Need some audio advice/help

[zach2011]

Hey all. As you may have noticed in my other thread, I am installing the Beats by Dre audio system to my 2011 300 Limited with the 6-speaker "premium" Alpine system.

I'm brand new to doing car audio so I've got a few questions about what to do once all the parts arrive.

First of all, has anyone upgraded their factory systems to a better factory system before? Reason I ask is because I'm wondering if the amp from the Beats system will be a direct plug-and-play swap with my old one since I do have a factory amp and they are both 2nd gen vehicles. I am assuming it will plug up fine but am not 100% sure.

Also, anyone have any advice about wiring the rear door speakers? Mine currently has none but I have ordered the door panels with speaker grilles and I know my door has the mounts for it. I just don't have any wiring back there for them. Any tips or instructions on doing this?

Last, I am definitely wanting to add the Beats sub which has 1 pigtail consisting of 3-4 wires. Does it sound possible to snip the pigtail/harness and hotwire it to a crossover? To me it seems that all these parts can be added, it's just a matter of wiring them in correctly and that's where I need advice.

Thanks in advance!

[badgx]

You may be the first on this forum to do this mod. Keep it posted, would like to see it come together. I hope its not too expensive

Good luck with the install

[MADDOG]

My experience with upgrading one factory amp and/or head unit for another one was that it was plug and play. I upgraded the amp in my SRT with a Kicker accessory amp and also upgraded the truck with a factory REC/NAV head unit and OEM upgraded amp. Both upgrades were plug and play because the harness in place accepted both factory components.

[zach2011]

Thanks for the info! I think my amp made it in I'm just not home to install it until tomorrow. Would it be okay to install just the amp for testing purposes, without ruining my current speakers? Or would it be too much power?

[MADDOG]

Not sure what ya got now but you should be OK if ya don't crank it up to MAX.

[badgx]

I would think the speakers will need upgrading at some point, its like the amp may blow the speaker out of its basket. When a speaker is pushed to its limit, usually the music/sound will distort, the coil burns up internally and it then stops working. You could try setting the volume and gain at low but TBH without knowing the amp output, its difficult to say. Stock speakers should have its maximum output stickered or stamped on the magnet and and run at 4 ohms. Check the output of amp, it may be measured in rms

[zach2011]

Well the stock amp is 276 watts and powers 6 speakers. The one I'll be dropping in soon will have 522 watts. Would it be too powerful for my stock speakers?

[MADDOG]

It could be but at a sound level you won't be able to stand. You'll hear distortion first. Just don't crank it up all the way.

[badgx]

Yep, way too powerful For testing purposes, I would keep the volume at low.

522 watts, do you know if thats maximum power or rms value?

[zach2011]

According to the specs it just says "522 watts of power". Stockwise if I wanted any higher I could get the 760-watt amp but it's about 10x as much in cost at about $1200. I got the 522-watt for $180. When I do the install I'll just turn it all the way down, remove the battery, install the amp, put the battery back and test it out. I hope it doesn't blow out my speakers lol but if so I guess I'll have to wait on my replacements to come in!

It seems like I won't have any issues replacing the current amp and speakers, my difficulties will be wiring in the other 4 speakers and the sub. But that should be doable. I wonder how hard it will be to wire these things to the amp considering it's a factory amp with only 2 ports, which are for the harnesses.