need suggestions please

[jeremy1122k 10+ year member]

i'm running a pioneer7400 deck, boston acoustic rally comps, and kicker 6x9s in the back,

i'm planning on getting a sub and amp soon. i've decided on 1 elemental 12" sub. my original plan was to use a hifonics z8000 (5 channel amp). but i'm afraid it might be underpowered? the amp give 50 watts to 4 speakers and 300 to the sub. is that enough? how much better will my components sound with the amp? or should i just get 2 amps, one for the sub and the other for the speakers? please throw out some ideas for me...i can get the hifonic amp for 225 shipped.

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[Wonderbread 5,000+ posts]

that will give more than enough pwoer to your K..

.just because it can handle more doesnt mean you ahve to give it more..

thats a good price on a good amp...

 

[Moocow16 10+ year member]

300W should be perfectly fine. but my personal belief is that independent amps are better. what i mean is, if u have 1 amp dedicated for the speakers (4 channel) and 1 amp dedicated to the sub(s), it'll sound better. plus that way if the 5 channel overheats, you don't loose all your sound. for $225, i think it's perfect, but if u decide to get separate amps, try a US Acoustics 4-channel and some other amp for the sub, maybe a 600.1?

 

[jeremy1122k 10+ year member]

how much can the elemental k 12" handle? how will my comps sound like, just louder? (can u tell i don't know crap about audio?)

 

[Wonderbread 5,000+ posts]

the K is rated to handle 400 watts RMS but has been known to handle double that in proper applications...

is will sound perfectly fine in your car, and will get fairly loud as well...

your comps could use a few more watts tho..

maybe consider bridging your 4 channel into a 2 channel to your fronts, with the rears running off the deck amp...

 

[hargenoff 10+ year member]

I wouldn't go for the 5 channel amp, it will overheat very quickly b/c of all the work it has to do. I would go with a mono amp for the sub and 4 channel for the speakers. mount the amps high enough so the have room to breathe. You probably end up paying a little more for the two separate amps b/c of both sets of wires, but i think it is worth it. I think the two amps will give you louder sound than just one.

nothing against the 5 channel amp, if you want to get one, it will definitly do the trick

 

[Wonderbread 5,000+ posts]

don't lsiten to taht noise..

theres no reason for it to overheat any faster..

run it at recommended ohm loads, and you will never see a problem because of that...

teh amp is DESIGNED to be doing all that work..

its a great way to go...

 

[Moocow16 10+ year member]

Originally posted by Wonderbread don't lsiten to taht noise..

theres no reason for it to overheat any faster..

run it at recommended ohm loads, and you will never see a problem because of that...

teh amp is DESIGNED to be doing all that work..

its a great way to go...

question. if the sub part of the amp overheats, does it turn off the whole amp, or just the sub section?

 

[Wonderbread 5,000+ posts]

who knows, lol.

but honestly who cares?

it wont as long as you run it in a recoemmended ohm load... its a good amp from a good company, and it will be plenty stable...

the Zeus line are workhorses... very stable, and conservativvely rated...

 

[jeremy1122k 10+ year member]

thanks

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

if you think you can squeeze it out, I would get a 4 channel and a mono for the sub, just my preference

 

[jeremy1122k 10+ year member]

if i get a 4 channel amp and 1 amp for the sub, should i just bridge and run the components off the deck and run the amp for the front and rear? i have my tweeters floating over my front speakers, should i move them and put them in the door panel? what good cheap amp is to run a edk 12" sub then?

 

[Moocow16 10+ year member]

for the sub, you could try a JBL 300.1 or a 600.1. or a kacx520.

 

[i3abyjay25 10+ year member]

just get the 5 channel amp.. its a great amp and a good price.. i had a mtx bluethunder 5 channel amp, and i had no problems w. it.. so im sure you wont either

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by jeremy1122k if i get a 4 channel amp and 1 amp for the sub, should i just bridge and run the components off the deck and run the amp for the front and rear? i have my tweeters floating over my front speakers, should i move them and put them in the door panel? what good cheap amp is to run a edk 12" sub then?

No, no, no. #1 priority, even before sub/amp, would be getting good power to your Bostons. As far as your 6x9's - a lot of people will say don't even use them, but I like a little rear fill, which head unit power works well for. You could use a good sized 2 ch amp for your Bostons, or a smaller 4 ch running in bridged mode which would probably be a little more cost effective.

For a sub amp on a budget I'd recommend the Lanzar OptiSL 800D on ebay. I believe it's $150 shipped. It will give you 400+rms at 2 ohms so you'd want a dvc 4 e12k. The opti would also allow future upgrade b/c it puts out 800rms at 1 ohm.