[WolfSongX]

Originally Posted by Shankenstein

Sorry about going full retard on your thread. Never again.

As far as adapting MiniDSP to mobile, you'll need:
- a power supply (the picoITX, DC-DC-USB, or MeanWell units will do the job)
- a signal (unbalanced RCAs, balanced speaker-level inputs, or digitally converted coax)
- a case (aluminum project boxes are plentiful on eBay)
- standoffs, screws, soldering iron, heat shrink, etc
- neutral cure, clear RTV silicone. Hold on to yer wobbly bits!

As alluded to in my other thread, unbalanced RCAs are the primary contributors to ground loop noise. Balanced or digital is the way to go.

For the speaker impedance, it's dependent on your amp. The Alpine amp you mentioned is regulated to output the same (ish) power from 2-4 Ohms.

Generally though, higher impedance yields more stability, but has a greater chance of over-voltaging your power supply. Lower impedance yields less stability and has a greater chance of over-currenting your power supply. If you're running 1 sub, go for Dual 2. If you're running 2 subs, run Dual 4. This also gives you the flexibility to drop in a monster mono-block later and run it at 1 ohm.

As far as subs, Tantric Sounds, SoundQubed, Sundown, FI, Ascendant, SSA, etc. Give us a rough budget, power level, SQ.

Not to worry about going full retard... you're going my type of retard and I cannot help but learn something from it. I know I'm not ready to go that DIY but it never hurts to learn more... and I appreciate the info on how to adapt the equipment to go mobile.

Driver-wise, I'm going to be using an enclosure I have which is set up for a 10" sub. Airspace is ~.70 cubic ft not including the space the driver would be taking up. I think I have a pretty good mounting depth, ~6.5-7". Budget is going to be about $200 tops. I'm looking to enhance the music, not dominate it with the bass, and I will be feeding it the average sub channel on a 5 channel amp, which looks to be 300-500W RMS range at 2 ohms. On my short list: the JL Audio 10W3V3-2 [ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TDCN2Q/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller="]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TDCN2Q/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&seller=[/ame]

Music-wise, my tastes extend from classical type soundtracks (Doctor Who, Final Fantasy), old-school metal (Maiden, Megadeth), progressive stuff (Rush, Queensryche) to the J-Pop techno (Initial D Soundtracks). I currently have my music library on a thumb drive with various sampling rates dependent on who ripped it and the quality of the recording they used. I like the ability to "feel" the music, I was a guitarist in a band when I was younger so I do like to feel the "thud" of the drum hit against my body like I did playing live on stage.

I currently have an Alpine PDX4.100 (basically brand new, I've never hooked power to it) sitting around, but if I was going to go the multiple amp route, I would probably have preferred to run 0 gauge back to the distribution block... That's why I'm preferring to go with a single 5 channel amp with either an AB section and a D section or all Class D on the channels. I guess I could probably run two amps off the 4 gauge run, my chassis ground to the battery is reinforced with a 0 gauge wire. I've actually been interested in the new Rockfort Fosgate Punch P1000X5 amps which seem to have a bunch of neat features including balanced speaker level inputs (so no need for a LOC and should eliminate noise very well). The only thing that makes me hesitate a little would be that I'd potentially have to go down to a 1 ohm load sub to get the maximum (500W RMS @1 ohm) out of the sub channel which is only 300W RMS at 2 ohms http://www.crutchfield.com/p_575P1KX...08#details-tab

I really ought to be doing a lot more reading than I am these days, so I appreciate everyone who is contributing their knowledge and guidance... right now I know enough to be dangerous, but way less than I'd like to be totally comfortable with certain choices. I know that eventually I'll get to a better place with it, I always do, but when you hit a certain point with 12V audio it seems like you're opening Pandora's box and suddenly it becomes very precise and technical, and the learning curve becomes very steep. It always helps to have input, even if it's just a sanity check or a nudge in the right direction.

To everyone who's contributing, thank you.