Replacing 8 speaker system, choices for amps Options

[RocketScott]

So I have an 8 speaker system and I'm slowly replacing parts of it. I just put in an Alpine CDE-9845 head unit. I replaced the 8" door woofers with some Alpine 6180 subwoofers. I also have some Kicker KS60 coaxal speakers in my truck that I think I'll put in the back seat. I yanked out the two factory amps and am running everything off the HU except the subs which I now need an amp for. I'd eventually like to replace the midrange and tweeters in the doors with a component system but I haven't seen any that will fit. The smallest I've seen is around 5" IIRC. So do I get a mono amp to just run the subs for now and get another amp later to run the rest of the speakers when I upgrade or do I get one big amp now that will run it all? The head unit has two sets of RCA outs, one for the front and one for the rear/subs

[RocketScott]

OK, so I figured it out on my own. I ended up getting this amp:

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Kicker-2-Ch...roductDetail.do

I have it just powering the subs and everything else is off the head unit. Later on I can get another amp to power the rest. I got a Metra wiring harness from Autozone to connect everything except the amp and subs.

This amp fits under the drivers seat perfectly. It has removable end caps to make it smaller but is exactly the right size with them on.

[Silver94CelicaOw...]

Check out my setup in my profile. I put 4" component speakers in place of the midranges up front, but it involves some serious cutting if you get a speaker with a large cone. I had to cut a large square chunk out of the inside of my doors to get it to fit, and I also used the stock speaker assembly (the speaker and bracket are all one piece) to build a custom mount for the new speakers. Good luck with your project, I love the way mine turned out.

[RocketScott]

That 's what I want to do eventually. I don't mind cutting a little. I had to cut a lot to get the 8" subs to fit. Did you have to modify the tweeters to get them to fit?

[jess_i_74]

I've put new speakers up front as well with the 8 speaker system. I'm still using the stock tweeters with an aftermarket crossover because the stock tweeters are mounted with a nice little bracket and have a threaded hole that you put a screw in. Rather than cut or mess with the bracked to get the surface-mount aftermarket tweeters in, I just decided to use the stock tweeter since I've never had sound complaints up until I replaced it. The crossover helped a lot (stock is a simple capacitor for high pass on the tweeter).

Personally I love JL Audio 8W0's for the front subs, they have great hit and require just a tiny bit of cutting to make the magnet fit in the door. You're really limited by the depth of just over 4 inches.

I don't know if this is what you're looking for, but here's some Audiobahn coaxial/component 4" speakers (i.e. you can remove the tweeter: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-RihYh9zVSvr/c...00&I=037ACS2040

I have these in my doors now; with stock tweeters.

Edit: Oh BTW, I have a Crossfire CFA 555 amp that's five channels. Yes, I know it's wierd, but there are such things. There's usually a sub channel that you bridge to 2 ohms and four channels for your other four speakers.

This post has been edited by jess_i_74: Dec 29, 2005 - 2:34 PM