Alright, so with my Sony Xplod XM 554ZR hooked up to the 6.5 4ways and the 12" Kenwood 3011 sub, it shuts off on my 45 minute drive to work. That is kinda crappy, since I can cut the volume on my HU up to 28 before distortion starts, but I leave it on 18 or 20 on my drive to work (34 max.)
So, my Kenwood 8404 and 8104D are being delivered today. Yay, since this weekend is a 4 day weekend I'll have plenty of time for the Big 3 and amp install. I looked everything over, and I do have room under my drivers seat to install an amp, so here is my final plans:
8104D will go under the drivers seat, pushing the sub. The 8404 will go under passenger seat, where the Xplod currently is. I have wire enroute as well, 4 Ga from the battery to a distro block I'll put next to the 8404, then 8 Ga from there to both amps (will run the power wire under the carpet out away from the amp to get it to the 8104D so it doesn't cause any static.) I have the Sony mounted on a piece of board that I put under the passenger seat, and I'll probably do the same for the 8104D, to keep it off the carpet and ensure proper air flow...Plus provide a solid flat mounting location.
So I plan on using the same 4 Ga to do the big 3 upgrade. Hopefully that'll be large enough to do the trick.
I'll see if I can't find my camera to take pics of the install.
Any suggestions or hints?
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entertainment/Amplifiers/KAC-8104D
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entertainment/Amplifiers/KAC-8404
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entertainment/Subwoofers/Subwoofers/KFC-W3011
Replies (3)
think2020 on 02/11/2009 11:13:14
I'm not an expert but it sounds like you got everything going in the right direction, only tips I would give you are make sure you have all the tools you need before you start so you dont have to run out to the store to buy something.
If you have a buddy that can help you that is always a plus, even if they know nothing about car audio its always nice to have extra hands around.
The amps should be fine mounted to a board however if you are not going to mess with them again for a long time I would try to find some sort of solution where they are not going to move at all (maybe 2 brackets from the board to where your seat mounts).
Other than that, grab some of your favorite soda and grab your favorite CD and do a before and after listen.
Think2020
swez on 02/11/2009 11:30:33
Yep, that dog will hunt! CLAP
I suspect your Sony amp gains are not set properly and this generates more heat that causes the amp to shut down on long jaming commutes.
Are you using the rear channels bridged for the sub only or rear speakers + the sub?
Swez
zanilth on 02/11/2009 13:01:39
Think2020: Actually, I mount the board to the floorboard of the car...I used some round plastic washer type things (dunno what they are called) that are about 1/2" long on four corners as legs, and put a screw through them into the floorboard. That keeps the wood from moving, then I mount the amp to that. Only other thing I need are some 4 Ga ring connectors, which I'll be picking up today.
I set the gains pretty much how the writeup you gave said...Cut everything down, on head unit and gains all the way down... Cut the volume to about 80%, adjusted the gain til slight distortion then backed off a hair...Then adjusted the head unit, and backed off a hair again from gains to prevent distortion. The rear channel is just bridged on the sub, the front channel has all four speakers on it. Doesn't really matter anymore, come friday it'll be out of there! :)
So, my Kenwood 8404 and 8104D are being delivered today. Yay, since this weekend is a 4 day weekend I'll have plenty of time for the Big 3 and amp install. I looked everything over, and I do have room under my drivers seat to install an amp, so here is my final plans:
8104D will go under the drivers seat, pushing the sub. The 8404 will go under passenger seat, where the Xplod currently is. I have wire enroute as well, 4 Ga from the battery to a distro block I'll put next to the 8404, then 8 Ga from there to both amps (will run the power wire under the carpet out away from the amp to get it to the 8104D so it doesn't cause any static.) I have the Sony mounted on a piece of board that I put under the passenger seat, and I'll probably do the same for the 8104D, to keep it off the carpet and ensure proper air flow...Plus provide a solid flat mounting location.
So I plan on using the same 4 Ga to do the big 3 upgrade. Hopefully that'll be large enough to do the trick.
I'll see if I can't find my camera to take pics of the install.
Any suggestions or hints?
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entertainment/Amplifiers/KAC-8104D
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entertainment/Amplifiers/KAC-8404
http://www.kenwoodusa.com/Car_Entertainment/Subwoofers/Subwoofers/KFC-W3011
Replies (3)
think2020 on 02/11/2009 11:13:14
I'm not an expert but it sounds like you got everything going in the right direction, only tips I would give you are make sure you have all the tools you need before you start so you dont have to run out to the store to buy something.
If you have a buddy that can help you that is always a plus, even if they know nothing about car audio its always nice to have extra hands around.
The amps should be fine mounted to a board however if you are not going to mess with them again for a long time I would try to find some sort of solution where they are not going to move at all (maybe 2 brackets from the board to where your seat mounts).
Other than that, grab some of your favorite soda and grab your favorite CD and do a before and after listen.
Think2020
swez on 02/11/2009 11:30:33
Yep, that dog will hunt! CLAP
I suspect your Sony amp gains are not set properly and this generates more heat that causes the amp to shut down on long jaming commutes.
Are you using the rear channels bridged for the sub only or rear speakers + the sub?
Swez
zanilth on 02/11/2009 13:01:39
Think2020: Actually, I mount the board to the floorboard of the car...I used some round plastic washer type things (dunno what they are called) that are about 1/2" long on four corners as legs, and put a screw through them into the floorboard. That keeps the wood from moving, then I mount the amp to that. Only other thing I need are some 4 Ga ring connectors, which I'll be picking up today.
I set the gains pretty much how the writeup you gave said...Cut everything down, on head unit and gains all the way down... Cut the volume to about 80%, adjusted the gain til slight distortion then backed off a hair...Then adjusted the head unit, and backed off a hair again from gains to prevent distortion. The rear channel is just bridged on the sub, the front channel has all four speakers on it. Doesn't really matter anymore, come friday it'll be out of there! :)
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