Bare with me here because i've done some research but am still quite vague when it comes to understanding sound systems and their components.

I currently own a pair of Infinity Reference 6022si in the front doors. (They sound like crap being powered by an avic-f900bt), thus, i want to upgrade the rest of my system. (A sub and amp[s])

Looking to get an amp (or two) to power these speakers and a sub I'm going to put in.

The amp i'm looking at is the infinity kappa five and the sub is their infinity kappa 123.7w (12in)

Infinity Kappa Five
@2 ohm - 75watt rms x4 plus a 300watt rms
@4 ohm - 50watt rms x4 plus a 150watt rms

The amp puts out 300watts rms towards the sub is rated at 350watt rms, both at 2ohm. is this way too under powered? There's two different subs, a model that does 2 or 8ohm and one thats 1 or 4ohms. Which one would be better with this amp? considering this route is a good route to take?

Also i heard i should get separate amps for the sub and speakers... but i rather not since that would involve more wiring and more space needed for the amps.

All this is going in a 07zr, which means not a lot of space to work with considering none of it is going in the trunk. And the sub is getting shoved in a tiny box, .75cubic feet in where the missing sub spot is and I'm thinking about sticking the amp behind the seat as well, maybe on top of where the cover is.

I'm not looking to wake the neighborhood, just some decent thump, especially since i'm dropping another 6-800 on the car. (I expect 800dollars worth of thump) =)

Also, anyone ever order from http://www.sonicelectronix.com? or http://www.onlinecarstereo.com? ordering from them seems cheaper than crutchfield by an arm and leg. Any other places of recommendations?

Any suggestions? I wouldn't mind going with different brands, like alpine, but they seem way to pricey and i dont think my ears are that attuned to noise to appreciate spending that kind of bling. So i figured i might as well just stick with infinity.

Thanks!

 

i'm looking between getting either two amp setups

Infinity Reference475a
@4ohm 75watt rms x4
@2ohm 90watt rmx x4
and
Infinity Reference1300a
@4ohm 150watt rms x1
@2ohm 300watt rms x1

or

Infinity Kappa Five
@4ohm 50watt rms x4 and 150watt rms x1
@2ohm 75watt rms x4 and 300watt rms x1

Apparently the Kappa Five has a few higher end options? Considering they both cost similarily the same amount... which option would you guys suggest?

They're only powering a pair of Infinity Reference 6022si 50watt rms and an Infinity Kappa 104.7 350watt rms sub.

 

Well the 104.7 is dual 4 so 2ohms, so with the kappa five you would be getting close to RMS, which should be enough. Five channel amp would be alot easier to install, but the 2 amps do produce more power, so thats just a decision...

Question, why the Infinity amps and sub? If not why go with infinity? Guess keeping brand name the same is a "nice choice" but not needed.

If you are willing to go with different brand sub and amp, look at image dynamics.. Especially the IDQ10 or IDQ12. I just got a IDQ10 and its amazing.. sonicelectronix is a fine place to shop, avoid onlinecarstereo if you can... Woofersetc is a good place to shop as well, they are authorized to sell image dynamics...

 

Thanks for the reply!

It was mainly for the brand name i guess.

I'll take a look at your suggestions!

Wow. Image Dynamics carries some expensive amps.

 

ya I didnt say go with ID amps, just subs...


For example, from woofersetc.com

Alpine MRP-M500 Mono amp for the sub $160+ shipping
IDQv3 D4 subwoofer for $240 +shipping (I paid $180 locally, weird)...
Alpine MRP-F300 4 channel amp for $160 + shipping

Of course you could spend more and get better. Some will probably recommend better amps, but I have only had experience with a few and alpine always seemed good.

I would say the total would be somewhere around.. $600 shipped for everything.

Few things to remember.

First the IDQv3 has a pretty big mounting diameter, so if you do not have the box yet, make sure the mounting hole can be cut big enough for the sub.

Second, Woofers etc is a authorized reseller for Image Dynamics, but I dont think they are for Alpine. While you get a 1 year warranty through them for alpine products, you do not get a manufactures warranty.

That is the difference between crutchfield and sonicelectronix/woofersetc. Crutchfield is authorized reseller, woofersetc.com is not. I have never had a problem with products for non-authorized resellers, and you save a lot of money. This is though a decision you will have to make. That Infinity Five amp is $500 from crutchfield, the two amps I recommended produce same/more power and cost under $350 shipped

 

what gauge wire should i purchase for the speakers/sub?

 

http://www.knukonceptz.com/

best place I have found to buy wire. You going to run new wire to speakers? That is a lot of work.

8guage power wire is all you need for the amps I mentioned...

12guage speaker wire for sub is all thats needed for up to about 1000watts (15ft run)

If you are willing to run wires to the speakers, which as I said is a pain, run 16guage.

 

I am kinda new to this as well but from what I have read, if the RMS power is 100W then you only want to power between 75%-90% of that. I don't know why because there is RMS power then max power. The components I am looking at have 150W RMS then 300W max, I figure that a 4 channel 150W per channel would be good but they said that you only want to apply 75%-90% of the RMS. Maybe someone can shed some light on why you wouldn't want to supply 150W of power to a 150W RMS speaker?

 

THD might increase as you get closer to RMS, but I have never heard of that. The manufacturer sets the power and expects the user to use it, or less... What speaker do you have that uses 150w RMS?

what amp are you looking at to get 150w RMS?

 

I wish i read ur reply before i ordered the wires! haha. It shouldn't be much of a problem running 12gauge to the front speakers right? =D i hope not cause i ordered 25 feet of 12gauge thinking it'd be enough for the whole car.

Ended up ordering two alpines, the 500watt and teh 75watt x4 from wooferetc.
I went with the infinity sub because it claims to be a free air sub. So i'm trying to saving myself some trouble of having to make a box and just sticking it in the oem spot. (Probably wont sound good, but if it sounds good enough there, it's staying).
Ordered all my cables and sub from sonicelectronix. Foudn the wiring and stuff there to be fairly cheap.
I wish these places weren't located in CA... i got charged tax for everything! =(

I'm going to be sticking the amps behind the seats by the floor against the back wall... anyone know how much clearance i have between that backing by the floor and the gas tank?

 

free air wont sound good, sorry. Would recommend going to http://www.zenclosures.com/Nissan_35...Box_p/z110.htm

and buying that box, unless of course you need all the trunk space you can get.....

Its probably going to rattle like crazy....

Running 12guage is fine to the doors, but that is going to be a royal pain, unless of course you just drill holes in the metal and cover the holes somehow.... I ran my wires through the harness in the door, and with 12guage wire, I think it would be very difficult.

Which infinity sub you go with? If you went for a 12", that wont even fit behind the seat.....

 

The amp is an Alpine PDX 4.150 and the speakers are also Apline SPX-17 PRO

 

i went with the 104.7 (or something like that) which is a 10in. I shouldn't notice a difference between a 10 and 12 right?

i'm trying to keep my trunk space =)

but if it does end up sound like a bunch of turd, i'll just fabricate some box and stick it back there in the oem spot.

 

buy some sound deadening for back there or you will probably get rattles...

 

Awesome combo, but arent the SPX-17 pro 100watt RMS?

 

They are but the max is 300W per side. I should be okay to run 150 to each side. If not is there a way to tune down the amp to 100W or should I find another set of components that will run 150W?

 

do noise deadeners work?

i've heard mix results from installers. I've had some say after they've spent like 1k on that stuff that it makes a difference while some that spent about the same say its worthless (for rattles) but it does block out road noise. I drive a zr so i dont believe it'd helptoo much with road noise considering my top is down half the time i drive.... so i really dont know what to think about that stuff. it is only 50 bucks at sonic for a two door kit... i guess it wouldn't be too much more to try it out.

 

I am a fan of secondskinaudio.com

Damplifier or Damplifier Pro is good stuff.

Is it worth it? If you are willing to put enough on.. Put atleast 10SQ ft per door on. 20SQft of damplifier would cost about $65 shipped.

Or to save money and do most of the car, you could go to Raamaudio.com, buy a roll of BXT, and that would be enough to do both doors completely, and trunk area.

 

I don't really see how average Joe like us could see the difference between Rammat and Damplifier other than the fact that Rammat is more sticky and lil' bit harder to work with (at least that is what people mentioned on other forums but I had no problems working with Rammat... it was easy).

 

Some people also dont need 62SQ feet and can save money by buying less amounts. Also secondskin audio has higher thermal adhesion, though that shouldnt matter if raamat works up to temperatures claimed.