Car Audio Help

**Vocal** · 04-12-11, 03:51 AM

I am currently planning on putting a new system in my newest truck.
It's a 99 Chevy s10 with stock electrical.

I'm on a budget and currently have:

1 - Alpine type r 12
1 - Hifonics HFi2000D
2 - Infinity Kappa 6.5's

I have 2 questions, that hopefully can be answered with the above information.

I will be running the 1 type r @ approx. 1300 watts.

I am planning on purchasing an amp to power my door speakers.
I'm not sure if the sound quality will be good enough with just 2 6.5's - even though they are quality speakers.
Should I look for some decent dash speakers as well and simply buy a slightly larger amp?

And if I am running 2 amplifiers at approximately 1700 watts, should I worry about any electrical upgrades?
I assume I'm pretty safe electrical-wise as the wattage is still fairly low, I just like to sort out all possibilities and outcomes in this stage of planning.

Any thoughts/suggestions would be much appreciated

**LAYGO** · 04-12-11, 04:00 PM

Dunno about wattages & all that, but I got some really nice Polk 6.5 2 (or 3) way combos in my Impala's door & love em. If you have dash speakers, find some small combos in that size. I had a '90 GMC Sierra loaded with (4) 4x6 2 way speakers & I guarantee you, no one was clearer than me. I could crank it & it never distorted. I lacked the mids of a 6.5/6x9/etc, but damn was it crystal clear. So good, someone heard it & stole my amps/head/(2) Kicker 10s.

In my new Cadillac, it's got a REALLY nice Bose system with a single 8" sub. It's perfect for me. I don't want the big bump no mo.

**LAYGO** · 04-12-11, 04:02 PM

Also, look into doing the "Big Three" modification. It involves buying some really quality 2g wire (about as thick as a popsicle) that runs between your battery/alternator/ground so you never have any power issues. Google it.

**bust331** · 04-12-11, 05:19 PM

I believe your vehicle has around 100 amps, to properly recharge your battery you should look for around 200 with 1700 watts.

I'm running about 1300 watts and my lights dim pretty noticeably when the bass hits.

**deathgodusmc** · 04-12-11, 05:30 PM

If you plan on running multiple amps your going to want to put a cap in as well. Also when buying amps always buy bigger then what the speakers can actually handle. The reason being is radios and amps all do the same thing. At low volume they sound good but the higher the volume the more distursion they push through. Also never use factory wiring for an amplified system. Its good to get the radio working but shitty to supply power to speakers. Always run a large power and ground wire to the amp and a decent size wire to the speakers.

Infinite kappas are good speakers but the last ones i had exploded in the car literally. I had spearker shrapnel everywhere but i believe they changed the material they are made out of since then. Remember regardless of what the box says for the amp the reality is much less. Yes a 1300 watt amp does hit 1300 watts but only for the initial thump when you turn it on. 9 times out of 10 the amp really only pushes half what the box says.

For god sake learn how to adjust the radio. Yes we get it you have a set of 12's but how about turning the base to a level that actually sounds good with whatever else is in the system. By the way you biggest issue with that vehicle is going to be air space.

**Vocal** · 04-12-11, 06:34 PM

I think as far as electrical the only bet I have is to simply get everything set up and see what - if anything - I need. I will probably do the big 3 if I need any sort of electrical upgrades, as it is simply a good thing to have.

For my components...
I'm thinking that two kappa 6.5's with decent power behind them should do the job since it's just an s10... until I get a bit more money and can splurge a little bit.
My best bet is probably buying an amp about twice as big as planned for my components, thus if I feel like adding some 6x9's in the dash or anything to that fact, I'll have the power already, rather than having to buy a third amp.

I want this system to essentially be just a very well-balanced system in the long run.
Lots of power to the 12. Not abusing the sub, but having enough power to show off a little if I feel like it.
My last system I was still a punk ass kid, so had 2 12's and almost 3k wattage in my old truck, with absolutely no highs or mids.
So this one i'm going for a different pace haha.

As far as air space goes... It shouldn't be too much of a worry I don't think.
I have plenty of space with the extended cab, and am building a box with a slanted front for more room.
The box I'm building will be around 3 cubes, I haven't set on my dimensions yet.
It will be ported and tuned to approx. 30 hertz

**Nuckle** · 04-13-11, 07:54 AM

Voltage = Current X Resistance

Power = Current X Voltage

1300 watts "could" draw 108 amps of current. A capacitor would help. You can also buy batteries with a potential difference of greater than 12V. I have 1200 watts in my boat and run 2 batteries wired independent / in parallel and have the ability to switch to A, B or Both. I am pushing 6 JL Audio 6.5's and 1 JL 10" free air. If I am going to run my system hard I always use both batteries.

1300 / 12 = 108
1300 / 14 = 92

You will rarely see an amp meet its full potential.