices. i would imagine a nice 400w class D amp costing a bit more than a a\b 200-400w amp IMO.

i have a rockford fosgate 351m that is a mono classD amp and i have 2 kenwoods (350rms @4 ohms) so i got 175 running to each sub. for rock, this hits plenty hard. would only cost you a bit too. i got the amp for like $80~100 and the 2 10's with a box for ~$100. id imagine that gives you plenty of money for components.

sub- 10"(1 or 2) or 12"(1) ~300-500watts

amp- 300-500w MONO classD

components- im not too keen on these, but 6.5 front, 6x9 rear about ~100-150w a piece

comp amp- 4 channel ~400w class A\B

thats my 2cents. good luck man... i dont know WHAT kind of stuff you should get, but there is a starting point, now ask people with more expierence to recommend stuff =) //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/angel.gif.fa7795fff6653f4381ba158c55a48b74.gif

 

[BBB 10+ year member]

I'm in West LA.
So, no suggestions as to what approx wattage speakers i should get?

And why are the 6.5 comps better than 6x9s?

A round speaker will always be better than an oval shaped speaker. Stronger cone, more accurate response. Maybe someone else can expand on this a bit more.

 

[velko 10+ year member]

thanks BBB -

So, if I have a 400w amp for speakers and a 400w amp for the sub, do I have to worry that my Accord won't have enough power from the alternator?

Should both amps go in the trunk?

And do you agree that factory wiring ain't gonna be good enough?

 

[skeptikal Premium Member]

You are good with only 800W and more then likely your stuff wont be turned all the way up... If you want to be safe you can get a .5 farad cap which are like 49.00$ or osmething like that from best buy,

if anything also too, either mount the amps to the trunk or get Velcro and put it on the underside of them so they dont slide around, if they slide around you could have a possiblity for a short out if the wires come out with will blow ur $800 in 2 seconds........ because you dont want amplifiers taking up your backseat space do you?

and no factory wiring probably shouldnt be used using after-market products either... I'd say with your amps use an 8Gauge wiring kit and buy some speakerwire from a store (electrical store, hardware store, car audio place should all have it)

 

[velko 10+ year member]

So what exactly is the ".5 farad cap"?

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

So what exactly is the ".5 farad cap"?

really, capicators arent REALLY needed, its kinda like an energy store in your trunk.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=50547&item=5711813253&rd=1

wiring would go from (4 guage wire) battery+terminal->fuse-> capicator+terminal-> 4guage\2x 8guage dirstobution block with fuses-> 8guage to subwoofer amp +terminal \\ 8 guage to component amp +terminal

the capicator would be grounded to a good solid bolt or screw in the trunk somewhere (strip ALL paint and secure it tightly)

and the amp- terminals would go to another dirstrobution block 1x 4guage 2x 8guage again WITH fuses, and then to the - terminal.

thats how i would do it. here is a pic

hope this helps. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/toast.gif.bc0657bf54b9ee653b6438524461341e.gif