System Advice

[Tygerr]

Ok. I'm planning a system. I'm pretty sure I got this but it wouldn't hurt to ask a few audio gods. So, I'm planning a single 10" Kicker l5, a 400W 1Channel amp, and four Kicker 5 1/4 components (seperate tweeters) powered by a 200W by 4 Channel amp.

Now, why am I amping the speakers? I want to keep my in-dash 6 disc and I've heard it'll make the speakers louder/clearer. I want to basically inline the 4 Ch amp after the 6 disc and then to the speakers. Then where would be the best place to run off some wire for the sub?

Here's a lame pic. Don't make fun.
http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/3096/system4qu.jpg

Basically, what's the most efficient way of setting this up. I don't want to hack job it. I know I need a power kit, I think 4 gauge should be ok. Would it be necessary to throw in a cap as well?

[GrandMasterKhan]

looks fine to me. Except I recommend to put the Line Out converter behind the headunit and send the signal to the amps from there.

Since you are amplifing the speaker wires some LOC cannot take the extra power.

you should use two LOC or a 4ch LOC. then use the RCA pass through and connect RCAs from the 4ch to the subamp.

[XplosivePlushToy]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but, for this set up could he use a capacitor as a distribution box?

[seaneyo99]

well your not wrong accept for the fact the money he would spend on a cap he could use that to buy a distroblock and 50 gallons of gas.......therefore inturn being pointless to buy a cap.:banghead:

[fade2blk]

use Line Out converters, behind the factory deck, also use a distribution that might come with your wire kit.... if not get one.... do not blow money on a cap...
if the Line Out converter and the amplifiers will be set properly.... this thing will rock.... let us know once you are fininshed with it.

[ice992]

Okay... personnally, I'd use 2 LOCs, one front, one rear, that way fade & balance are still maintained... that being said you could either run 4 ch RCAs back from those 2 LOCs or, run all 6 channels back from the front, simply splitting the output of on of the LOCs. Or you can run the 4ch RCA back and run the 2ch or mono amp off the RCA outs of the 4 ch (if its so equiped) I would run all 6 ch from the front to make for easier upgrade of HU, if you change it out from stock later, all you have to do is unplug from the LOCs and connect to the aftermarket deck and you're done...

I'm assuming you're going 4ga, split to 2 8ga into the amps (8ga is the highest the kicker amps you're going to be running will accept) Even tho for 8ga a bolt and nut ground isnt "required" you are running 2 8ga wires so I would still bolt and nut the ground to ensure its good, also, on the ground, once the paint has been scrapped and you make your connection, spray it down with a protectant, I use white lithium, it coats the area nicely and prevents corrosion.

as far as amping your door speakers, fastest way to make the connections, its to run all four speaker wires to the rear speakers (to their respective sides obviously) disconnect the stock speaker leads in the rear, hook the wires from the amp directly to the rear speakers, then, hook the front speaker leads up to the old stock rear lines, then in the dash, (since your speaker lines out of the deck are feeding 2 LOCs) connect the "rear" to the front speaker lines, now, your amp is driving the rear speakers directly, and driving the front as well, but without you having to run lines to the front, this is the easy way, if you're an audio freak like some of us, you can do it the hard way and run lines all the way to the front but some of us are a lil :crazy:

as far as an amp trigger, you can pick it up off the ACC line at the radio (i would upgrade the fuse in the fuse pannel by 5amps if you do this) or (safer way) tap a fuse (on the hot side) at the fuse panel that has switched power... (remember to fuse this line)... here's a quick little diagram i threw together...

i dont think i forgot anything but who knows :crazy: :rofl:

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/2181/setup6cu.png

[b00t1e]

You can probably make life easier (or make the installation cleaner) if you get two wiring harnesses for your stereo instead of splicing. Here is a link to the harnesses I'm talking about: Metra Online (http://www.metraonline.com/product_listing.php?year=2002&make=Mercury&model=Cougar%20(w/%20dual%20media%20or%206%20disc%20in%20dash)&type=Turbo%20Wire). One kit will plug into your radio. Then you can hook the speaker wires to the LOC's. The other kit would hook to your car's harness. So you can hook the power/ground and misc. wires b/w the two kits. Or you can just cut wires and splice, whatever your preference is.

[ice992]

You can probably make life easier (or make the installation cleaner) if you get two wiring harnesses for your stereo instead of splicing. Here is a link to the harnesses I'm talking about: Metra Online (http://www.metraonline.com/product_listing.php?year=2002&make=Mercury&model=Cougar%20(w/%20dual%20media%20or%206%20disc%20in%20dash)&type=Turbo%20Wire). One kit will plug into your radio. Then you can hook the speaker wires to the LOC's. The other kit would hook to your car's harness. So you can hook the power/ground and misc. wires b/w the two kits. Or you can just cut wires and splice, whatever your preference is.

good call... :banghead: sometimes I'd forget my head if it wasnt screwed on... either way, it works.. :thumbsup:

[Tygerr]

Sweet. Thanks for the feedback.

Ok. So I'll be splicing off one of the LOC's to run to the mono amp? Correct? I don't think the 4Channel has RCA pass throughs on it, so I'm forced to splice.

I think I'll just rerun some new wire. I heard stock wiring = ****. I'm going with6x8's instead of 5 1/4's in the back now and using a 350w x 4ch amp instead of the 200. I heard underpowered speakers sound like crap, so I"ll play it safe.

Is it going to be worth it just to ditch the 6disc and throw in my headunit? I've heard LOC are detrimental to sound quality anyway. The main reason is I like the 6 disc and it keeps the car looking 'stock'. Therefore, no one steals my stuff. I'm looking more for sound quality, not necessarily go deaf bass.

List of stuff I need.

400.1 Kicker ZX Amp (http://www.kicker.com/06/tech-support/manuals/manuals/2006/2006%20ZX400%20750-1%20b01%20WEB.pdf)
10" L5 Solobaric Sub
5 1/4 Components/Tweets (Adapter plate, crossover)
6x8 Coax/3-way
Wiring(for speakers)
350.4 Kicker ZX Amp (http://www.kicker.com/06/tech-support/manuals/manuals/2006/2006%20ZX350%20650%20850-4%20b01%20WEB.pdf)
Power kit (Dist box, Power, Ground, Fuse)
(2) 2 Channel LOC
(2) 4 Ch RCA's (hu to amp)
(1) 2 Ch RCA? (for sub to amp?)
Wiring harness's for HU (not to destroy my wiring)