Car Audio Advice from the Audio Gurus: Use "Search thread" before posting a new Q!

[low_bass_makker]

Originally Posted by Bass&Trouble

Advantages of amps in the boot:

1. In the case of a sedan, the heat dissipated by the amp won't make it to the passenger compartment, so that's a lower thermal load on the air conditioning. In some cases, especially in high-power setups or when using Class A amps, things can get a bit hot. The amount of air in the boot usually suffices to be recirculated and used for natural convection-based cooling purposes. If the manufacturer knows that the amp is prone to getting hot because of an inadequate heat sink or something, he'll give you a cooling fan or two.

2. When you throw open the trunk lid, the boys go "Whoa, Niiiiice Rack!!"

3. It's easier to perform minor tweaks, replace fuses etc. Things can get tough under some seats.

Disadvantages of having amps in the boot:

1. A few kilometers of cabling.

2. Your mother-in-law just smashed the gleaming window pane on the amp with her suitcase.

3. Corpses in the trunk are gonna start complaining about the heat before you get to the waterfront.

4. If there are multiple amps, and some are mounted on the opposite side walls of the trunk, you either need a really long ground wire for one or some of the amps, or you stand the chance of inviting ground loops. This is cos you ideally gotta ground the amps together.

Advantages of having amps under the seat:

1. You save a packet if you're using expensive power and interconnect cabling.

2. No one can tell if your amps happen to look like your backside.

3. Winters cease to bother you much.

Disadvantages of having amps under the seat:

1. Man, you gotta stay outta Surat and stuff. Or anything remotely close to that place. The first piece of valuable electrical equipment in the line of fire.

2. You should lay out a welcome mat for dust, grime, bhel puri, a few cockroaches and their in-laws/ offsprings.

3. The boys merrily kick the plugs of your RCA cables.

4. It gives 'warming the seat' a whole new meaning.

5. Tweaking and fuse replacements could be a problem.

very well said this must be added to glossary section too.....

[jinu_joseph]

Originally Posted by Bass&Trouble

Advantages of amps in the boot:

3. Corpses in the trunk are gonna start complaining about the heat before you get to the waterfront.

Did somebody squeal on me... how did this leak out.. was the complaint written or verbal...


Jokes apart, absolutely brilliant explanation B&T.. thanks.

[Technocrat]

Great explaination B&T now I have one query why are amps in expensive setups put under fibre glass compartment ? wont they prevent circulation of air ?

Also I have seen quitea few installs where the amps are put on sidewalls of the boot, is it bad ?

[navin]

I prefer the back of the rear seat.

1. it is easy to tune the sub as all you have to do is bring the seat down then you can tune the sub while in the cabin.
2. your mom in law's bags wont break anything.
3. wires are discrete.

Since most rear seats are 60/40 put the bigger amp on the 60 side (if you have 2 amps).

[Bass&Trouble]

Originally Posted by Technocrat

Great explaination B&T now I have one query why are amps in expensive setups put under fibre glass compartment ? wont they prevent circulation of air ?

Also I have seen quitea few installs where the amps are put on sidewalls of the boot, is it bad ?

Put under fiberglass or under plexiglass? I think you mean plexiglass, which is see-through. In any case, it's just for the whole thing to look nice.

Sometimes, the plexiglass box is also constructed so that multiple amps can be tunnel-cooled with fans on either side of the whole assembly.

Nothing wrong with amps on the side walls so long as you can't see the other ends of the screws from the outside of the car. It's a good idea to fit a board and then mount the amp on it.

[navin]

Originally Posted by Bass&Trouble

...It's a good idea to fit a board and then mount the amp on it.

ooops I read that as "fit the broad and then mount..." :-)

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by navin

ooops I read that as "fit the broad and then mount..." :-)

You see?? You see B&T, there is advice on dating here. You see?

By the way, looks like the old man's feels like a little frisky humour today

[manson]

friend's getting a swift in a couple of days. needs a standard (good quality, nothing fancy) mp3 player and a decent speakers/components/sub set up, basically the best he can manage in 12-15k (more like 12k, 15 would need slightly stretching his budget) including the player.

He's not at all a car guy, and thinks of my 2 sony 222 amp and sub setup really good. hope you guys have an idea of what he is looking for now.

manson.

[rareone]

Sell him ur Setup and you can upgrade your system to a better one...

Thatz just my opinion...

Dont mind

[gunbir]

Originally Posted by rareone

Sell him ur Setup and you can upgrade your system to a better one...Thatz just my opinion...

Hahah... that was exactly what I was thinking...

[manson]

Originally Posted by rareone

Sell him ur Setup and you can upgrade your system to a better one...

quite frankly i think what i have is pretty much what i needed almost 6 years back, and it surely keeps me almost satisfied till date. And i'm not much of an ICE fan.
Infact in my other cars i have a player, four speakers and thats about it. At maximum i'll probably add a sub and amp to any of my systems even in future.
How about some advice for my friend though?

manson.

[jkdas]

Manson: 12k

6inch co-ax X 2 pair => 3.5k~4k X 2 => 7~8k

4k for HU; Pio HU (grey) and Blau HU. tight fit!

[manson]

thanks JK. what brand of speakers though, jbl right?
i think he could stretch a little here and there, so should be able to find a HU for say 6 and everything would fall into place. thanks again.

manson.

[navin]

Actually he might manage this...

6K for HU Sony, Pioneer, Blaupunkt etc...
6K for 2 pair 6" CS series from JBL.

Pls note: I am not one normally given to specify one brand however after listening to JBL's CS series and comapring it to similarly priced rpoducts from Sony, Pioneer and Blaupunkt GTO series (on 3 different occasions) I am hardening to the opinion that there are few better alternatives. Alpine's Type S is a bit more and more comapred to JBL GTO series. Still I would advice the buyer to listen and compare atleast 3 products in the same price range.

[vikramshetty101]

Hey SAM, could you pls tell me which is the best place in delhi to get a car audio system fitted.