I'm looking to add some components to the front of my truck while on a budget. This is the setup I'm thinking of and just wondering if you all thought it would be good or if I should check out something else?

For a amp I was thinking of going with the Alpine MRP-F450.

For components I was thinking of going with Polk Audio db6501.

For rear speakers I have a set of 6.5" Polk Audio DB coaxials already.

For the distribution block I was thinking of the StreetWires DBX44.

Then using Street Wires 14 guage speaker wire to wire the speakers up. Sound like a good setup?

I will be using a 4 guage Street Wires wiring kit into the dist. block and two four guage cables going out of it into the amps. Both with an inline fuse before the amps.

My other question is I know you are supposed to run the power and rca cables down a different sides of the car or truck in this case but what about speaker wire? When running my speaker wire from the amp to the door speakers do I need to run both sides up the side with the RCA's then cross over under the dash or can I run it up the side with the power cables? Thanks.

 

Sounds like a solid setup.

Speaker cable should be run on the side with the RCA's.

 

Thanks. Thats what I was thinking but I wasn't positive. I have a feeling this will be a pita to install.

 

Would I be better off going with the Polk Momo components over the DB line? I think I've mostly decided on what I want but can't decide between these two speakers.

 

My next question is will 5 1/4" speakers sound as good as 6.5"? It looks like on my truck there is an issue with how tall the 6 1/2 speakers are even though they say they are the same size as the Polks I have in there now. I think the ones I have now may slightly touch the door panel though although it's the tweeter not the woofer. Should I try and make the 6.5"s fit or should I get 5 1/4"s?

 

MM&Y of truck? 94

 

01 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab with stock Infinity system. Right now I have Polk 6.5" DB series speakers that will be moved to the rear, Alpine 9830 head unit, and 2 12" Infinity subs. I went ahead and ordered the setup above with the 6.5" Polk DB components and figured I should be able to get them to fit as they are the same dimensions according to the specs as the ones I have now and they seem to fit.

 

Do you already have a subwoofer amp? The mrpf450 doesn't need 4 gauge.

 

I do already have a sub amp but it's just a cheap Profile amp with 500watts rms at 2 ohms. I have a 4 guage wiring kit now and was going to run 4 guage into the dist block and 4 guage out of it to both amps. I have the inline fuse after the battery that comes with the street wires kit and am going to add another one on each cable after the dist block.

 

There is no need to add another set of fuses after the distribution block providing the fuse size up front is sufficient (which it certainly should be if you are running a streetwires kit).

Fusing that far back would do nothing anyways, as your amps have built in fuses, and the underhood fuse will protect the wire itself.

I don't believe the mrpf450 will take 4 gauge in btw, only 8 gauge, but I could be wrong

 

Crutchfield said 4 guage would work that 8 is just the minimum they would advise for it. I hope they are right as I've ordered a dist block that outputs 4 guage and a lot of 4 guage wire.

So it's not point in putting a fuse after the dist block? I ordered fuse holders but not sure if I will use them or not then. I saw Crutchfield said in the description for the dist block that they recommended putting a fuse in each line coming out of it. Thats why I ordered inline fuses.

 

I've installed several stereo's but this is the first setup I've done with more than one amp.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hometheaterman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Crutchfield said 4 guage would work that 8 is just the minimum they would advise for it. I hope they are right as I've ordered a dist block that outputs 4 guage and a lot of 4 guage wire.

So it's not point in putting a fuse after the dist block? I ordered fuse holders but not sure if I will use them or not then. I saw Crutchfield said in the description for the dist block that they recommended putting a fuse in each line coming out of it. Thats why I ordered inline fuses. </TD></TR></TABLE>

You should always used a fused distribution block because typically if you're using a dist block then you're going to have a larger supply wire and then multiple smaller wires going out. when you reduce the wire size you have to fuse according to the wire size. The fuse in the amp is going to do nothing but protect the amp. Its a common misconception that the fusing is there to protect the equipment but its not. Its there to protect the wiring.

In your situation its not necessary to fuse after the distribution block although i see no reason to have 2 4AWG out if you only have a single 4AWG in. You're not going to gain anything.

 

So with this setup will I be okay to just put a inline fuse after the dist. block in each line? The reason I didn't get a fused dist block is a family member works at a local car audio store and I can get a family discount on stuff and they only carry 2 dist. blocks both Street Wires but neither are fused ones. Thats why I wanted to go with this setup.

 

How about this, forget about the distribution block completely, run the 4ga power lead for the sub amp, [hopefully it came with an ANL fuse] then run an 8ga or 6ga power lead, [also with an ANL fuse] for the 4ch amp, eliminate all the extra connections that result with the use of splitter/distribution blocks, [connections=resistance and points of oxidization which=more resistance].

Separate power leads for high-pass and low-pass amps is a much better way to power the amps anyway, and not just because it eliminates extra, unnecessary and unwanted connections, it's also better for SQ, especially at higher volume levels. 94