Originally posted by esoteric781
all I am really lookin for is a good way to hook up the amps and the speakers. which to run to which for the best and maximum sound quality. i know the rockford amp is pretty strong, but should I run all the speakers off of that alone, or should I use the seperate MTX amps to power the speakers and the rockford amp to power the subs? Just looking for someone who has some good knowledge about these things, and their opinion on which would be the best set up with all the amps and speakers. I know the kenwood deck that I have has an internal amp and for right now, that is running my rear speakers while one of the MTX amps is running my fronts.
Ok. Well I think what I would do is more drastic because you seem open to the idea of selling older stuff and getting a hold of newer stuff. I'm going to assume though that you are not made of money so I will try to stay reasonable.
I would sell everything that has MTX written on it. I have nothing against MTX, but the amps you have are not much in the way of power any longer and the subs aren't cutting the mustard for you. Fine.
The deck is great. I would continue running the rears off the head unit. No need to amp the rears because rear fill doesn't require much power. Sound should come from in front in a stereo system (since this isn't theatre) and so the front stage need to have major auhority. So keep the 6x9's you have in the back.
Install the Quarts up front and lose the MTXs. The component system should sound better and offer a better sound stage (if installed right). Give them 75 watts or so minimum (100 would be better)so they can really strut their stuff. Recommended is 90 so the speakers will have no problem.
Now you want a kick ass 12" so here is a name you have likely not heard before:
Look into the Elemental designs A series.
http://www.edesignaudio.com/ep2/12a.htm
These are subs that have a very distictive look and will keep up with the JL W7, Image Dynamics Max and MTX 9500. Very nice indeed. They only come with a 2 ohms DVC so you have to wire a single sub in parallel for a 1 ohm final load or series for a 4 ohm final load. It will want 700 watts though so we are now talking big power.
So last we have an amp issue. There are numerous solutions. The one by Sound Streamin was good about the 5 channel amp. Thing is most 5 channel amps really don't run subs too well (exception would be a Memphis belle) and my sub selection needs power. Also, I am not a fan of amping rears so again a 5 channel would be wasteful to me (still a good idea sound streamin!). That's just me.
Next option is a powerful 4 channel amp. Channels 1 and 2 would run the comp set up front and channels 3 and 4 would be bridged to a sub. Now we are getting PLENTY of power up front, but the sub can still only moderate power. An amp like this would work:
http://www.millionbuy.com/souega4220.html
What a bargain for that amount of power. Still, you would only give 440 watts to a sub. Doable, but I would put the sub in a ported enclosure to milk it for all it has.
Last option is a 2 amp system. This gives you TONS of flex now. Drive the fronts with plenty of power with this amp:
http://www.millionbuy.com/souega2220.html
Then crush the sub with this one:
http://www.millionbuy.com/souega2440.html
Now you have some German engineering screaming in the front and some american engineering getting almost 900 watts in the rear. This would really rip it up.
Now there are plenty of other amps and subs out there that will do it for you, but these amp/sub combos will work with wiring schemes that are relatively easy.
Power wire and distribution is a whole new beast as I have no idea the size wire currently in your vehicle.
