new to sound system, need advice

[guwakjai010]

i'm starting to build alil system for my civic, right now i have a Panasonic DF903U head unit with 6.5" alpine type S in front and 5.25" in the back. the sound that comes out still is very nasty, maybe due to the old stock wires i use. now i just got a Alpine MRP-F240 4-ch. Amp with these specs... used to power the four speakers.
General Specifications
» 40 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms
» 50 watts RMS x 4 at 2 ohms
» 100 watts RMS x 2 bridged output at 4 ohms
» 2-, 3-, or 4-channel output
» 4-ohm stable in bridged mode
» Tri-way capable (Tri-Way Crossover required)
» selectable high-pass/low-pass crossover at 80 Hz, 18 dB/octave (2 separate crossovers, one for channels 1 & 2, another for channels 3 & 4)
» subsonic filter at 15 Hz for channels 3 & 4
» tuned Bass EQ (0-12 dB bass boost at 50 Hz) for channels 3 & 4
» preamp outputs
» MOSFET power supply
» STAR Topology (minimizes internal noise and prevents ground interference)
» speaker- and preamp-level inputs
» gold-plated screw terminals

also i bought 2 10" kicker c10 subs. it was buy one get one free at CC. heres the link for them... http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Kicker-10-Comp-Subwoofer-05C104/sem/rpsm/oid/117478/catOid/-13641/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

anyways i have some questions, i'm trying to find an amp for the subs. budget is pretty low... trying to find something for about 100. any recommendations? i think they need 150 rms X 2 at 4ohms. not sure... i'm new to this stuff... i'm actually looking at a Kenwood Kac 7202.... maybe it works good with them? i don't know...
also another question, the alpine amp already has a installation kit wit the wires and everything, do i need to buy another kit for the amp thats use to power the subs or can i use the same kit. i don't have the specs for he kit for alpine amp yet. So i'm researching now. heh... thnx

 

[3rdCoast]

http://www.woofersetc.com check then out pretty good place to buy from really good prices on good stuff. As far as the second amp goes for wiring ur gonna need a fused distribution block some extra power, ground, and speaker wire for it and depending what size fuse u have under the hood in the power line u might have to step the fuse up too but i wouldnt worry about that right away unless u blow the fuse after u have it all hooked up and running. Because of the power ur running which isnt a whole lot u should be ok with whatever size wire kit u have. With 4ga. wire kit u will be good for almost anything until u start to get in the really high powered gear. R u gonna install this urself? If so make sure u ground both amps in the same place, just use the same bolt for both amp ground wires.

---- edit http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=3054 This amp is a lil more than the $100 u stated u had to spend but not too much more and it will make them 10's bump nice wire them for 2ohms and they will get 150wrms each

 

[00Civ1c]

Kenwood makes great amps, it is what I recommend at Best Buy whenever I'm at work.
It should do nicely to support the Kickers.


///AMii

 

[guwakjai010]

http://www.woofersetc.com check then out pretty good place to buy from really good prices on good stuff. As far as the second amp goes for wiring ur gonna need a fused distribution block some extra power, ground, and speaker wire for it and depending what size fuse u have under the hood in the power line u might have to step the fuse up too but i wouldnt worry about that right away unless u blow the fuse after u have it all hooked up and running. Because of the power ur running which isnt a whole lot u should be ok with whatever size wire kit u have. With 4ga. wire kit u will be good for almost anything until u start to get in the really high powered gear. R u gonna install this urself? If so make sure u ground both amps in the same place, just use the same bolt for both amp ground wires.

ye ai plan to install it myself...... but u see all those numbers... ihave no clue what they mean.. haha.... so thats why i ask about the amps and stuff... i'm just trying to find numbers on the subs that matches on Amps...

also yea kenwood... if it will work fine.. i'm prolly gonna go for one...

 

[3rdCoast]

u got kicker comp 10's right? Last i knew they handle 150w rms each so that amp is right on the money. Look at the the rms numbers the rest dont really matter right at the moment

 

[guwakjai010]

ok see nextthing is... i kno nothing bout this stuff... wat kinda of speaker wire and red, white wire i should use? keep in mind... i'm doin a budget thing but with ok quality. and how would u run wires... how do u get them under the carpet and stuff...

 

[3rdCoast]

14ga speaker wire will be good u can get a whole spool at walmart for i think $10. To run the wires under the carpet ur gonna have to make a hole big enough for the power wire in the firewall of the car. Find a clear spot on the wall inside the car and on the other side in the engine bay where theres nothing in the way and drill a hole. The wire kit should come with a grommet to put in the hole so the metal doesnt chew up ur wire. Once u get the wire through the wall all u have to do is remove the door sills and any interior panals holding the carpet down and then just run and tuck the wire underneth the carpet. Do this till u get the end of ur wire into the trunk. Its easier said than done but not hard just time consuming. Run ur rca signal wires on the opposite side of ur car from the power wire. Just run ur power wire on the same side ur battery is on and the rca cables on the other. If u run them together u could get noise in the signal line and u dont want that.

 

[guwakjai010]

14ga speaker wire will be good u can get a whole spool at walmart for i think $10. To run the wires under the carpet ur gonna have to make a hole big enough for the power wire in the firewall of the car. Find a clear spot on the wall inside the car and on the other side in the engine bay where theres nothing in the way and drill a hole. The wire kit should come with a grommet to put in the hole so the metal doesnt chew up ur wire. Once u get the wire through the wall all u have to do is remove the door sills and any interior panals holding the carpet down and then just run and tuck the wire underneth the carpet. Do this till u get the end of ur wire into the trunk. Its easier said than done but not hard just time consuming. Run ur rca signal wires on the opposite side of ur car from the power wire. Just run ur power wire on the same side ur battery is on and the rca cables on the other. If u run them together u could get noise in the signal line and u dont want that.

wow cool.. u hit all the right spots... lol soon when i get the amps i'll hook them all up together.

 

[Akiahara96]

... you pull up panels and pull up the carpet.

there's a tutorial in the rerference section. i'd check that out. but, personally, you should go pay a shop to do it.

 

[3rdCoast]

u have to pull the carpet back to get the wires run under it, and u have to loosen some of the panels to get to the edge of the carpet. u dont have to peel the carpet back a foot to get the wires runs just need access to the edges to tuck the wires. Is that hard to believe? Yeah when u get all ur gear together and ready to do it make sure u read up on it or come back on here for any quetions and help before u get started.......

 

[guwakjai010]

hey one more question..... u think my alternator can handle all this? that was one thing i forgot to ask.

 

[Adam_Schwartz]

14ga speaker wire will be good u can get a whole spool at walmart for i think $10. To run the wires under the carpet ur gonna have to make a hole big enough for the power wire in the firewall of the car. Find a clear spot on the wall inside the car and on the other side in the engine bay where theres nothing in the way and drill a hole. The wire kit should come with a grommet to put in the hole so the metal doesnt chew up ur wire. Once u get the wire through the wall all u have to do is remove the door sills and any interior panals holding the carpet down and then just run and tuck the wire underneth the carpet. Do this till u get the end of ur wire into the trunk. Its easier said than done but not hard just time consuming. Run ur rca signal wires on the opposite side of ur car from the power wire. Just run ur power wire on the same side ur battery is on and the rca cables on the other. If u run them together u could get noise in the signal line and u dont want that.

Actually, there should be a hole already in the firewall for this type of thing. My 2000 Civic had one. There was a rubber stopper that could be removed and even cut to stick the power wire through. You can then re-install the rubber piece for a nice clean look.

 

[Adam_Schwartz]

hey one more question..... u think my alternator can handle all this? that was one thing i forgot to ask.

Just to give you an idea, I have a 600 watt PG amp for my sub and another 450 watt PG amp for my front comps and my electrical system can handle it fine (I have a 2000 EX). I also upgraded "the big three" wires. If you go to sounddomain.com and look for "magic 3" or "big 3" upgrade in their forums, there is a complete how-to thread for this. I think it's in the electrical forum. It's not hard to do either and can give you ~1 volt boost, which is quite a bit.

 

[Akiahara96]

i had to get a new alternator... but, my equipment is bigger. if you do start to have issues, upgrading your alternator is the best thing you can do.

i still think you're nuts though.

 

[guwakjai010]

i had to get a new alternator... but, my equipment is bigger. if you do start to have issues, upgrading your alternator is the best thing you can do.

i still think you're nuts though.

how am i nuts lol why? hahaha
this is just alil project i'm trying to do and learn... everything on my car i do on my own so i can learn lol. i even painted hood and bumper... it came out ok... but now i got hit agian... gotta paint the new panels in the front again lol