Need some Amp help!

[Amos]

Hey there, before I go out and buy a whole bunch of speakers... I'd like to know what can be put into the festiva! I'll be using a Pioneer AVIC-N3 head unit. So far I'm thinking;

JBL GTO28 GRAND TOURING 5-1/4" 2-WAY speakers in the doors
and
JBL GTO928 GRAND TOURING 6x9" 2-WAY speakers in the cargo cover.

Now.. I've got two different choices for an Amp.. I'm a little confused about them.

The speaker specs are;

# 2-way 5-1/4" loudspeakers (pair)
# 135 watts peak power
#45 watts RMS power
# Plus One woofer cone
#1" My-Ti Unipoint tweeter with level control
#Frequency response: 70Hz-21kHz
#Sensitivity: 91dB
#Mounting depth: 5-5/16"
# Impedance: 2 ohms

# 2-way 6x9" loudspeakers (pair)
#300 watts peak power
#100 watts RMS power
# Plus One woofer cone
#1" My-Ti Unipoint tweeter with level control
#Frequency response: 45Hz-21kHz
#Sensitivity: 94dB
#Mounting depth: 74mm
#Cutout diameter: 151mm x 221mm
#Impedance: 2 ohms

Now my two choices for amps would be (Please correct me if it's wrong.. I know nothing about car audio);

# 320-Watt 4-channel Full-Range Amplifier
# 60 Watts RMS x 4 channel at 4 Ohms
# 80 Watts RMS x 4 channel at 2 Ohms
# Total Peak power: 640W
# CEA-2006A Compliant
# Signal-to-noise ratio: 85dBA (reference 1W into 4 ohms)
# Signal-to-noise ratio: 102dBA (reference rated power into 4 ohms)
# THD + N: 0.05% (rated power at 4 ohms)
# Built-in variable electronic crossover
# Variable bass EQ on rear channel
# Frequency response: 10Hz-1000Hz
# RCA low-level preamp inputs
# RCA low-level pramp outputs
# Dimensions: 12" (L) x 9-1/4" (W) x 2-1/8" (H)

Or;

# 600-Watt 4-Channel Full-Range Amplifier
# 100 Watts RMS x 4 channel at 4 Ohms
# 150 Watts RMS x 4 channel at 2 Ohms
# CEA-2006A Compliant
# Signal-to-noise ratio: 85dBA (reference 1W into 4 ohms)
# Signal-to-noise ratio: 104dBA (reference rated power into 4 ohms)
# THD + N: 0.05% (rated power at 4 ohms)
# Built-in variable electronic crossover
# Variable Bass Boost (0 to + 12dB @50Hz)
# Frequency response: 10Hz-100kHz
# RCA low-level preamp inputs
# RCA low-level pramp outputs
# Cast-aluminum heatsink
# Requires 4 gauge power and ground wiring
# Dimensions: 18-9/16" (L) x 10-3/8" (W) x 2-1/8" (H) (It will fit.. but extend into the back seat if I place it under the seat)

Now here's my questions;
Which amp would be better suited to my speaker setup?
Is there anything wrong with my amp selections?
What's the "height" of speaker that fits well in the door (I know I can make a bushing, but I don't want them to stick out tooooo much)?
I mostly listen to rock, ska, punk, classical and blues... Do I REALLY need a sub?
Anything else I need to know?

[perucho]

Both amps have higher wattage ratings that the front speakers. If you push them, you'll have blown speakers. I think you can get by if the mounting depth for the front speakers is under 2-inches. The mounting depth specs on those front speakers has to be wrong (5-5/16" mounting depth on 5-1/4" diameter speakers?).
Yes, you need a sub. An 8" in a bazooka-type tube will work though.

[Flyin4stroke]

Just have to turn down the front channel on the amp... Either amp will work its just do you want to push the limits.. The first amp will give you loud quality sounds.. But the second amp will give you louder quality sounds.. I would say if it is bridgeable bridge the 2 front speakers on one channel which will cut the watts in half for each speaker and use the extra channel for a sub.. Bigger is better its the american way..

[Flyin4stroke]

oh yeah look up sound stream its the same as your avatar kinda funny i thought

[Amos]

Well I'm Canadian... So I think I'll continue my quest for a modest system! Lol!

I'm not looking for a super loud booming sound system, I'm just looking for something that'll give me nice crisp sounds. I think I'll go with the lower wattage amp... The 1st amp will fit MUCH better inside my car anyways lol

What size speakers fit in the front speaker places?

I think I'll leave the sub out for now.. and if I feel I need it I'll pick it up after

[Flyin4stroke]

I forget what i put into a festiva once i wanna say 6.5 could probably find it in a search..

[Amos]

6.5?! That seems for the stock front speaker mounting place!

Are you sure?? I think I've got 5's in there right now installed by the previous owner.. and they screwed up the grill pretty badly

[Flyin4stroke]

oh you are talking about in the stock spots? im not sure what those are i think they are only 4's..... I thought you were talking about mounting new in your doors my bad getting ahead of myself....

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11364&highlight=front+door+speaker+size

[perucho]

I thought the same thing. The 2" backspace I was talking about was for door installation.

[Flyin4stroke]

JBL GTO28 GRAND TOURING 5-1/4" 2-WAY speakers in the doors
and
JBL GTO928 GRAND TOURING 6x9" 2-WAY speakers in the cargo cover.


This is where i got that from....

[Amos]

I'm talking about mounting new speakers everywhere

I'm planning on getting some 5 1/4" in the doors... but wondering if adding 4" in the stock spot up front would make any difference at all?

My plan looks like this;

Possibly 4's in the dash up front
5 1/4" in the doors
6-9's in the cargo cover
Possibly another set of 5 1/4" in the stock place in the rear

[Flyin4stroke]

You will need like a 15 channel amp...

[Team Lightning]

Amos: I'm running 6.5's in the doors. Plan to put 6.5's in the cargo cover with my new system.
Also have a 10" sub for the back.
Jerry

[Amos]

You will need like a 15 channel amp...

I see... So sticking to 4 speakers and a sub it is!

Now all I've gotta do is find out how long those JBL GT528's are.. hopefully they're not as long as the description... they'd almost be square!

[Flyin4stroke]

im just kidding if you want you can run a 4 channel amp with 6 speakers but you will just be lessening the true power of the speakers.. You can put 50 speakers in a car but without the power 4 speakers will blow them away that have the right power... Kinda hard to understand but i have seen in person with an old system i built i amped the crap out of my 6x9's and you couldn't even tell that those were the only 2 good speakers in the car everyone would ask how big and how many i would say 2 6x9's they were loud enough for me 2 hear over 12's