Need amp setting help. please help.

First time hooking up a system. My install guy, well I think I know more than he does.
Hooking up a

$400 Rockford Fosgate R600X5 Prime 5-Channel Amplifier

Rockford Fosgate R600X5 Prime 5-Channel Amplifier
to a Kenwood DPX500BT, using factory speakers for now,sub behind the seat is Dual 10" Kicker C10 Subwoofer Sub Box Enclosure 600 Watts Peak,all in a 2009 Tacoma DC

First question: Do I need to run new wires to the front speakers to bypass the factory X over(if it has one)?or can I just use the factory wiring?

Second question: Can someone point me to how to tune the amp?
Lots of switches and dials, not sure what to do. Attached is a picture of the amp dials.

 

If you plan on running the amp to the front speakers then you need to run wire to either:
1. The wiring harness behind the HU and use factory wires from there to the speakers
2. Run wires directly from the amp to speakers.

How to tune an amp:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-9Oez18wiAHo/learn/car/subwoofers/tuning.html

Until you hook up the front/rear speakers you don't need to worry about the front/rear gain and crossovers. Set the gain to the lowest point for those for now.

With the sub, #1 rule, Gain IS NOT volume. I'd start with this.

Set your Frequency to 80hz
Set your phase to 0
Gain all the way down
Put on a CD and listen to a song you are very familiar with (or get test tunes)
Turn your HU up to the max level you will listen or 3/4 of the total volume it can output (whatever comes first).
Play your song
Adjust gain on subs until you hear distortion, then back it down until it no longer distorts. Move the gain very slowly and take your time.


Do you ever get down to the Chandler area? If so let me know and you can swing by and I'll tune this for you real fast. Would take me about 10 minutes and I can answer all of your other questions. If not PM me and I'll give you my number and you can call me.

 

Factory speaker wire is anemic when running low power. Most cars I've done nothing but upgrade the wire ends up sounding better. If you're running more power you want better wire.

For Subs, use a multimeter. Download a 50hz 0db track, set any crossover to flat but bump bass settings to max, volume to 75% of max and adjust gains for Voltage. After the amp is tuned reset all the crossover and bass to what you normally listen to. This should give you a buffer to be able to push the system and still not exceed where the amp should be.

For mids/highs I usually set volume at 75% and adjust for what sounds best. Once I pull bass out of them I've never had a problem pushing power, as long as its clean.

x2 on gains not being volume. I've seen voice coils melted down with 0 distortion, sounded great right up to the point they didn't sound at all. Replaced subs, tuned amp (max on gains shouldn't be a setting imo), and years of service.

 

Sounds like it is pretty complex to get these tuned just right, if you do not know what you are doing.
This is my very first install, my buddy gave up on me when I gave him hell for not even knowing what the amp put out, so I am finishing the initial install.
When I get it up and working I will try to tune it as I want to learn.
I will make plans to go to Chandler after the install is done so give me a little time to finish cause I am doing it the correct way, and it takes time.
Thanks to the both of you for your inputs.

 

if you are up for reading a lot check out

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/

one of the best sources of information on car audio. Lots of competitors and enthusiasts sharing a wealth of knowledge.

 

If you want just decent sound and decent volume, here's the route to take. The amp (assuming it's new) will come out of the box with the gains *probably* at 50%. Assuming the max on your amp and max on the sub is about the same, leave it there. Verify it's about 50% but leave it alone and you'll be fine almost all the time. It will be loud and will sound pretty good.

If you want to get *most* of what your amp sub combo can do, read on how to tune with a meter and the above. It's not hard. You do need to know what your amp actually does though.

I run old school RF amps, mainly because they work well and I've had them forever and I just can't kill them. Point being the 100x2 I'm running to my sub actually puts out closer to 400x1, which it turns out is more than my sub really likes. By a lot.

I have limited space in my convertible so sub box size and sound quality was more important than max power handling. By a lot. If I tune to the amp, the sub is really going to melt down in short order so I have to tune down to keep the sub alive. Someday (maybe) I'll upgrade the sub and I'll adjust upwards.

If you want the *best* your amp sub combo can do, you need an oscilloscope and the knowledge on how to use it. Unless you're going after competition volume, it's overkill.

 

I am wanting some good sound, noting overkill, I will read what fregsonfire posted and will hopefully learn.
First time I get to the Chandler area I plan on looking AW9d up to actually get a hands on. Lot to this, very interesting

 

Hit me up (PM) when you are going to head down so I can make sure we meet up. I'll be more than happy to help you out. I love doing stereo work

 

question? is this amp mounted under the front seat?

 

It's always interesting when I get a notification on a thread I don't remember at all, and then find what I posted so many years ago. I didn't think I'd been on this forum for that long, and here are my posts from 4 years ago. Crazy.