good speakers & a simple amp set up

[cerberusaardvark]

there seems to be a lot of controversy over what kind of speakers are best and what kind of amp/ sub set up to use. ive got a 94 xlt, not sure if theres premium sound in there or not.

if there is, then ill be putting in a different amp, which i gather would need the factory amp bypass harness.

ive decided to get either infinity kappas, or jbl p963s, bot three way 6 x 9. i know they will fit into the 6 x 8 slots with a little trimming.

question: is it possible to wire those speakers directly to the factory setup? in other words, would these speakers get destroyed without the help of an amp to modulate power?

 

[Jason94sport]

Are you replacing the HU?

 

[Anime]

If you're using the factory head unit, you can just replace the speakers without messing with the amp at all.

If you're using an aftermarket head unit, you can replace the factory amp with a small 4-channel amp, use the factory wiring to it (cutting the bypass harness works great for this, plus adding wire for the power and ground), just using the factory speaker wires from the amp to the speakers.

 

[cerberusaardvark]

my HU works for now, but lately the buttons have been zombifying on me. i was thinking of replacing it with something simple, something with the capabillity to branch out with later on, with the addition of a sub. the Clarion CZ102 seems like a good match.

 

[cerberusaardvark]

now if i replace the stock amp with a 5 channel instead of a 4 channel, can i just not use one channel until i get a sub?

 

[Anime]

A 5-channel amp is a good idea if you want a sub, just be sure that the amp inputs match the outputs on the head unit you'll be using. Some head units only have one pair of preouts, some only have two pairs. Some 5-channel amps have six inputs, which requires the head unit to have six preouts, four for the regular speaker channels and two for the subwoofer channel.

Also, you'd obviously need to use an aftermarket amp kit or wire for the power, ground, etc. You could still use the factory speaker wires by either splicing into them or cutting the amp bypass harness. I'd only use them if the power going to the speakers was well under 40-50W, though. If you get an amp that puts out 50-60W RMS to each speaker, get some 14-16ga speaker wire and use that.

You can use 4 channels of a 5-channel amp until you get a sub. Sometimes the undriven channels make for more power to the driven channels though, just keep that in mind when picking amps and speakers based on power ratings.

 

[Jason94sport]

Replace the HU. I wouldn't waste the $ on speakers amp & sub for a stock HU. I had great luck with the Clarion HU's in the past. Had one in my old X & suburban.

 

[huntman58]

I have Pioneer 5x7 2 ways in all 4 doors and a 10” adiovox (Oldie but a goody) sub in a Q Logic Single 10 inch enclosure in the back were Ford put the premium sound system sub. It’s all driven with a JENSEN POWER5500 600W 5 CHANNEL AMPLIFIER and a Pioneer DEH-33HD CD USB MP3 head unit. I had to run the power wire for the amp and I used 14 gag wires for the speakers. The head unit only has 4 pre outs but the sub channel uses the average from them to out put the sub or it can run off of one or two more pre outs.The Amp also has a remote sub control that also helps out a lot.

This is a cheap system and is more then enough for this old fart. The only thing I do not like is the amp is large in size and I had to mount it under the bigger of the two back seats so now that one no longer can fold down as the amp is pushed back as far as I can get it. I had an older Head unite and amp but after ten years the head went south so I replaced them this year.
Cost was as fallows.
Q logic box I paid about $50 for it over 13 years ago
Door speakers about $20 a pair for them also around 13 years ago
Sub about $40 again 13 years ago
Head unit $50.00 on evil bay 1/2012
Amp $109.00 on evil bay 1/2012
So I have about $300.00 into it with the wire and what nots so as I said a cheap but nice sounding system.

the only thing I would change so far is adding dyno mat to the doors and the side panel were the sub is as they do rattle a bit when this old guy turns it up. Hey when your 27 year old kid says its to loud there is something wrong LMAO!

O by the way Love HD FM it’s the bomb!!!!!
As for hook up I only used the stock power and remote wires at the dash ran the rest my self but did remove the stock amp and had used its wiring with the old set up as it was a low power one not like now. Hope this helps someone out. So keep your eyes open and shop around as I got my Q logic from a shop that had it as a custom order and then the customer changed there mind so I got it at a steal as back then they were over $150.00 did the same on the sub also as it was a brand new part and I was the first one with it in my area so I got a 50% discount to do a review! Never hurts to ask guys.

 

[cerberusaardvark]

thats awesome info. ive heard tell about guys who use a separate amp just for their sub. is that really needed? that sounds like some next level immersion to me.

 

[huntman58]

I have never used a separate amp for my single sub but then too I am not looking for any thing but a good back massage so no window breaking here or making the X bounce to the gas station if I run out LMAO!. Even with a 4 channel I just ran all 4 doors as a 2 way set up and the other 2 channels as mono for the sub. All were ran as 2 ohm and that = more power from the amp! The sub is a 2 channel sub wired for 2 ohm mono both before and now. It can also be wired for 4 ohm or even 8 ohm if need be. the new amp is running 4 ohm on the doors for now and 2 ohm on the sub so it has more then enough power for my self as its clean enough for my almost deaf hearing ( 50% loss left and 35 % right) so with my hearing things have to be a bit louder then normal to start with. The off sounds I have also become more sensitive to also. I do plan to add some tweeters to the set up down the line maybe, so if I do it will then be set up for 2 ohm all around.

like I said you really do not have to spend big bucks to have good sound just use your gray matter and price shop and spend time looking and put it together your self.
I did a lot of reading , research and asking before I even shopped and the first thing I did was rule out shopping based on name or brand but left that as open so I did not close my self to any thing maybe new or from some one who was low dollar and trying to break that mold! The worst part of all of it was pulling the back pass side panel to remove and get to the stock amp and wireing.

 

[Mettler]

The factory amp is 45w x 4 @ 4ohm and the sub amp is 45w x 1 @ 4ohm. Yes you can hook whatever speakers you want up to it. One thing tho, the 4ch amp is crossed over internally. No more than 140hz gets to the 4 front channels. No bass. The factory speaker size is 4x6. 6x9 will not fit. I had put the JBL system in my sport and installed a JL 8" into the box. Takes alittle carving but it'll fit.