Help For A Newbie

[stukaoo2]

Hello all,

Like most people on this forum I'm looking for some info and advice on installing some stereo equipment. I've recently been gifted some mtx audio gear from a mate of mine,

MTX thunder 6000 12' sub

MTX rt251d monoblock

MTX ta 3404 4ch

Now, I'm pretty much a novice when it comes to stereo installations, I've just installed a couple of 6' splits and an amp into my hilux work ute over the weekend and I think I'm getting the bug.

After reading through a hell of a lot of information in this forum I've come to the conclusion that I really only have 3 options if I want to use this gear with the icc, I can use a line convertor from my rear speaker wires, I can use one of these LC6 jobs for a better result or I can modify my icc with rca pre outs.

I'm fortunate enough to have my better half's XT to experiment on before I move onto my T ute. The plan is to install this gear into her sedan so I have an excuse to spend money on my ute!

I'm not sure which way to go yet, obviously the line converter is the cheapest option, but are all line convertors on par? or is there a specific brand/make I should be looking for if I choose to take this route? I'm a stickler for sound, so I would really like to avoid this option as I understand that the line convertor will un-amp (is that the right word???) the signal and then it will be amp'd again by my.... amp... that's a lot of amp's. Is this correct?

From what I can gather the LC6 is a convertor also but it is just more efficient? can I expect excellent sound quality from this unit? I'm also keen on doing all the work myself, is this a difficult task to wire it in? Also, should I expect to spend around the $300 mark?

The icc rca pre out option sounds like the best option to me as I like to keep things neat and tidy, the less wires the better. I've searched ASL's website but I can't find any mention of this mod. Does anybody have a rough idea of the cost? is there someone in Brisbane that can do this mod, or are ASL my best bet? I've seen Quadie's thread with the guide to doing this job, but both links seem to be dead so I haven't had a chance to look at it to see the work it entails.

I know this has been long winded, and I appreciate anybody who takes the time to reply to this, but I have one last question... and I think it might show how limited my knowledge of this sound stuff is, but I digress. After fitting up my $40 boss audio amp to my hilux, I noticed that it has two lots of rca inputs, one for front and one for rear. I only have one lot of rca outputs on my dodgy Kenwood hu (which I have plugged into the "front" input) if I decide to use the rear channels, or if I decide to bridge it for a sub, how do I get a signal into the "rear" input? I know this is probably a silly question, but as I said, my first install took place this weekend, so take it easy on me.... please

Thanks in advance guys...

Stuka002

[sicklaser]

I've sone about a dozen installs in ba/bf falcons and I only use the rockford fosgate 360. awesome product and by far the best I have used. the systems have sounded as good as using an aftermarket head unit. I know they probably the most expensive option but I wouldnt use anything else. you should be able to get one for about $500. the other ones have no sort of equaliser or anything so you can only rely on the bass/treble on the factory icc

[Azid Rush]

if it was me, id buy an awesome head unit for $350 rather than 500 on the rockford fosgate 360 but that's just my opinion, lot better and more options with a head unit. The price of cheap head units these days I wouldnt even bother with line converters and such

[sicklaser]

yeah fair enough too. I used one in my car as I wanted to use the 6 disc premo sound and all the steering wheel controls. the steering controls are only a gimic but its hard to think of not having them lol

[stukaoo2]

Thanks for the advice fella's, but after getting this gear off my mate I found that the mono block was dead so I decided to just use the four channel and amp the front speakers and bridge the resr channel for the sub in the boot.

I did my research on the amp and found that it was capable of accepting high level input so I got a couple of female rca plugs from jaycar and soldered the front left and front right speaker wires onto the back of them. I screwed together a couple of small mdf offcuts and screwed the rca plugs into the mdf. Then I mounted it just above the passenger side kick panel out of the way. Then it was just a case of running the rca's to the amp in the boot.

The mtx amp doesn't require a remote wire if its being fed a high level input, so it was all pretty straight forward. I just plugged it all in and away it went. When the missus got home from work I got her to sit in the car so I could set the gain on the sub and the front speakers, I told her to let me know when she was happy with the level "doof"... to cut a long story short, she said there was too much "doof" with the gain all the way down! (I thought it sounded just right with the gain at about a 1/4) So the system thumps.

All in all I'd have to say it was a success, if there's any other audio newbies out there thinking about giving it a go... I say do it. I've picked up a heap of knowledge along the way, so when it comes time for a stereo in my turbo, I'll be confident I can handle the job! I forgot the names of the various members who have posted up detailed guides for this and and that on these forums, but without them I would have been in a lot of trouble.... so thanks fellas!

[PHANTMXR6]

Pictures?

[stukaoo2]

sure,

heres the rca adapter I made up sitting in behind the glovebox

I've since got some screw caps to neaten the boot up a bit

sorry for the size of the images, im still working this stuff out.

Anyway, after some bribery (a bloody $250 hair straightener for the missus!!) I managed to get the ok for a system for the ute so I went out and got a sub today, still deciding on the rest of the system, so ill post up pics through the week of the progress.

Edited 06/09/09 09:19 AM by stukaoo2

[smicky]

Mate, you have pulled the cables a little to tight on the amp connections.

Might want to give it just a little bit of slack.

Your RCA's look like they are about to rip out the socket on the AMP's PCB!

Otherwise doesnt look to bad mate!

[stukaoo2]

Thanks for the advice Smicky, I've actually decided to take that amp out and run it in my ute along with a ta3401 mono that I picked up. So I'll mount the next amp a little higher if the rca's are in a similar position.

Can any of you guys give me some advice on a nice budget amp that might be good for the job, it will be driving the front speakers (polk db571's, 5x7 coaxials, 180w max, 60w rms) and the sub (mtx t6000 12', 250w rms, 500w total I think)

Like I said, it will only be in the girls car so price is definatly a factor. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[smicky]

Like I said, it will only be in the girls car so price is definatly a factor. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Come on man - now that's not nice!

Get her a Focal, or something and use a Sony or the good old Trashfield Boss stuff for yourself!

Polk speakers are not to bad - so worth getting something that's not craptacilur to drive them or it will just be a crap sound...

Look at something like a Pioneer, or Clarion - and this should get you out of trouble.

Make sure you match the amp to the requirements of whatever you are going to be driving - speakers, sub etc...

Hope this helps...

:thumsbup: