amp channels

[OpTiMaTeZ]

unfortunately i do not understand channels completely, im about to get my rims and tires and the next project will be upgrading my speakers, followed by a carpc later on.

What do the channels mean exactly? i have a 2 channel amp now powering my 2 12" subs. does each channel mean 1 speaker? if so i will be getting 2 tweeters 2 6.5's and 2 6x9's. will i need a 6 channel amp to power it all? not sure how all of that works, im a computer guy and im still grasping the basics.

[Vampyrate]

in short, yes, 1 ch. per speaker... but a 4 ch. amp would work for full speaker change the tweeters will run off of the fronts and the rears will have their own channel (a left and right side so to speak)

[OpTiMaTeZ]

so it would be a 4 channel amp, 1 tweeter and 6.5 on a channel, 1 tweeter and 6.5 on a channel, and each 6x9 get a channel. correct?


second question, the 6.5's im getting have a built in tweeter, do i need another aftermarket tweeter or would it sound funny?

[kuecker_dj09]

the 6.5s you are gettin are called coaxials. coaxials can come in 2-way (woofer with tweeter) 3-ways (woofer, tweeter, super tweeter) and 4-ways (woofers 2 tweeters and 1 super tweeter)

to answer your question, i dont think it would sound funny to have an extra tweeter.

i would reccomend a componet system which seperates the tweeter from the woofer to give better definition of highs and lows. Infinity Reference componets are great IMO

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-z5nFTD1dS8d/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=52000&I=1086010CS

[OpTiMaTeZ]

those infinties are nice.
what do you think of these? ive got polk subwoofers and im happy with them and im thinking about staying with the brand. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-8YoLNrVzZIX/cgi-bin/Prodview.asp?readmore=true&g=52000&I=107MMC650#Tab

also, do the 6.5's give you any bass or is that just 6x9's and subs? i know the stock dont...

[kuecker_dj09]

Polk makes nice speakers as well....might as well stick with the brand.

if you are upgrading your stock 4x6 to 6.5 you might see some increase in bass, but usually you will want to have the subs for bass if your Headunit has a HPF, set it at around 80 HZ.

[OpTiMaTeZ]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-8YoLNrVzZIX/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=52000&I=107MMC650
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-8YoLNrVzZIX/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=52300&tab=essential_info&i=107MMC690#Tab
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-8YoLNrVzZIX/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=430&I=107DB1001

I believe these will be the speakers i buy. Now i am trying to find an amp for them.. but idk what to get, the speakers say for example 100watts RMS on the website for the 6x9's. do i just tally that up or do i need to double it because there are 2 6x9's?
i may decide against the tweeters as ill have 6 of them already from the 6.5's and the 6x9's. plus stock, that should be plenty. do you see any compatibility problems? Id like to make sure they fit before i order them as well.

[kuecker_dj09]

does your car have stock 4x6s in the doors? because unless you get the part to make it fit a 6.5 they wont fit

[OpTiMaTeZ]

they are the stock 4x6's. i read in a few searchs though theres a metra adapter to make them fit.

[kuecker_dj09]

nevermind then.

get the extra tweeters and replace the stockers.


as for an amp you dont double the RMS value because you have 2 speakers. each one will run on its own channel. heres a couple of amps you could get. i wasnt sure of your price range so here ya go

Profile Amp (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-axS9tM1qbVH/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=120&I=489AP1040)
RF Amp (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-axS9tM1qbVH/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=120&I=575P4504)
Infinity Refrence Amp (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-axS9tM1qbVH/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=120&I=108R475A)

[OpTiMaTeZ]

they look good, but what about the 6x9s that need 100rms, will they draw the needed power from the channel or will i be under powering them?

[kuecker_dj09]

even if you are underpowering them, they wont distort as easily, and those amps are gonna give them clean power. plus the speakers have a high SPL or sensitivity rating. so the higher that number, the more power they will take in from the amps

[OpTiMaTeZ]

im thinking about going with this amp since the others are a bit expensive or sold out:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-87DOKguU2dB/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=120&I=489HA1040
ive also decided to just let the headunit power the stock tweeters and stick with just the 6x9's and the 6.5's.
my next question is: how hard is it to wire all of this up? I'll now have 4 new speakers and 1 new amp to power them, in addition to my 2 subwoofers and 2000w amp. How will i hook both amps into my headunit?

[Blackhawk]

Search eBay for prices, Crutchfield is a little high and you can get new audio equiptment for cheap on eBay. My amp is somewhere around $500 new but I got it for $277 shipped.

[cardude007617]

touche, $500 amp for 180 atmy door :)

[kuecker_dj09]

how many preouts does your radio have?

[kuecker_dj09]

you really have 2 options. 1) run new power and ground wires to the new Amplifer or 2) buy a power distribution block and run new power and ground to the new amplifier.

the problem with number 2 is that unless you have a decent gauge of wire, (4, 2, 1, 0) you will run into issues. the distribution block will split the power evenly between both amps. for example, if you run 4 gauge wire from the battery terminal to the the dist block, it will split the power into 8 gauge wire, one for each amp.

so if your Subs need alot of power, you might jsut want to run a new power wire instead of all of this.

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/ca/learningcenter/car/amp_wiring_diagram_lg.gif

[OpTiMaTeZ]

i dont think my radio has but 2 rca in's...

[OpTiMaTeZ]

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5645793

this is my radio, it says:
1 x audio line-out ( RCA phono x 2 ) ¦ 1 x subwoofer output ( RCA phono x 2 )

i already got my subs connected to it, is the audio line-out for my next amp?

[Blackhawk]

I believe it is.