New amp, need sub advice

[QWK SVT]

It's time for an overhaul of the MMs Stereo. Here's what's there, right now:

Eclipse 5435 In-dash CD/MP3/NAV/DVD
MTX TC4004 4-channel amp
TS-A6867 6"x8" (fronts, run off the deck)
Pioneer 6.5" (can't remember the model #, nom. input is only 35W, run off the amp ch.1 & 2)
Old school JBL GT-Series 10" in a ghetto box (amp ch. 3 & 4 bridged)
For a while, I've been wanting to do it up properly, but haven't done anything about it. Well, the plans have been kick started, because my wife picked up a JBL GTO5355 5-channel amp, for my Birthday:banana:
Link for details: http://www.jbl.com/car/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=GTO53 55&Language=ENG&Country=US&Region=USA&cat=AMP&ser=GTS

The plan is for the Eclipse 5435 to stay (love this deck!) and GTO5355 to run all the speakers and a new sub. Which brings me to the questions...

1. The sub channel is 225W (2ohm) and 360W RMS (2ohm). I can't find any thing that says if the amp can run 4ohm to the speakers and 2ohm to the sub, or not. Obviously, I'd like to take advantage of the 2ohm power the amp puts out. Hoping that doesn't mean purchasing two pairs of 2ohm speakers right now, and than I can handle it peice by peice. Maybe someone here knows...

2. I need a new sub, and a proper box for it. I listen to boomy, bassy music. I'm not looking to shake the earth, but a little back massage is always nice :coolman: Ideally, this would mean a 12" in a ported box, but I'm space limited to the shelf, and I'd like to keep the spare mounted in the stock location (if possible). That probably means a sealed 10". Haven't set a budget yet, but i'm not looking to blow the bank.

I'm hoping some of the resident gurus (John Kuhn, Magindat, and/or anyone else with an opinion chimes in)... As I'm north of the border, it may not be easy (or cost effective) to have a "magindat box" built and shipped to me :depress:

PS - I'm not totally in love with the speakers, so I may also replace them, but will wait and see how the existing ones sound. I have a feeling I will end up replacing the rears, as I will be over powering them with the amp...

PPS - it's hard to search, when looking for "sub"... Too bad there isn't a dedicated Mobile Audio/Video forum...

Thanks in advance

[QWK SVT]

Forgot to mention - I can get a pretty good deal on an Infinity Kappa 104.7w. I know a buddy who has one (granted, it's in a Mazda3), but it sounds pretty good, considering the rather small box he is using...

Link: http://www.infinitysystems.com/car/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=KAPPA 104.7W&cat=KAP&ser=KAP&Language=ENG&Country=US&Region=USA

[n00bkiller944]

Sounds like a problem for john and magindat! lol

[GetMeMyStogie]

1. The sub channel is 225W (2ohm) and 360W RMS (2ohm). I can't find any thing that says if the amp can run 4ohm to the speakers and 2ohm to the sub, or not.
I found this in the manual:
"Minimum speaker impedance for stereo
operation is 2 ohms. Minimum speaker
impedance for bridged operation is 4 ohms.
Minimum subwoofer impedance is 2 ohms"

Thus, you should be safe to run a 2-ohm load on the subwoofer channel with either 2-ohms (4-channels), 4-ohms (4-channels), or 4-ohms (2-channels) on the other 4 channels. Take note of how the amp will be cooled, especially if you run any 2-ohm loads.



I need a new sub, and a proper box for it. I listen to boomy, bassy music. I'm not looking to shake the earth, but a little back massage is always nice :coolman: Ideally, this would mean a 12" in a ported box, but I'm space limited to the shelf, and I'd like to keep the spare mounted in the stock location (if possible). That probably means a sealed 10". Haven't set a budget yet, but i'm not looking to blow the bank.
But,

For a while, I've been wanting to do it up properly

I think that means dropping the spare into the trunk-well, and filling the shelf with a couple of 1.75 cubic foot ported 12" boxes :D
Or, 1 really big box holding a couple 12's, or even 4 10s :)

I've built a few boxes for the Panthers I've owned over the years - they're pretty easy. Especially if you have a table saw, then you're laughing. Drawing up the plans is the hardest part.
I miss the massage I got from my 12" ported boxes - two 10" sealed boxes are nice (and safer) but just aren't as much fun.



I have a feeling I will end up replacing the rears, as I will be over powering them with the amp...
That's what the amps 'gain' control is for. If they sound good enough, I'd keep 'em, since the rears are pretty useless anyway.


If I haven't been helpful, I apologize. But, I hope you'll let us know how it goes. I'm heading down your road soon, myself.

[Aren Jay]

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[QWK SVT]

n00bkiller944 / AJ - Wish a johnkuhn/magindat solution was feasible, but it is too cost prohibitive to have something that large and heavy shipped to Canada. Easily looking at double the normal costs, as a result...

I've installed the amp, and am powering the original 4 pioneer speakers (fronts and rears) and MTX 10" off the amp. Mainly, I wanted to get the wiring to the doors done, since I figured that wouldn't be a whole lotta fun. Getting the wire from the interior through the driver's door was the most diffilcult part, as my big hands had trouble squeezing in the tight spaces. I eventually got it, though and the results are pretty good.

The fronts (TS-A6867 6"x8") sound very good - a big step up from running off the Eclipse deck. The rears sound about the same (the old MTX amp's birthsheet said it was putting out 67RMS @ 4ohm/14.4V), but are perhaps a little cleaner. The sub has never sounded as good, but really is showing it's limitations. It can shake the mirror ever-so-slightly, and there's a little bit of a back massage, but the sub cannot hit to low-lows that a 12" could.

When I was chatting with a buddy, I mentioned my situation (knowing he used to be big into the car audio scene). Provided I was willing to take the heavy-azz box away, he gave me a pair of Rockford Puch 1212s (link: http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/black/438/rf/rfp1212.html). :banana2:

They're 2 x 4ohm (DVC) subs, so I probably won't run them both - just 1 @ 2ohm. I'm hoping one should be able to provide some decent thump. :cool:

I'm going to wait for the weather to warm up a little, and put this massive box in the trunk, just to try out the RF sub. If that works, I'm thinking I'll build a box, myself... Since the sub was free, I'm no further behind if it doesn't work out.