hey, i want to buy a system but i dont wnat to pay the high costs for installation...so i ahve a few question. For someboyd who knows basically nothign about how to hook this stuff up how hard would it be? How long woudl it take? With no knowledge can i even be able to do it?

What are some of the hardest parts of the install? I am looking at 4 speakers, amp, subs, headunit.

Can I use the existing wiring and then just plug in the new stuff? I ahve the bose in there right now....or does the wiring not have the same pluggs?

thanks

PJ

 

you can buy adapter plugs for the bose wiring harnesses. all that stuff is pretty simple to hook up. maybe the amp or the head unit would be more difficult, but not hard. sure you can do it, its not hard. looks like ngthing knows a lot about systems as well as matt (not to put you guys on the spot). im sure they would help you out and i would help you out also. all the stuff would came with basic instructions but if you have trouble understanding we would be glad to help you.

 

a few simple questions..
have you ever installed an extra phone/cable/network line in your house or anywhere else?

how bout hooking up a stereo with surround sound at home?
If you can do either of those and have common sense, you can pretty easily install a simple system like what you're talking about.

You basically have to run 3 different types of wires, all very simple. the hardest part is getting the amp's power cable from the battery to the amp. that just involves remove a lot of trim panels and tucking under carpet. (and one small excursion through the firewall with a screwdriver).
not too bad.

 

http://www.crutchfield.com

I've ordered stereo equipment from them about 4 times now and very satisfied.

They provide free detailed instructions anything else as required to fit your specific application.

 

I dunno, later this year I'll be ordering the stuff and I am gonna give installing it myself a try...If worse comes to worse I can always run over to Car Toyz and have them finish with whatever I couldn't do. Yea I have installed 6 speaker, receiver, TV, VCR, DVD, and tape... The first time it was crazy...more wires then one could ever imagine, but now its a routine job. How hard is it to remove the trim panels when running the wires? Any special tools/cutting or any stuff like that? Crutchfield is where i planned on buying the stuff...and it said they include a adapter for head unit is that the one I need? Are there additional ones for speakers, and if so does anyone know if they include this? Do I have to re-wire the speakers? or is amp/subs only wiring? While on topic what size amp would I need for two Rockford Fosgate 12" Hx2's? The ones he told me were (MTX 302-$350 and another $400 fosgate)

thanks
PJ

 

the rockford fosgate 12"hx2 woofers hold 500 watts rms(continuos power load) and peak at 1,000 watts. I would recommend a poweracoustik amp. they have a new two channel amp that puts out 440 watts rms at 4 Ohms. if you run your speakers in a parrallell configuration into a 3 Ohm load you can push out almost 500 watts rms on two channels. the poweracoustik amp will peak at over 1,800 watts at 4 Ohms (if you have your speakers wired into a lower Ohm, then this wattage will be higher). go to the website, i think it is http://www.poweracoustik.com, and look at the digital series amp. the one i am talking about is the 1800 series. the amps are competion ready and will not hurt your wallet. if you don't need this much power, an amp with at least 200 watts rms will be plenty. i would not recommend MTX amps because they are of poor quality and the Rockford Fosgates are way overpriced. hope this helps.

 

SORRY! that PowerAcoustik amp i was talking about is actually the die-cast series. It actually puts out 480 watts rms and the number is the Q2-1800. this is an excellent amp, way better than the mtx. the mtx is only 75 watts rms on two channels at 4 Ohms. 75 watts is not worth $350! you will enjoy much better sound from the PowerAcoustik and won't pay very much more, if any at all. sorry about my mis-quote earlier, i was trying to remember off the top of my head. it turns out the amp is actually better than i thought! i would go with crutchfield for the subs but not for an amp. seriously, go with poweracostik. you will not be dissapointed.

 

MTX low quality?

you must have dealt witht he cheapo models, as the higher-end stuff is absolutely bulletproof. I see them in competition all the time.
Anyone caught running PowerAcoustik in competition would get laughed out of the show.

there's one big thing to remember in car audio.. Price may not EQUAL quality, but low price does equal low quality!
you get what you pay for, and if you only pay for beans, expect to get farts for sound.

On that note, PowerAcoustik is fine for "everyday" use and will serve most people well. MTX is a very high quality unit, as well as Rockford Fostage. I STILL install rockford amps that are 15 years old. (Remember the old Punch 45 amps? not the 45i or 45ix, but the Punch 45. look like bricks- strong as one too). I just installed 2 of them a couple months ago in a friend's car. one of the local audio shops found them in their storage area inside a TV display box. They'd been sent back to Rockford for a different color paint (purple powdercoat), and the owner never picked them up afterwards. sold 'em for $40 each. they'll still run up against anything on the market today with amps that have even twice the power rating. (rockford rates their amps VERY conservatively. buy a 50w amp, you're most likely gonna get 70-90W out of it.)
blah blah blah ramble ramble ramble, Rockford and MTX are very good products and worth every penny.

 

you wish. poweracoustik wins in comps all the time.

 

Not trying to start an arguement here, but the local opinion is that PA is ****. I have NEVER seen it in competition, nor do I plan on seeing it anytime soon. they'll show up on the circuit about the same time that I'll start seeing Rockford's old Series 1, Orion's the Hott Setup, etc...

The main stuff that I see in competition here are MTX, Rockford (many types), Precision Power (what I use).. Alpine, Linear Power, Tube Driver, HiFonics, Phoenix Gold, Lunar, Kicker, Orion, Sony, Pioneer Premier ODR (I've seen one ODR system in a Pro car).. hmmm, I'm sure there's more, but the majority of what I see are rockford, PPI, Kicker, and Lunar.

I don't even see Memphis, and they're simply a copy of the old Soundstream Continuum with a beefed up power supply. oughta be awesome stuff from the way the thing was touted back in mid 90s.

 

sorryl, but i have never heard abotu MTX beign low quality either! What I hear is MTX and Fosgate are some of the best there is. I liked fosgate's subs better (deeper and louder, rather then tighter bass in the MTX 8000) but thats my opinion. Also, the fosgates amps did seem a little expensive but i alos heard what Matt said ^^ about fosgate being higher in watts then they rate at. Still not sure about which but since i have never heard of Power Acoustik's (and it sounds like you may be selling them, or have stock ) I think I'll steer away from it. Thanx for everyones help tho.

 

guess its just a matter of opinion. all the MTX ive seen is pure crap. guess it could just be a fluke though. it also depends how its setup, etc. but all you guys seem to have good experiences w/ MTX so i dont know whats up with them. all their subs sound tubby to me and cant hit low. i dont like MTX cuz its what all the shops sell. people around here pay thousands and get MTX put in that doesnt even hit hard. thats from what i've personally heard. dont know about all the competitions up there though. my brother and i have had excellent experiences with power acoustik. my brother used to win sound offs all the time with his 1300 watt camaro. but then again that was a camaro and they get very good bass response. he was running rockford subs in it, but the only reason he got rockford was for the price. he got them for $80 at a local shop. he should have run adiobahn (i dont want all these responses about adiobahn and how they suck, just my opinion). Rockford and MTX just are overpriced unless you can get a good deal. places like circuit city and best buy always try to sell you MTX. but if money isnt an issue go for it. also i didnt say that power acoustik was popular in shows. it wins, but not all the time, just as MTX doesnt win all the time. but i've never heard of MTX winning a lot of shows except for company sponsored ones. any company sponsored vehicle wins some shows just cuz its sponsored. you can take just about any credible brand and turn it into a winner with $$$$$$. just saying that power acoustik is a good deal. doesnt have to be popular to be good and just cuz youve never heard of it doesnt mean it sucks (speedsound007 ). i dont like MTX cuz its what all the shops sell and they charge an arm and a leg. and for the price of Rockford you can get better. i look for the good deals. didnt mean to start an argument.

 

Power Accoustics is not very high on the food chain. I'm not an MTX fan but the high end amps are better than any Power Accoustic amp ever made.

 

MTX is not a better "bang for the buck". have you had any experience with the "high end" power acoustik? half as expensive as MTX and just as good performance if not better. You know MTX is overpriced, c'mon: MTX 302 75 watt amp $350 > way overpriced=not worth the money. but if they can get that much for a 75 watt amp more power to them. if your willing to spend the money go for it. but i'm budget minded. i have to watch my money so i dont just buy whatever is popular or what the little dork at best buy tells me is good and tries to sell me.

 

Keep in mind that the **** they sell at best buy and circuit $hitty aren't the good MTX and Rockford. they're "tuned down" versions of their good stuff.
MTX is also one to VERY conservatively rate their amps. most often, they put out over TWICE their rated power.

BTW, the amps I've got in my car make the prices on MTX pale in comparison.. my 50x2 tweeter amp cost $350 new. 50x4 mid amp cost me $600, and my 150x2 sub amp cost me $700.
MTXs prices are good compared to that, and I'm still running "cheap" amps compared to what many people run on the competition circuit.
not saying everyone must buy competition grade stuff for $1200/amp, but wal-mart and Sears brands DON'T sit well in my book. I won't even get into the subject on the Audiobahn stuff. (Helllloooo Agressive Marketing campaign!)

 

if your system kicks then do whatever you want. just tellin you what i like. if MTX works for you then go for it. if the MTX really puts twice its rating then thats fine also. just giving my opinion i'll go with power acoustik and adiobahn and my system will kick. just tryin to be different. you guys go with whatever you want. didnt want to start a riotbesides, you guys arent gonna change your mind and im not either.
BTW matt i thought you were running three subs? it says that your running a 150 by 2 amp. huh?

 

As a matter of fact I have an FX-2 300, that I have had for five years. It has served me very well it is rated at 100 watts per channel, but puts out much less. It was great running 2 JBL 8s, but it now sits on my shelf.

 

If you know where I could get one of these at a reasonable price I would be interested. I couldn't agree more with your opinions about RF, my punch150 wasted 2 800 watt orion XTR subs in a row. Not bad for 150watt amp.

Rock on!!

 

one of my good friend had a 600watt MTX amp and 2 12" MTX 6000's in his accord, that sucker hit. I had no problem with MTX after that. I actually thought about getting them, and they were the low quality crap from stores. If you want real performance get your subs and amps from shops that specialize in car audio or order them from the company. I ordered all my JVC stuff through JVC distributors through a car audio shop. Amp came in yesterday and going to hook it up today. 150 rms, 600 maximum.

I have another friend that ordered 4 18" audiobahn subs and power acoustik amps i think. They won't be in till the 30th or something like that so we'll see how they sound when he gets them. Audiobahn wanted to sponser him but he said no. haha. should slap him for that

 

Driven into too much clipping, even a 10W amplifier can destroy a 2000W sub. the measure of an amp isn't how many subs it can blow- that's the measure of how people aren't aware of what can happen when running an amp past its limits..

 

you can blow a speaker by running too much AND not enough power to it.

 

not that hard. well you gotta start some day right? think how did any installer start. just be careful, when u pull panels, either use a panel puller, putty knife, or a screw driver wrapped in cloth to prevent scratching the interior. adn i do highly recomend those shiny stainless steel screw drivers they are less abrasive.

 

I understand clipping and know what it sounds like(not good). The shop that I bought the sub and box from said that it blew because the box was tuned to 50 HZ and the amps bass control was tuned at a lower(or higher, not sure) freq.

They replaced the subs twice anyway. I guess Orions warranty is more that just paper.