Looking for some advice on a new speaker amp please!

HKYStormFront · 09-10-2010, 02:10 AM

little background for ya, i've got an AVIC-D3 head unit with pioneer 6x9 coaxials in my front doors and 6.5's in the rear doors (remember i'm in a truck lol), running straight off the headunit through the factory wiring harness. i also have a 400peak/200rms amp powering an 8" polk momo sub in a custom box in the backseat area.

having said all that, i've been really happy with my setup for a couple years now. is it perfect? no but for as little money as i have in it, i've been satisfied. now up to date, i happened across a set of polk components, 2 sets of 6.5's with crossovers and tweets, that i've been eying for a while for a song from a fellow clubfrontier member. i'm picking them up this weekend. so now onto the question: what would be a good four channel amp for mid level speakers and tweeters? they are rated at 100rms but i really don't need that much power. i'm looking for somewhere around 50rms @ 4 ohms per channel. i'm using a kenwood amp for my sub right now but i'm not limited to that. i'm looking for good clean sound with good bang-for-buck. i'm not afraid to spend a little more for a lot better sound but i'm also not looking to spend a lot of money on it either. i've seen some that are upwards of $400-500 (alpine digitals for instance). i'm probably thinking something in the $100-200 range if there's anything worth buying in that group.

so, lay it on me! what should i look at?

oh, forgot to ask, should i wire the amp separately? or should i scrap my wiring set that i have now (8 ga) and get a larger lead wire going to a dist block then go to each amp from there?

90 ST · 09-10-2010, 01:32 PM

I would look at a matching 4ch. but thats me i like everything to match. As for the power wire...yes go up to a 4g and then distro off to each amp. The other thing i would look at, and not sure if you'd be interested but selling the amp you have now on the sub and buying a 5ch. amp it would make for a nice clean install and for how much power you want it would work out great! MTX has one A RFL805, JL has one, can't remeber the model number, but it's in their HD line. And i'm sure a few other companies have them, Ayduison does also i think.

HKYStormFront · 09-11-2010, 06:19 AM

yea i thought about doing a 5 channel amp but i didn't notice any that had the power outputs i was looking for. they either had too much going to the doors and too little going to the sub or the opposite. i'll look a little closer when i get to work sunday

Juleous · 09-11-2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HKYStormFront

yea i thought about doing a 5 channel amp but i didn't notice any that had the power outputs i was looking for. they either had too much going to the doors and too little going to the sub or the opposite. i'll look a little closer when i get to work sunday

The Alpine PDX 5 has good output. You could run a 3 ohm component set to get a little more juice to the front if you don't bridge the 4 channels. Run a single 12" sub with two 4ohm voice coils to get your 2 ohm load on the 5th channel.

FuszNissan · 09-11-2010, 06:06 PM

JL 900/5 is pretty sweet. Or the Alpine PDX5 as mentioned above.

HKYStormFront · 09-11-2010, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juleous

The Alpine PDX 5 has good output. You could run a 3 ohm component set to get a little more juice to the front if you don't bridge the 4 channels. Run a single 12" sub with two 4ohm voice coils to get your 2 ohm load on the 5th channel.

the speakers are 4 ohm tho? and i already have a sub and am happy with it, i don't need a larger one

Unclemeaty · 09-14-2010, 06:08 PM

If you are only running front speakers then check out the Micro amp manufactored by Elf Audio for about $199. I know its an off brand, but its a secret in the Harley Davidson community. You can mount this tiny A/B class amp almost anywhere and its got about 75w per channel. Also, it may be ELF Audio brand but in fact ARC designed and developed it at a much higher cost. Get the Elf unit for about half of what ARC wants.

The amp is just a tick larger than 5x7x2 inches.
2 Ohm stable

Elf Audio page:
elfAudio

ARC Audio page: NOTE ARC actually sells a 4 channel version.
Arc Audio

ACR vs ELF Audio comparison:
Mini Amp Debate..... Elf-Arc guts pics - DIYMA.com

bigaudiofanat · 09-14-2010, 06:56 PM

If you are going to go that small I would got to a alpine ktp-445, just hard wore it to your harness and it will work with any head unit. Much more power than the elp which I have never heard of.

HKYStormFront · 09-14-2010, 07:34 PM

i'm gonna amp all four doors/speaker sets. so i need a 4 channel, thanks for the info tho

bigaudiofanat · 09-14-2010, 07:58 PM

It is a 4 channel, it produces 45 watts rms X 4 but is underrated and really puts out around 60.

HKYStormFront · 09-14-2010, 10:57 PM

damn that's cool as hell! it'd be a bitch to wire into my harness and there really isn't any room behind my double din (avic d3) to put it. also, i checked a couple sites and it's out of stock. i would have to cut the harnesses up and splice all the wires for my pioneer harness wouldn't i?

bigaudiofanat · 09-14-2010, 11:01 PM

It is pretty simple, color coat the wires from your pioneer harness to the one side of the alpine amp the other side foes to your vehicle harness. It will fit in a small opening under where the head unit pocket is. Might be some work but if you do not want a lot of weight or run wires this would be what I would do. What I did for trooper is cut the four speaker wires that go to the front and run new wires from there to the crossover and from there to the new speakers,

HKYStormFront · 09-15-2010, 08:15 AM

there is no room at all under my stereo, it's practically touching the A/C controls (remember, i'm in a frontier, not a Z). and the HU is backed up against the dash support as it is. this would have to go somewhere else behind the dash

90 ST · 09-15-2010, 10:39 AM

There should be lots of room under the dash on the drivers side. I do think you'd be better of with a stand alone amp...cleaner power.

bigaudiofanat · 09-15-2010, 11:13 AM

These are stand alone amps just powered threw the stock wiring. I have used them before very clean and loud power.

09-10-2010, 02:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
HKYStormFront A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greer, SC Posts: 14,954 Drives: 06 Frontier SE 6spd Rep Power: 53	Looking for some advice on a new speaker amp please! little background for ya, i've got an AVIC-D3 head unit with pioneer 6x9 coaxials in my front doors and 6.5's in the rear doors (remember i'm in a truck lol), running straight off the headunit through the factory wiring harness. i also have a 400peak/200rms amp powering an 8" polk momo sub in a custom box in the backseat area. having said all that, i've been really happy with my setup for a couple years now. is it perfect? no but for as little money as i have in it, i've been satisfied. now up to date, i happened across a set of polk components, 2 sets of 6.5's with crossovers and tweets, that i've been eying for a while for a song from a fellow clubfrontier member. i'm picking them up this weekend. so now onto the question: what would be a good four channel amp for mid level speakers and tweeters? they are rated at 100rms but i really don't need that much power. i'm looking for somewhere around 50rms @ 4 ohms per channel. i'm using a kenwood amp for my sub right now but i'm not limited to that. i'm looking for good clean sound with good bang-for-buck. i'm not afraid to spend a little more for a lot better sound but i'm also not looking to spend a lot of money on it either. i've seen some that are upwards of $400-500 (alpine digitals for instance). i'm probably thinking something in the $100-200 range if there's anything worth buying in that group. so, lay it on me! what should i look at? oh, forgot to ask, should i wire the amp separately? or should i scrap my wiring set that i have now (8 ga) and get a larger lead wire going to a dist block then go to each amp from there? __________________ Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs 09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

09-11-2010, 06:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
HKYStormFront A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greer, SC Posts: 14,954 Drives: 06 Frontier SE 6spd Rep Power: 53	yea i thought about doing a 5 channel amp but i didn't notice any that had the power outputs i was looking for. they either had too much going to the doors and too little going to the sub or the opposite. i'll look a little closer when i get to work sunday __________________ Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs 09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

09-11-2010, 06:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
FuszNissan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: St. Louis Posts: 14,275 Drives: Pure Sex Rep Power: 543	JL 900/5 is pretty sweet. Or the Alpine PDX5 as mentioned above. __________________ Mods: Too Many to list! LouFuszNissan ZDAYZ 2012

09-14-2010, 06:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 854	If you are going to go that small I would got to a alpine ktp-445, just hard wore it to your harness and it will work with any head unit. Much more power than the elp which I have never heard of. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

09-14-2010, 07:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
HKYStormFront A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greer, SC Posts: 14,954 Drives: 06 Frontier SE 6spd Rep Power: 53	i'm gonna amp all four doors/speaker sets. so i need a 4 channel, thanks for the info tho __________________ Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs 09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

09-10-2010, 01:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 422	I would look at a matching 4ch. but thats me i like everything to match. As for the power wire...yes go up to a 4g and then distro off to each amp. The other thing i would look at, and not sure if you'd be interested but selling the amp you have now on the sub and buying a 5ch. amp it would make for a nice clean install and for how much power you want it would work out great! MTX has one A RFL805, JL has one, can't remeber the model number, but it's in their HD line. And i'm sure a few other companies have them, Ayduison does also i think.

09-14-2010, 06:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
Unclemeaty Base Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 203 Drives: 150cc Scooter Rep Power: 15	If you are only running front speakers then check out the Micro amp manufactored by Elf Audio for about $199. I know its an off brand, but its a secret in the Harley Davidson community. You can mount this tiny A/B class amp almost anywhere and its got about 75w per channel. Also, it may be ELF Audio brand but in fact ARC designed and developed it at a much higher cost. Get the Elf unit for about half of what ARC wants. The amp is just a tick larger than 5x7x2 inches. 2 Ohm stable Elf Audio page: elfAudio ARC Audio page: NOTE ARC actually sells a 4 channel version. Arc Audio ACR vs ELF Audio comparison: Mini Amp Debate..... Elf-Arc guts pics - DIYMA.com

09-14-2010, 07:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 854	It is a 4 channel, it produces 45 watts rms X 4 but is underrated and really puts out around 60. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

09-14-2010, 10:57 PM	#11 (permalink)
HKYStormFront A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greer, SC Posts: 14,954 Drives: 06 Frontier SE 6spd Rep Power: 53	damn that's cool as hell! it'd be a bitch to wire into my harness and there really isn't any room behind my double din (avic d3) to put it. also, i checked a couple sites and it's out of stock. i would have to cut the harnesses up and splice all the wires for my pioneer harness wouldn't i? __________________ Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs 09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

09-14-2010, 11:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 854	It is pretty simple, color coat the wires from your pioneer harness to the one side of the alpine amp the other side foes to your vehicle harness. It will fit in a small opening under where the head unit pocket is. Might be some work but if you do not want a lot of weight or run wires this would be what I would do. What I did for trooper is cut the four speaker wires that go to the front and run new wires from there to the crossover and from there to the new speakers, __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/ Last edited by bigaudiofanat; 09-14-2010 at 11:07 PM.

09-15-2010, 08:15 AM	#13 (permalink)
HKYStormFront A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Greer, SC Posts: 14,954 Drives: 06 Frontier SE 6spd Rep Power: 53	there is no room at all under my stereo, it's practically touching the A/C controls (remember, i'm in a frontier, not a Z). and the HU is backed up against the dash support as it is. this would have to go somewhere else behind the dash __________________ Patrick // 06 Frontier 6spd Nismosis // Mods: Uprev Tuned @ Z1 Motorsports: 257whp & 292 ft lbs 09 Pontiac G8 GXP // M6 // Sunroof // Tint... For now

09-15-2010, 10:39 AM	#14 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 422	There should be lots of room under the dash on the drivers side. I do think you'd be better of with a stand alone amp...cleaner power.

09-15-2010, 11:13 AM	#15 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 854	These are stand alone amps just powered threw the stock wiring. I have used them before very clean and loud power. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Speaker Size	370book	Audio & Video	44	05-18-2010 10:42 PM
New speaker install??	josh88	Audio & Video	5	04-10-2010 05:42 PM
Advice for speaker/sub/amp selection	teejnut	Audio & Video	59	10-20-2009 01:47 PM
Speaker Wiring	bpd138	Audio & Video	24	09-04-2009 02:36 PM
Amp Speaker Question	bpd138	Audio & Video	5	05-15-2009 08:14 PM