New sub install on stock head unit

[Sublime10c]

First thing first. . Forget the Capacitor. It does nothing. . . I really dont feel like explaining why, but I have expressed my stance on them here before. You can read through this thread if you want to find out why Capacitors =

 

FAIL http://www.hondaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=23890&hl=

 

Intead of a cap, Upgrade the big 3 with 2-4 awg wiring:

 

1) Alternator Positive to Battery Positive (optional fuse)

2) Battery Negative to Chassis

3) Chassis to Engine Block

 

Now. . . For subs I would look into these guys. . .

 

Alpine Type R -

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseac...Product_ID=2529

 

Diamond Audio D312D2.2 -

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseac...Product_ID=6566

 

MMATS P2.0 -

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseac...Product_ID=2153

 

RE Audio RE12 -

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseac...Product_ID=4905

 

Audioque SDC2.512 -

http://www.audioque.com/aq/SDC2_5_Series.htm

 

Just to name off some. . My favorite of that list would be the Audioque or the Type R

 

For a budget amp, this is hands down the best budget performing amp i ever touched. . . http://carjamz.com/zen/index.php?main_page...roducts_id=2392

 

Just make sure if you get that amp, pair it up with a sub that handles 500watts RMS or less. . . and get the sub in a dual 2 ohm configuration so you can wire it at 4 ohms.

 

As far as the box, are you competent enough to build your own?

 

And will you be doing all the installation your self?

 

I didn't want to jack the other thread so i figured I'd start a new one.

 

I have an 02 accord coupe 4 cyl not sure if it's an lx or ex and I want to add a decent budget sub and amp to improve the sound range on the stock head unit. My main question is are those subs still a good choice for me.

 

Originally I didn't plan on doing the Big 3 but it makes sense and I was wondering how much the wiring will cost me. My friend had a sub installed in his car and he's telling me that the wiring kit alone cost him $80. I'm not too worried about the cost because I'd rather do a quality job but I was just wondering how much the wiring would end up costing me.

 

I have a bunch of other questions but my head is all muddled right now because I've been staring at the comp screen at work all morning haha. I'll post as they become more clear.

 

EDIT: apparently I have an EX according to my profile haha. Sorry, haven't been on here in a while as you can tell by my post count and join date.

[Sublime10c]

From what I've looked at so far on other forums this seems to be the way I'm supposed to wire everything in. I was just wondering if this was correct and if that relay and fuse are needed.

 

[Kastigir]

Fuse yes, relay no. Typically it's harder to add amps and subs to factory headunits due to the lack of pre-amp out connections. Many amps do accept line-level inputs, but it's not as clean a sound as pre-amp connections.

[airjordan223]

$80 for a wiring kit? either he was getting ripped off by a shop or everything was solid gold. usually its about half that. and yeah no relay

[CBRF4i]

$80 for a wiring kit? either he was getting ripped off by a shop or everything was solid gold. usually its about half that. and yeah no relay

 

Probably a monster cable kit or something he forked out needless money for

[Sublime10c]

Yeah it probably was a monster cable kit. He like's to talk like he knows a lot about everything but it's all show haha. no practical knowledge.

 

I've actually been thinking about this project and I'm starting to think I'll just be better off changing the head unit. I originally didn't want to because I thought I liked the 6 cd changer but after spending more time in my car I figured out that I just use my ipod anyway and it's a bit useless haha. So now I'm looking for a decent head unit with an auxiliary input. My main concern is the complexity of the interface. it drives me nuts when people's hu's have all these little tiny buttons that you can't read. I like my stock hu with the huge 1-6 buttons and big dials haha.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your input so far guys.

[CBRF4i]

Yeah it probably was a monster cable kit. He like's to talk like he knows a lot about everything but it's all show haha. no practical knowledge.

 

I've actually been thinking about this project and I'm starting to think I'll just be better off changing the head unit. I originally didn't want to because I thought I liked the 6 cd changer but after spending more time in my car I figured out that I just use my ipod anyway and it's a bit useless haha. So now I'm looking for a decent head unit with an auxiliary input. My main concern is the complexity of the interface. it drives me nuts when people's hu's have all these little tiny buttons that you can't read. I like my stock hu with the huge 1-6 buttons and big dials haha.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your input so far guys.

 

http://www.woofersetc.com/p7524/DEHP401HD-...rol-of-iPod.htm

[Sublime10c]

http://www.woofersetc.com/p7524/DEHP401HD-...rol-of-iPod.htm

 

I like that unit a lot. I was also searching myself though and came up with this: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_613BT838U/Ken...tures_and_specs. Unfortunately I also realize this goes against my hatred of confusing interfaces haha, but instead of coming with hd radio it comes with bluetooth installed and right now I have more use for the bluetooth than hd radio because the radio stations by my school in PA are terrible so i rarely listen to them. The wiring harness and install kit are free with purchase for it as well which is a plus.

[CBRF4i]

I like that unit a lot. I was also searching myself though and came up with this: http://www.crutchfield.com/p_613BT838U/Ken...tures_and_specs. Unfortunately I also realize this goes against my hatred of confusing interfaces haha, but instead of coming with hd radio it comes with bluetooth installed and right now I have more use for the bluetooth than hd radio because the radio stations by my school in PA are terrible so i rarely listen to them. The wiring harness and install kit are free with purchase for it as well which is a plus.

 

check this one then. .. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130P4100UB/Pi...UB.html?tp=5684

[djm4rshm2llow]

Yeah it probably was a monster cable kit. He like's to talk like he knows a lot about everything but it's all show haha. no practical knowledge.

 

I've actually been thinking about this project and I'm starting to think I'll just be better off changing the head unit. I originally didn't want to because I thought I liked the 6 cd changer but after spending more time in my car I figured out that I just use my ipod anyway and it's a bit useless haha. So now I'm looking for a decent head unit with an auxiliary input. My main concern is the complexity of the interface. it drives me nuts when people's hu's have all these little tiny buttons that you can't read. I like my stock hu with the huge 1-6 buttons and big dials haha.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your input so far guys.

 

Yeah, if I were you I would go with a 0 gauge wire. I have already redone mine twice because i started with 8 gauge and completely regretted it. Trying to be a cheap ass. Now I am at 4 gauge which is good, but still not enough for what I am pushing. Personally i am not a fan of amp kits, they usually rip you off with crappy wire that looks big because of the huge casing.

 

As for the head unit you definatly should go for aftermarket, I wanted to keep mine because it looked nice but it ended up being a pain so I went aftermarket and havnt heard better sound in my life. Which type? Both kenwood and pioneer are great brands to look at but if you are trying to go cheap i bought my alpine http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/p...?model=iDA-X303 . At bestbuy they have them for 100 dollars now a days.