Thread: Hippo's Audio Build Help

Hows that look?

One thing I like to do when making an enclosure is to make my facia, rear, top and bottom boards about 1" longer than they need to be. Then recess both side boards in .5". This lip will give you something to grab onto when you need to pick up the box, move it around, etc. It actually makes it easier to carpet as well.

Me likey. I will do that for sure.

Impulse bought an amp that I kinda got a deal on. It's a 2 channel 80w rms x 2 @ 4 ohm amp, for my two front speakers!!!

It's a Boston Acoustics GTA-802 hope it fares well.

Originally Posted by Hippo Machine

Impulse bought an amp that I kinda got a deal on. It's a 2 channel 80w rms x 2 @ 4 ohm amp, for my two front speakers!!!

It's a Boston Acoustics GTA-802 hope it fares well.

Your only amplifying the front now along with your subs? What about the rears? Also, installation just got a bit more involved with a two amplifier setup. Going to need a distribution block for your ground and power, 2 more sets of rcas for your right and left full range inputs, find a place to mount both of them, and then run new speaker wire from your two channel amplifier to your new front door speakers. Let us know if you need any more help with this larger burdon.

You're going to want to consider a big 3 now. You should've have too many problems, but a Big 3 is going to immediately eliminate any power draw issues you'll probably begin to experience.

Originally Posted by chamilton89

Your only amplifying the front now along with your subs? What about the rears? Also, installation just got a bit more involved with a two amplifier setup. Going to need a distribution block for your ground and power, 2 more sets of rcas for your right and left full range inputs, find a place to mount both of them, and then run new speaker wire from your two channel amplifier to your new front door speakers. Let us know if you need any more help with this larger burdon.

Okay, yes I will have two amps for now, maybe a third for the rears in the future. The amp kit i ordered comes with a pair of rca's, speaker wire, etc. Can you explain what you mean by distribution block? Also you said two sets of RCAs?

I will do the big 3 upgrade. Anything I need to know specifically about this on a GP?

Is there a kit somewhere I can order an upgrade kit that isn't going to cost an arm and a leg?

I understand the distribution block thing now, will order when I order the sub amp. I need one for the round too??


Also my sub came in the mail today (record timing), don't expect it to go in anytime this month.

One set of RCA's will be all you need for the 2 channel. But if you plan on running 4 channel in the future, I'd go ahead and save yourself the headache and run another set since you're already tearing everything apart to run the 1 set. If you are planning on amplifying all four speakers, I would really recommend just waiting and getting a 4 channel. You dont want to buy 2 amps to do a job 1 amp can do because you are now splitting your main power wire 3 ways. Just for reference....a 2 gauge wire splits into 2-4gauge wires and 4-8gauge wires. A 4 gauge wire splits into 2-8gauge wires....and so on.

Would this block work? StreetWires DBX3434 3-way power distribution block — 4-gauge inputs and outputs at Crutchfield.com

I'm ordering an amp right now as well, got a great deal on a mono.

Does anybody know approximately how far these wires should be on our cars?
1. Alt output to battery positive.
2. Battery negative to chassis.
3. Chassis to engine block.

I posted this is my car thread too:

Ohhhh I see now. I'm going to probably end up with 3 amps when I'm done, this is starting ta get complicado amigo. I will need some help, so bare with me. Should I power the amps all off of one 1/0 wire from the battery? My hu has three pre amp outputs, one for front, one for rear, and one for sub, will i need 3 sets of rca's to run from the hu to the trunk? I think it would be easiest to have all amps in the trunk, for power reasons.

This is completely new to me.. so please help!!

Question why not do a 4 or 6 channel vs 3 amps ? You could take care of the speaks with one and the sub with the other. And yes need 3 sets of rca's front, rear and sub.

Thanks for answering the question. I didn't want to do the 4 channel amp cuz I got a good deal on a 2-channel. BUT I can return it if you really think it will make the install alot easier. LET ME KNOW what you think.

Looking at 4-channel amplifiers, I found this one Pioneer GM-D9500F 4-channel car amplifier — 75 watts RMS x 4 at Crutchfield.com it's a little bit lower power than I would like for the 6x9's but it should be okay.

Honestly man... It add's weight, and just takes up more space. If you can return it and get a 4 chan.

Agreed, get a 4-channel. Also sorry, I must've just got offline when you PM'd me.

For Big 3 lengths, it's really a matter of doing a little measuring, but for all grounds, the shorter the better, we're talking 3 ft. max if you must. For battery ground to chassis, 1 ft is enough, for engine ground to chassis, you should be able to squeeze by with 2-2.5ft. For Alt to power. 6-7 ft will give you good wiggle room. Measure it out, add maybe half a foot to each measurement, order that much, then you should be safe.

I've seen peeps use 0ga wire for the big 3 and they actually picked up a mpg.

Originally Posted by rynoman03

I've seen peeps use 0ga wire for the big 3 and they actually picked up a mpg.

Wouldn't doubt it. Modern day cars depend so much on the electrical running smoothly, if you have better, less resistant flow... anything is possible.

Originally Posted by SeanGTP

Wouldn't doubt it. Modern day cars depend so much on the electrical running smoothly, if you have better, less resistant flow... anything is possible.

Funny you should say that. Larger wire is more resistant than smaller. The only reason you use larger gauge wire for such projects is to make sure of can handle the increAsed amperage without getting too toasty. Anyhow, unless you planning on putting more than 1K watts worth of stereo in your car, I wouldn't worry too much about this big three upgrade. Just a huge expenditure of money for no gain. The only reason you should do that upgrade is because you have too. The stock alternator and wiring should do okay with draws less than 1k, above that however, the big three is critical.