I'm considering going with a pair of the Q-Logic kick panels and installing some separates in them so I don't have to drill holes in the stock setup, and also just adding another pair of midrange speakers into the stock speaker spots. I would also like to upgrade the rear door speakers with some 3-ways for the people in the back seat. I plan to get a single 10" Kicker L-5 subwoofer (2004-2005 model) and call it a system. I plan to add a single flip-down monitor & DVD player at a later date.

I was wondering with the setup that I'm planning, if I can accomplish this with a two-amp setup, or would it best to go with three amps? I was curious to know if I could wire the front speakers (2 pairs of mids, one pair of tweets) using only two channels of a 4-channel amp, leaving the rear door speakers with the remaining two channels, then using a separate sub amp for the L-5. I am aware that the amp would have to be stable at 2-Ohm or 1-Ohms if I plan to do this, so I was considering moving on to HiFonics amps because I've had great experience with them in the past, and they're priced reasonably on eBay. I already have the wiring to feed a two-amp system (fuses, distro-block, 4-ga power wire, gold-plated RCAs...), head unit (Pioneer w/two sets of pre-outs), equalizer (Pioneer 9-band w/parametric & separate sub controls).

I'm considering Kicker or Infiniti components for the kick-panels (unless you guys have other suggestions for a $200-$250 price range for separates) and the same brands for the stock mid replacements and rear-door replacements. The L-5 is non-negotiable - that one is a must

Thanks in advance, guys!

 

sounds like alot of speakers to me. If it was me I would just go with a good pair of component speakers up front and coax's in the rear, this would save you some money as well and depending on the $$$$ you are willing to spend, can sound just as good as having 15 speakers. Its not always better to have more speakers, its not quantity, its quality, remember this when deciding your system. You pretty much get what you pay for. check around on the board here and you'll see some good names and ideas of what people are running. My system is:

Alpine head unit
Soundstream 405 amp
Rockford tweets
Polk mids
2 10" JL audio subs in a sealed box

 

IMO, either get the kick panels and set up a really nice sound stage without rears on a 4 channel amp, or dont get the kick panels and get speakers in each door. Rears are only for the people in the back, you dont need em.

-Kevin

 

As crazy as my fronstage is, i just picked up a Zapco C2K 2.0x to run rear fill and do some subjective listening tests with it to the front speaks too. In a well tuned system
you can manage to have rear fill and not sacrifice imaging up front, nor actually hear rear speaks- many ways about going about it

Pit5bull- I actually considered using the Q-kicks but decided after hearing a few kick installs that the stage is WAY too low....Be careful , and make sure you go with the right speakers or you may be disappointed
And as far as rear fill goes- stay away from 3ways, most are horribly balanced and too bright- a good coax is more than enough to achieve the results you are looking for.

Manny

 

I would agree if our cars didnt have the rear speakers way down in the doors. IMO its not too worth it...you wont get much at all from em. If your in the front you wont really hear em, if your in the back the stage is all in front of you anyway, so why bother

-kevin

 

Interesting assessments, gentlemen...

I guess you're right - that would be too many speakers in the front to have to deal with, so I guess I should spend the bulk of the speaker budget for the best separates I can get to go up front, and add an average set of coaxials for the rear door speaker pods. Makes more sense to me now that I think about it a bit more...

I realize that the rear fill isn't all that important for a good sounding system, so I'm really not all that worried about what's in the rear doors at this point. My head unit is the Pioneer 7400MP and the EQ is also Pioneer (which I'd honestly love to put in the armrest). I'll start assembling the remaining components (speakers) within the next month or so, and I may stick with my current amps (Profile California) until I can comfortably afford to replace them...

Thanks!

 

I have heard what a difference the Q-Logic kick panels can do for the Maxima. Experienced that at CES in Vegas first hand. Mine are on the way from Stillwater right now.