hey, if i were to get a single 12 inch subwoofer. what type of amp would i get? are alpines amps good? i think i just want to run the sub to the amp. if i wanted to run my front speakers, my rear and a single 12 in sub, then what kind of amp would i need?
thanks
bub

 

the type of amp you need is the one you can afford, is quality, and gives the output to match your sub. Sure, Alpines are fantastic amps... but is that a good one for your setup?

 

Tell us what sub you plan on getting specifically... make and model, and any specs you know of. This is the best way to determine what amp you need. For just a 12" sub, you'll need either a single channel (for single voice coil subs, aka SVC) or 2-channel amp (for dual voice coil subs, aka DVC). To power all your speakers, you can go the expensive route and use one 6 channel amp, or go with a four channel amp for the speakers and whatever setup you decide for the sub.

 

ok thanks for the info....i was really just wondering the type of amp like how many channels and stuff

 

Find out the max output. On my 12, its max 750w. Buy my amp is a 1000w. So I have 250 in surplus. I should get another one, and split the wattage. (500 each). Get Kicker for sure.

 

Ok well heres you channel options (nothing odd, shopping for these will keep your brand/model/cost options down).
For the front and rear, you can power them all the same with a decent 4 channel. But if you have 4x6s not kickpanels up front that wouldnt be such a smooth move. So two 2 channel amps will work fine. But why are you not using your head unit? Anything a decent head units put out will be enough for 4x6s. If you want loud 6x9s which also might not be such a smooth move get DVCs and a good bridgeable amp. Or just go one 2 channel amp.
As for the single sun your only reasonably option is a 2 channel amp. get a DVC sub and bridge the amps 2 channels into 1.
If you are set on a 4x6 and 6x9 setup, try your head unit powering your 4x6s and an amp powering your 6x9s. If you feel like getting kickpanels or door mounting speakers, go for a 4 channel amp and run components in the front.
As for brand, it all depends on your $$$. Alpine makes alright amps but there are better choices for the money out there in my opinion. Just go test some out at a few shops.
greg

 

Kicker will dissapoint big time, escpecially for the price you pay. For a little bit more you can get triple the quality out of a Memphis amp. They look better too.

Colby

 

I wanna confuse him to!!!! :lala: :lala: :lala:

Another option you have is to get a 4 channel amp, run the two fronts off channels 1&2 (or RF/LF) and then bridge the amp to the 12".

If you have (for example) a 30 x4 and the power jumps to 30x2 and ~100 x 1 when it's bridged, that's usually a pretty good combo.

If you go with a 2 channel amp, some of them can be run in a stereo/mono configuration that will basically do the same thing, but you'll have to use passive crossovers. There is this thing that does all of that for you. Click on that pic.


The advantage with using 2 chnl. amps is it's easier to upgrade your system later. Let's say you use a 50 x 2 for your sub(s) and run the other speakers off the HU, then later decide that you want to buy a 100 x 2 for your sub(s). You just buy the 100 x 2, hook it to your sub(s), then run the front speakers off your 50 x 2.

See how easy that is?

AJ

 

The 4 channel amp running at 2 channels and 1 bridged would be alright but it might be a pain in the *** if you want to turn your sub louder but not your 6x9s or if you want to turn the subs bass up but not the 6x9s etc. If I were you I would just get a decent head unit (50 or more x 4 from a reputable brand) and get properly rated speakers. Then just get a 2/1 channel amp for your sub. You wont need mega watts for your 4x6s or 6x9s anyway with one 12. Then you can sink more money into a good head unit instead of amplifiers. It doesnt sound like you going for major sql so you may as well let the head unit do the work in my revised opinion .
greg

 

Well if you get the appropriate amplifier that has internal crossovers, then all you have to do is turn up the bass on your HU. Then the 6x9s/4x6s won't get enough bass to damage them.

And as far as "You wont need mega watts for your 4x6s or 6x9s anyway with one 12."...... need and want are two different things.

I have an Alpine 25x4 running two kickpanel speakers in front, so the amp is bridged into 2 ch., which puts it at ~ 75 x 2. I don't remember exactly. Then I have a RF Punch 100 (50x2) bridged into one 12" (200 watts) and it kicks major ***!!!!! :rockon:

I guess it depends on whether someone wants loud bass, or loud music. I like both, that's why I only have one sub, but yet it's a 12".

AJ

 

But if you want to turn up the bass for the sub, and not the 6x9s or whatever is sharing the amp then your out of luck. I can see an amp powering 6x9s easily but its the 4x6s I wonder about. I doubt he will hear any better sound out of 4x6s with an amp over the head unit. If he went to components then it would be a different story...
Loud music and loud bass comment is completely true. Personally I like both. Ditching the 4x6s for kicks and either focal or clarion components with a clarion dpx400.2 amp before winter . Anyone with a system over $1000 should invest in kickpanels... 4x6s are just a waste.
greg

 

do not do the above. if you match the wattage, dont do it by the max rating. it is useless since the max numbers are available for a short amount of time. it is best if you dont even look at them at all. its usually something that companies like legacy use to make their products seem better than they really are.

look at the rms ratings. it is what counts since those are the numbers you can expect on a regular basis.

jacob

 

Oh yea, that's true with the 2 channel amp and the passive crossovers like I showed. But if you have a 4 channel amp that has high pass on 2 channels, and low pass on the other 2 (or 1 if bridged) then your speakers will be fine if you turn up the bass. Know what I mean?

Like my Alpine has 2 crossovers, one for each 'pair' of channels as well as different gains. Both are switched at 80Hz @ 12dB/octave. If you can run the fronts above 80Hz, and the sub(s) below 80Hz, you should be OK because "MOST" head unit's bass control is set at 60Hz, so turning up the bass (and having the gains on the amp set the right way) will give you more bass through the sub, with only very little going to the fronts. 4x6s may still not take it though.

I agree that 4x6's are easy to screw up. Kickpanels are the only way to go IMO. I never thought so until I heard the diff. :rockon:

AJ

 

ok, im a little confused
so r u telling me not to upgrade my 4x6? and keep the old ones in there? for now until christmas all i was gonna do was put in a new headunit, 4x6's and 6x9's. then later i was maybe gonna put in a sub, amp(s), changer and some kickpanels

 

Yea, if that's all you can afford to do right now, and don't want to wait, then get the 4x6s and 6x9s. There's nothing wrong with using 4x6s, it's just that using speakers in custom or aftermarket kickpanels sounds 100 times better.

If you want to upgrade, but don't want to spend a lot of money now, then just get a descent pair of 4x6s that are at least two way (meaning they have a seperate tweeter on them). That alone will make a big diff. A pair of Pioneers or something like that. Don't waste your money on RoadGear or Rampage, or crap like that. Even Jensen is better than those
::AJ whispers:: I have a pair in my car ::AJ whispers::

Don't let us that know a little more scare you away from what you can afford. Sometimes we get a little too opinionated.

AJ

 

Agreed AJ a 4 channel amp with 2 adjustable crossovers would work great. Probly save him some doe, space and space if you care about that.
As for what to do for now? I would stick with the old 4x6s (are you talking about stocks? If you mean stock, then maybe some cheapos would be an alright idea) and upgrade the 4x6s.
Then run something on the kickpanels off a new 2 channel amp and buy another 4 channel amp for your 6x9s and sub. Or if you want just stick the kickpanel speakers off the headunit till you can get another amp. Anything is better than 4x6s. Its not really the 4x6s themselves, although they do blow. Its the fact the sound waves produces have to bounce of the windshield then the dash/your lower body till they get to your ears, and by that time theyve lost their high notes and the mids sound like crap. Anyway thats my err 3rd opinon
greg

 

Third time's a charm right.

That's why the 3rd Gen F-Body RULES!!!!! :rockon:
GM should have just left it alone and put in the monster motors that they used in the 4th gens.

Anyway, to add fuel to the fire, the OTHER reason 4x6's don't sound all that great is the way the dash in the f-bodies are made. It's very hard to seperate the air from the front and rear of the speaker. Because of this, you don't get squat for midbass.

Sometimes people squeeze those speaker pods in there that are made of that foam crap, but I do mean SQUEEZE!!!! That helps a little, but nowhere near as well as kickpanels.

Ya think we're sending him enough subliminal messages to get kickpanels?!?!?!?! LOL

AJ

 

ok, thanks for the input guys...yeah all the stereo stuff is stock, headunit, 4x6's and those square things way in the back on my well cover. yeah think for now i will get a heat unit and good 6x9's and a decent pair of 4x6's. christmas is coming soon so then i can get some kickpanels. buy kickpanels u guys mean speakers cut into my door under the manual window crank?

 

No..... here's a pic of mine.

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/att...&postid=915252

They're next to your feet. Rezn8r makes them. If you do a search for his name, you'll find out more about them.

AJ

 

Sounds like a plan
Ya kicks are just those pods infront of the door. Better than the door because you can aim them quite a bit better. Door does have good air space though...
Theres oh so many reasons 4x6s suck in the stock spot AJ but thats definately a good one. I just got some of the thin dense sound dampening materal and tried to make the best sealed little pod in the dash I could. But theres just not much you can do to make em sound good. I wonder how a fibreglass mount would work there tipping them up on a 60 or so degree angle...
greg

 

My Personal Favorite is Precision Power, there some of the best quality amps you can get. I currently am running a 10 year old pair of PPI Artist series amps and they rock. The newer series they make are just as good if not better.

 

Cool.

I have an Alpine amp that's ~ 10 yrs. old and a Rockford amp that's ~12yrs old, and an Alpine 11 band EQ that's older than both of those.

What's your point?

AJ

 

Ok nothing beats the 15 year old clarion am/fm cassette deck thats been around the family! That thing is almost as old as me dangit. Started as use in my dads jette back in the days, then went in my bros car I think. Then my winter beater. Now its in his truck. That things been around more than a re-usable condom in Afghanistan! Still workin fine too, plays tapes and all. If that aint a testament to Clarions quality, I dunno what is. going back in my beater just for the hell of it if he sells his truck. And head units get alot more wear than amps btw
greg