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Hi all!
I have a 2005 civic sedan EX SE and would like to mod the sound system. I really like the stock 6 disc CD HU, so I'm not interested in switching that out at this time. I listen to mostly rock, very occasional rap and country. I'd like to add a sub on a $200-300 budget with the prospect of adding component front speakers and a new HU in the future. Here's what I've come up with so far, just wanted to know what you folks thought.
Amp:
Alpine MRP-F300 about $140 off amazon
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500MRPF....html?tp=35782

Sub:
Rockford Fosgate Prime R1L-1X10 about $140
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_575R1L1...10.html?tp=112

Wondering what you thought of these and if they would go well together. Like i said, the amp would give me the chance to hook into component front speakers in the future too.
Thanks!

 
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4 channels into one? Not wuite sure how that would work. If anything, maybe 2 channels bridged. the sub would be a nice compliment and I think it woudl fit your music style well. Im just not sure about the amp.

 
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Hooking up an amp to OEM stereo is a pain in the *** ... you want a mono amp for a single sub if you want it to sound better... or two channels like spunk said and bridge it.

 
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Yeah i had a question about that, If I have a 4 channel amp(like the one listed), but only have a sub hooked up (2-channel bridged) will it still work if I dont use the other 2 channels?

Also, I thought it would be pretty straight forward since the amp has speaker wire inputs? Wouldnt I just splice the rear speakers into the amp, then run RCA cables from the amp to the sub?

 
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To answer your first question is yes you could do that but then you cut the amp power in half. (i believe).

To answer your second question that's not at all how it works. The RCA cables go from the head unit to the amp. (head unit RCA out to AMP RCA in). Then the speaker wires go from the amp to the sub. So you got er' all backwards.

I don't think even the double din stock civic radio has RCA outs. But check to make sure. If it does not than it's a real hassle to hook up.

 
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yes you can use it. use the other 2 channels for the components later. i've used speaker level inputs before (when i leased an 02 EX coupe) and sound quality on the sub was decent. that will depend on your amp. the quality may be acceptable for the components as well, but it won't be as clean as using RCA's on a pre-amp signal. you may have some engine or other noise on there. but yes, what you're wanting to do and use will work.

 
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Yea the best way is to hook up the amps high lvl input to the speeker out on the head unit. With that amp you will not need a verry large power wire somthing like .12 or so mabie a .10. You will want to put a 60 amp fuze inline with the amp power wire. The best place for this is no less than 5" away from the battery for best performance. But my consern is that the amp won't push the subwoofer you have in mind. It may after all you will be getting around 100 watts per side if you bridge each side. With most amps you can bridge each side then bridge them together. If this is the case then you could get like 200 watts to your sub. I sudjust going with a 2 channell amp and geting a componet set latter.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130GM54....html?tp=35757

This is a great brand I have used Pioneer for a long time. Up to you what you use but keep in mind that most componet sets come with a small amp anyway. I can give several recommendations.

 
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That amp will be too weak just for bass. I would get a mono amp or a high powered 2 channel and bridge it. As for the stock radio, you will need line output converter, but that will only get like .05 volts.

 
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the sub is 150w RMS and the amp will do that in bridged mode. i had a Kicker Comp 12" i was running at 150w RMS and it was more than enough. i never had the gain up past 3/4. and he won't need a LOC if the amp has speaker level inputs. may help with noise, but not required.

 
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Thanks guys,
Yeah, that amp has speaker level inputs and high/low pass filters so hopefully I won't get too much interference. Like electric said, i shouldn't need an LOC because of that. I know it would be better to get an amp devoted to just the sub, but my budget is tight, and i'm looking for some versatility for down the road.

 
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The Rockford sounds awesome with 167w from the Rockford amp I have it with. I listen to Machine Head, Bury Your Dead, Metallica and the like and never feel like I need more.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_575R150....html?tp=35757

Says it's 150 on here, specs in the box state 167.