What Amp Should I Get?

mlschultz

mlschultz

Boost King
I was at Best Buy yesterday looking for DVDs, and came upon this open item in the car audio department - two Sony XS-L126P5 12" subs mounted in a center ported enclosure for $69 bucks. :eek:

I had to bring it home with me, just because. :)

I have wanted a sub for the longest time, but it always got pushed aside for other things. I just want a little bump, not to compete or anything like that. I think this thing will fit in the trunk. The box is 14.5"h x 32"w. The Mark is at Aric's now, so I have no idea what the measurement is for the space in the trunk, but I thought I have read that people are able to fit 2 12's in the space.

Anyway, I am now looking for a amp. I did some reading on the subject, and think a Kicker ZX1500.1 amp will get the job done. Here is the info on the speakers and amp. What do you think?

Speaker


Amp




Here's the sub's:


 
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C

calisonic

New member
95blklsc said:
Pretty sure (99.9%) that they are not the same company. I am not a fan of JBL in most cases.....
Click to expand...
Ya, nevermind, I was confuding them with Altec Lansing

Actually the guy JBL is named after (John B. Lansing) killed himself in the 40's. Why the hell would they keep that name?
 
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izackary

izackary

Nomad
First off, Kicker still makes ballsy amps, however the 1500.1 is overkill to a fault. Keep in mind most reputable amp manufacturer list power ratings in RMS watts, as opposed to many subs listing a peak power handling ability (which irritates the piss outta me, to be honest). A 1500 watt Kicker amp would likely beat the crap out of those subs with sufficient gain. You could turn the gain down, sure, but you risk thinning out the dynamics if that makes any sense. I have heard good things (both verbally and musically ;) ) about the Alpine PDX digital amps, just to throw another name into the mix. I still have a Memphis Audio sub amp somewhere back in AZ which I picked up used, and would thrash when hooked up to a JL Audio 15". What I REALLY wish I still had was a 2-channel McIntosh amp I'd picked up from a thrift shop for a song, but it's not as suited to subs.
 
mlschultz

mlschultz

Boost King
Thanks Everyone, for your input. I just ordered a 2010 Kicker ZX750.1 amp. Here are the specs:


ZX Series Class D Monoblock Car Amplifier
RMS Power Rating (14.4V):
4 ohms: 375 watts x 1 chan.
2 ohms: 750 watts x 1 chan.
High efficiency MOSFET power supply
LED power and protection indicators
Remote bass level input (Kicker 10ZXRC remote level control included)
Tuned Bass EQ (0-18 dB bass boost at 40 Hz)
Preamp RCA outputs
Muting circuit cancels out unwanted noise
Boost, gain, and crossover frequencies are top-mounted for easy access
Balanced differential inputs for noise elimination and factory-radio compatibility
3 Automatic turn-on modes (remote, DC offset, signal sense)
Optional edgy vinyl skins for personalizing heat sinks available
High-density convection heat sink for extreme heat dissipation
Gold-plated RCA level inputs
Gold-plated screw terminals
Input sensitivity:
Low level: 125mV-5V
High level: 250mV-10V
Variable low-pass filter (50-200 Hz, 24 dB/octave)
High-pass subsonic filter (24 dB at 25 Hz)
CEA-2006 compliant amplifier
Frequency response: 25-200 Hz
Dimensions: 14-11/16"L x 9-5/8"W x 2-1/8"H
 
mlschultz

mlschultz

Boost King
Took The Mark up to Area 41 Stereo today, to have them look over the subs and amp and what will be needed for the install. The sub box would not fit under the package shelf without removal/modification of the package shelf rack.

They suggested a custom built enclosure that will fit up in there nice against the back seat by making the box angle down towards the back and having the front ends of the enclosure butt up to the sub face plate rather than on top of the face plate as they are now. Or, tilting the subs is another way to save space.

I decided to have the custom box built using the Sony subs. They will build the box and install next Wednesday. The box will not be ported, because from what I have been told, a ported box will not provide tight bass, but more of a booming bass. I mostly listen to rock/metal music, and booming and a bumping is not what I am looking for. :) The quote is $250 for the box, and $200 for the install including wire/fuse materials. He is going to do his best to hide everything to keep the sleeper theme going :)
 
tixer

tixer

Lincoln Evangelist
It sounds like these folks know their stuff. The plan seems sound, and the pricing reasonable. I'm a fan of the sealed box approach also. You don't get quite as much noise, and you need a bit more power to push it, but as you stated, the sound is so very much improved over a vented/ported solution. (and that amp you selected, should have no shortage of oomph)

I look forward to seeing photos of the final install. I bet you'll be quite pleased.

One thing to keep in mind, is that they'll need to run a heavy-gauge power wire from the battery, through the firewall, to the trunk. I'm sure folks here have done it, but you might do well to scope out a good place to pass that wire through the firewall so they don't damage anything. I've never looked on a Mark, but there's *always* a way to do it.
 
mlschultz

mlschultz

Boost King
Thanks. This shop does it all. They build competition systems and everything in-between. My set-up is nothing compared to what they can do. Check out their work here Here is a link to their web site Area 41

I went over the wiring with them, and they are going to do it right. These guys will not cut corners. They work on high end stuff, and would not be around if they did not do it right. :) lol The amp came with a certificate stating the amp tested at 940 watts, so I think that should be enough to push those two 12's in a sealed box :)
 
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tixer

tixer

Lincoln Evangelist
Yes. I think you'll be pleased.

and looking for a new pair of 12's, very soon. Did they come with a warranty? :)
 
izackary

izackary

Nomad
Mike, I think you'll like the sealed setup better anyways, especially for the slap of a kick drum. While a ported box will make the deep bass a little louder, the frequency cut-off is higher than with a sealed box, which has a gentler slope with better extension (just not as full down low). My ideal setup is still with four sealed 10s, so I'll have the tight transient bass response, but with so much air being moved, bass response will go ALL the way down. :D
 
mlschultz

mlschultz

Boost King
Thanks. I am excited. I always wanted subs, and glad that I am finally doing something about it :) I have a warranty on the amp, but not on the subs.
 
mlschultz

mlschultz

Boost King
lol Well... Like everything on this car, I am in overkill mode now getting some sleeper/stealth like stuff done to the trunk now. :)

I am going to have a wall built to hide the sub speakers from view when you look into the trunk. The speakers are going against the rear of the back seat.

The Kicker amp is going where the stock cd changer and cover are now, and a enclosure with a door is going to be made to conceal the Kicker amp. On the passenger side, same general area, the Kenne Bell Boost a Pump is going to get the same type of enclosure.

At least that is what I discussed on the phone with them a few minutes ago. We will see when it is done tomorrow.

When done, all that should be visible when you open the trunk is the fire extinguisher that is currently mounted in that small space between where the stock cd player location is, and the spare tire well.
 
mlschultz

mlschultz

Boost King
Thanks :) lol James Bond stuff going on right here. :cool: I told him I do a lot of car shows, and it would be cool if they could somehow hinge everything so I could display everything open half way.

Not sure if it will be done like that or not just yet. They have creative freedom to do what they think should be done to keep my factory/stealth/sleeper vision in mind. I told him I wanted it clean and simple, and to not go over budget - which by the way has already doubled from the original quote. :cool:

Nothing was put on paper to plan this out. Just a bunch of hand gestures, and "you know what I means" lol. Can't wait 'till tomorrow :)
 
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