Looking for amp placement ideas

NickF

NickF

New member
Hey guys,
I installed a head unit (Alpine iDA-X303) in my 3rd generation T4R a few weeks ago. It sounds generally much cleaner as the stock amp tended to break up at anything more than 50% volume.

Just wondering if anyone can confirm this: I believe the stock amp had crossover components in it, because my tweeters are brighter ( I actually like it :lol:) but the front door speakers seem to have an annoying roll off. Has anyone else had this experience?


Back to the point of this thread:
I'm looking for idea for placing the amp pictured here:
Boss CW1100M - Monoblock Car Amplifier, Power Amp - Sonic Electronix
Dimensions: 11-13/16"L x 9-11/16"W x 2-1/16"H

I want to find a permanent home for it thats out of the way for when I put my seats down. I plan to pull the sub box out if i need room for something, but I want the amp in a nice neat place.
I've thought of mounting on the back of the sub box itself, but mobility of the sub box will then be void, so thats not an option.
Second idea is under the backseat, where the jack goes. Moving the jack wouldn't be a problem, it can sit in the cargo area if needed. However, there is no airflow down there, and heat may be a problem.

Anyway, thanks for any ideas!

Nick
 
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since u have a 3rd gen, amp placement for me when i had one was under the driver seat for the main amp, and in the cargo, on the left behind the wheel well was where i mounted the sub amp. u can always take apart the storage compartment and build a amp rack there so the amp is hidden. thats how i mount the sub amp in my 4th gen. no amp is visable until u take the cover off. and unlike the 3rd gen i was able to put a jl 300/4 under driver seat, my 4th gen has enough room for me to put the jl 300/2 amp under each driver and passenger seat.
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Hey thanks for the reply. Thanks for the ideas.
Also, another idea I've had is mounting it on the back of one of the backseats, it should be viable.

riceandpho, what guage wiring to do run from the sub amp to the sub itself?
 
I don't expect much for $80. I know Boss isn't exactly top-of-the-line. I don't like rattling, back massaging bass, just looking for a bit more kick than the 6 3/4" front speakers can put out LOL :). The spec sheet says it has a low THD at 250 watts and a pretty high SNR. Thats all I was looking for. If it is really bad, I'm going to spend the money and buy a Rockford.

I'm using an old sub I have laying around from an old HT setup. Its an 8-ohm Logitech speaker. I know its ghetto, but its mine :) I plan on putting in a 4-ohm Dayton Titanic at a later time. Dayton is a small American company but they make GREAT subs.
 
4 gauge all the way, but since i have the 4th gen, i run 1 4 gauge to the front amp, another one to the rear amp, and two 4 gauge all the way in the trunk to the second battery, for the sub amp. i chose the 4 gauge since its easier to work with, also not as thick as 1 gauge but its hard for me to route that under the sill gaurds since that is some thick cable. so 2 4 gauge will be like a 2 or 1 guage right? Knukonceptz Kolossus Fleks Kable
 
for speaker leads, i use 12 guage, but 16 gauge should be minimum for amp to door speaker and 14 gauge from sub amp to sub. usually the amp kits have 18 gauge, its a good start for basic stuff, but higher end i would consider thicker, also running thicker wires to the doors is harder, i have mulitple runs of 14 in the doors since the installed of the dei 530+ window roll up mod. 3 paris going in the gromment barley fits, was thinking of using 12 for the doors, but the 14 i had left over worked fine.
 
I went to a local installer and asked him if he had any 10 guage speaker wire for my sub and he laughed at me and told me I was crazy. I have some spare 12 guage that should be enough anyway.

Thanks for the info.

Also, where did you ground the amp in your trunk on your 3rd gen?
 
u have to pry open the panel, i use the rear seat ring thing on the side, just unbolt, sand and then put the ring terminal under it, and it will bolt back up, and ur seat will be secure, to make it more specific, its the thing where the latch catches on to. or u can find some hidden bolt in the area and just ground it there, just make sure u sand to bare metal before u bolt it on.
 
before you spend all that money on rockford stuff check out Audioque i have their 1200 watt mono block amp that actually does around 1450 watts at 1ohm and its pretty affordable at around 250 bucks if i remember correctly. If you have any specific questions feel free to pm me i love to chat about audio junk ive been competing for about 3 years now
 
I installed everything today. Came out pretty good, although those pressure clips in my vehicle's interior never cease to frustrate me.:AK47:
Anyway, sub actually sounds pretty good. I grounded it on one of the back seat bolts like rice suggested.

I do have to take the sub box apart because when I screwed the amp onto the SEALED box, the screwes went through and now I have some leaking air problems. Thats what I get for doing things in a hurry :shrug: Gonna caulk the shit out of it and the corners and put a couple of 10" pieces of 2x4's inside the box under where I mount the amp. Should help reinforce the box, 2 birds one stone I guess.


Pics coming soon.

Edit:
I lied about the ait problem. My crappy left over sub is just maxing :P
 
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amp placement

Hey RiceandPho,

Good idea for that rear amp placement. I just wanted to say one thing. Covering that amp is not a good idea. The fins (heat sinks) on the left side need to breath. An amplifier works hard and air circulation is a must. You may not notice any performance difference, but the life of that amp will be greatly reduced. I work with electronics daily, and good circulation is ALWAYS a factor. Not trying to rain on your parade. I think its a good location, just uncover it. Just trying to help.
 
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i dont have the truck anymore, but its a thin carpet, never had any problem, it doesnt even heat to the touch, just warm.
 
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