I wanto to upgrade my system

[rock883]

Ok, currently I have a clarion head unit w/a 6 disc changer, and for speakers I am running Pioneer 3ways (5x7) in all 4 doors. And I have an MTX 400 watt amp ppowering an MTX Thunder 6000 10" sub in an MTX Thundeform. Well, I am probably going to leave the cd player, changer, sub, and sub amp alone (althoguh I would love to get that new clarion pro audio cd player, an 800A2 RF amp and a Thunder 8000 10" in the Thunderform, but money won't allow). But, I do want to get an RF 800A4 amp, and a compnent set for the front. I am thinking of getting the RF compnent set, either the middle of their line or their top of the line. Now, which can I fit in my stock doors, the 6.5 or the 5.25? Any adaptors that I can get to fit the 6.5 if it won't fit? Also, any other component sets that I can get that are cheaper and better? I found a website that has the following prices:

RF 800A4 amp--$345.95
RF Fanatic X 5.25--$145.95
" " 6.5--$159.95
RF Fanatic Q 5.25--$219.95
" " 6.5--$234.95

Now the website ( http://www.sndcheck.net ) has the MB Quart logo up top, and the JL Audio logo up top, but they only list the RF compnents on their website, I may try to e-mail them about the prices for the MB compnents, which ones should I ask them about? I don't know much about the MB Quart speakers, or their names, so please tlel me model numbers and stuff. Well, tell me what you think about my plans, and please tell me if you know of any of these products for cheaper, and tell me where, and tell me what you think would be better, but still about the same price. I guess I am looking to spend on speakers anywhere form $0-200, so please egt to me on that.

Oh, I have an RF 100 amp circut breaker instead of the fuse block, and I was wondering if I could just run the power wire of the RF amp and still have the power wire from the MTX amp hooked up to the circut breaker and still be fine? I know the fuse holders usually have a 30 amp fuse, so I am assuming that having both hooked up wouldn't be all that bad would it?

 

[rock883]

Hey, I found some Infinity 605 cs compnents on ebay for $124.95, are these any good? They only have like 2 hours left, and I know that infinity makes good speakers. Hopefully somone tells me about these before they go off. I also bid on a RF 800A4 amp for $310, and it has like 7 hours left, I doubt I'll get it, but who knows. Anyways, hope you guys can answer my question in time.

 

[RFR2212]

In my personal opinion, they are good, and it sounds like it for that price...I'm outta date on prices, but I know infinity makes a quality product....Hope that helped...if ya get em, let me know how they sound....thanks...Pete

 

[4Wheelin]

The 800a2 needs dual 8 gauge power inputs and grounds so I think you would be better off getting a distribution block for those. But check http://www.rockfordfosgate.com to see if the 800a4 needs the dual in and outputs. I have a 4 gauge power wire running from the battery to a block then two 8 gauge outputs to my 800a2 and a 10 gauge to my crappy sony amp for my speakers. As for the 6.5 inch speaker it wont fit because the opening is 6 inches and anything bigger wont fit. I got a 5 Eclipse component set that I am waiting until I go home to put in. As for speakers themselves I would go with the MB Quart instead of the Rockford ones, they sound alot nicer and I was going to get them instead of the Eclipses but they guy gave me a better deal on them. Hope this helps.

 

[rock883]

2 8 guage wires?? That sucks. Ok, so is this how I would run the distibution block:

I have an 8 guage running from my current amp to the circut breaker, then to the battery. I woold get a 3 "port" distribution block, run the sub amp wire to one, then the 2 others to the other two, and run a 4 guage to the circut breaker, and then 4 to the gattery, right? What about grounds, do I need to get a ground distribution block also and run it the same way except just run it to a good gorund instead of to the battery? Oh what about the remote turn ons? Is there a certain way to run a relay or some type of block to run multiple remote leads? Well, I didn't get the Infinity's I wasn't home, so...but I was looking for some MB quarts earlier, but most are around $270 or so. But I will look at more sites and keep an eye on ebay.

I checked and yes there is 2 power and gorunds on the amp. Also, I don't want to run a power distribution block, I hate fuses, thats why I got a circut breaker, cause I kept on popping the damn things and I got sick of it, so I just got a circut breaker. I know most amps usually require a 30 AMP fuse at the fuseholder, so if I hooked up 3 to that 100 AMP circut breaker, that would be 90 AMPS, so wouldn't I be fine? Is there no way to bypass using fuses?

[Edited by rock883 on 09-18-2000 at 08:28 PM]

 

[rock883]

Well, I won an auction for some fanatic q components, but they are the 6.5" ones, so I will have to do something to make these fit. But they were only $180 or somethin. I am probably gonna get another set in the future for the back, I found some perfect spots to mount the tweets. I can't wait. Now I just have to get the amp.

 

[4Wheelin]

That's real cool about the auction, and congrats on that. You should definitly use fuses because just in case something does happen it wont fry the amp it will just blow the fuses. This amp requires a 60 amp inline fuse which is the largest fuse you can get before you step up to a circuit breaker. I put 2 60's in min and I have a 30 under the hood all on one line. If there is a fire or anything it really should not get all the way back to the amp. I have never heard of blocking the remote wires but I don't really see why not, but I am not totally sure. My block has 3 inputs and four outputs. I run the 4 gauge from the battery in, 2 out to the amp and the other to my sony, like i said before. Because of the three inputs I think I can add a cap to the by just running a wire out to it from one of the input sides.

 

[rock883]

I may just go with the 600a4 amp, sintead of the 800a4. It is 25 watts less per channel, but it is also like $50 or less, so I can save on that, and I wouldn't have to worry about the fuses, I would just run the other power wire to the circut breaker. Or should I go with the 800a4? Is 75x4 good? Maybe I could find another amp for less that is rated at 75x4. Now I need to get my RCA's back from some guy I let borrow them. Oh well. Anyways, any recommendations on what I should do?

 

[4Wheelin]

It all depends on how much power the speakers can handle and how much you want to put to them. If 50x4 will cover it than go for it but if they are rated higher I would go with the 800a4. You don't want to under power a speaker because it wont sound as good as it could. But it's up to you.

 

[rock883]

Ok, I think the rating on the speakers is something like 80 rms, and around 150 peak. But I am not 100% sure on that one, but I am sure its close. I am probably gonna wait to get the amp till I can get some money. I want to get a few other things before. I probably shouldn't have bought the components just yet, or at all, because I am gonna have to cut the opening and try to find a way to mount the tweets. But another question. As I was driving home tonight, my amp seemed to be turning on and off, and I looked at my voltage guage and it was bouncing and it was at the L in normal and the battery light would come on every once in a while. Will the amp shut off if the voltage gets too high? It is an MTX RT 2200X for what its worth. Also where have you people mounted the crossovers? I was thiking on the kick panel or up under the dash, maybe behind the pillar in between the 2 doors?

 

[4Wheelin]

That's weird about your voltage gauge and stuff, maybe your battery is going or possibly your alternator? Alot of people mount crossovers in the doors or behind kickpanels to get them out of the way and some people display them for show, which is what I am going to do. Basically you can stick them wherever you can fit them. For the speakers I would stick with the 800a4 because the extra power is close to the rms rating on the speaker so it will sound better.

 

[rock883]

I will probably end up getting it once I get some more money or maybe my parents will get it for christmas or somethin. I also want to get that Rockford Fosgate 5-channel processor. Now that is very tempting. I may see if I can get a friend @ Best Buy to hook me up w/ the amp or if they have the processor for cheap. We;ll see I guess. I don't want to spend even more money on a new alternator or battery though, this sucks.

 

[4Wheelin]

That's awesome if you can get hooked up with a discount there, even thought they are kind of expensive there like a 20% discount would drop the price alot, I would definitly check in to that. The processor is really nice and definitly improves the quality of the sound. I have a 5 band Kenwood EQ and the difference with it on and off is huge, it sounds at least 10 times better with it. I havent had any problems with my battery or alternator at all and that is with playing it with the car off too. My lights don't dim and/or blink when the bass hits either and that's with the three 12's. I have an AC Delco battery that is like 2 years old. I would not worry about that and if that happens while the car is on, even though it shouldnt, you can get a 1 farad capacitor for around $100.

 

[rock883]

20% discount?? Try aorund 40%-50%. I was looking at what this guy gets on discounts and a sub that was $120 or so ended up being $70. So I could get that 5-channel processor for like $200 and that amp for somewhere around $250-300. I am gonna talk to one of them tongiht or tomorrow. I haven't tried starting the car up yet, so I may try it tomorrow because I don't want to go out tonight and have the car not start or my alram go off and have me not able to start it up

 

[4Wheelin]

That discount is definitly a good deal! I would deifnitly buy all that stuff from there. I wish I could get deals like that, let me know what happens.

 

[rock883]

Yeah that is a killer deal, but most of the people I know up there get all paranoyed (sp) and are like, "I'll get fired if I buy somehting for you." But all they would have to do is buy it, I could write them a check for it, and they give it to me, it's not like Best Buy goes through and checks to make sure they still have the stuff they buy. But I am getting sick of my job (been working on a driving range for 2 years) and I want to get a job up there, but I don't really want to work a whole lot during school cause I don't do too well if I can't ever work on stuff for school. But I could get a job there for a few weeks, get all the stuff, and quit, and still have the range job (its extremely easy and I get paid pretty good, it is just getting old). But I am gonna go up there tomorrow, and I will try to convince them w/ some money for them or soemthing like that. If I ever get my car started I am taking it to a car audio place and having them take the alram out for me, and I am gonna go to auto zone and have them check out my alternator and battery to see if they are bad but I think it is that alarm which is keeping me from being ab;e to start my car

 

[rock883]

Ok, I got the components in today (Rockford Fanatic Q system), and I should be getting my Rockford 600a4 amp either tomorrow or Thursday. I went in yesterday to have my alaram removed at a local car audio shop. You should have seen the wires in this thing. He had a plastic grocery bag full of sensors, boxes and wires. After I srtarted it up for the first time, none of the guages worked, so I left it with him, and him and the other installer worked on it while I was at work, and they got all the guages back working, and now I have no alarm, thank god. It was an old alarm and didn't even work unless the battery cable was bad, or if (which what it is now) the battery is bad. I am going to back tomorrow and he is going to cut out a hole for the tweets for free, and he also has a friend that may sell me a brush guard for less than $100. I am also going to pick up some power cable, and some ground cable, and possibly some speaker cable, depending on how much it is, and some power rings. Can't wait. Does anyone know how many watts Pioneer 3-way 5x7's are rated at? The amp is a 75x4 amp, but I think 75 watts should be fine on the speakers. I am thiking of mounting the tweets on the A-Pillar right in front of me, and the passenger. Well, I am starting to ramble, but I am excited. I am gonna have to figure out how and where to mount my amps now. Oh do the crossovers that come with the comp. set light up or somethin? I think they do, and how does mounting them under the front seats sound? I couldn't figure out any other places to mount it.

Oh, I sent my head unit and cd-changer in to get fixed and to make sure they are working together before they send it back. But I was thinking of mounting my changer under the dash right behind the shifter (5 spd.) anybody know if this is a good idea? It is a 6-disc. I want to mount it in the glove compartment, but I don;t think that would work, unless that guy at the local car audio shop could get it in there. I want it to be fairly close to me, and I don't want to put it in the console cause I put stuff in there. Oh well, I gg, talk to you guys later.

 

[rock883]

To whom it may concern...

Ok, update, I got my amp today, and I took my door panel off and the 6.5" won't fit at all!!! I e-mailed the guy that had the bid right before me and asked if you he wanted to buy them from me. But I went to the shop that took out my alarm, today, and they showed me some stuff they had. Has anyone heard of Massive speakers? I heard them in their Suburban (the 5 1/4 comp.) hooked up to a 60x4 amp (mine is 75x4) and they sounded very good. They never distorted when he turned it up high, and the highs were awesome. They had a kick ass system in it too. They had a custom box made for the back for the 2 12" subs, and also made a custom amp rack w/ a clear plexiglass cover for the amps. Looked very nice, and sounded good too. Oh, the comp. set was only $140 too, pretty good. But I am gonna run the power wire, ground wire, rca's, and I am gonna have to figure out how to wire my remote since I already have 2 wires going to it. And I am gonna run my speaker wire, so when I get the speakers, I can just plug in the amp and speakers and have it up and running. I am gonna mount the amp on that back "flap" that is up agains the rear seat, and the crossovers for the speakers are very simple and not that big, so I won't have to worry about mounting them.

 

[4Wheelin]

I have never heard of those speakers but if you like the way they sounds then go for it, that's all that matters. Other than thst sounds good, let me know how everything turns out when you are done.

 

[Nate46290]

If you can get your stuuf from e-bay then get it from off the net. Thats were i got all my stuff. Go to Digitalwavez.com or carmedia1.com and they'll have all thats stuff for cheaper then you can get it in town.