Install issues about Local Shop.

[ATLExplosion 10+ year member]

I returned from Iraq last week and I'm looking to get my 2 12" L7's and my KX 1200.1 amp installed, along with my overhead monitor.

I went to a local shop in Marrietta, GA call "The Source Car Audio." The told me that I should run another battery since that amp pulls so much current and that one Optima battery wouldn't be enough. Also, he told me to put my L7's in a sealed box instead of ported because ported boxes tend to blow the L7's quicker and that the woofer can't take all the power the amp has to give in a ported enclosure. Does this guy know what he's talking about or do I need to steer clear of this place???

Thanks!

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[squeak12 10+ year member]

I wouldnt pay him much attention on the battery comment. An additional battery will just put more strain on your alternator. Also, I would go ported over sealed with the L7s. Sealed is nice for SQ but with L7s, Im going to guess your not looking for pure SQ.

 

[ATLExplosion 10+ year member]

So, if I got just an Optima (red or yellow?) that would be good enough to run my Rockford 400 watt 4 channel amp and the Kicker 1200.1? Thanks!

 

[squeak12 10+ year member]

Yea, Id just do like a yellow top. You might need the big 3 done because those RF amps are current *****s. A friend of mine had a 5002 and it dimmed pretty bad.

 

[stones 10+ year member]

I returned from Iraq last week and I'm looking to get my 2 12" L7's and my KX 1200.1 amp installed, along with my overhead monitor.
I went to a local shop in Marrietta, GA call "The Source Car Audio." The told me that I should run another battery since that amp pulls so much current and that one Optima battery wouldn't be enough. Also, he told me to put my L7's in a sealed box instead of ported because ported boxes tend to blow the L7's quicker and that the woofer can't take all the power the amp has to give in a ported enclosure. Does this guy know what he's talking about or do I need to steer clear of this place???

Thanks!

It sounds like he is trying to "upsell" you by trying to get you to invest in a different box, spare battery and increased install cost.

I have personnally ran a similar amp set up, 1 Concept CC1004 (100x4) and 1 Concept CC1200A (1200 x1) In a 1990 Cavalier with a stock alternator (100 amp) and a single 800 cca battery, RF 1 farad cap and big three wiring.

I ran that setup for over a year and the only problem was voltage drops during tone bursts in spl competitions, daily driving with music was problem free.

If anything start with a bigger alternator before you do anything else, then the largest cold cranking amp battery you can fit in there. Adding extra batterys and caps is a last resort.

 

[Alexwaves 10+ year member]

port the Kickers they love ported boxes just tune the box 40 hz or higher or use a SSF (subsonic filter) in my experience i have had the L5 10" the L5 12" and the L7 15" and the SSF helps alot and i have a KX 2500.1 in my thinderbird and i have a 230 amp alt and 3 yellow tops one in the front and two in the back and i need it but then again my Kx2500.1 is twice the amp... aslong as you have a newer car/truck the alt should be over 110 amps and with a yellow top you should have not probs the kickers are ok in the effiency side of things (not the best but ok)

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

port the Kickers they love ported boxes just tune the box 40 hz or higher or use a SSF (subsonic filter) in my experience i have had the L5 10" the L5 12" and the L7 15" and the SSF helps alot and i have a KX 2500.1 in my thinderbird and i have a 230 amp alt and 3 yellow tops one in the front and two in the back and i need it but then again my Kx2500.1 is twice the amp... aslong as you have a newer car/truck the alt should be over 110 amps and with a yellow top you should have not probs the kickers are ok in the effiency side of things (not the best but ok)

Over 40hz is a little high for daily driving.