Audio Install - Pioneer, JL Audio, Kicker
01-06-2009, 01:19 PM
#1
Audio Install - Pioneer, JL Audio, Kicker
Last month a friend and I re-did my entire audio system. I replaced my headunit with the Pioneer Premier FH-P800BT, my components with Polk db651s speakers, and my sub with a Kicker RMB8. I have a JL Audio 300/4v1 powering the components and a 250/1v2 powering the sub. JL Audio amp kit with JL Audio battery terminals. I upgraded the big three ground wires also with 4 gauge wire. It took about 6 days to finish, as this was our first job of this nature and there was some customization involved.
Here are some pictures of the amps and head unit:
The Kicker sub is just not doing it for me so I plan to get one of uncald4's custom sub enclosures to hold a single 10" or 12" sub. The amps are topped with a piece of Lexan to protect it from scratches and dings.
Here are some pictures of the amps and head unit:
The Kicker sub is just not doing it for me so I plan to get one of uncald4's custom sub enclosures to hold a single 10" or 12" sub. The amps are topped with a piece of Lexan to protect it from scratches and dings.
01-06-2009, 02:31 PM
#2
Nice!
i really like the idea of a stealth install like yours.
i already picked up the rmb8 and i have a set of components in mind too.
do you really think you need a seperate amp for the sub? i was going to use 2 channels off a 300/4 for the front comps and use the other two bridged to the rmb8. your comps might need more juice than mine though.
what don't you like about the setup? not enough thump from the sub or doesn't hit low enough?
and if you get another 10 or 12in enclosed sub are you going to keep the rmb8 as a midbass or just ditch it?
i really like the idea of a stealth install like yours.
i already picked up the rmb8 and i have a set of components in mind too.
do you really think you need a seperate amp for the sub? i was going to use 2 channels off a 300/4 for the front comps and use the other two bridged to the rmb8. your comps might need more juice than mine though.
what don't you like about the setup? not enough thump from the sub or doesn't hit low enough?
and if you get another 10 or 12in enclosed sub are you going to keep the rmb8 as a midbass or just ditch it?
01-06-2009, 03:55 PM
#4
Nice!
i really like the idea of a stealth install like yours.
i already picked up the rmb8 and i have a set of components in mind too.
do you really think you need a seperate amp for the sub? i was going to use 2 channels off a 300/4 for the front comps and use the other two bridged to the rmb8. your comps might need more juice than mine though.
what don't you like about the setup? not enough thump from the sub or doesn't hit low enough?
and if you get another 10 or 12in enclosed sub are you going to keep the rmb8 as a midbass or just ditch it?
i really like the idea of a stealth install like yours.
i already picked up the rmb8 and i have a set of components in mind too.
do you really think you need a seperate amp for the sub? i was going to use 2 channels off a 300/4 for the front comps and use the other two bridged to the rmb8. your comps might need more juice than mine though.
what don't you like about the setup? not enough thump from the sub or doesn't hit low enough?
and if you get another 10 or 12in enclosed sub are you going to keep the rmb8 as a midbass or just ditch it?
When I was planning out my upgrade I wasn't trying to win any sound contests, I just wanted a clean set-up with a nice sound, and I wanted quality equipment so I wouldn't have any issues in the future.
The RMB8 can take 175W RMS, so you'd probably be fine with running two channels from a 300/4 as long as you don't crank it, but read my statements below. How will you be powering the rear components?
I got a dedicated amp for the sub because from what I've read, it's better to have an overpowered amp running at <80% power than an underpowered amp running at 100% power because above a certain percentage of power output you can get distortion. By having a 250W RMS amp I could run it at 70% power or less to the RMB8.
The same thinking goes for my components, which are rated to handle 55W RMS and my 300/4 puts out 75W RMS per channel so I can run the amp at 73.3% power.
Also, I could easily upgrade my sub if the RMB8 wasn't enough, which ended up being the case, and I wanted to do this install job only once so I wanted to get it right the first time.
Since it is a mid-bass driver and not a true sub, it doesn't have enough thump, nor does it go low enough for my taste. I'm barely putting power to it and it maxs out like crazy. Maybe I have a defective sub, because from the threads that I read about others putting in an RMB8, it should have worked better.
When I get my new sub, I may keep the RMB8 as a mid-bass and just run it off of the rear channels of my 300/4, since it will be easy to run wires and I already have everything installed, and since my components use 55W RMS each, the 300/4 has some extra power to use. I'll see how I like it and then decide.
Last edited by AMGala; 01-06-2009 at 04:00 PM.
01-06-2009, 03:57 PM
#5
I will be putting that 250/1 to work (most likely) a 10w3v3 or a 12w3v3 after I save a bit more to purchase that and one of your enclosures!
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01-06-2009, 05:15 PM
#8
Let me start off by saying that I'm no car audio expert, but I'll try to answer your questions to the best of my ability. A better person to ask would be Travis (uncald4) as he has a wealth of knowledge in this area and helped me through my whole process. Thanks again, Travis! I am using his dash kit and his steering wheel control harness so I still have the use of those controls. He really knows his stuff and is very helpful.
When I was planning out my upgrade I wasn't trying to win any sound contests, I just wanted a clean set-up with a nice sound, and I wanted quality equipment so I wouldn't have any issues in the future.
When I was planning out my upgrade I wasn't trying to win any sound contests, I just wanted a clean set-up with a nice sound, and I wanted quality equipment so I wouldn't have any issues in the future.
I got a dedicated amp for the sub because from what I've read, it's better to have an overpowered amp running at <80% power than an underpowered amp running at 100% power because above a certain percentage of power output you can get distortion. By having a 250W RMS amp I could run it at 70% power or less to the RMB8.
The same thinking goes for my components, which are rated to handle 55W RMS and my 300/4 puts out 75W RMS per channel so I can run the amp at 73.3% power.
Also, I could easily upgrade my sub if the RMB8 wasn't enough, which ended up being the case, and I wanted to do this install job only once so I wanted to get it right the first time.
The same thinking goes for my components, which are rated to handle 55W RMS and my 300/4 puts out 75W RMS per channel so I can run the amp at 73.3% power.
Also, I could easily upgrade my sub if the RMB8 wasn't enough, which ended up being the case, and I wanted to do this install job only once so I wanted to get it right the first time.
Since it is a mid-bass driver and not a true sub, it doesn't have enough thump, nor does it go low enough for my taste. I'm barely putting power to it and it maxs out like crazy. Maybe I have a defective sub, because from the threads that I read about others putting in an RMB8, it should have worked better.
When I get my new sub, I may keep the RMB8 as a mid-bass and just run it off of the rear channels of my 300/4, since it will be easy to run wires and I already have everything installed, and since my components use 55W RMS each, the 300/4 has some extra power to use. I'll see how I like it and then decide.
When I get my new sub, I may keep the RMB8 as a mid-bass and just run it off of the rear channels of my 300/4, since it will be easy to run wires and I already have everything installed, and since my components use 55W RMS each, the 300/4 has some extra power to use. I'll see how I like it and then decide.
thanks for all the info.
i think i'm going to run the same setup i had in my head before but now i'll be prepared to drop in a real sub and 250w amp later.
01-06-2009, 09:05 PM
#11
Man we have almost the same setup. BEsides the deck well its kind of different. I have the polk DB651's and kicker SSMB8 i guess its the newer version. Im just going to get a amp where I can hide it so when I open my trunk no one can see it.
I have NO expirence in car audio and I dont want to attempt to do that bose swap out I need to find someone that knows! LOL!
I have NO expirence in car audio and I dont want to attempt to do that bose swap out I need to find someone that knows! LOL!
01-06-2009, 09:25 PM
#12
Man we have almost the same setup. BEsides the deck well its kind of different. I have the polk DB651's and kicker SSMB8 i guess its the newer version. Im just going to get a amp where I can hide it so when I open my trunk no one can see it.
I have NO expirence in car audio and I dont want to attempt to do that bose swap out I need to find someone that knows! LOL!
I have NO expirence in car audio and I dont want to attempt to do that bose swap out I need to find someone that knows! LOL!
01-08-2009, 10:46 PM
#21
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hey quick question! How do are you liking the polks? I just got a new head unit and hooked up my stock sub to it and all the base is going through the speakers and it sounds like shit! Are the polks plug and play or do you have to have an amp for em? Also did you have to do any modding to fit them in the front or did they just fall into place. sorry for so many question i jsut wanna make the right decision. THANKS!
01-08-2009, 11:05 PM
#24
I like it a lot! It has a lot of inputs, Bluetooth, and I have the HD radio tuner so everything sounds great. The only complaint I have is that when you are controlling your iPod through it, it is somewhat hard to see the titles of everything because the screen shows limited characters.
01-08-2009, 11:08 PM
#25
hey quick question! How do are you liking the polks? I just got a new head unit and hooked up my stock sub to it and all the base is going through the speakers and it sounds like shit! Are the polks plug and play or do you have to have an amp for em? Also did you have to do any modding to fit them in the front or did they just fall into place. sorry for so many question i jsut wanna make the right decision. THANKS!
01-10-2009, 10:37 PM
#26
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I also have the polk db6501 components in all doors powered by an alpine pdx-4.100 amp and they sound amazing. I love polk they have some of the best components around!
01-11-2009, 11:23 AM
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Im located in Cheshire right now right outside of hamden not many people know where it is.. Where are you at because it would be awesome to find someone to help work on the cars!
01-11-2009, 05:04 PM
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01-11-2009, 06:29 PM
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01-11-2009, 09:25 PM
#37
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Sick install pics AMGala!!!! ..just a quicky ? for ya, what'd you use to mount your amps? ..is there a rack behind them, or did you just mount them on there with some screws?
