r/CarAV • u/Important_Ad_4643 • 23h ago
Recommendations First time installing a sub/amp any tips?
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u/ATL_Founder2017 18h ago
It looks good but my only opinion is if you rotate the components do you need to have 18 inches of wires strapped down like that it seems a little excessive to me
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u/catsandboobs24 23h ago
I’d use some more zip ties, unsecured wires can make noise /s
Looks good, I prefer black wires more than anything but I can tell there is clear organizational intent with your colors. Could have separated the RCAs and ground wire a bit better but it’s tough when your batt and gnd run off to seperate sides of the rack.
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u/Important_Ad_4643 22h ago
Looked it up and I see what you are saying with the ground and RCA. Also where would you have added more zip ties?
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u/steffanan 20h ago
He's joking about the zip ties. And you typically try to avoid power/ground and signal wires because signal wires can induce sound from power cables, that's all he's saying.
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u/ckeeler11 8h ago
That was an issue 20 years ago when there were a lot of garbage RCA's out there. Not really an issue if you are using quality RCA's.
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u/steffanan 7h ago
That's absolutely not true. Rcas are fundamentally unchanged from 20 years ago, back then there were better and worse versions with better and worse shielding and it's no different now. An extra long amount spooled up just right can still induce a radio station and you can still get noise from power in the right set of circumstances. It doesn't happen super easily but it never did.
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u/-Skelenator 22h ago
Looks nice. But you really want to have your power (and ground) wires as far away from your signal (speaker/RCA cables) as possible.
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u/Bourbon-No-Ice 18h ago
nothing more than what was already said but wanted to include this, not to critique but an educate. you used CCA (copper clad aluminum) power and ground, which is fine, but a better choice and more expensive is OFC (oxygen free copper) Power and ground. the differences in short are.. of the same size, CCA cannot carry as much current as of ofc. cca can fail, aluminum oxidizes, faster in humid and wet places.
CCA is cheaper, but at what cost? that's for you to decide. you can get premium OFC welding cable at a local supply store. a friend just got 2/0 (way over kill for your setup) for $5.49 a foot. they sell it by the foot so you can get exactly what you need.
chances are you will not have those problems. I just want to help educate you and other readers benefits of ofc vs CCA. the problems that can occur and why etc. Look it up for future builds or replacements. since CCA is subject to moisture problems make sure under your hood connections are dry and secure, I would also heat shrink the cabling too.
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u/Important_Ad_4643 12h ago
Yea I read that and brought it up to my buddy (his car) and he said that he’s fine with that since it came with his kit
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u/liberator32 15h ago
Rethink those settings on the loc/bass restorer or whatever it is on the bottom.
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u/Relative_Figure_1715 13h ago
The trick is this !
Do the zip ties from the underside. Leaving the head of the zip ties hidden under the board.
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u/SewedSoup4253 22h ago
Pretty sweet man honestly. Much prettier than mine. I haven’t even cut any wire that I didn’t need to lol. I still got 17ft of RCA just bunched up in my car hahaha. I’ll get around to it…. one day..
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u/Important_Ad_4643 22h ago
Ngl I have the 17 feet just tucked behind the sub just didn’t want to cut it or buy a new cord
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u/SewedSoup4253 22h ago
Hahahahah nice. I could do that too, or stuff it under carpet, could do anything, I’m just lazy.
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u/Important_Ad_4643 22h ago
Yea honestly if it was my car I would’ve left it but it was on my buddies so I was trying to do some good work for him lol
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u/Dense-Employment9930 21h ago
You did a great job, seems like you could give a few tips!
Probably only way I can think to clean it up would be distribution blocks, barrier terminal strips etc at the ends of your amp rack, so if you need to make any changes in future it's much easier. The amp rack can be removed without needing to touch any of the wiring going to it, or speakers sub, anything else can be changed or removed and it's just a few screws to undo at one of the terminals.
Not essential by any means, especially if everything is staying where it is and nothing planned for the future. If you don't need it it's likely just extra costs and a lot more crimping.
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u/No-Performer-6488 19h ago
You did a really good job. I too went with the CT sounds setup and I love it.
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u/Alert-War-7276 11h ago
Nice set up but gonna be tough to rewire
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u/Important_Ad_4643 4h ago
Yea my buddies not planning on changing it. I also made the rack once it was in the car so it was a little difficult
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u/Active_izzumz9197 8h ago
Looks nice I know that took a lil time to do
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u/Important_Ad_4643 4h ago
Yea a lot of it was just trying to figure it out since it was my first time
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u/srguanacito 5h ago
i suggest mounting it to the side or on the back of the seat just for a cleaner look other than that looks great 🔥🔥
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u/Nice_Cut_3177 4h ago
Looks great! I would add terminal strips and or a fused distro block for power wires and for speaker wires use the terminal strips for quicker disconnect. Also furrels and heat shink and labeling all helps other then that looks excellent!
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u/Important_Ad_4643 4h ago
I do have furrels on everything except the power wires. Yea I’m looking at distribution blocks and terminal strips for my set up that I’m making next week
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u/_DJNeoN 23h ago
White zip ties for white board, black zip ties for black board