I will get pics here quite soon. I lost my USB adapter for my flash card, but I'm going to dig one up tomorrow. Got to catch up on a rim sale thread, too... This post is about me redoing my car audio & a few electronic systems. More on anything but car audio in a later post.

So, I saw some Lighting Audio (division of Rockford Fosgate) sub, box, amp, wires kit for $160 drop to $100, $40, and then $20. I bought 3. There'* a 450W 2-channel amp (50W RMS per channel) and a 750W sub. A friend of mine bought 2 subs and one amp, and now I'm left with 2 amps. I don't care much for the sub, but here'* what I'm doing:

New sound matting for my door panels. One of the few things I don't yet have is the spreading foam for drywalls that I'll spray around. However, I have most of the sound matting ready & waiting.

I'm redoing my front door panels, so I'm going to re-mold the cup holder part to fit better my 5.25" Infinity Kappa dual voice coil three-way speakers. They're 55W RMS each, and they come with adapters for the dual voice coils.

The rear speakers are three-way Infinity Reference 6×9 speakers that are 100W RMS each. I don't like the stock SSEi speaker holders, so there will be some fiberglass work to affix them better. I'll probably use a GLAD containers or something as some ghetto speaker boxes.

I have dual 1200W, 200W RMS Sony Xplod 12" subs, and they have a shared air box that I caulked and hosed down with acrylic. Driving them will be a Rockford Fosgate P801 2400W amp. It'* a great amp, but I haven't yet gotten the remote bass control for it.

I have 3 1.5 farad capacitors. Each amp will get a capacitor, and I'll have a couple of batteries in the trunk aside from my regular operation battery in its stock position. I'm looking into buying a 300A alternator. I've already read up about capacitors, and I think they're keepers once I get 3 power distribution blocks.

The head unit I'll be using is a bit of an aged Pioneer, but it'* got great controls, and I like it a lot. As time goes on, a friend of mine and I will redo the buttons to make it feel new, and we may switch the color over to my dash. Or vice versa. The Pioneer attaches to a 6-CD changer, and I don't know where to place that.

There will be all new battery cables for everything for both the audio & the rest of the car. I'm going to replace the window controls so that they're individually controlled. I may not have them all hooked up at the same time, and the wires are wearing anyway. This is important to note now since I'm redoing the doors.

So, I should end up soon with all new light controls, door peripherals, audio, and whatnot. I'm starting this forum to have you guys root for me as I'm doing this since my car'* interior is gutted, and college classes start on Wednesday. Hooray for everyone. This will probably be the most insane thing I've ever done. I haven't slept, and I'll need lots of coffee. Pictures - oh the pictures!

To be perfectly honest with you, it is kinda overkill on the capacitors, batteries and everything, I am running 3 amps right now, 2 rockford fosgate power 350s, and an infinity refrence 7541a, and right now I do not have a capacitor or extra battery. I also have neons, 5 tvs, and the headlights do not dim that much (barely noticeable) but the alternator is defiantly stressing (stock). I think if you did the alternator upgrade, and maybe a battery in the trunk that would be enough. Battery cable change will help too but I would consider this optional. Sounds like a great project and will be a ton of fun. I am not trying to discourage anything but I would just like to let you know my ideas. I am running 0 gauge audiobahn high strand power wire and I think this is even overkill for me. Keep us updated on the project and take tons of pics, Good Luck!

Oh yah make a list of the audio equipment you are using (models and makes of everything) so we can have a better idea of all the stuff you are working with.

I'll take plenty of pics, and I'll list the model numbers. It'* kind of hard to do that at 4 am, though, as one may assume. I've got to tell you, though, that the setup you have doesn't sound too healthy. You'd probably get better gas mileage with an upgraded alternator because you wouldn't have to spin it so hard to get all that juice out of it. And it seems you've done a lot with your Bonneville. Looks awesome.

I disagree.

You might as well pick up 2 18 Farhad caps, One would likely do but more is better (this will negate the need for a second battery) as a cap is in essence a battery. This should also allow you to hold off on the alternator upgrade.

As it sits right now in my car I am running 1 3000.1 Massive amp at half capacity pushing 1 DMX massive 12 in a 2 cb sealed box wired to 1 ohm. and 1 400.4 pushing my components. with out the cap I am killing my lights. My second and third DMX 12 just arrived today construction starts tomorrow I hope. When all is said and done I will need 4 18 farhad caps but will likely run 6, 2 mostly for aesthetics. also remember to use the heaviest gauge wire for both power and ground you can find.

I'm probably going to run 0-gauge power wires to the caps or batteries, but I have 4 for the amp.

Hey! I've been doing this during an overhaul. Sorry for the delayed updates on the audio. This should be the more specific part of it all. I'm too worn out right now to get into the specifics, but generally it'* going smoothly.

I plugged in the subs, Rockford, speaker amp, and rear speakers today. The audio is excellent in the key'* accessory power position, but the car when started causes a very audible humming noise whenever the speakers are on. I haven't hooked up the caps yet, so that may be some part of it. Also, I have no batteries in the back just yet.

However, the audio is EXCELLENT!

I also attached an AC-DC car charging thing instead of running my engine. The same buzzing noise was heard even then. I think it'* the battery, and I'm about to replace that. Strange? I'll handle it without a problem, but I figured I might ask you guys for opinions.

Thanks!

try playing with the gains on the amps, sometimes amps are funny at certain gain levels, and also make sure there there are no power wires running next to the rca cables (and make sure the rca wires are well insulated and not cheap rcas). It could make all the difference in the world...I do not think the battery or lack of capacitors is the problem. It is hard to pinpoint the problem, because it could also be the output on the headunit, just run through a few tests like have a different source other than the headunit putting sound into the stereo (or just disconnect it) and see if it makes the same sound. Also see if all the speakers are doing this. Does the tone of the buzzing whine or change when you press on the gas?

The pitch of the whine matches exactly with my RPMs, and without delay. The RCA cable is a big, thick Monster cable that goes with no power lines because the 4awg wire goes under the car to the passenger seat and then around back.

I had originally just plugged in a home stereo, but I didn't run the engine. I'll check, though I'm doubtful.

Its your ignition system/ alternator. Car power systems are VERY dirty and that often introduced noise (humming) into the system.

CHECK ALL YOUR GROUNDS. Make sure all the amps and the head unit especially have their own SEPARATE grounds straight to bare metal and make sure your battery is well grounded. Also check your RCA cables and make sure they are shielded and not damaged. If that doesnt work you are picking up the noise through the power lines (some head units can filter this better than others). The caps can help this on the amps, but look into noise suppression filter for your head unit.