[PowerShiftz02GT]

While i worked at a Dodge Dealership some of the SRT Vehicles had Kicker Sound Systems in it. I never really got to listen to the kicker systems. How good are they. When i went the woodward Dream cruise this summer Kicker had a HUGE Booth of their products. and their products look sweet i think. But how do they perform? I mean i heard them all at once so i couldnt really tell how they sounded individually. The Kicker sound systems in the SRT vehicles im sure are the crapy ones kicker sells. The woofer was big but not that big. But if i was to look into like maybe Duel Subwoofer through them would they be any good? I think im gunna look at duel 10's. Im not looking to shake my whole neighbor hood but i need something that is better then the SHITTY RATTLING BASS in the MACH 1 system i have that the mustang offers. Soo would kicker work for me?

thanks

[TheBusher]

I used to sell car audio a couple years back. Kicker is some of the best product you can buy for the money. I had a single 10" L7 in a custom slot port box that was power by a Kicker 725 watt RMS mono amp at 2 ohms. I had people all the time asking if I had 2 10s and even a couple people asked if I had 2 12s. When I would tell them I had 1 10, they wouldn't believe me until I popped the trunk. What a lot of people don't understand is that the box that woofer is in has almost as much to do with the way it will sound as the woofer its self.

[PowerShiftz02GT]

Originally Posted by TheBusher I used to sell car audio a couple years back. Kicker is some of the best product you can buy for the money. I had a single 10" L7 in a custom slot port box that was power by a Kicker 725 watt RMS mono amp at 2 ohms. I had people all the time asking if I had 2 10s and even a couple people asked if I had 2 12s. When I would tell them I had 1 10, they wouldn't believe me until I popped the trunk. What a lot of people don't understand is that the box that woofer is in has almost as much to do with the way it will sound as the woofer its self.

Really. So can i buy a Slot Port Box?

Also about Amps, How do you know what one to buy? I hear people saying I blew my amp. How do you generally buy them. Do you want the watts of the amp to be more or less then the watts of the subwoofer or something? IS there anything else i need to buy besides an Amp and the sub?

sorry, as you might of guessed im new to all this.

Thanks

[TheBusher]

Kicker makes a great amp. The previously mentioned amp was rated at 600 watts but each Kicker amp comes with a "birth certificate" that tells how much power the amp really puts out because Kicker tests every single one before they send them out. I had a box made by these guys Audio Enhancers : : : 2003 Product Catalog. If you can fit the box in your trunk (it may be a bit too big) then you want model #KPL10D if you go with an L5 or L7. If you want a Comp series then you'll want model #KPVR10D. A good amp for a Comp VR, Comp VT, or L5 would be a ZX750.1. A good amp is you go L7, or Comp VX would be ZX1000.1 or even the nasty SX1250.1. All the above is assuming the woofers you go with are 10". Also if you decide to go another brand for an amp, look at the RMS #'s NOT (I can't stress this enough) peak #'s. Peak numbers don't mean SHIT. Peak means that's how much the amp can put out during a BRIEF MUSICAL BURST and the result will be loads of distortion. RMS means how much the amp can put out over an extended period of time with minimal distortion. The kicker amps rate their amps at <.1% harmonic distortion at RMS power. Distortion is not detectable to the human ear at <1%.

It is always good to slightly over power your subs/speakers then under power. If you under power, that means the amp will have to try harder to provide you with the sound you want, leading to distortion. Distortion will KILL you speakers MUCH faster then slightly under powering.

Slot ports are much better then circle ports. They will give you a much cleaner, tighter, and crisper sound. Not to mention they will be louder and deeper with less stress on the sub because it allows the sub to produce the same volume as a circle port with less excursion.

As for what else you need, you will need at least a 1 farad capaciter (1 farad for every 1000 watts is a good rule of thumb), 4 gauge wiring will handle up to about 1000 watts, you will want 0 gauge for anything higher. If I remember correctly this should have everything you need Buy the Tsunami Multi-Amplifier Power Kit and other Car amplifier power kits at circuitcity.com
You also might want to invest in 1-3 layers of dynomat for you car so it will be louder inside your car, but quieter outside, and it will also keep your trunk from rattling like a BITCH!

If I'm forgetting anything let me know, or if you have anymore questions let me know as well. Hope this helped!

[mattstang]

over power to run less volume and gain. less volume and gian will mean a cleaner sound. just when you overpower you usually void most warranty's. memphis has about the best warranty ive seen. kicker makes great amps and subs. they also make crap stuff to. they make the flea market stuff and then theres the higher end stuff.

[PowerShiftz02GT]

TheBusher...Thanks soo much man, YOu helped me out a ton. I appreitate you taking the time to type out all that infomation out. It really helped me alot.

I do have one more question though... So i think im pretty sold on the Kicker L7's. Soo lets just say i bought a L7 10". and i got the amp you suggested to go along with it. But then later on i wanted to add another L7 becuase just one wasnt loud enough but im sure it will be becuase it doesn't take much to satisfy me but lets just say in the future i wanted to buy 2 L7's. Would i need 2 amps or is 1 enough. the L7 is rated at 600RMS power. Soo 600x2= 1200 watts RMS. soo would i need a better AMP or do i need 2 Amps? Also should the Amp RMS watts be more then the total RMS of the subs?

[mattstang]

i like to run two amps. gives you stand alone on each speaker and some say two will run cooler than one but i cant really see it making a diff in a reg system. if your gonna add later i would just buy the same amp your already running. it looks when you got 2 or 3 amps as well.

[PowerShiftz02GT]

Originally Posted by mattstang i like to run two amps. gives you stand alone on each speaker and some say two will run cooler than one but i cant really see it making a diff in a reg system. if your gonna add later i would just buy the same amp your already running. it looks when you got 2 or 3 amps as well.

haha well i just looked up all the stuff busher told me to get. Not Realizing AMPS are 500 dollars to 1000. haha. SOOOO looks like im just gunna stick with one L7 and idk what amp yet. I gotta see whats in my buget. But in the future if i ever do get another L7 then it sounds like i should get another amp. Plus other people are telling me i need a bigger altinator if i got above 1000RMS soo yeah. this stuff is frickin expensive. OMG. Definitly didn't realize how much this stuff costs.

I just thought of another question.. Will all this stuff hook up to the Stock Mach 1 460 Sound System Deck or do i have to buy a new Deck?

[mattstang]

i imagine there is a way to hook it to the mach. ive never done it so cant really give any advice on it

other brand amps are good. rockford makes a good amp. alpines are good. mtx's are decent. diamond. just make sure its a sub amp. usually class d or something the manufacturere made up thats comparable. mosfet's old technology i try to stay away from that.

check ebay sometimes you can find a deal. just research your seller and paypal will make you alot safer.

on a sidenote. the l7's are tough speakers. my buddy ran a ten at about twice the recommended rms for about 6 months before blowin it.

[00redgt]

check into the hifonics amps,pretty good amps that wont empty ur pocket

[TheBusher]

Originally Posted by PowerShiftz02GT haha well i just looked up all the stuff busher told me to get. Not Realizing AMPS are 500 dollars to 1000. haha. SOOOO looks like im just gunna stick with one L7 and idk what amp yet. I gotta see whats in my buget. But in the future if i ever do get another L7 then it sounds like i should get another amp. Plus other people are telling me i need a bigger altinator if i got above 1000RMS soo yeah. this stuff is frickin expensive. OMG. Definitly didn't realize how much this stuff costs. I just thought of another question.. Will all this stuff hook up to the Stock Mach 1 460 Sound System Deck or do i have to buy a new Deck?

There is a way to hook it up to your Mach 460. It's called a hi to low converter, or line out converter. Buy the Metra Line Output Converter and other Car amplifier audio RCA cables at circuitcity.com Just spilce this bad boy into your speker wires and it coonverts it to an RCA sinal tht will plug right into your amp.

If you're gonna go one L7 and plan for two in the future you have a couple of options. *I'll get this out of he way now, the difference between the SX and ZX amps is not really power or internal components, but the SX comes with more options to customize your sound and also allows you to run 1 ohm. It has higher and lower boosts and cut offs for certain frequencies. It also come with a digital controller that can be mounted in the front of your car, whereas the ZX only comes with a little dial to contrl the gain.* So, a far as the right amp for you, if you plan on one sub now and maybe two in the future I would either the SX1250.1 or the ZX1000.1 (the ZX will still give you enough power for two cause like I said earlier Kicker is very underrated... kinda like the Termi). Now you need to decide which of these amps you're gonna get BEFORE you get our subs becuase the impedence will be different for each. If you get the SX, then you will want to start out with one 10" L7 with DUAL 4 OHM VOICE COILS. Wire those in parallel into the ampto get a 2 ohm load. At two ohms the SX1250.1 will put out about 700ish watts RMS. Then later on when you can afford the second sub you'll want to get a second 10" L7 with dual 4 ohm voice coils. No it gets a bit tricky. You'll wire each sub in parallel so each sub will be showing a 2 ohm load, but the problem now is you have two positive & two negative wires where as your amp only has one of each. Sooooo now you wire those ends in parallel again so the total impedence will be 1 ohm (yes this amp is made to perform at 1 ohm). Now you will be getting about 1400ish watts RMS total (700 to each sub). If you decide that the SX is a little much, then the ZX1000.1 will be fine, but you will to get different impedence sums because the ZX isn't meant to run a 1 ohm (in short, you will probably melt something). If the ZX is for you then you will need to start out with a 10" L7 with DUAL 2 OHM VOICE COILS. Wire that bad bow in SERIES (not parallel) to show a 4 ohm load and the amp ill be putting out about 600 watts RMS. Then when you later purchase your second sub you will, again, want dual 2 ohm voice coils. Wire that guy in SERIES again so each sub is showing a 4 ohm load, but now the problem is, once again, that you have 2 positive wires and 2 negative and only one of each on your amp. Sooooooo wire those remaining ends in PARALLEL to show a 2 ohm load overall. Now your amp will be pushing about 1150 to 1200 watts RMS (575 to 600 per sub). If you're having trouble understanding impedences and parallel/series wiring check out this link, it shows you on a diagrahm what it will look like. Rockford Fosgate® - Woofer WiringWizard

Now if you really decide that 1 10" L7 is enough (trust me you will be impressed by what 1 10" L7 with the right amount of power & correct box can do), you once again, have two options, SX650.1 or ZX750.1 (the ZX will give you a little more, un-needed, power and the SX will give you a little more customizability). If you get the SX you will need a 10" L7 with DUAL 2 OHM COICE COILS. Wire those coils in parallel and you will get a 1 ohm load and your amp will be pushing about 700ish watts RMS. If you decide you want to go with the ZX amp then you will want a 10" L7 with DUAL 4 OHM VOICE COILS. Wire that sub in parallel to show a 2 ohm load and your amp ill be pushing about 800 watts RMS.

Another thing, make sure you play that sub at low to medium volume for the first 1-2 weeks. The Kicker subs come with a stiff competition suspension so you will need to break it in and loosen up the suspension a bit. I learned thi the hard way and ended up ripping the spider in the first week. Fortunetaly I just sent to back to Kicker and they warrenty replaced it and had the replacement back to me in about 10 days from when I sent out the broken one.

Also let me know what you decide to get before you buy becuase I still have some friends that I used to work with at Circuit City that might be able to hook me up. And in turn I can hook you up with a great deal.

Hope this wasn't too much of a read

[PowerShiftz02GT]

Originally Posted by TheBusher There is a way to hook it up to your Mach 460. It's called a hi to low converter, or line out converter. Buy the Metra Line Output Converter and other Car amplifier audio RCA cables at circuitcity.com Just spilce this bad boy into your speker wires and it coonverts it to an RCA sinal tht will plug right into your amp. If you're gonna go one L7 and plan for two in the future you have a couple of options. *I'll get this out of he way now, the difference between the SX and ZX amps is not really power or internal components, but the SX comes with more options to customize your sound and also allows you to run 1 ohm. It has higher and lower boosts and cut offs for certain frequencies. It also come with a digital controller that can be mounted in the front of your car, whereas the ZX only comes with a little dial to contrl the gain.* So, a far as the right amp for you, if you plan on one sub now and maybe two in the future I would either the SX1250.1 or the ZX1000.1 (the ZX will still give you enough power for two cause like I said earlier Kicker is very underrated... kinda like the Termi). Now you need to decide which of these amps you're gonna get BEFORE you get our subs becuase the impedence will be different for each. If you get the SX, then you will want to start out with one 10" L7 with DUAL 4 OHM VOICE COILS. Wire those in parallel into the ampto get a 2 ohm load. At two ohms the SX1250.1 will put out about 700ish watts RMS. Then later on when you can afford the second sub you'll want to get a second 10" L7 with dual 4 ohm voice coils. No it gets a bit tricky. You'll wire each sub in parallel so each sub will be showing a 2 ohm load, but the problem now is you have two positive & two negative wires where as your amp only has one of each. Sooooo now you wire those ends in parallel again so the total impedence will be 1 ohm (yes this amp is made to perform at 1 ohm). Now you will be getting about 1400ish watts RMS total (700 to each sub). If you decide that the SX is a little much, then the ZX1000.1 will be fine, but you will to get different impedence sums because the ZX isn't meant to run a 1 ohm (in short, you will probably melt something). If the ZX is for you then you will need to start out with a 10" L7 with DUAL 2 OHM VOICE COILS. Wire that bad bow in SERIES (not parallel) to show a 4 ohm load and the amp ill be putting out about 600 watts RMS. Then when you later purchase your second sub you will, again, want dual 2 ohm voice coils. Wire that guy in SERIES again so each sub is showing a 4 ohm load, but now the problem is, once again, that you have 2 positive wires and 2 negative and only one of each on your amp. Sooooooo wire those remaining ends in PARALLEL to show a 2 ohm load overall. Now your amp will be pushing about 1150 to 1200 watts RMS (575 to 600 per sub). If you're having trouble understanding impedences and parallel/series wiring check out this link, it shows you on a diagrahm what it will look like. Rockford Fosgate® - Woofer WiringWizard Now if you really decide that 1 10" L7 is enough (trust me you will be impressed by what 1 10" L7 with the right amount of power & correct box can do), you once again, have two options, SX650.1 or ZX750.1 (the ZX will give you a little more, un-needed, power and the SX will give you a little more customizability). If you get the SX you will need a 10" L7 with DUAL 2 OHM COICE COILS. Wire those coils in parallel and you will get a 1 ohm load and your amp will be pushing about 700ish watts RMS. If you decide you want to go with the ZX amp then you will want a 10" L7 with DUAL 4 OHM VOICE COILS. Wire that sub in parallel to show a 2 ohm load and your amp ill be pushing about 800 watts RMS. Another thing, make sure you play that sub at low to medium volume for the first 1-2 weeks. The Kicker subs come with a stiff competition suspension so you will need to break it in and loosen up the suspension a bit. I learned thi the hard way and ended up ripping the spider in the first week. Fortunetaly I just sent to back to Kicker and they warrenty replaced it and had the replacement back to me in about 10 days from when I sent out the broken one. Also let me know what you decide to get before you buy becuase I still have some friends that I used to work with at Circuit City that might be able to hook me up. And in turn I can hook you up with a great deal. Hope this wasn't too much of a read

Nope not at all. The more info i have on this stuff the better. Thank you soo much. You have helped me out a ton.

Yeah i didnt realize how much this stuff was soo as of right now i dont have enough money haha. However as soon as i turn 18 im going back the dodge dealership and getting a job there again and my first paycheck is going towards a new system. And yes ill let you know before i purchase everything to make sure im getting all the right stuff.

But the Kicker amps are a lot of money. And i checked out the Hifonics Amps at this website and they have really good deals. Do you think this amp would work just fine if i just wanted 1 10" L7? Hifonics BXi 1206D Amp: Mono
Or is Kicker Amps just my best bet?

[TheBusher]

Originally Posted by PowerShiftz02GT Nope not at all. The more info i have on this stuff the better. Thank you soo much. You have helped me out a ton. Yeah i didnt realize how much this stuff was soo as of right now i dont have enough money haha. However as soon as i turn 18 im going back the dodge dealership and getting a job there again and my first paycheck is going towards a new system. And yes ill let you know before i purchase everything to make sure im getting all the right stuff. But the Kicker amps are a lot of money. And i checked out the Hifonics Amps at this website and they have really good deals. Do you think this amp would work just fine if i just wanted 1 10" L7? Hifonics BXi 1206D Amp: Mono Or is Kicker Amps just my best bet?

Hifonics builds pretty good stuff, but I'm a bigger fan of matching brands together.

I might be able to get you a Kicker amp at less then cost if you let me know before hand. When I worked at Circuit City we got what was called accomodations. It means we could buy Kicker equipment straight from Kicker at less then Cicuir City's cost. If you want I could see if one of my buddies there can order them for me and I'll ship them to you and you could reimburse me.

[PowerShiftz02GT]

Originally Posted by TheBusher Hifonics builds pretty good stuff, but I'm a bigger fan of matching brands together. I might be able to get you a Kicker amp at less then cost if you let me know before hand. When I worked at Circuit City we got what was called accomodations. It means we could buy Kicker equipment straight from Kicker at less then Cicuir City's cost. If you want I could see if one of my buddies there can order them for me and I'll ship them to you and you could reimburse me.

Wow. sounds great. well im not ready to buy for a while. I still gotta get my O/R H pipe out of the way and then save up a little more money and ill let you know when im ready to buy and we will see what kind of a deal you can get for me. Thanks alot.

[TheBusher]

Originally Posted by PowerShiftz02GT Wow. sounds great. well im not ready to buy for a while. I still gotta get my O/R H pipe out of the way and then save up a little more money and ill let you know when im ready to buy and we will see what kind of a deal you can get for me. Thanks alot.

No problem man. Wow, talk aout bringing back the dead. I haven't talked car audio like this in a long time.

[mixedbreed02gt]

i have an alpine mrp-850 running 2 12" Dual Voice Coil Subs rated @ 2 ohms, and the shit pounds the hell out of my ears. pioneer 5900IB Head Unit.

i have the ipod hooked up, the sirius satellite tuner, and the cd-btb200 bluetooth interface.

it all works beautifully...this summer I'm hoping to upgrade to a Pioneer In-Dash DVD Player.

[TheBusher]

Originally Posted by SSStang Haven't been in this section for a while, but thats the most backwards audio comment I've ever seen.

To break it down, having a custom built box on a cheaper/mid grade sub can make it sound better then an expensive sub in a pre-fab POS.

[SSStang]

You could save yourself some money and get a hifonis amp, you'll get more power for less $

[PowerShiftz02GT]

Originally Posted by TheBusher No problem man. Wow, talk aout bringing back the dead. I haven't talked car audio like this in a long time.

haha makes you want to sell them again. doesn't it?

[TheBusher]

Originally Posted by PowerShiftz02GT haha makes you want to sell them again. doesn't it?

Kinda does... *ponders, but then decides is happy with current job*