I am purchasing a Kenwood KAC-8105 to pair with my old school Orion Xtreme Series 2 10" sub (had since I was 15 back in 95).

The amp puts out 300 watts RMS at 4 ohms. I planning on putting the sub in a sealed box in the trunk. Do you think the bass will be overkill for the stock system?

I like how the ELS system sounds... even with the stock sub but sometimes I want just a little more oomph in the bottom end for certain songs.

Also I am using the speaker inputs on the amp for simplicities sake, can I leave the stock sub plugged in while splicing to the amp? (this way I can keep the mid bass of the stock sub while adjusting the low bass through the amp.)

Any thoughts on this setup are welcome.

 

Ok, purchased Kenwood amp for 125 CDN (near mint condition). Now I need an enclosure and some wires. Hope this works.

 

I would ditch the stock sub and leave it disconnected. You won't get any real benefit from it while being drowned out by the subs in the back. I personally have a sub in the back and my front stage is all stock (no additional amp) and it rarely gets overpowered.

 

I bought a box, amp wires, etc.... now to see if I can figure out how to wire it......

 

Disconnect old sub. Just wire up an LOC (unless that amp doesn't need it) straight into the sub wires in the trunk. Pull the trunk liner down and you can see the sub magnet...the wires/harness will be around there somewhere where you can grab them. Just splice into that and you'll be golden. You'll retain the "sub" control also. Turn the x-over on the amp all the way down/off as the stock signal you're using will aready be crossed over at 80hz.

Check my build thread or search for wire color codes..they are on here in a few places. Should be an easy install for you so good luck.

 

Damn! I have to enter a radio code now... I don't have it. Will have to wait until tomorrow now....

grrrr....

 

uh

u bought a box and no sub.

Ass backwards i must say.

 

Ok. Finished my install (nearly). It took two trips to Canadian Tire, two to my girlfriends, two trips to the electronics shop but it's pretty much done now. Sub sounds good and no rattles or anything. The rear license plate and holder were rattling but I put some folded up tape in between the car/plate and plate/holder which seems to have fixed it. Seems to be a good level for the car.... using speaker level input, stock sub still on. Amp sensitivity at 1v and bass boost at 5db. Lots left if I want it.

Btw I'm using the following:

Kenwood KAC-8104D
Orion Xtreme Series II 10"

My initial impression is now that I have more bass I don't feel the need to turn it up past 27 or so... everything else is stock.

Oh yeah, the "nearly" part meant that I floored it for a quick moment to see if the contraption would stay put.... it did not. ripped the battery cable out of the amp. Luckily no damage, plugged it back in and started working again. I will have to figure something out to secure it... at least loosely.

 

Velcro that be-otch.

Actually an amp rack against the back seat might be a better route.

 

Yeah, the velcro probably wouldn't hold.

No way if I secured just the bottom would it hold under full throttle.

I'm thinking bungie cords

You are right about a rack/holder, but it's my car so bungie cords it is. I wouldn't mind building a custom box myself... maybe next summer. Give it some time to think about.

I'm thinking now if I put the right tension on the bungie cord to secure the amp that the amp might lift off but get put right back into position... hmm... wonder if I suspended it ??

by the way, remember the sub is attached to the amp.

 

I am an Orion fan myself. Had a nice matching Orion Cobalt amp and 10" sub for years.

 

After messing with my stock els system with aftermarket sub added i realize it sounds much better IMO with bass and treble lowered. Have bass at - 3 and treble at -2. Sounds much more accurate and closer to a calibrated home theatre. Of course the additional sub is probably a must with those settings. I think the big difference is how the front speakers handle that setting (well). More midrange clarity.

 

Did you guys have any issues with bass output for the radio or XM? I only get bass ouput(at least normal output that produces some noise) for the CD function. Got my kenwood amp hooked up to the factory amp insert by the front passenger feet area. Let me know if you have any suggestions, all bass and sub options are maxed.

 

I dont know. Hooked mine up using speaker level input on my amp. Spliced factory sub wires.