Well, my winter project is currently getting painted(yea I know, it took awhile) and hopefully I shall get it back soon. I took the package tray from under my back window and fiberglassed it. It now has 2 tubular shapes housing a set of tweeters, and in the side corners of the tray is the mids. I bought a Phoenix Gold 5.25 component set. Originally I was going to fit the tweeters in the tubes but they were too big so I mounted them in the console. So, off this set is going to be the rear mids and front tweeters and I bought a second set of tweeter to work in the back till I get another component set to put the mids in the front. I mounted the crossovers in the console box.

My first question is, is the guage of wires very important for wiring this system. The kit came with wires but they are all 18guage and I thought that kinda small. I pretty much always use 16 guage or a bit bigger on everything. can someone clearify proper guaging for me?

Also, I have a Phoenix Gold amp to run all my speakers, and am looking to buy a mono or 2 way Phoenix gold amp to run a future sub(yea, Im trying to stay with one company). I was looking into the subs and Im not sure what to purchase. Please look at the stats on these deals...

TWO Brand New PHOENIX GOLD R15 15" SUBWOOFER

15 inch 4 ohm subwoofer, 800 Watts Max. each
Injection molded aluminum plated grained polypropylene cone
3 peice injection molded dust cap with aluminum plating
Carbon fiber inlay and blue LED backlight
Computer optimized large bumped motor assembly
Large roll butyl rubber surround
Injection molded rubber motor housing Octane-R
$130

2 Brand New PHOENIX GOLD R12D SUBWOOFERS

Maximum Power: 500 WATTS each
Impedance: DUAL 4 OHM VOICE COIL
Sealed Box Volume (cubic feet): 0.9 - 1.6 CU FT
Ported Box Volume (cubic feet): 1.2 - 2.0 CU FT
Port Diameter (inches): 4"
Port Lenght (inches): 12"
Free Air: YES
Dual Voice Coil: YES
Sensitivity: 91dB
Frequency Response:
Diameter: 12"
Mounting Depth: 6 1/2"
Cutout Diameter: 11 1/6"
Vas (liters): 117.7807 LITERS
Fs (Hz): 23.640 Hz
Qts: 0.47
Xmax (milimetters): 25MM
$111.00

or..
Xenon X12D4 Dual 4 ohm subwoofer

500 Watts RMS Power Range
900 Watts Peak Power Handling
Dual 4 Ohm voice coil
Low Distortion
Oversized Magnet
Injection Molded Grained Polypropylene Cone
Removable Magnet Boot
Spider Spacing Ring with Integrated Input Terminals
Polypropylene Dust Cap
Black Powder Coated Cast Aluminum Basket
Computer-Optimized Dual Spiders
Dual 8mm Blue LEDs
175 oz. Y33-Grade Magnet
Hex Screw Wire Terminals
107.00

Im thinking the Xenon one becuase the 2 15's probably would be hard to fit in my car(98), the 2 12's would be, added together, the same rating as the Xenon, and be twice the weight. Plus the Xenon would be the best price:P. Your opinions? Thanks Guys. Nic

 

The 18 ga wires are small but it should be fine.The 2 12's will probaly be louder than the 1 xenon but if your not worried about how loud it is and just want some bump get the 1 12.so i say go with the xenon.

 

Ok cool, they make that Xenon in a 2 ohm as well about the same price or a tad more expensive. Should I go ahead and get the 2 ohm since my amp will be able to handle it?

 

^x2
Get the Xenon Build a custom enclosure to the proper specs and play with the placement until you get the sound you want. I am running a single 12" Image Dynamics sub in a custom built enclosure. I am not pounding it with power, but it is enough to loosen my mirrors and make my radar detector bounce on my front window. It wont win any SPL competitions by far, but it has good sound no matter what music I listen to and I can still bother the neighbors when I leave the house at 5 in the morning with it turned up.

 

it all depends on what ohm load of the amp your getting will handle you probaly want to get the dual 4's.

 

This is a handy speaker wire calculator:

Flash Speaker Wire Calculator

The box at the bottom will display a warning if the gauge is too small.

 

I would say 1 Xenon over 2 of their Octane series woofers. Even though it won't get as loud as the 2 Octanes. It'll sound better and be more relizble, and if your going to show it off at all, Xenon's better looking.

 

Ok, thanks guys. Im gonna get the Xenon 12 4 ohm which is dual..
so, looking at the chart, it seems bigger wire is best?

 

12 is about the biggest you can regularly find, 12 or 14 is plenty for what your doing.
Also I don't know what size amp your doing but if your geting one 12" Xenon I would recommend 4 ga power/ground wires. Remote wires standard I think it's 18 ga.

 

8 Gauge is plenty big enough if your only running one amp. 8 Gauge is good for up to 50 amps so if the fuse or (fuses) on the amp are smaller then 50 you are fine. You just dont have the ability to expand if you decide to add a second amp. 50 amps by the way is good for 600 watts rms