A Few Questions About Subs

[2003 GAGT SC/T]

Hey everyone! I've found so much information on car audio here it’s great. I just have a few questions that I couldn't quite get answers on from searching.

First what I'm planning to do is add a single 12" sub to my factory Monsoon system. I want to add a little more bass then the stock system without paying an arm and a leg and having my car tied up for days with the install. I mainly listen to rock/punk music (New Found Glory, Unwritten Law, Linkin Park, ect...) and from the reviews I've read the Infinity VQ 12" seems to be the best for what I listen too. What are you guys opinion of them? Anyone have experience with them? I'm also open to suggestion if anyone thinks there is a better sub out there for what I listen to.

Second question I have is about the input to the amp. I was planning on getting and amp with high level inputs so I could just tap into the factory wires. Is this the best way? Or would I be better off buying a line converter and using the low level inputs? If it is the best idea to use the high level inputs where should I tap into the stock wiring? I presume it would be somewhere before the Monsoon amp, but I'm not 100% sure.

Last question I have is should I invest in a cap? The max I'm going to be pushing is 400 watts RMS. Is it worth getting the cap for that power? If it is would a .5 fared be enough? Or should I just get a 1 fared cap?

Thanks for any help you guys can give me!

[car audio dave]

1) you should get a setup with a sub/built in amp. infinity makes one called the basslink. it wont shake the ground, but itll add a solid lower end to your stereo, and will make your kind of music sound good. it has a high level input as well.

2)if you go with a separate amp, then i wouldnt choose one based on if it has a high level input. if it does then great, but if not, then get a converter. itll all work out about the same. as far as hooking it up, theres schematics on here for the monsoon system, just check em out, people have posted about how to get high levels from the amp.

3) nobody can tell you about a cap before you even decided on which amp. different amps have different specs...some amps dont really need a cap. a general rule of thumb is 500 watts = .5 farad cap, 1000 watts = 1 farad cap, and so on. a regulated amp wont need a cap, er at least it the cap wont effect the sound, it might keep the headlights from dimming, but thats not a given.

[Rad_Pander]

Your best off getting a mid range deck put into it, I am looking for the same thing you are, I got the infinity 1030w sub, and a lightning audio 900 watt amp, runs 300watt rms, and sub runs 250 rms, Installed (amp dont myself) with all wiring and harnesses and adapters, came to $700, I got the Pioneer deh- p6700 , Hve had pioneer decks before, and i am verry pleaesed with there performance for me. If you run on high level imputs, your sounds quality will be greatly reduced, It causes alot of clipping and distortion. save up some pennies and get a head unit you will be glad you did.