So I got my first car, scion tc 2007 and since I'm such an audiophile I'm deciding to put a new speaker system in it.

I haven't really gone past soldering/circuitry, computers, and modifying headsets when it comes to wiring/electronics so I need a little help here(I'm a small scale enthusiast I guess). I read the entire faQ by rocketgirl (sp?) and it gave me quite a bit of knowledge, but not enough to act on my own.

Anyway, here it goes:

I bought:

polk audio component set with 2 tweets, mids and it comes with a crossover (its at the shop, I think it takes in a 120watts)

Crunch P1100.2 1/2 Channel Amp

monster 680watt amp kit

A cvr compvr12 Kicker Sub (12 inches, RMS: 400, Peak 800

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I have $200 more dollars to spend... I would do more but that's all I can do for now... I just started to go to college and it's pretty costly.

The reason why I have a 2 channel Amp is because I bought the kit, Amp and Sub at the same time from Fry's electronics and the guy there told me to buy this particular amp.... I should of told him that I had some other speakers I wanted to power.

Q's:

Should I buy a new header with the $200 I can spend?

Should I return the Amp for a 5 channel Amp? (If I want the polk component set powered by the amp)

If I buy a new header, do I need the crossover, do I need the crossover anyway? I'm really confused if the Amp replaces the xover or not.

I know this may sound a bit stupid, but where does the power 'come from'. Do I directly connect the Amp to the car battery or the header. - it's just one of those obvious things I'm confused about.

Do I need more cables? (since this is the 680watt kit set)

parallel or series for my sub?

Anything else I should be aware of?

Should I completely remove the back speakers of my car?

How would I "tune" my amp?

If I buy a header do I need a high to low converter? How 'bout a bass controller?

IS there anything that I need to be aware of? Tips/tricks/more accessories?
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My father owns a spray booth/baker and complete auto body shop so it's pretty convenient to use when I'm doing carmods, since I have all the tools necessary to do so.

Thanks in advance, I greatly appreciate it!

Oh, and I'm making a box, almost forgot to mention that... (I got it under control)


Sorry if some of these questions annoyed you, I know how that feels

 

First off, do not call them header. They are complete different parts. Headers are engine parts not car audio. If I were you, I would of spend the better part of your budget on a decent Head Unit or HU for short. My preference is any HU with 3 pre-amp outs that way you can send a good clean signal to the amps, one front the front, rears and subs. I would also look for a HU that allows you to control the eq and or soundstage from the comforts from your seat. Right now I have the Alpine CDA-9886 with their add-on module that will allow me to do just that.
In your case, the 5 channel amp will work fine to power all speakers in your car. The 2 channel amp would only work to power the front speakers and tweeters or subs. Not both. Personally, I would go with a 4 channel amp and a mono channel amp. You do not connect the tweeters to the amp, you connect it to the crossover provided with the component speaker.
You do not need a crossover. Some HU and ampwill have crossover or filter. The only crossover that is needed is for the component speakers. you connect the amp to the car battery. that's the only thing you need unless if the kit didn't come with speaker wires. well I take that back, you might need more speaker wires.
depends on how many subs you're plan on having.
Why should you? follow what is in the manual and fine tune from there.
no and no [/quote]

 

First off, do not call them header. They are complete different parts. Headers are engine parts not car audio. If I were you, I would of spend the better part of your budget on a decent Head Unit or HU for short. My preference is any HU with 3 pre-amp outs that way you can send a good clean signal to the amps, one front the front, rears and subs. I would also look for a HU that allows you to control the eq and or soundstage from the comforts from your seat. Right now I have the Alpine CDA-9886 with their add-on module that will allow me to do just that.

=Thanks really helped a lot.=


In your case, the 5 channel amp will work fine to power all speakers in your car. The 2 channel amp would only work to power the front speakers and tweeters or subs. Not both. Personally, I would go with a 4 channel amp and a mono channel amp. You do not connect the tweeters to the amp, you connect it to the crossover provided with the component speaker.


=Alright thanks again. So the amp connects to the xover, then from the xover it connects to the mids and tweeters.=

You do not need a crossover. Some HU and ampwill have crossover or filter. The only crossover that is needed is for the component speakers.

=Alright, thanks for clarifying...=

you connect the amp to the car battery.

==


that's the only thing you need unless if the kit didn't come with speaker wires. well I take that back, you might need more speaker wires.

=I guess I'll go buy some speaker wires then.=

depends on how many subs you're plan on having.

=Only one=

Why should you?

=Because the rocketgurl FAQ recommended taking off the back speakers.=


follow what is in the manual and fine tune from there.

=Alrighty, will do=

no and no

=Gotcha=



So I guess Ill exchange the amp for a 4 channel + mono, thanks!! Oh and get a head unit.

-Edit-

Ok so I decided (tell me if this is a bad decision) to keep my amp and use it as a mono amp and buy a 500watt 4 channel from craigslist.

This might sound obvious, but I want to make sure... Would the 1/2 channel amp work as a mono amp fine? Also what about a 1/2 bridged to a 1/2 or is it recommended to have a discrete amp for the sub?

 

to add on since I was in a hurry for work...

I wouldn't get a 4 channel amp unless you really wanted to. If you rarely have anyone sitting in the back, then a 2 channel amp to power the front speakers and a 1/2 channel or mono channel amp for the sub is the best way to go. The stock rear speaker is not powerful enough and you won't really notice it if you're sitting in the front. Again, the amp recommendation is purely preference.

Since the tc is a small car, you might not need anymore speaker wires. The kit I brought had enough to wire all 4 speakers. from the rear to the front doors and the rear speakers.

To take off the rear speaker is too much work. I would just play with the fader on the HU to drown them out or just disconnect them. If the manual didn't have instruction on how to tune the amp, then the universal instruction is pretty much crank the volume on the HU to your max listening level and tune your amp until the speakers do not distort.

As for keeping your amp that you already brought, it depends if you can switch it from 2 channel into one channel or if you can bridge the channel. I would look in the manual that came with the amp and see if you can safely do that. The Eclipse amp that I had awhile back, had a switch that allows you to switch from 2 to 1. So definitely take a look into this as this can be a fire hazard.