Amp placement and types

[Thomas]

I recently blew my factory amp on accident. I bypassed it and installed a Pioneer CD player(DEH-43) and 180w Pioneer(TS-A6815) 6x8's in the front and 150w Pioneer(TS-A6813) 6x8's in the rear. I was wondering what amps are recommended for this (run to all four speakers) and where i can place them. I don't want to put it under the rear seats, seeing as I fold them down regularly. I have a 92 XLT 4-door. I want to replace, or take out the old factory amp and replace it with anyone that will fit and make my speakers sound good.

 

[BigJon]

Well, I have a 93 xlt 4-door.a week ago I got all new equipment and it sounds awesome.
I got Polk's instead of Pioneers and The New Kenwood 7011 Mask face cd-player. The amp I got is the MTX Blue Thunder 400 Watt amp. It powers all four speakers (very powerfully, I might add).I mounted my amp in the back of the Explorer.)next to the wheel well hump on the left. It's a good place for one if you think about it. The MTX amp is $400, but it is well worth it if you crave that great, QUALITY SOUND.

 

[JTang]

I would have to agree with BIGJON, I have some MTX amps too, and they are incredible IMO; however, they are expenxive. If you go on to newsgroups, try the rec.car.audio newsgroup. They have really been saying great things about the ESX amps which are relatively new and fairly inexpensive. You can get them at www.mmxpress.com. Jon

 

[Chris]

Thomas, i would not go with any MTX products, i have never been satisfied with there sound. I have been installing systems for about two years now. I am currently running a 600 watt Soundstream amp to two 12 inch Kicker Competitons. If you are not looking for that much boom, you cwn go for smaller. Iwould not place the amp in the rear due to over heating problems. I have my amp and crossover under my seat, and fold my seat down regularly. Good luck.

 

[NjAeVfAfJsO]

How do you even gain access to factory amp???

 

[sean]

Here's a thought... How bout mounting the amp on the drivers side in the back where the 4X4 relays are and relocate those forward closer to the speaker area on that side. (not too close for EMI) If heating is a problem add a fan to the removeable panel (like the one that cools your trusty computer) That coupled with the internal fan of a good amp should cover heat and your amp will still have access for tuning... My system is stuffed into the console. 2 amps, 3 way crossover and 12 disc changer all stuffed in there. I have a speaker box in the passenger side rear panel so nothing else will fit in there. Sean

 

[JJ]

Hi. As far amps go, I think I have an interesting idea.

I have a Sport with JL Stealthbox, MBQuart 5.25 coax w/ 12dB/octave x-overs in the stock door openings, PPI A404, Coustic Hi-Lo electonic x-over, and an Alpine CDE-7822 head.

Since I am not using rear speakers, I removed the passenger-side speaker mounting bracket, which is easily done while the side panel was off for the JL. I then used the screw holes to mount an amp board with the PPI on one side facing out and the Coustic x-over on the other side facing in. The beauty of this is that I can now access the x-over settings thru the easily removed speaker grill, and equipment is completely hidden from view. Of course, the amp board has jet black carpet and the RCAs are fed neatly thru drilled holes.

I know I used the first person, but I can really only take credit for the idea. A skilled installer did the dirty work.

 

[X-Man]

I diagree with chris regarding MTX, Soundstream is not all that, they get to hot and they aren't that clean (to me) MTX would run your system nicely, if you go MTX try the 4200X.

X-Man Dead Link Removed

[This message has been edited by X-Man (edited 04-27-99).]

 

[The Godfather]

I just put an eclipse stereo in mine. The whole thing ran me $1500. All I did was replace the factory speakers and put a changer in. You're going to pay an arm and a leg for eclipse, but it's the best quality sounding stereo I've heard. Not much boom, but very clear. Also, ditch the coaxles. I believe the separates are worth the extra for the sound they produce.

 

[The Godfather]

I just put an eclipse stereo in mine. The whole thing ran me $1500. I put in- tape deck, 12 disk changer, 6.5 seperates, 5x7 mids (rear), and a 50x4 amp. You're going to pay an arm and a leg for eclipse, but it's the best quality sounding stereo I've heard. Not much boom, but very clear. Also, ditch the coaxles. I believe the separates are worth the extra for the sound they produce.

 

[X-Man]

Godfather, what do they do to get the 6.5 in the front doors?

T-Man Dead Link Removed

[This message has been edited by X-Man (edited 04-29-99).]

 

[The Godfather]

I had it installed so I didn't get to see it done. I guess they just fit right in the 6x8 hole. Maybe some minor mods might have been done. I'm going to be sound proofing the interior soon (ripping out all the panels) so I'll get to see exactly what they did. I've got the tweets in the flat part near the corner of the window in case anybody wants to know...kind of looks like the new taurus set up.

 

[bachelor25]

X-man,

I just replaced all my stock speakers last week. MB Quart 6.5" separates in the front, 5.25" mid-bass drivers in the rear.

The 6.5" will fit the stock front location, even have the 3/4" tweeter bottom right of the speaker. The grill in the door allows a big enough opening for the sound, even with the pair to be next to each other. (Keeping the stock appearance in tact, and no cutting of interior panels were the achieved goal) I removed the plastic adapter plate that holds the 5x7" stock speakers which leaves a round hole, approx 7-8" around. I was able to use 3 of the stock holes to oddly mount the 6.5" driver, then secured the 3/4" tweeter in the door insulation next to it. I secured the passive crossover in the hollow behind the armrest of the door on each side.

In the rear the stock speakers were removed. I made a cardboard cutout the size of the original speaker to cover the 5x7" hole. Inside the carboard template I cut out a round hole for the 5.25" driver and screwed it into place. Cardboard template and mounted speaker were then secured into the stock location using the original screws.

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Cheers,

Andrew B.
1996 Ford Explorer 4x4 (slightly modified)
BC, Canada