Okay, here's a list of the new stuff I just ordered for my 2006 xA:

Kenwood DDX6019 (Haven't ordered yet)
Infinity Kappa 60.7cs (Components - for the fronts)
Infinity Kappa 62.7i 6.5" 2-ways (for the backs)
Infinity Reference 850w Sub (Quarterwave underseat enclosure)

So, my questions:

1. With Sound quality in mind, what would be a good amp choice for this particular setup? Should I install this under the other seat?

2. Do I need to use bass blockers or any other kind of frequency limiter, or is this what the crossovers are supposed to do?

3. For the component speakers: Should the tweeters that I'm getting replace the ones in the windshield post? Probably a dumb question, but I want to be sure.

Obviously, I'm pretty ignorant about sound hardware. I appreciate any help you folks may be able to give. The speakers and sub I've chosen aren't huge, and I'm not looking for super-loud. I'm just looking for excellent QUALITY, very clean.

I really appreciate any help anyone can give. I will be doing all of the installation myself as well, so if you care to offer advice on that, I'm all ears.

THANKS ALOT!

 

First, I'm no expert, but I've done all of my audio stuff myself.

1. I would go with a 5 channel amp. Really, I suggest shopping around. There is a lot of stuff to think about when ordering the amp including the size of the amp. I know infinity and alpine make a good 5 channel amp that will push all of your speakers.

2. No need for bass blockers. Your amp will have a variable crossover to prevent low frequencies from going to the speakers and/or highs to the subwoofer. The components will come with a crossover.

3. I put my tweeters in the stock dash location, and I suggest the same unless you want to do something more custom. I made custom tweeter mounts out of 1/4" MDF and flush mounted the tweeter.

My main advice for the install is that you put some sound deadening mat (b-quiet extreme or other) in the doors. It gives you much better bass response out of the door speakers. In the end, I will have used about 100sq ft on my car.

 

The 5 channel amp is good advice.... just throwing out some numbers (off the top of my head, these may vary from what the specs of the speakers say, but it should be close) I'd say you should look for an amp somewhere around:

75x4 @ 4ohm (75watts to each speaker up front)
+
200-300x1@4ohm (assuming the sub you bought is SVC 4ohm)

spec sheet will look like this;
75x4 @ 4ohm + 200/300 x 1 @ 4ohm

you'll want to make sure that the RMS for the speakers is pretty close to the RMS the amp will put out at that certain ohm load.... if you can get more specifications for the speakers and sub, we could help you find a good amp...

 

Sweet. Here's some specs:

1. Infinity Kappa 62.7i - 2-Way Speaker Specifications (will go in the back)

* Size: 6 1/2
* Sensitivity: 95 dB
* Frequency Response: 45-25,000 Hz
* Recommended RMS Power: 75W
* Peak Power Handling: 255W
* Impedance: 2 ohms

A link to these: http://www.cardomain.com/item/INFKAPPA627I

2. Infinity Kappa 60.7cs - Component Speaker System Specifications (fronts)

* Size: 6 1/2
* Sensitivity: 95 dB
* Frequency Response: 45-25,000 Hz
* Recommended RMS Power: 90W
* Peak Power Handling: 270W
* Impedance: 2 ohms

A Link to these: http://www.cardomain.com/item/INFKAPPA607CS

3. Infinity Reference 850w Subwoofer Specifications (under the seat...)

* Size: 8 inch
* Rec. Sealed Box Dims: .35 - .35 cu.ft.
* Rec. Ported Box Dims: .6 - .6 cu.ft
* Free Air Usage: not recommended
* Sensitivity: 91 dB
* Frequency Response: 30-400 Hz
* Recommended RMS Power: 200W
* Peak Power Handling: 800W
* Impedance: 4 ohms subwoofer wiring options

A Link to these: http://www.cardomain.com/item/INFREF850W


I've been reading a bit on installing these things. Doesn't seem TOO tough. I'm mostly stumped on what amp to get. Also, mounting the speakers could be a bit tricky. I guess I may need to fabricate speaker mounts using MDF. Where should I get this, or do you have other advice?

Thanks so much for helping. I hope this post helps some other peeps, too.

 

MDF can be had at Lowes or Home Depot for about $22 per 4'x8' sheet... or you can ask them for 3/4" MDF shelving board which SHOULD be 1.5'x4' which is all you'll need for baffles...

looks like an amp better suited for you would be a 100x4 @ 2ohm and 300x1@ 4ohm... (I say 300 because it'll give you a little extra without having to worry about getting too close to MAX power)... I really doubt you'll find that cinfiguration in a 5 channel amp... you'll probably have to get some multiple amps... what kind of budget are you looking at for the amps alone??

on this site:
http://edesignaudio.com/category.php?type=amps

you can get the Nine.2 and the Nine.4 which would be perfect (a little extra power for the sub) for $360 shipped if you call them and talk to Chris, tell him you're a ScionLife member... only problem is: the Nine.2's are out of stock with a 4 week'ish lead time....

 

Thanks for the response. If I'm not planning on running the subwoofer very loudly, and I'm not, then will it consisently draw less power? If so, Do you think I could look for an amp with a lower power rating for the amp?

Also, I'd rather use one amp. I could spend a bit of money, but hopefully not too much. If it's cheaper to run one amp, I'd certainly rather do that, you know?

 

I know what you're saying, but it'll be hard to find a 5 channel amp that will give you 100x4 @ 2ohm for your mids/highs....


let me look at a few amps and I'll get back to ya in this thread

 

ok, here's a VERY high quality amp that would be darn near perfect for you... since you said you listen to alot of Jazz (I remember that from PM's between us) and you're looking for a balanced system, this amp would give you optimum power for your mids/highs and just a little underpower for your subwoofer.... only drawback, it's $519...

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=4283

 

Here's a really nice Eclipse amplifier that gives 70x4 @ 2ohm plus 200x1 @ 4ohm... would be ideal for your system $400

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...Product_ID=216

 

Check this out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Audison-SRx5-Mul...QQcmdZViewItem

I wonder if this amp is in good shape. How do amps tend to hold up over time and use? I know nothing about this.

That's pretty pricey, no? Of course it is! But I suppose it's a pretty awesome amp, right?

You've been a big help. One thing I should ask about though, is that I noticed that the power per channel was only 50 watts. Is tat right? I thought before you were advocating 100 watts each. I'm a bit confused.

 

The Eclipse is definitely more managable, if I were to buy new. What about used?

I'm looking over the secifications of these amps, and the numbers are pretty daunting to me. I guess once you know what they all mean, it's really useful stuff!

 

What's the deal with the 2 ohms vs. 4 ohms? I know that the sub I got is 4 ohms, and the other speaks are 2 ohms. I suppose that's what's causing so much trouble.

Now, what happens if I power the 4 ohm subwoofer on a 2 ohm line?
What happens if I power 2 ohm speakers on a 4-ohm line?

Check these out if you have a chance and tell me if any of these are viable solutions to my quandary...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rockford-Fosgate...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-5-3-Channel...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/HIFONICS-ZX8000-...QQcmdZViewItem


Thanks again!

 

You can't "power a 4ohm subwoofer on a 2ohm line" as you're saying it... your amplifier will be able to send more power through a lower OHM load (AKA resistance to electrical current)... meaning no matter what amp you hook to that sub of yours, it will always be running at 4ohm because the subwoofer has an impedance (ohms / resistance) of 4 ohm..... the only way to change what ohm load an amplifier "sees" is by different wiring configurations - for example:

take 2 of the subs you have (single voice coil, 4ohm each)... if you have a 1 channel amp that puts out 200x1@4ohm or 400x1 @ 2ohm, you can take those 2 subs, connect their +'s and -'s together, then from one of the subs, connect the + to the amp's + and the - to the amp's -, and you'll be running in 2ohm mode because you "paralleled" the 2 voice coils together... if the 2 subs were 8 ohm each and you wired them like that, you'd have a 4ohm load at the amp...

 

with this amp, your speakers would each get 100 watts (2ohm per speaker/component) and the sub would also only get 100 watts because the sub channel is 100x1@4ohm OR 200x1 @ 2ohm

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rockford-Fosgate...QQcmdZViewItem

 

with this amp, your speakers will get 100 each and the sub will get 200... this would be a good one...
http://cgi.ebay.com/HIFONICS-ZX8000-...QQcmdZViewItem

only bad thing is I'm not sure what the sound quality would be like with this amp...

 

The other thing to remember is that while running a 5 channel amp is nice in that you only have a single amp, you probably won't have anywhere to hide it. Those amps are usually much larger than Mono, two channel and even 4 channel amps.

Sometimes you end up with better results at a lower cost by using two amps. One for the sub and one for the rest of the speakers. Granted now you have multiple amps to deal with. But the amps are usually smaller and easier to tuck away in discreet spots.

 

the other thing I wasn't looking at is the HU... make sure you have 3 sets of pre-outs on the HU you buy

 

Good point. I'm looking to stick the amp(s) under the passenger seat of my xA. I wonder if a 5-channel will fit under there?

 

Yeah, the HU is a Kenwood DDX6019. Here's a link:

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_6815.html

It's got 3 sets of Preamp outs.

 

I doubt a 5 channel would fit under the seat... may have to make a mount in the back... still wouldn't take up a WHOLE lot of room...