I've got the JL 450/4 running my Z6's; the 2x150 watt channels to the mid bass and the 2x75 watt channels to the tweets. 12 gauge wire should suffice, no problem.

For your rears, if you don't want another amp, you could go with a head unit that powers them.

As for a sub, I would really recommend getting a decent amp and sub to push the bass. Even if you don't listen to rap or hip hop, a seperate sub and amp is probably about the best upgrade you can do to any system. It saves the mid bass speakers (the 6.5" Z6's) from having to push the low bass, which they aren't really designed for.

Any wiring kit for the amps should work; if you stick with the single amp, 4 gauge wire is fine, and even if you get another amp, 4 gauge will work with a distro block.

Dave

 

Dave,

I am probably going to pass on the sub right now, I would love it if I had it, I just only have a certain budget left after doing all this F/I stuff here.

Is there a great amp that will run all what I have listed that might push more then 150 to the fronts, or would I be ok just running that to those front componenets?

How much of each wire should I buy in your best estimate?

 

Well, that Alpine 4.150 can put out 300 watts into 2 channels (300 per channel) if bridged, so that would more than do it. Honestly, 150 watts into the Z6's will work, just not to their optimum potential. They will still sound great, though.

Probably count on getting about 20 feet of speaker wire, for each side, if you are putting the amps in the rear. Also, you will want to get good RCA's, IF you are getting a new head unit. You want something that is twisted pair, and well insulated, as an RCA run to the rear will pick up noise, if not insulated and run correctly. Figure on 12-15 foot RCA's to ensure you are not constrained on where you put your amps and how you run the RCA's.

For power wire, you need a long wire (15-20 feet)for the positive, but the ground only needs to be about 3 feet or so, since you will ground to the chassis. The reason for the long power wire is so that you can run from the battery, along the side of the car (inside), to where your amps are, WITHOUT running near the RCA's, to ensure there is no induced noise.

I've got some extra wires and stuff, so if you forget something, it shouldn't be a problem. Plan on this being an all day thing, though; start at nine or so, and end that evening. I'm not looking for compensation or anything, just maybe lunch or a beer, or a pizza for dinner that day.

 

Dave is pretty much on point. I was suggesting JL as a replace for the alpine. They have some four channel amps that are sick. I use their mono amp for my subs. You only need the second for the sub really, JL will have amps that will power all four with plenty of power. Id make sure your amping at least the back since they will have more kick. I do like the angle on the speaker, but keep in mind how low and remote the speaker is. Even pointed its still got a long way to travel. You can still block the high with your leg or a passenger. Having the high mount tweeters in a pod helps a ton with good sound. You can always hold off on them though, do the doors, see how you feel about it, then go back and add them later. The slash series amps will run it all really.

Hey Bottom, for that tech day, you think you could help me with my driver door. I had the motor die and the dealer replaced, and ever since they did their work its had a rattle and the window doesnt seem to sit right. They wont do anything about it without charging me so i guess i have to take it into my own hands. Thanks!

 

Brian: F/I Stuff? That's awesome, you were the Z that went from only having sport horn mods to F/I. Next time at the meets you'll have to take people for rides rather than just honking the horn.

Spivey: Yeah no problem with the window and door help. I ended up changing out the motor myself because I was past the Warranty when I had the issue.

David

 

So to clear up my confusion.

Is there anything that will push more then 150watts to the front speakers while also having enough power for the rears as well? If not then thats cool, but if there is maybe I should look into those.

David, yeah, I hope it will be fun. It's finally nice to have some money that wasn't earmarked to mod my house instead of the car. I pick it up this afternoon so I am quite excited.

 

I think what david has is pretty much the best, the jl 450/4 is one hell of an amp. I had their 1000/1 and i still have their 500/1 sitting around. As he said, its got more than enough power to run that setup.

 

So wouldn't that 450/4 still only push 150watts a side to the front speakers?

Hopefully I'm not sounding like some sort of bonehead.

 

Yes; if you use the second set of channels to run the rears. However, if you do what I did (150x2 to the front mids, and 75x2 to the front tweeters), it works great. But then you still need something to power the rears, which you don't want to do.

Anyways, though, even if you only push 150 to the fronts, whether it is the JL or the Alpine amp, either one of those will do a great job with the Z6's. The only thing is that there is more to be had if you go with more (quality) power. I think, though, that you will be very satisfied with either amp, and only 150 to the fronts.

 

Ok, sounds good. I am following you now.

I think for now, I will go as I planned, with the idea of down the road I could do something similar to what you are doing Dave. When I upgrade and add the sub I could change around the amp configuration to the speakers.

 

Still interested?

 

I was actually gonna update this thread today anyway.

I am sorta unsure of where I should go right now. This new F/I set up is so damn loud and actually quite enjoyable to listen to that I am unsure if I should upgrade the sound system or not. I am paranoid that I will miss some catastophic noise that the car makes because I have the upgraded tunes and also thinking I might miss listening to the constant sound of a jet that I drive. I have hardly been listening to the CD player now that I have this set up.

Maybe someone will sway my opinion one way or the other.

Mudd

 

Heh. You don't always have to blast your sound system...

Also, invest in gauges! if you haven't allready, that is.

Obviously, my opinion is to have a F/I Z/G, WITH a great sound system, and great brakes, and suspension, and ... In other words, a well rounded car. Thats just my opinion, though.

Dave

 

Hey Dave...........I think I am going to put this project on the back burner for now. Since I have gotten my car back I just haven't been turning on any tunes at all. That might change once I really start driving her more, but for now it seems like I might be wasting my money on all this if I never turn it on.

 

Hey, no sweat. I was kind of looking forward to an audio tech day, though, so if anyone is interested, and has something they want installed, let me know.

 

Lend me a couple grand Dave and I'll go buy everything I like to have you install. LOL

 

I'll get right on that.....

 

i'm up for this tech day--have you guys thought of a date yet?

 

I was waiting for Biran (Mudd) to get all his audio stuff together, but since he decided to stick with stock for now, it's up in the air.

If you've got some audio stuff to install, let me know what it is, and I can tell you if it's within my skills or not, and we can go from there.

But if there is nothing to install, no real point in having an audio day...