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Few sound system questions...

mr.smartass

mr.smartass

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Hattiesburg, MS
1989 K5, power windows.

So originally I was going to run the 6 1/2's I have in my doors, the 5x8's (I think) I have by the tail gate, and then pick up some 3.5's for the dash and 6x9's for just behind the front seats.

Turns out the bottom mounting depth for the 6 1/2's I have is to deep (power windows...) for my doors, so I picked up some shallower ones tonight.

So now I'm thinking I'll run the pair I already had behind the front seats, the new ones in the doors, and the 5x8's next to the tailgate just leaving me with a pair of 3.5's to buy.

Now for the questions... The only amp I currently own is a 2-channel 1000 watt amp I used for my subs (currently sitting in the shop). Do I need an amp to run all 8 speakers? Do I need to pick up a 4-channel amp? And how difficult would it be to fit 4" speakers in the dash instead of the 3.5's?

Thanks guys!:bow:
 
If you truck is anywhere near stock, just put 3.5's in teh dash. I put some infinity reference ones in there that scream on just deck power. Not cheap ones, but worth it.

I would get a 4x100ish amp, power your 4 most importatnt speakers off the amp, and let the 4x power from a decent deck run the rest. Audio competition level system? no, but if you have a decent deck, it will work great.

Then save the other mondo amp you have for subs.
 
Cool, that's all I really wanted to hear. :D I've been a big fan of infinity for a while. I had their Kappa 4x10 plates and 6x9's in an S10 blazer years ago.

Thanks,
Justin
 
Hmm... inifinity reference 3.5's $52 and a cheap ass legacy 4x75w amp for $32. Sound ok?

The 6 1/2"s for the door still need about a 1" spacer to fit, I can build one out of plywood and cover it myself, but does anyone sell something like that, maybe something that would look a bit cleaner?:confused:
 
Oh and one more... how are you guys connecting your ipoods? I'd like the one that charges it as well... It's a sony head unit (Got it from a friend for free) but I'm not sure of the model number off my the top of my head.
 
Is there RCA connects on the back that say Bus In? If so, there is a wire you can buy that plugs into the changer port and makes that BUS in and AUX in. Don't get teh sony ipod controller. It blows. For a basic setup, the hard wired FM modulators (with on/off switch, NOT auto sensing) work pretty good. The auto sensing ones kill your FM reception most of the time.

Also, DON't get a legacy amp. MAYBE for a cheap sub setup, but not for decent mids/highs. Spend 80-$100 and get a decent kenwood, alpine, whatever decent name brand 4x80 or 4x100 you can find. You'll notice how crappy that legacy is on the mids/highs.
 
I'll have to look but I think it's already an Aux in... I basically just want it to play through the head unit and charge the ipod, I don't care about controlling it through the head anyways. Is there just a simple universal harness for that?:confused:

Picked up a pair of 3.5's and the spacer rings I needed on my lunch break. Totally forgot I have a buddy working at a locally owned stereo shop.:doah:

I'll look around at other amps. Thanks again.
 
My Dual head unit (2 years old now) came with wires out the back that plug into an Ipod. I just bound them up and tucked them in the back but it's a common feature now. Might save yourself some headache if you can't find an adaptor or something and just get a new head unit.
 
Good point, but if i can't make it work it won't be a huge problem. I actually mounted my head unit tonight. Realized it's not a sony... it's a kenwood. 3 rca outputs the antenna plug and the one other I'm not sure about. Round plug with a lot of prong holes... is this the bus input?:confused:
 
What about the kenwood ipod controller? Bad as the sony one? It's like $46 plugs into that round plug charges the ipod and you control it from the head unit?:confused:
 
There are places that make round wood rings for spacing as well as angling speakers in different directions. These should work, and are along the lines of what I have planned for my doors. I want to make sure they are angled upward to give a bit better front stage.

I don't know how good that adaptor is, but it most likely won't work across brands.
 
i bought these Polk 6.5 components from circuit city back n Aug 07 n run em off the head unit...u can run more than 4 speakers off a 4 channel amp, u just have to tie the extra wires together & will only b able to control balance and not fade...do u plan on having a sub box built for with the top on or off??? I'm sure it will thump w/top on but how will it sound w/top off??? thats my delima...btw, the polks r said to b waterproof...like i belived that 1tho...
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I got one door speaker installed with the "adapter" it's just an inch think plastic circle with 4 holes in it. It actually worked out quite well. I even took the time to run the speaker wire through the factory door conduit.:D

I'll have to take a pic of my door now, the diamond plate trim and everything came out nicely.

I also got my head unit mounted in my center console.

The only things I'm missing is the amp and the ipod adapter. I read some reviews on the kenwood one, and I'm pretty sure it's like the rest of them. It overrides the ipod controls so you have to control it from the head unit which most people dislike, but sound quality is great and it charges the ipod.

The trick is to create specific playlists because it's easier to just scroll through those on the head unit. If all else fails you can just disconnect the ipod, start the playlist/artist/song you want and plug it back in.

I'll probably order one today.

Any suggestions on which amp? I'm trying to keep this a budget build, but it doesn't look like I'll get away with spending less then a $150 on a decent 4-channel amp. I'll also have to figure out how I'm going to wire the speakers.:crazy:
 
I would skip the ipod setup. Figure out what you need to just run an AUX in on that kenwood, and get a car charger for your ipod. Hell, the battery capacity on them is good, and it is just so much easier to control through the ipod itself.

Go to etronics or somewhere online and pick an amp. No real good suggestions. Actually, ive never bought a 4 channel amp new....haha

What adapter rings did you buy? I have power run and the speakers for my doors, and only partially cut out. The rings i bought off ebay sucked, so i havent' installed them.
 
I'll check the brand and part number when I get out there... might not be till wednesday though. I just called the local stereo place and they had some laying around for $10.

Yeah I picked up the cable I needed for the ipod on lunch. I skipped the fancy setup like you said. They wanted $100 for that thing. So i picked one up that plugs into the headphone jack on the ipod and into that same plug on the head unit. It's actually the cd changer plug. It only ran me $30. I'll wait and see if i'll actually need a charger for it.

I was also going to pick up a 6404 kenwood amp but they ended up not having it in stock, so I'll have to check else where.:doah:

Still have to figure out the wiring and mounting location for the amp.
 
In my 94, my 4x80 kenwood fit under the drivers seat. The 94 style seat brackets kept you from being able to adjust the amp wiht the seat in, but still a good location.

But i forget, do the blazer's have teh burb style seat braket, or the truck setup? The burb seat is mounted up on a body hump, so no real space for anything under there. I'd tear off a side panel, built a little mount, and mount it behind next to the rear seat. Either that, or put a 2" "body" lift on your center console :)
 
Plenty of room under the seats and that was my first thought, but I'd like to keep it away from the floor so I might look into building a bracket behind the rear panel. Haven't flooded the truck yet, and don't intend to, but accidents happen and this will be the most expensive piece of the system.:waytogo:

Do you still think it's a good idea to run 4 off the head unit and 4 off the amp or all of them off the amp? If I do split them up, which ones would I run off what? Haven't done a lot of research on this part.:doah:
 
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