Expert: Cleggsan - 1/3/2009

Question
hey, i have got my car audio all ready to go and all i need to do is install it. i will just let you know what i have before i ask you about which cabling i need. i have a sony 1300W sub (XS-L122P5), sony 600W 4 channel amp (XM-554ZR), 2x sony 6"x9" front speakers (XS-GT6937X) and a pioneer headdeck (DEH 3000IB).
firstly, is my amp powerful enough to run my sub and 6x9 speakers?
secondly, which cabling will i need? im sure 4 gauge will be sufficient but i'm not 100% on which will be best
thirdly, is there anything you can think of that i need to know before i go ahead and install all of it?
thank you in advance! :)
cheers,
steve

Answer
1.  Power is relative.  Ignore the power ratings published by the speaker companies; they are mostly advertising hype and only loosely related to their actual power ratings.  Sensitivity is a more reliable figure and will give you a closer idea of how much sound you will get out of them.

But, yes, you have enough power - but it depends on how loud you plan to be playing them AND how they are mounted in the car.

2.  Yes, 4 gauge wire is okey for your installation (ground and 12v main that come from the battery).  Remote turn-on wire can be small size.

3.  You should cobble the system together just temporarily to make sure it is all working as expected before going ahead with the permanent installation and wiring.

Check a few installation ideas from Internet sites that you can google for.  

4.  You want to make sure you have the speaker mounted in a proper box inside the car.  Here are the specs (from crutchfield) that will guide you more;

# 12" 4-ohm subwoofer
# five-sided polypropylene cone with foamed rubber surround
# frequency response: 18-2,000 Hz
# power range: 90-380 watts RMS (1,300 watts peak power)
# sensitivity: 89 dB
# top-mount depth: 5-1/4"
# sealed box volume: 1.15 cubic feet
# ported box volume: 0.82 cubic feet
# Recommended Q-Logic Box Type: 1, 2

Note the power requirement is only 90 - 380 watts continuous.  Also, note the sensitivity is only 89db which is a little on the low side.  A good subwoofer with 92db sensitivity would give you twice the acoustic power output with the same electrical input!  Just for example.

All the best,
C