DIY with Mike Stiers www.maxxsonics.com So you've decided to upgrade your car stereo system? A great deal of research and planning should go into this purchase since there is a lot to consider. Do you desire a nice upgrade of your factory speakers, are you looking for a Sound Quality overall of speakers, subwoofers and amplifiers, or are you designing a vision-blurring SPL machine? It is important to make a list of exactly what you are looking to replace or add to your audio system so that you can prepare your electrical system for the investment to come. Many people do not realize that their vehicles factory electrical system was not designed for aftermarket audio equipment. In fact, most factory electrical systems can only handle an audio system of 600 to 1200 watts. The lower end of the scale being the smaller vehicles and most foreign rides, and the upper end being large trucks and sport utility vehicles. As you increase demand, you need to look at upgrading your battery, alternator and most importantly your Big 3. THE BIG 3 The Big 3 consists of upgrading three wires under the hood of your vehicle. You can completely replace the three wires detailed below, or simply add additional wires to existing factory wires, the choice is yours. The existing factory wires are generally 8 gauge or smaller and are not designed for the high current demands of an aftermarket audio system. It is recommended that you use a nice insulated 0 gauge wire so that you only have to do this ...
The tuning process for a car's amplifier is the most important process after installation, and this is done by turning the amplifier down, turning the radio to three-quarters volume, and then turning the amplifier up until it sounds good. Find out how to tune a car amplifier so there isn't any distortion with help from a car sound system designer in this free video on car audio tips.
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50 users responded in this post
@KillerKlown707 In this example, the alternator chassis is bolted DIRECTLY to the engine and there is no need for a wire from alternator chassis to ground. In some vehicles the alternator is mounted separately and a separate ground wire from alternator chassis to battery ground would be ideal for continuity? of the circuit.
@craiovitaaa Yes, to qualify? as 0 awg, the cable must be 53.5mm2 or larger. ( AWG= American Wire Guage )
@BigLongJon21 The size of your wire from the front battery to the amp(s) is dependent upon your total watts. I like running 0 awg to a distribution block in the? back so that you can add your amplifier(s) to that block and expand from there. What is the total watts rms of your system?
@Dinam1ta With 1200wrms, you have likely? exceeded the capability of your battery/alternator combo. The BIG 3 helps with delivery on the charging side, but you may need to look at upgrading your battery to a nice deep cycle capable of the power you are working with. Pass on the capacitor as it is a bandaid which can cause more harm to the amplifier and not a solution.
@big827 How much power do you plan to run? It certainly doesn’t hurt to use 0 awg, but something like 4awg would? be ideal around 1000 watts rms. Just an example.
@MrAndrimnir Add a? ground from battery negative to chassis.
@scorpiocityboy Those are 0 awg ring? terminals from Hooker Audio.
@jeffm4688 If you look at 4:09 you will see? that there is a bolt on the factory harness…we simply removed the factory wire that went from that bolt to the battery terminal and replaced it with a longer wire that went to the new battery terminal. Those are Hook Audio battery terminals.
@ninjafisheez Did you lave the stock wires? connected? If not, reconnect the stock wires as well. Most vehicles run the primary charge line from the alternator through a fuse box, then into the battery.
@okjustleave What’s the rms power handling? of each subwoofer?
wht will u prefer this setup to? power
im running 2 10;s? through a 1300watt amp. is that a big enough amp?
HELPPPPPP .I just did the big 3 with my car but didnt do the ground to the? engine block, i replaced the alternator to battery, and battery to frame. my car wont start.. what’s wrong?
How did you guys? extend the factory positive & what kind of terminals were those ?
Hey I and the same scion xb as shown in the video and I was wondering if you could tell me what size terminals were use on the O gauge wire that? you connected to the alternator, strut, and block.. thanks.. great video btw
My battery earth is connected directly to the engine block. Should I just change that cable, or should I also ad one earth from battery? to chassi?
I have a ford focus would it be a good? idea to add a zero gage to my car?
I have a question. I have an amp running 1200w with a stock battery and alternator. My car is acting weird I’m guessing? it’s the battery. Should I upgrade to the big 3, a cap for my battery, or just a better battery.
dose the wire going? to your amp have to be zero age wire also
dose the wire goning to your amp have to be zero? age wire
does your wire going to your amp have to to be? zero gage too
The blue cable is a 50mm2 cable? ? Or more ?
okay so i get it, but the engine block to car chassis isnt the alternator ground, you dont have to upgrade the actual alternator ground? wire ?
@PlayasWays Check the forums to see if anyone? has successfully completed the BIG 3 on your vehicle and follow their advice. If you don’t have luck going that route, contact a reputable mechanic.
@Bryd3n My best suggestion is to ask? a mechanic.
Please, for the love of your audio equipment, only set your maximum head unit volume and gains? using an oscilloscope or a distortion detector.
i? wish i could afford a dd-1
@clitlickdickstick calm down lol and btw what if its a multichannel amp, and also many head units ive seen also have gain settings, and also in a multiamp setup you also have multiple gains. the only thing? you could maybe “tune” on an amp are xovers and phase settings.
@xmodsdude there is only one? gain you idiot…its called tuning.
oscope? or dd-1.
i hope this guy is not a professional, he is a remedial. he thinks gain deals with power levels outputted by the amplifier. setting gains by ear?!?? haha, get ready for the magic white smoke coming out of the amp.
you dont? tune an amp lol. its called setting the gains
by “turn up the? amp” what do you mean? You mean the gain setting? Because amps have more than one tuning dial.
Thanks for the info! Its been a long time since I have been home. Thanks for being such a helpful neighbor back in the day. I have taken your advice and tips and continued to expand my knowledge in audio over the years. I have been selling timeshare and doing audio on the side. Recently, I started up a lil buiz with the intent of building more clientel. If you have any advice email me @ JNIXAUDIO@GMAIL.COM.I know you have been there done it so? any help would be great.ttyl its Jerel by the way
Senordenis I’m new to? this so not really sure what to do. I have a 1200 watt amp with 2 Chanel. I only going to add a single subwoofer since i drive 08 focus. so what you recommend for a sub?
@SenorDennis OK SO WAHT IF I WANT TO PUT MY WELL THEIR NOT? LIKE SMALL TWEETERS BUT THEY SOUND GOOD THE SIDE SPEAKERS BY THE 2 FRONT DOORS HOW DO I GET THEM TO PLAY CRISP CLEAR ???
@OBARRVAGOS Hertz is frequency.
Lower like 15-50 or so hertz are the real low notes for the subwoofers to play.
And your car speakers are? supposed to play from 80 or 100 hz up.
Tweeters play all the way up to 20,000 hertz. Reeeeeaalllyyy high frequency!
@SenorDennis OK COOL THANKS?
AND WHAT ARE HERTZ ????
@OBARRVAGOS You want the High Pass Filter (HPF) off or at least turned all the way down. And on the Low Pass Filter (LPF) turn it all the way down then play a song with different frequency basslines and turn the LPF up until its at the point where you dont want it playing? any higher notes.
So if your amp has a switch that says HPF, FULL, or LPF. Put it in the LPF setting
@SenorDennis CROSSOVER ???? IT HAS THIS SWITCH AND IT SAYS LPF,FULL, AND HPF BUT HOW DO I SET THE SUBS TO PLAY THE BASS? WITH THE LOWEST VOICE ON THE SUB ????
@OBARRVAGOS Turn down the crossover on the amp. That? is, turn it counter clockwise until it only plays the low frequencies
SO I DO I GET THE SUB TO PLAY LESS VOICE AND HIGH VOICE ???? NEED HELP? !!!!
Use? the SMD DD-1!
You are correct, this is the most important part of a setting up a system. However, there is now a better way!!!!! Check out the new distortion detector tool by d’amore engineering and? SMD. Google it
omg save that necklace? from that neck. brutal….
@xxshadow529 Yea, I want to? buy a new one. What brand is the best? Which do you recommend?
I have two twelve inch Memphis subs with a 1000 watt Sony Xplod? amp. Anybody have any tips?
the best way is using an o- scope,when y was trying to set my speakers gain starts to smell like blow speaker? an the sound without distortion
I tried this with no luck : ( i have a ten inch kicker subwoofer and a kicker dx500.1 amp. Any ideas on tuning that to work??????
?
I just love how all the top rated comments relating to his video is about his? neck lol
I am having a dispute with a friend, once my gains are set, (I have it so? I can go to 27/35 volume without clipping) Will having a bass knob mess up my gains?? He says yes, but I said it only affects the amount of output going to my subwoofer.