Truck amplifier help

[no0b123]

I'm looking for a good amp for my truck, I want it to power my speakers, and two 10-12' subs. I was told by a friend of mine, not to get something over 1000 amps because it will drastically drain my trucks batterie and I will have to replace it once every year :neutral:

Everything is stock, but I did buy a new Sony Deck. My budget is about $150 dollars on one amplifier. I don't know anything about car audio systems, but have heard that brands like JL Audio, Alpine, Rockford Fosgate, and Kenwood are good amps.

[trenchwarfare]

Holy ****! 10-12 foot woofers!

*That would be 10-12" woofers.

[TahoeFever]

:sign0020: i was thinking the same thing

[finalday7]

I had one of these powering 4 boston acoustic 6.5" and 2 rockford fostgate P2 12's and it performed awesome. never a problem. And its $153.50 Pretty close I think.
http://cgi.ebay.com/AUDIOBAHN-A6004V-4-CHAN-INTAKE-AMPLIFIER-AMP-NEW-A6004T_W0QQitemZ300170267681QQihZ020QQcategoryZ397 39QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[no0b123]

Im sorry, I meant inches. And I have decided to power four aftermarket speakers (two front, two rear) and two 10 inch. subs in the back. I was looking at this amp here too, would it power all four speakers and two 10" subs?
http://cgi.ebay.com/KENWOOD-KAC-7203-AMP-1000-WATT-2-CHANNEL-AMPLIFIER-NEW_W0QQitemZ140177014600QQihZ004QQcategoryZ39732Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohost ing

[finalday7]

Yes you technically could, but I'd watch out for overheating and other issues. If you only wanna buy one amp I'd make it a 4 channel. :great:

[Crawdaddy]

They do make 5 channel amps, for specifically what you want to do. Crutchfield (http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Group/ProductMenu.aspx?g=120&tp=115&nvpair=AG_Number_of_Channels%7cFF5%40Channel#) has a pretty decent listing of 5 channel amps that should meet what you want to do. However, to power 2 10s, you'd really need 2 amps, one for the 4 door speakers, and one for the 2 subs. Subs want lots more power than a 5 channel can provide for hte most part.

[no0b123]

And all this can fit in an Extended cab 1/2 pickup? If I were to get two amps in there, then what kind should I get for just the four speakers? I dont want my truck batterie to drain from all this power. Perhaps a 500 watt amp for the speakers and 1000 for the two subs?

@finalday7:
You powered 4 speakers AND two subs with one amp? Thats what I would prefer to do, but you have a 4channel amp. Are you recommending I get two separate amps, or one 4ch like yours?

Im thinking a 500w amp for the speakers, and a 1000w amp for the two subs. I really would prefer to get just one amp :neutral:

I'm really looking to power up my speakers for rock music, I don't need something that will set off car alarms. So perhaps something nice, but not overkill.

[finalday7]

@finalday7:
You powered 4 speakers AND two subs with one amp? Thats what I would prefer to do, but you have a 4channel amp. Are you recommending I get two separate amps, or one 4ch like yours?

Im thinking a 500w amp for the speakers, and a 1000w amp for the two subs. I really would prefer to get just one amp

I'm really looking to power up my speakers for rock music, I don't need something that will set off car alarms. So perhaps something nice, but not overkill.
Yes I did power all 4 speakers and both subs off one amp. I even had another pair of 6x9's on there for awhile.
You will save a ton of money just sticking with one amp. I don't know if you plan on installing all this yourself but you'll save a ton of money eaither way.
I bought my custom box from subthump.com. I'm pretty sure they have one for your vehicle. Their inexpensive but built really well. Great customer service so check them out. If you do decide to get 2 amps, make sure you invest in a good 1 or 1.5 farad cap. That will save your battery and stop your lights from dimming. Let me know if you need anything else.

[no0b123]

Thanks guys. I went to the audio store today, and bought JL Audio TR650-CXI speakers for the front and JL in the rear. The guy sold me them plus a 2yr. warranty and free installation for $265. He said it was one of the best products he sells, and said the 2 way speakers will sound real nice. Did I get a good deal?

I want to later buy a 600watt 4ch. Amp to power these speakers and get the sub woofers in a much later time (with separate amp). Currently, the speakers will be hooked up to my Sony radio/deck. Did I do well?

[JayMack75]

Thanks guys. I went to the audio store today, and bought JL Audio TR650-CXI speakers for the front and JL in the rear. The guy sold me them plus a 2yr. warranty and free installation for $265. He said it was one of the best products he sells, and said the 2 way speakers will sound real nice. Did I get a good deal?

I want to later buy a 600watt 4ch. Amp to power these speakers and get the sub woofers in a much later time (with separate amp). Currently, the speakers will be hooked up to my Sony radio/deck. Did I do well?

That sounds about right. Your future plans with the 600w 4 channel to power them sound about right too. Depending on the power handling of your subs, i would just get a 1000w amp to power. If you're not looking to rattle bones, I'd really just go for a pair of 10s and a 600w amp, especially if you're on a budget.

What your buddy said about the battery isn't necessarily true in my opinion. In my old show truck I ran 2 sub amps pushing 2500w at .5 ohms and 2 4 channel 600w amps @ 2 ohms for the mids and highs. I had 2 batteries in the truck, but thats only because of the high output. I upgraded my alternator too. Before I did, I didn't have any problems with drain. I would have left it factory, but what fun is that? lol! Seriously, I wanted to be more competitive and needed a little more stability in the power department for what I was pushing.

[no0b123]

Alrite, so did I do pretty good with these JL's? He said they were really good, but then again, he just needs the business. And would it really make a $100 dollar difference to buy a 600w AMP to power these speakers alone, or just leave them hooked up to the radio/deck?

[finalday7]

Yeah the JL's will be great but I have to highly recommend getting an amp. They won't put out 1/10th from just the deck.

[no0b123]

All rite thanks finalday7, and everyone who helped me. I'll let you know when I have the speakers installed, and how they sound. I will ask for a 12" sub-woofer and an amp to power it for Christmas. I'll probably buy a 4ch. 600watt amp for my speakers soon though.

[finalday7]

Hey if your looking for a custom box, check these guy's out. I had them build me one for my camaro and the work is top quality for the dollar.
http://www.subthump.com/silverado.htm

[no0b123]

Thanks for the link, I like the one box with the "Silverado" on it. I will get the speakers installed this Saturday, and I'll let you guys know how they are. I am still complicating if I would notice speakers with an amp or not. Is it truly worth a $110 dollar noticeable difference having an amp for the JL speakers versus no amp for them?

[finalday7]

Is it truly worth a $110 dollar noticeable difference having an amp for the JL speakers versus no amp for them?
I had a pair of boston acoustic 6.5's in my camaro. When I first installed them, they had no amp, just going straight to the deck and they sounded good. After about a month I added an amp and it was a night and day difference. So do I recommend an amp, deff. But if it is a money thing, which with me it always is, then just wait till you get some more and go for it then. :great:

[no0b123]

Thanks finalday7, I now know what to ask for for Christmas.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

[no0b123]

@finalday7:

There's a really good chance I will get that AUDIOBAHN A6004V Amp for Christmas. I have my JL TR650-CXI speakers which sound nice. My dad gave me last night 2 10" subs in box's to me "just because". They were in his boat years ago, and he said there old, but should still work and there waterproof. There each rated for 300 watts they say on the bottom of them.

Can I hook up those two 10" subs AND my four JL Audio speakers to that Audiobahn amplifier and have enough power for everything? I may also want to install some tweeters in the truck too with this amp. :party:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a8/no0b12345/100_0417.jpg

P.S. What kind of subwoofer is this? On the back it says American Hi-Fi PLX-100

[finalday7]

Yeah the amp will be great on your speakers and subs. I think I had the a6004t which was the model before that one. I'm not exactly sure what kind of subs they are but i'm sure they'll sound great. Let us know how it all turns out. :great:

[no0b123]

Cool, I'll post more pics once I have everything up and running by Christmas time. Looks like this is going to be a good end of the year :happy:

By the way, I highly recommend JL Audio speakers to anyone.

[sweetjones04]

Cool, I'll post more pics once I have everything up and running by Christmas time. Looks like this is going to be a good end of the year :happy:

By the way, I highly recommend JL Audio speakers to anyone.



Did you ever get that setup??

[dutzowmo]

Over 1000 watts won't drain your battery. I was pulling 2000 watts in my old truck and never replaced or had battery trouble. I would recommend getingt a small 50X4 channel amp for your speakers then a bigger mono or 2 channel amp for your subs.
I have a 50X4 channel alpine v power and it does a great job on powering my speakers. I also have a 1250 watt amp to power my 10' 2500series digital design sub. One of those subs is all you need for bass in a truck

[StillMatic]

Over 1000 watts won't drain your battery. I was pulling 2000 watts in my old truck and never replaced or had battery trouble. I would recommend getingt a small 50X4 channel amp for your speakers then a bigger mono or 2 channel amp for your subs.
I have a 50X4 channel alpine v power and it does a great job on powering my speakers. I also have a 1250 watt amp to power my 10' 2500series digital design sub. One of those subs is all you need for bass in a truck

Yup, since trucks are basically open, a smaller amp is needed. If we had cars with a sub in the trunk then you would need a more powerful amp. I'd say a 1500 mono amp would be more than enough. Just make sure you get the right wattage speakers to so the amp can push them properly.

On a side note, I had to buy an amp for my iPod just to push my earphones! I'm dead serious!!!!