Got talked into buying $343.92 worth of Tsunami amp, rca, & speaker wire at Circuit City today. Does this seem a bit pricey to anyone or is this decent stuff. Heres what I got:
1) Amp kit AMP004-22 ($79.99)
1) RCA RTP10.94-17 (4 channel) ($149.99)
1) RCA RTP8.9-17 (sub) ($49.99)
1) Sub cable SW1012BL12 ($12.99)
2) Speaker wire SW716-30 (16 gauge/30 feet) (14.99ea)
Does this pricey stuff really make a BIG difference or did I just buy some swampland? I was not expecting to spend this much just for the wiring but if it's worth it, I'll keep it. What do you all think ?
Replies (13)
ttocs on 10/2/2005 23:59:54
$350 for Tsunami? There are alot of high end names that you could get for that price, if you are into names.
Your amp kit doesn't have rca's, or speaker wires? What size is the power wire? Does it have a distrobution block? What are you installing?
My first impression is that you need to return it, and tell us what you need. Car audio has a huge mark-up, especially the accesories. If you know where to look I would imagin you could get the same or equivilent for half the price, if you are into money.......
UKinstaller on 10/3/2005 00:42:36
all of that is about right except the 4 channel RCA's. take those back and get some cheaper ones. if installed right, you can't tell the difference between the expensive set and the cheap set of 4 channels.
i install at a circuit city in louisville, ky. i know tsunami pretty well. if you ever plan on doing 2 amps, get the $99 power kit that we carry. it comes with a 150A fuse holder and a distribution block, plus 22 feet of 4 gauge and 8 feet of 8 gauge wire. it's an awesome kit.
i love tsunami cables. a little pricey, but if you want to show any of the wires in the install, there's nothing cleaner than tsunami,
-UK
Victor on 10/3/2005 06:29:28
Yes they are definitely above average wires , in performance and great looking,
Just as UK said everything except the 4ch RCA are rightly priced.
Victor...
ttocs on 10/3/2005 07:45:08
I hate retail prices....... I got into the business and then started my hobby so i just never got use to them.
Victor on 10/3/2005 10:45:43
Well yeah, I agree, cause the price rise in any audio product while it travels from the factory to the retail outlet is almost as much as 150%,
It all depends on which point of the marketting chain you buy it at.
Victor...
lessismorespl on 10/3/2005 11:22:23
I think that is a bit pricey. Although Tsunami is in my top 10 for quality cable and RCA's. I would take much of it back myself for one reason....that is WAY TOO MUCH TO PAY!!!!! Tsunami and DB Link are about the same in resistance and quality. A DB Link 0/1 ga kit, complete w/ a set of RCA's, 0/1 ga power and ground cable, 4 ga. power cable, ANL fused Dist Block w/ 2 80 amp ANL fuses, ANL fuse holder w/ 150 amp fuse, plus ring terminals battery accessories for both top post and side post batteries runs about $100, all you would have left to buy is a 4 ch. set of RCA's (apprx. $30-$70 depending on quality) and some speakers wire which you can buy for little of nothing, some will even give you 20-30 ft for free. I paid about $25 for 25 ft of 14 ga speakers wire and 10 ft of twisted 12 ga for my subs and this was Streetwires. So I do think it is a little excessive. I would definately take it back and do some shopping, $300 is way too much to pay for power/ground cable and accessories. I'm running 2 amps, 2 subs, a set of coaxials and a set of components, plus a Big 3 upgrade and dual ANL fuse blcoks and I only have about $175 into my my wiring, including Streetwires RCA's and Dist block, fuses etc.... Check out DB Link, Lightning Audio, and Knukonceptz, they all carry decent quality cables and accessories for affordable prices. You could have bought all Streetwires for less than that and it is SUPPOSEDLY the best on the market today.....this is debatable though after doing some of my DMM tests.......
less
thefury on 10/3/2005 21:53:45
Ordered Streetwires from Crutchfield. saved $150.00 . Now thats a little bit more reasonable. ($200.00 w/shipping)
ttocs on 10/3/2005 21:57:22
I can justify that, you are getting stuff that is just as good...
lessismorespl on 10/4/2005 09:42:50
You are getting good quality in Streetwires....I'm kind of biased b/c that is what I prefer to use in my installes. Crutchfield is considered retail also,so it gives you some idea on how much accessories get marked up in "Big Box" stores.
less
swez on 10/4/2005 16:20:59
Not sure if you care to do this, but there is a great vendor out there by the name of Knukonceptz.com. They sell excellent wire sets, D-blocks, fuses, holders and most other install hardware. Not the cheap suff either. Very high quality parts. Check em out and compare prices before you use Crutchfield.
As Less said, Crutch is more like a big box store on the internet. They do offer good service and some very good products, but most of what they sell, is at MSRP retail pricing.
http://www.knukonceptz.com
Swez
lessismorespl on 10/6/2005 15:36:46
I had suggested knukonceptz on another post. It is very good wire, it has the highest strand count on the market and it is rated 3rd in least resistence. Streetwires is very good wire and accessories, in fact that is what I have in my Taurus, but I'm using DB Link in my new car just b/c of cost and the difference is not that much. The DB Link kit came w/ 17 ft 0/1 ga. wire, 6 ft 0/1 ga. ground, 6 ft 4 ga. power and ground wire, ANL fuse holder w/ 150 amp fuse, ANL fused Digital Dist Blk w/ 2 80 amp ANL fuses, and has both the side post and top post adapters. The price was $119 shipped.
less
swez on 10/7/2005 20:40:20
That sounds like a very good SPL wiring kit. What is the current rating of 1/0 wire? (under 20 foot)
Swez
cplkittle on 10/9/2005 23:46:33
I still don't think the 4channel RCAs should be that high. For example, Stinger's helix, dream and expert series are all pretty much the same except for price. All you need to look for are shielded twisted pair RCAs, and run them on the opposite side of the vehicle that you run the power wire. I just finished a Civic SI with 3 pair of dream series that only came out to $180.
1) Amp kit AMP004-22 ($79.99)
1) RCA RTP10.94-17 (4 channel) ($149.99)
1) RCA RTP8.9-17 (sub) ($49.99)
1) Sub cable SW1012BL12 ($12.99)
2) Speaker wire SW716-30 (16 gauge/30 feet) (14.99ea)
Does this pricey stuff really make a BIG difference or did I just buy some swampland? I was not expecting to spend this much just for the wiring but if it's worth it, I'll keep it. What do you all think ?
Replies (13)
ttocs on 10/2/2005 23:59:54
$350 for Tsunami? There are alot of high end names that you could get for that price, if you are into names.
Your amp kit doesn't have rca's, or speaker wires? What size is the power wire? Does it have a distrobution block? What are you installing?
My first impression is that you need to return it, and tell us what you need. Car audio has a huge mark-up, especially the accesories. If you know where to look I would imagin you could get the same or equivilent for half the price, if you are into money.......
UKinstaller on 10/3/2005 00:42:36
all of that is about right except the 4 channel RCA's. take those back and get some cheaper ones. if installed right, you can't tell the difference between the expensive set and the cheap set of 4 channels.
i install at a circuit city in louisville, ky. i know tsunami pretty well. if you ever plan on doing 2 amps, get the $99 power kit that we carry. it comes with a 150A fuse holder and a distribution block, plus 22 feet of 4 gauge and 8 feet of 8 gauge wire. it's an awesome kit.
i love tsunami cables. a little pricey, but if you want to show any of the wires in the install, there's nothing cleaner than tsunami,
-UK
Victor on 10/3/2005 06:29:28
Yes they are definitely above average wires , in performance and great looking,
Just as UK said everything except the 4ch RCA are rightly priced.
Victor...
ttocs on 10/3/2005 07:45:08
I hate retail prices....... I got into the business and then started my hobby so i just never got use to them.
Victor on 10/3/2005 10:45:43
Well yeah, I agree, cause the price rise in any audio product while it travels from the factory to the retail outlet is almost as much as 150%,
It all depends on which point of the marketting chain you buy it at.
Victor...
lessismorespl on 10/3/2005 11:22:23
I think that is a bit pricey. Although Tsunami is in my top 10 for quality cable and RCA's. I would take much of it back myself for one reason....that is WAY TOO MUCH TO PAY!!!!! Tsunami and DB Link are about the same in resistance and quality. A DB Link 0/1 ga kit, complete w/ a set of RCA's, 0/1 ga power and ground cable, 4 ga. power cable, ANL fused Dist Block w/ 2 80 amp ANL fuses, ANL fuse holder w/ 150 amp fuse, plus ring terminals battery accessories for both top post and side post batteries runs about $100, all you would have left to buy is a 4 ch. set of RCA's (apprx. $30-$70 depending on quality) and some speakers wire which you can buy for little of nothing, some will even give you 20-30 ft for free. I paid about $25 for 25 ft of 14 ga speakers wire and 10 ft of twisted 12 ga for my subs and this was Streetwires. So I do think it is a little excessive. I would definately take it back and do some shopping, $300 is way too much to pay for power/ground cable and accessories. I'm running 2 amps, 2 subs, a set of coaxials and a set of components, plus a Big 3 upgrade and dual ANL fuse blcoks and I only have about $175 into my my wiring, including Streetwires RCA's and Dist block, fuses etc.... Check out DB Link, Lightning Audio, and Knukonceptz, they all carry decent quality cables and accessories for affordable prices. You could have bought all Streetwires for less than that and it is SUPPOSEDLY the best on the market today.....this is debatable though after doing some of my DMM tests.......
less
thefury on 10/3/2005 21:53:45
Ordered Streetwires from Crutchfield. saved $150.00 . Now thats a little bit more reasonable. ($200.00 w/shipping)
ttocs on 10/3/2005 21:57:22
I can justify that, you are getting stuff that is just as good...
lessismorespl on 10/4/2005 09:42:50
You are getting good quality in Streetwires....I'm kind of biased b/c that is what I prefer to use in my installes. Crutchfield is considered retail also,so it gives you some idea on how much accessories get marked up in "Big Box" stores.
less
swez on 10/4/2005 16:20:59
Not sure if you care to do this, but there is a great vendor out there by the name of Knukonceptz.com. They sell excellent wire sets, D-blocks, fuses, holders and most other install hardware. Not the cheap suff either. Very high quality parts. Check em out and compare prices before you use Crutchfield.
As Less said, Crutch is more like a big box store on the internet. They do offer good service and some very good products, but most of what they sell, is at MSRP retail pricing.
http://www.knukonceptz.com
Swez
lessismorespl on 10/6/2005 15:36:46
I had suggested knukonceptz on another post. It is very good wire, it has the highest strand count on the market and it is rated 3rd in least resistence. Streetwires is very good wire and accessories, in fact that is what I have in my Taurus, but I'm using DB Link in my new car just b/c of cost and the difference is not that much. The DB Link kit came w/ 17 ft 0/1 ga. wire, 6 ft 0/1 ga. ground, 6 ft 4 ga. power and ground wire, ANL fuse holder w/ 150 amp fuse, ANL fused Digital Dist Blk w/ 2 80 amp ANL fuses, and has both the side post and top post adapters. The price was $119 shipped.
less
swez on 10/7/2005 20:40:20
That sounds like a very good SPL wiring kit. What is the current rating of 1/0 wire? (under 20 foot)
Swez
cplkittle on 10/9/2005 23:46:33
I still don't think the 4channel RCAs should be that high. For example, Stinger's helix, dream and expert series are all pretty much the same except for price. All you need to look for are shielded twisted pair RCAs, and run them on the opposite side of the vehicle that you run the power wire. I just finished a Civic SI with 3 pair of dream series that only came out to $180.
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