inquiring about building a system.

[ohioshodude]

Hey guys. I’m looking to build a system but using the stock head unit. i have a probe EQ I’m going to install as well. Anyways what I’m looking to do use a 4 channel amp with a second amp for the sub (which I plan to us an 8" in the box). What I need to know is was is a good way of doing this. Which amp is good and which is the best. What kind of watts do i need, ect... I really like the Kicker KX650.4 seems like a really nice amp but there is not sub output. Any help would be appreciated, as I don't know a whole lot about this stuff. Thanks!

 

[Hack]

Is this in the Mustang?

I would recommend not getting hung up on brand names. If it is a well known manufacturer, it is probably a good product. If you poll 50 different people regarding their favorite and least favorite brands, you are likely to get 50 different answers.

I would base product decisions on features and price. To an extent, look at specifications. Only to an extent though, as there is no governing body checking everyones claims on power outputs, signal to noise ratio, total harmonic distortion, etc. Features are the number one selling point in my eyes.

I take it the EQ you have came out of a Probe? It may or may not be compatible with your factory head unit. My experience with equalizers is that they just tend to add unwanted noise. On the other hand, some people love them.

If you are doing the installation yourself, I would look to Crutchfield for the proper wiring and adapters. They can get you as close to plug and play as is possible.

*edit*
Just checked out the Kicker KX650.4. Looks like a nice piece of gear. According to Sounddomain it does have an preamp output. While technically not the same as a subwoofer output because it may lack a low pass filter, whatever amp you choose to run the sub should have a low pass filter already built in. Have you looked into the KX700.5 at all? It appears to have most everything you are looking for(70Wx4+210Wx1, high and low pass filters, 0-18 db bass boost), all in one chassis.

 

[jelloslug]

Check with the Probe guys about using the EQ with aftermarket equipment. AFAIK the only problems any of them had was getting it to work an aftermarket headunit. As I'm sure you already know the EQ will work fine with any Sony/Ford hi level headunits.

 

[MelectroK]

any ford radio that has the plug in for the cd player should be able to use the eq

 

[LOUDSHO92]

As stated you shouldnt get hung up on name brands though you should stick to well know name brands. You should first start by picking out your speakers and sub they will detrimine how powerfull of an amp you need. The amp should match or be less the RMS of the speakers (subs) you bought. You should get an aftermarket headunit as that will greatly improve the quality of the sound and make instalation easier.

It seems that you might want to go with a 5 channel amp. These have 4 channels plus a 5th for a sub. The sub channel will putout around 150watts or so. I have not seen many go above 200watts. With an 8in sub this might be something look into.

 

[ohioshodude]

thanks guys for a start. what i'm looking to do is keep my sho looking stock. i'm going to have a set up similar to jelloslugs. with the factory radio,cd player, and the probe EQ. but i want much better sound. i figured i could use the factory stuff with an aftermarket amp and get much better sound.

 

[LOUDSHO92]

You will get a louders sound, but you will not get a better quality sound. The limiting factor will be the head unit. I noticed a big change when i went from the stock unit to my Kenwood. Also you will be going rom the speaker outputs for the signal for the amp. I have not had luck using those but maybe others have. Again not the best fro quality. If you are worried about a stock look but want a good sound leave in the stock unit and put the new unit in the glove box, it will also act as a theft deturent and keep the stock look.

 

[93medusa]

Correction, you won't be going from the speaker outputs from the stock head unit unless you hook up the new amps after the factory amplifiers. However, I'm not about to say that the stock head unit will supply a good signal. It's probably pretty weak, and not of the best quality. When I replaced just my head unit with my alpine CDA-7995 preamp, I found that the entire JBL system came alive with a good source. However, there is no doubt that you can probably get some pretty good sound out of it. You might consider purchasing a preamp line driver to supply clean signal to your amps.

Dave

 

[SHO92]

I second the idea of using a line driver if neccessary, but only after you listen to the system without it. Theres a good chance you won't feel you need it. I've never used a stock head with an aftermarket amp, but I assume theres an adapter that converts the JBL cable plug in to RCAs? If so, having the converter as close to the head as possible is the best way to go, and then have the RCAs run the length of the car into the trunk. If you're powering decent speakers from a decent amp, you should be happy with the sound assuming the stock head has any possibility of a decent signal.

 

[ohioshodude]

well i figured the sound wouldn't be world class but i don't think it would be too bad. with the eq i figured i should be able to tune it quite a bit. i was wondering if they has such things as the preamp line drivers you are talking about. i'll have to look into that.

so i should pick the speakers i want to use, then choose the amp. building a sound system really is quite a job. thanks for the ideas and advice guys.

 

[LOUDSHO92]

I would choose the speakers first as they will control the watts you need for the sub. You will be able to control your sound from the EQ IF the ouputs are coming out from it. Unless it feeds back into the head unit. Otherwise it is more of a show piece. I have an Kenwood EQ and my head unit runs into it then out. It does improve the sound greatly and I like it.

 

[thumpida]

i personally recomend changing the head unit, but if you want to keep it.i like to run midgrade speakers. a set of infinity refernces are in my opinion the best sound you can get for the money. alpine mb quart and some polks are also nice speakers. upgrading speakers and a decent amp to push them can make a big difference. i am a big fan of the bazooka amps for subs, though most are pretty good. from personal experience my friends and i have had problems with the folowing brands. sony- all sony equitment we have purchased has had major problems, head units amps eqs. on a side note i odnt know of any problems with their speakers other than we personally think their sound quality is severly lacking. profile-when we discovered this brand we thought we were on to someting great; and they did have the power. however they severly overheated and would kick off. kenwood is respectable though we dont recomend their cd players as every one we know has had the same problem with the ribbon cable breaking. kicker makes fine amps, though i dont push their subs for sound quality, but for spl. coverting the line out for a preamp will not sound a s good as a set of honest preamp outs. however the difference in sound quality is much more difficult to detect in the low end. put your little piece in line with your speaker out lines to covert them to a set of rca's(again if you intent on keeping the factory radio) the either run it into a crossover to aquire your sub outs with a low pass filter(most are adjustable)or just put a rca splitter before the 4 channel amp and run it to a sub amp with a built in low pass filter. all opinions expressed herein are exactley that, so dont start a war here. if anyone wishs to have a discussion on various stereo aspects id be happy to start a new post. sorry to be so long winded but my makers mark looked lonely.

 

[93medusa]

If you are stuck on keeping the stock head unit, this is what I would do. Find a wiring diagram for the pin outs of the factory signal cable and solder on some RCA connectors to the end of that. You can use those to run your amplifier(s) of choice.

After everything is hooked up, if you find that there is a lot of noise being reproduced, you might try a preamp line driver to make your amps happier.

A 5 channel amp might be something you want to look into too, That will simplify things even more.

This one is a pretty damn good deal: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39742&item=5701602798&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Like I said before, there is no need to use a Line output converter, since the stock head unit puts out a pre-amp signal.

 

[Hack]

A couple other thoughts. On speakers, don't be afraid to step up a bit. Oz Audio, Focal, Diamond Audio, and any number of other higher end brands have some affordable high quality component sets. Also, aviod oval shaped speakers. Round speakers give better clarity and less distortion. On the flip side, larger ovals speakers (ie 6x9s) do provide a bit more mid-bass. Being as you are planing on a relatively small sub (8") this is not much of a concern.

 

[thumpida]

good call on the focals. this line is bar none my top choice if you can afford it, however they are out of most peoples price range.

 

[SHO92]

Before you solder on some RCAs, make sure that the output is low level, and not just a high level, speaker output. You could test it be measuring the output on the leads.

I'd also recommend staying away from sony. I've had problems with their amps, and all the newer stuff just looks plain ugly! A guy I know thats been into stereos since the 70s told me a good piece of advice, "Japan makes great electronics, but lousy speakers, Europe makes great speakers but questionable amps, and the US makes good speakers and decent amps" Its a general rule, and there definitely are exceptions, but for the most parts its pretty spot on.

I'd personally recommend looking into JL Audio VR or XR speakers for the fronts and maybe the TR or VR series for the rears. I have alpine amps and have never had a problem with them, kicker and JL amps are also highly recommended, but can be a little pricey. JL just recently came out with a more budget line of amps that are worth looking into. A JL 8W3v2 is a great sub and would probably work very well in the factory box.

I'd get that sub, the XR speakers, Alipine or Kicker amp, and an Alpine or Pioneer headunit if I was building a low profile, nice sounding system. It'd be a little pricey but sound really nice.

 

[93medusa]

There is no need to check if the head unit is low-level, it is. The stock JBL head unit has no internal amp, and supplies the JBL amps with a low level signal.

 

[SHO-93-ATX]

Ahhh

hey man a nice system is getting cheaper and cheaper these days, in my 93 atx, i picked up 2 JL WO's with a 1200wt amp ( JL too), they sound absolutly amazing, 400$ installed from car tunes. they hit hard, got nice bump and adapt good to all pitchs of bass's, i spent 100$ on 2 components ( boston acustics) they are real nice, got a high high pitch and make the sound come to life., they are powerd off my stock jbl factory amp =D. head unit is a 50x4 pioneer- 150$.. im saying for a goods system 600$ w/ everything....
definatly worth it.

 

[SteedaSVT]

sorry but Car tunes SUCKs!!!!! I can beat there prices and get almost any thing and Install better...

 

[Sho_Freak]

id go with changing the headunit, speakers, and the little sub. i got my pioneer head unit, 6x8's, and 6.5's for about 225 bux, and put em in myself(as for my buddy's). as for your sub, a little RF or MTX 8" sub would be good in the box while runnin off the stock jbl amp(from what i see it looks like u have th JBL system)...we did that with my buddys car and it sounds GREAT, and he only spent about 300 bux for all. since i just had "premium" i made a mounting plate for my $75 lanzar amp, and we made a box with a 10" behind my wheel well, and the only difference between our systems is that i can feel more bass, he can hear it. and i spent the exact same as him, $300. they both sound great, and its better than runnin wire for new amps and whatnot...