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help fitting a sub & amp

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:31 pm
by nitro12
im not very good at this sort of thing... i am wanting to fit a sub and i presume i need an amp to power it, i dont think ill need it to power my speakers (6x9 in parcel shelf, uprated in doors and either side of parcel shelf) but i dont have a red an white out on the back of my head unit, does this mean it wont work?

any help appriciated thanks

Re: help fitting a sub & amp

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:41 pm
by jar_jar89
u could technically do it off the rear signal output from the output but u woul need to get a crossover network to tell it ot goin to a sub so only passes low frequencies. That or get a amp with built in one and use RCA to speaker cable to connect rear speakers output to amp then amp to sub with low pass filter set. Then again it may be more beneficial to try an fin a cheap -or expensive if u got the money - headunit with sub output RCA cable built into in and 4x50watt mosfet output to speakers. well thats what i'de consider as my options if i was in ur position. hope it helps u with makin ur mind up

Re: help fitting a sub & amp

Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 11:47 pm
by inliner_04
yes you will need an amp for the sub, which means you will need a wiring kit, and will need to run RCA, Remote wire ext from your head unit, and power cables to your battery and ground. if you mean Pre-outs/rca by "red and whites" then you probably wont be able to run a sub and 6x9's. You can get signal-rca converters which would allow you to run a sub, but then you would have no way of running 6x9's. it would probably be easier to upgrade your head unit.

You shouldnt need an amp for the 6x9's although they always sound much better if they are run off one. Insetead you will need to find the rear speaker cables if there are any, or if there arent, then you will need to cut into the wiring loom in the rear of the head unit and run some cables to the boot underneath the door sills.

Re: help fitting a sub & amp

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 12:17 am
by nitro12
thanks, my speakers are just scotch locked into my existing rear speakers, i think ill upgrade my head unit, its getting abit old now, wot makes do u recommend?

Re: help fitting a sub & amp

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:03 am
by jar_jar89
im a kenwood fan myself. but basically what u wanna be lookin out for is the outputs available on the various headunits, and a minimum of 4x50watt rms output on a mosfet circuit. Can gets loads of different headunits that meet these specifications that vary in price from cheap and cheerful to the much more expensive. I wont recommend any one brand..but if u gonna be cuttin into wires it will void guarrentee so dont splash out on one with a well long guarrentee, although bear in mind that they can be used as a kind of indication as to how long manufacture reckons the product will last without breaking etc. U wanna find sumin that looks good in ur car....if u done any colour coding maybe u can use that as a start?

Re: help fitting a sub & amp

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:51 am
by inliner_04
you can easily get 4x50watts on a head unit, but getting 50w rms is almost impossible and you will need to pay hunrdreds for a comp spec headunit, near all head units are 4x50w max, otherwise they would just blow the majority of coaxials considering most are around 25w -30w rms.

I recommend pioneer, you just cant beat their quality, looks or value for money! but the main thing you need if you are plaaning an upgrade is you need to check that it has at least two rcas, or pre-outs if you want to built a proper system.

Re: help fitting a sub & amp

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:41 pm
by jar_jar89
u can get away with one pre out if u hook it up to a seperate preamp EQ with several outputs. But i guess that means multiple amps and ight require a higher output alternator.

Re: help fitting a sub & amp

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:08 pm
by nitro12
thanks for the help, wot do u think about these?
head unit - http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/produc ... /5674.html
subwoofer - http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/produc ... /6554.html

ive currantly got a mix of differant makes and was wantin to stick with one, the head unit has a seperat preout for a subwoofer so i dont need an amp do i?

thanks

Re: help fitting a sub & amp

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:18 pm
by inliner_04
Yeah my friend has that head unit and its pretty good. Yes you do need an amp, you always do with a sub. The pre-out is what delivers the signal to the sub, in other words it tells it what sounds to make.
If you still wanted that sub, then this would be a good deal, Fli are made by vibe, so even though they are cheap, they are pretty decent quality,
http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/produc ... /1235.html

I cant actually tell you much about that sub as i havent ever owned or heard one, but pioneer are a reputable make so you cant really go wrong.

Re: help fitting a sub & amp

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:43 pm
by nitro12
im gonna buy that sub & amp pakage you suggested with that head unit, will let u know if i need help fitting it!