Well I"m rebuilding/upgrading my sound system in my 2004 Ecotec Sunfire

This is going to be my total set up (which is cut way down from the original plan (5 amps))

Turn the rear seat system into a custom enclosure, all boxed out (where your back, ass and calves used to go)

The back part (where you would look directly at) will house two Alpine type r 12s, that are boxed out reaching into the trunk just a little bit (better than the two 12s in a bandpass that i'm currently running back in there)

The part where your ass goes will host my three alpine amps, one 1.1000 and two 4.100, as well as my 10 farad hybrid cap from rockford fosgate, with a built in dist. block

One 4.100 amp power four alpine type r 6x9, two in the stock, and two down where the reat seat feet used to be, firing forward towards the driver/passenger

One 4.100 amp powering two sets of alpine type r components in the front, one 5.25 set in the doors, and one 6.5 set in kick panels

Then obviously the 1.1000 will power the two Type R 12s

Then of course a new Double Din dvd player, probably apine


So anyways...I'm assuming I should try to not only upgrade my main battery, but I should use a second battery as well, correct? Any suggestions on brands? Also, I'm anticipating alternator problems. Anybody know where I can find an upgrade to my stock 105 amp alternator?

As far as the alternator goes, you can upgrade to 160 amp high output alternator...I got mine out of a junkyard car, but there are a TON of aftermarket sites that sell them, just google it and you'll find plenty of results.

I'm running a pretty powerful audio system on my 2004...2 - 1400 watts amps powering 2 - 12" Sony's, and 2 - 600 watt amps powering my rear 6x9s, and everything in my doors and kick panels...I've upgraded to the 160 amp alt, did the "Big 3" upgrade, and use 1.5 Farad Cap and this system is beautiful. Runs steady around 14 volts, never drops lower than 13 volts even on extreme bass drops.

Oh, and I only run one battery...replaced the stock AcDelco with a Deka Battery...no problems at all!

Hope that helps

did you paint you steering wheel ? or is it dyed? sorry for the off topic remark


]

And this alternator will work with the ecotec engine? i wonder why i've never seen one online.

By the way on those alpines all of those wattages were RMS not max like most amps.

you'll probably be ok with two batteries and the stock alt. But just know eventually the time may come to replace it, and when it does, just replace it with a HO alt.


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http://www.motorcityreman.com/high-amp-alternators.html

Very nice guys to deal with! Also have different level amps to meet any needs.

As for the alternator - yes...I have the HO on a '04 2.2L Ecotec

For the steering wheel question...it's painted. I took off the wheel and sanded the $#@! out of it til the texture was gone, used a thin layer of Evercoat Primer and colored with HOK paint and clear, along with the rest of the interior. Wheel has been painted for almost 2 years now with no lifting or chipping

I see there are two different options...was wondering if the 120 amp would really be a big upgrade, or if i sould spend the money on the bigger one...

120 amp should be ok...personally I would spend a little extra on the bigger one right away...never know when you might want to upgrade your audio system again, then you might be right back to square one

For some reason, I think the alternator I got from motorcityreman is bogus. When I had my dual battery setup, the big 3, and their 200 amp upgraded alt, my system still dimmed, even when it wasn't hitting particularly hard. I'm only pulling around 1500 watts total (1200 sub, 300 mids/highs) as well. I'd see voltage drop to the 10's or so when I really had it cranked.

how much power an alt puts out isn't the only thing to consider. one thing you gotta check out with ho alternators is what they put out at idle. cheap companies ho alts may actually put out less amperage then stock at idle then your stock alternator did and may not reach max power till high in the rpm range. where as a higher quality ho alt will put out allot of amperage at idle. something to consider when looking for an alt.




any reason why so many speakers? im guessing your just wanting to upset the neighbors? you could have allot higher quality setup with allot less speakers.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sndsgood/ https://www.facebook.com/#!/Square1Photography

Well I sat in a grand prix gtp with a simliar set up, and less quality speakers, and it sounded great. I think the placement of all the speakers brings in sound from a bunch of angles i guess?



How so could I get a better quality from less speakers?

your setup will no doubt be louder but the quality and imaging will be terrible
i would do the subwoofers, replace the stock 6x9s, put 5.25 components in the doors, and 6.5 components in the kick panels
amp all the speakers and do the big three up grade
oh and get a nice head unit

"I did it because I wanted to see what it would look like. You should be greatful that I even told you that it would look good. If your to dumb to use photoshop and change the color of your own car then you don't need to see it changed. I'm not going to give my work away. I'll sell the pic to you though for $15."-Adam Kalin

^^JBO is about not being that guy

with that much front stage, plus the subwoofers. he wouldn't need any rear fill ^^


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Christopher Rogerson wrote:your setup will no doubt be louder but the quality and imaging will be terrible
i would do the subwoofers, replace the stock 6x9s, put 5.25 components in the doors, and 6.5 components in the kick panels
amp all the speakers and do the big three up grade
oh and get a nice head unit

that's EXACTLY what I said I was doing, except I was adding two more 6x9 in a custom place. is that enough to completely give me "terrible" imaging? I'd say not...

and if you read, I said a double din alpine head unit...that IS a quality head unit...

Josh Angenend wrote:

Christopher Rogerson wrote:your setup will no doubt be louder but the quality and imaging will be terrible
i would do the subwoofers, replace the stock 6x9s, put 5.25 components in the doors, and 6.5 components in the kick panels
amp all the speakers and do the big three up grade
oh and get a nice head unit

that's EXACTLY what I said I was doing, except I was adding two more 6x9 in a custom place. is that enough to completely give me "terrible" imaging? I'd say not...

and if you read, I said a double din alpine head unit...that IS a quality head unit...

Actually with a componet set in the door and a componet set in the kicks and rear speakers, yes that will give you terrible imaging. its hard enough to get a good image with a single componet set let alone 2-3 sets. stick with one high powered set of componets up front, maybe go with dedicated midbass drivers in the door if youw ant more power up front. and then your subs. majority of your best sounding/imaging cars will only use 5-6 speakers total. 2 tweeters, two mids and 1-2 subs. keep it simple. more will be louder but thats about it.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sndsgood/ https://www.facebook.com/#!/Square1Photography

i didn't say anything about components in the back. I talked to crutchfield and they said components should be used mainly up front, and the tweets to never be farther than like 6 inches from the midwoofer.

I could see the 5.25" components in the door being overkill with the 6.5 in the kicks...maybe put coaxials in the doors...I'm trying to stick with all one brand/series for consistant sound, and i liked the performance of the Alpine Type Rs. Not gonna pay for JL, and Infiniti has great speakers but I like the Type R subs better. The Type R Coaxials provide pretty strong midbass...

The way I read things, Sndsgood didn't say anything about components in the back, either.

I 100% agree with Sndsgood. Pick up a good pair of components (+/- midbass) and start tweaking. Going with multiple speakers *usually* destroys imaging. Unless you plan on seriously attenuating your rear 6x9s to the point where it doesn't pull the soundstage to the rear of the car, your imaging will suffer if you go that route. I know you seem to be leaning towards a 100% Alpine system, but if you're looking for other components that sound great, handle big power and get loud, another company to look into is CDT. The upper lines are great, and even lower level CDTs hold their own in terms of SQ and power handling.

Placing the tweeter within 6" of your mids is a good rule of thumb to start off with. If you find that the soundstage is unrealistically low, experiment with tweeter placement or look into a second set of imaging tweeters that you can install higher to pull up your soundstage (ala CDT).

GAM (The Kilted One) wrote: if you think you're that much better than them because you're "correct" I hope your progeny don't turn out as screwed up as yourself.

Quote:

Actually with a componet set in the door and a componet set in the kicks and rear speakers,

I assumed that meant components in the rear.

either way...

If I'm going to have four speakers in the front (assuming you count a component pair (midwoofer/tweeter) as one speaker) and four speakers in the back, all running at 100 rms each, how would the rear overpower the front, or vice versa?

your ears face forward for a reason

give up on putting 4 speakers in the rear of your car, it's a waste if you ask me.


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i dont like anyone on this part of the site, but i will agree that 4 6x9's are a waste.
there is a 50$ single sub/amp set up at walmart you could replace the 3rd and 4th speakers with.
you'll also get 100% better results.

^^ whatever you do, DO NOT buy audio equipment from wal mart. go to a car audio shop, or an online store. if you have to, go to best buy or circuit city (just avoid the technicians there....theyre usually not too smart...) but dont buy some crappy $50 sub/amp setup from walmart, and dont buy theyre speakers either.

"I did it because I wanted to see what it would look like. You should be greatful that I even told you that it would look good. If your to dumb to use photoshop and change the color of your own car then you don't need to see it changed. I'm not going to give my work away. I'll sell the pic to you though for $15."-Adam Kalin

^^JBO is about not being that guy

The Daleosis wrote:i dont like anyone on this part of the site, but i will agree that 4 6x9's are a waste.
there is a 50$ single sub/amp set up at walmart you could replace the 3rd and 4th speakers with.
you'll also get 100% better results.

nobody bothers reading your posts anyway


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^Hehehe. I got excellent advice from someone who is humoring him in his P&M thread about the entertainment value of getting his "backwoods" opinions on doing things with "Red Green's" enginuity.

You realy can not distinguish stereo sound from behind you in a car. You are best off to just put the money into good speakers up front like was already mentioned.






^CLICK ME TO SEE HOW I BUILT EVERYTHING^ How To in Interior Forum

haha, nice red green reference there, lmao. just add the handyman's secret weapon and you'll be as good as gold!!


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