install ideas

hello all,

I'm from old school and have not installed a system since the late '80. Boy how things have changed

I am working on my '03 Dodge quad cab and have this list for equipment:

Speakers
   Polk Audio 3 1/2 2 way in dash
              6 x 9 front doors
              5 1/2 rear doors
   Kicker comp 10" sub under rear seat 4ohm single voice coil

HU
   Eclipse 8443

Amps
   Pheonix Gold Tantrum 600.4 w/ lpl44
   Jensen 3/2/1 300 watt

The question: What is the best way to drive each channel to get the best sq. I am currently running the factory head unit and will be replacing with the Eclipse at Christmas. This HU does have a 4x30watt amplifier.

Ideas??

Well you are all over the map for quality of the brands you have chosen, from entry level (and out of business Jensen) to high end (Eclipse). If you want to do it right the first time, that's great, do it a step at a time. Just because your vehicle has x size hole does not mean that you need to put that size speaker in it. Sometimes the best of systems are a good mix of brands, best chosen to do the job you need them to. By the sounds of things you are not looking for something to blast you right out of the truck, but for a good balanced sound that plays to a good not loud volume level. If I was in your shoes I would have a look at a 5 channel amp, one made in the USA over the made in singakoratiawanachinapore variety, the US built pieces tend to sound a little better and have a higher current output. A 5 channel amp can save you some space and $ when it comes time to install and wire and a 5 channel amp, the proper one of course, can give a reallly good output level, probably more than you need. I would choose matching front and rear speakers, probably MB Quart, 6.5" components up front and a 5.25" coax for the rear. For a sub, a single 10" should round out the sound really nice, keep it to a sealed box for a solid output across a wide range of frequencies, there are a lot of subs made for small sealed boxes, the problem you may have is making it fit under the seat. Your best choice of equipment so far is the cd player, you will never look back when you purchase a cd player from Eclipse.

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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.

I hear what you are saying and agree. Under my current configuration with the factory HU I couldn't use the deck to power crap. I threw in the Jensen 'cause it was sittin' in the garage. I realize the Jensen is not anything special. As far as the rest of the system, the PG amp was chosen because of their reputation of very good sq. The Polks are ok to good. At this time I am not going to change out the speakers or PG amp. I am willing to drop the Jensen out of the line up. What I'm not sure of is: I have 4 chanels of amplified power if I drop the Jensen, 6 if I keep. 4 channels of deck power. There is a total of 7 load channels (speakers), 8 if you consider the sub utilizeing bridged power.
Option one:
   power the dash speakers with the deck
   6x9 with PG
   rear doors with deck
   sub with bridged PG
   ditch the jensen
Option two:
   tie dash to 6x9 and power by PG
   rest the same
Option three:
   dash with deck or tied to 6x9
   keep jensen to run sub
   PG to run 6x9 and rear doors
Option four:
   A combo of any above.

I will be improving the speakers at a later date, but the basic configuation will probably stay the same. So I want to get the wiring done this first time around with the greatest capacity of tuning. What do you think?

I ran into a similar dilemma with my wife's 2000 Toyota 4 runner. the main difference is she didn't want me to change the factory head unit. I happen to have gotten a package deal on the equipment from a friend of mine here in cali who owns a small car audio shop. Using a Line output converter, I tapped into the front speaker leads and sent that signal via rca to a Kenwood 5 band EQ (which is used for the fading and as a simple crossover network) The signal is then being sent to a 4 channel kenwood amp and a powered kenwood sub. The speakers are kenwood 6.5's all the way around. it made big difference (especially with the EQ) in the sound quality. and it only took a couple hours for me to install everything. All of those options sound good but Option one sounds like the easiest and it also keeps the jensen out of the picture. I would go with the first option. But that's just my opinion.

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Duane...

If you think you're confused, imagine how you feel.   

Option 1 is the way I would go.

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I be tossin and flossin, my style is awesome. Causin' more family feuds than Richard Dawson.