Hello all. Well we have finally decided that our 03 needs a sound system upgrade. I have gotton together a list of the things that we are looking in to and would like some comments on our choices.

Headunit: Alpine CDA-9807 + DCI
Component Speakers: Infinity KAPPA PERFECT 6.1
Amp for the speakers: Alpine MRV-F540 140W RMS x 2 @ 4Ohms
Subs: Polk Momo MM2084 x 2 with wulrent(sp) enclousers for driver and passenger sides
Amp for the subs: same as before -- alpine MRV-F540 since the subs can only handle 200W max

Comments much appreciated on what I have selected

Now on to the questions. I have never assembled a sound system for a car stereo before, we have done the whole surround sound deal with our home theater but nothing to this scale. Is it doable for beginners -- my dad will be helping and he is a engineer so he understands the terminology.

Next question. amps have 14.4V and 12.2V -- in a normal set up I know the car battery runs at 12V so would I look at the 12V number? If so how would you get 14.4V? A different kind of battery?

Last question. I notice amps say xx @ 4 Ohms or xx @ 2Ohms. I am aware of what a Ohm is (resistance) but am not aware on how to wire something to be 4 or 2 Ohms. For example -- the subs we have chosen are 4 Ohm and the amp says 140 bridged at 4Ohms. How would I know that I am running it at 4Ohms? Not sure if you guys are understanding what I am getting at here?

Anyway thanks for all the help!


Regards,
Jonathan

 

hopefully this will help answer your sub / amp questions... i have a post a bit down where i go into a good bit of detail.

http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...threadid=198380


14.4V is what many car alternators output at max output. our cars seem to be closer to 13.5 V. the battery alone is generally 12 V.

 

Yes, when the car is off, the batt only is 12V. WHen the car is running (idle with low volume on stereo) itll be 14.4-14.2 When idle, and volumne cracked, itll hover at about 13.3-7

As for the ohms....your speaker will pull the ohm it needs. You dont need to worry about that.

 

hrm -- Dave. do you run a volt meter in your car? i'm curious what you read if you do...
for me, the 8500 has a built in voltmeter which i leave on constantly, and i've only rarely seen my car get near 14V, much the less over.

i found that to be strange which concerned me, so i polled some other 8500 owners -- all of us reported 13.5V or so idle/run outputs, and i even checked in other S2000's... i honestly don't think the S2000 alternator makes 14.4 V on a regular basis. now, because of course i doubted the 8500, i checked it in the wife's car, and when i do use it in there, it reads 14.0 - 14.4 V constantly.

i could verify using my multi-meter, but i don't think the 8500's volt meter is reading wrong.

 

so since our battery hovers inbetween both voltage does that mean that the RMS power that the amp can produce would probably be the average of the 14.4V and the 12.2V?

Also are the 2 subs that I have selected going to give a kick to the car with the alpine F540?

Thanks for all your help. I am starting to understand this stereo stuff now


Regards,
Jonathan

 

In theory, yes, but your ears wont hear it. Remember, lets say my amp is rated 150wrms at 14.4V. And I have it up full blast. The amps isnt at 150 100% of the time. So youll never know....and Phil....I have a volt meter, and I also have two huge gauges on both my amps.


I will take pics on the weekend to show the car hitting 14.4 - 14.5 V .

 

I have the F540. You should push the 5 1/4 in the S pods. It'll be better used with this amp. The infinitys don't distort at all.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by NFRs2000NYC

 

Because silverstone is WEAAAAAAAAAAK!

Ill check the voltage saturday....doing a DVD player/monitor install.