Okay... long hours of decision. I have come up with a system, but have some doubt about running it safe...here is my system i have in mind:

Front Speakers:
Focal Utopia 165W

Amps:
2 x SoundStream Tarantula 700/2 (as NRF suggested these are good amps)
one powering front speaker
one bridge to power the subwoofer

Subwoofer:
JL audio 12W7

the question i have is... by powering front speaker with Tarantula 700/2
which is 175watt @ 4 ohms x 2 channel ... and Focal Utopia can only handle 100watt RMS. will this cause damage to the speaker?

Also, any opinion on the system is welcome.

 

Is the 175W peak or RMS? If it's peak you'll probably be OK, but you're pushing the limits of safety. Just make sure you don't turn up the gain all of the way.

 

Why do you want a 700 watt amp for your 2 front speakers? Also why are you getting a 2 channel amp and bridge it for a subwoofer. I mean there is nothing wrong with tarantula I am sure they work great but sound industry already came up with mono channel amps which is psecially made to handle single channel bass input/outputs. If I were you and wanted a 700 watt bass amp I would get the same amp only single channel. Also 12W7 "requires" 500 watts rms power at 4 ohms, If that amp is 175 *2 its like 350 rms. Thats really underpowering it I think. If you are going with a jl sub go with a jl amp. Even the 500/1 might not enough for that sub though.
So I thinki you get a smaller amp for the fronts and much bigger for the sub.

 

i don't have time right now to be overly verbose --

the 12W7 is an overpriced and oversized monster that you will find VERY tough to fit into the S.

the Utopias are wasted money on the car, unless you're solely intending to show... the S just isn't that sound proofed as to benefit the improved sound quality.

and that is pushing any 100W speaker a tad bit, but it should be ok... no promises, and definitely never max out the gains. also, learn to hear and recognise distortion.


Dave should chime in here soon... he loves the Tarantulas.

 

some minor points here --

class AB amps (2 channel are generally AB) are less efficient, but in my opinion, far better sounding amps than the class D 'mono sub amps' so commonly available today.

and regarding bridging: if it's 175x2, it should bridge out to closer to 700Wrms. bridging typically doubles the output voltage, which quadruples the output power.

and i still say the 12W7 is a major mistake. the thing is WAY deep (over a foot) and needs a huge enclosure, you'd have trouble fitting it into the trunk...

the fronts amp is probably a little hot though...

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PJK3

 

300/4 should be 75W per channel for 4 channels. You bridge two channels giving you roughly 2x75 = 150W.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by AndyS2

 

what if I change 2 700/2 tarantula to one 500/4 tarantula
that will give me 125 x 2 for the front and 400 bridged for the sub.

125 watt pushing 100watt rms speakers. that might be much better... the thing is.. i can get 2 700/2 amp with only $100 more than one 500/4 ...

 

[QUOTE]some minor points here -- [/QUOTE
..............Couldn't have said it better myself. Definitely not a system I would recommend for an s2000...........................jmo