whtlghtn49
05-21-2007, 09:25 PM
Hey guys, I'm new here to Club Polk, but thought ya'll might offer me some advice nonetheless! Now, to begin with, I am very new to the car audio stuff, so ya'll please tell me if I am making a mistake or bad choice in anything I am doing! Thanks in advance for your time and advice!
Ok, so I have an old boat that I want to make some improvements on for wakeboarding, so I am starting with the stereo. I currently have an old AM/FM radio w/ 4 speakers, yet only 1 speaker works. So, here is what I am planning. Keep in mind I am just a student living entirely on student loans, so I want to make this as affordable as possible!
Items I've already purchased:
2 - Polk db650's to replace my old 6.5" speakers in the rear of the boat. Got these on closeout for $56 shipped, so I'm pleased about that!
2 - Polk db690's to replace some old "box-like" speakers under the driver and passenger side dashes, where your feet go. I really don't want to be cutting into the boat much, so I thought about getting some 6 x 9 enclosures for them and mounting them up under there very near where the current speakers are mounted. That sound ok?
Items I am still debating about:
A head unit!
An Amplifier
Possibly a subwoofer -- in the future, if ever!
Ok, here is where I'd like to have ya'lls advice!
Question #1 - the head unit!
I am trying to keep a tight budget, so I can't go all out. My first question is this...do I need to be concerned about the # of pre-amp outlets included on the head unit I purchase? Someone suggested to me to find one with at least 2 pre-amp outputs. Is that the case? I plan on running only a single 4-channel amp initially, but perhaps may add one later to run a sub, or maybe I'll buy a 5-channel amp now?? Anyways, how many pre-amp outlets should I look for?
Question #2 - the amp!
Ok, so the db650's will handle 60w RMS, and the db690's will handle 100w RMS. I figured I would get a 4-channel amp to run these. (or perhaps a 5-channel if I feel I'll purchase a sub one day) What power rating should I get for the amp?? Should I get one that runs 60w x 4 @ 4ohms, or maybe 75w x 4 @ 4ohms? Is it ok to go over the RMS rating of the speakers, or should I stick with 60w RMS or less. Basically, tell me what RMS power from the amp I should be looking for! What do ya'll think? (Oh, by the way, I opted for the db690's over 4-db650's because I just don't know if I'll ever get a subwoofer due to lack of space on the boat, so i thought the 6x9's would give me more bass) What is your recommendation on the amp! Here are links to some of the amps I was considering...what do ya'll think??
A friend recommended this Phoenix Gold amp to me.
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_1702_Phoenix+Gold+R5.0-4.html
Customer service at Crutchfield recommended this amp for the setup...mostly because they sold it! Found it here on ebay much cheaper.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330120315704&rd=1&rd=1
I've heard good things about HiFonics amps, and I found the two listed below, both 4-channel amps. What do ya'll think about them?
http://cgi.ebay.com/06-HIFONICS-TXi4406-TITAN-4CH-AMPLIFIER-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ140118635896QQihZ004QQcategoryZ39739Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/HIFONICS-ZEUS-ZXi4406-4-3-2-CH-440-WATTS-AMP-NEW_W0QQitemZ290117109283QQihZ019QQcategoryZ39739Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
One last one, I was also recommended Orion, and I found this Orion Cobalt on eBay that looked interesting (my boat is a Cobalt, too!)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140119284082&rd=1&rd=1
Guys, thanks so much in advance for any help you might offer. I just don't know what to look for yet! I know I included lots of links, and if you take the time to go through them, I appreciate it. Also, if you know of an amp that would work better for me than any of those I linked, please say so! Thanks again, I appreciate ya'll.
Ok, so I have an old boat that I want to make some improvements on for wakeboarding, so I am starting with the stereo. I currently have an old AM/FM radio w/ 4 speakers, yet only 1 speaker works. So, here is what I am planning. Keep in mind I am just a student living entirely on student loans, so I want to make this as affordable as possible!
Items I've already purchased:
2 - Polk db650's to replace my old 6.5" speakers in the rear of the boat. Got these on closeout for $56 shipped, so I'm pleased about that!
2 - Polk db690's to replace some old "box-like" speakers under the driver and passenger side dashes, where your feet go. I really don't want to be cutting into the boat much, so I thought about getting some 6 x 9 enclosures for them and mounting them up under there very near where the current speakers are mounted. That sound ok?
Items I am still debating about:
A head unit!
An Amplifier
Possibly a subwoofer -- in the future, if ever!
Ok, here is where I'd like to have ya'lls advice!
Question #1 - the head unit!
I am trying to keep a tight budget, so I can't go all out. My first question is this...do I need to be concerned about the # of pre-amp outlets included on the head unit I purchase? Someone suggested to me to find one with at least 2 pre-amp outputs. Is that the case? I plan on running only a single 4-channel amp initially, but perhaps may add one later to run a sub, or maybe I'll buy a 5-channel amp now?? Anyways, how many pre-amp outlets should I look for?
Question #2 - the amp!
Ok, so the db650's will handle 60w RMS, and the db690's will handle 100w RMS. I figured I would get a 4-channel amp to run these. (or perhaps a 5-channel if I feel I'll purchase a sub one day) What power rating should I get for the amp?? Should I get one that runs 60w x 4 @ 4ohms, or maybe 75w x 4 @ 4ohms? Is it ok to go over the RMS rating of the speakers, or should I stick with 60w RMS or less. Basically, tell me what RMS power from the amp I should be looking for! What do ya'll think? (Oh, by the way, I opted for the db690's over 4-db650's because I just don't know if I'll ever get a subwoofer due to lack of space on the boat, so i thought the 6x9's would give me more bass) What is your recommendation on the amp! Here are links to some of the amps I was considering...what do ya'll think??
A friend recommended this Phoenix Gold amp to me.
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_1702_Phoenix+Gold+R5.0-4.html
Customer service at Crutchfield recommended this amp for the setup...mostly because they sold it! Found it here on ebay much cheaper.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=014&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=330120315704&rd=1&rd=1
I've heard good things about HiFonics amps, and I found the two listed below, both 4-channel amps. What do ya'll think about them?
http://cgi.ebay.com/06-HIFONICS-TXi4406-TITAN-4CH-AMPLIFIER-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ140118635896QQihZ004QQcategoryZ39739Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/HIFONICS-ZEUS-ZXi4406-4-3-2-CH-440-WATTS-AMP-NEW_W0QQitemZ290117109283QQihZ019QQcategoryZ39739Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
One last one, I was also recommended Orion, and I found this Orion Cobalt on eBay that looked interesting (my boat is a Cobalt, too!)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=004&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=140119284082&rd=1&rd=1
Guys, thanks so much in advance for any help you might offer. I just don't know what to look for yet! I know I included lots of links, and if you take the time to go through them, I appreciate it. Also, if you know of an amp that would work better for me than any of those I linked, please say so! Thanks again, I appreciate ya'll.