I concur with what the other folks around here say. and if you dont want to spend the huge $$$ on a name brand High Output alternator. Ask around and find out if there is a good alternator/started rebuild specialist in your town ( I use Hurricane Alternator here in Gainesville, FL) and ask to get a quote on what it would cost to beef up your current alternator. I gained quite a bit, for a LOT less than a big name brand alternator ( A Stinger and a Ohio Generator, branded alternator for my car were each between $700-$800) I got my stock alternator rebuilt from 60A to 114A for $120.

Good luck.
HD

 

Another way that has deff. helped me with the dimming of my lights has been upgrading the alternator wire to the battery. In most cases its like a factory 8 or 10 gauge wire running. If you throw like 4 or ever 0 gauge between the two, it helps huge. we do it on all the bigger installs at our store and ive done it on all my vehicles and its definatly noticable for very....very cheap.

 

IMO opinion a cap is useless, itll smooth out some current ripple at low volume but once you crank the volume all that power is gone in 1-2 bass hits. I haVE One in my car for one reason only, Points in SQ competition. Thats it. It looks pretty but dosn't do anything. Go with a second battery for reserve capacity and you will be much happier. Also upgrade your alternator wire and ground wire in the vehicle, Cheap and effective.

 

What you guys say is all partially true. If you want to do it right, larger alt. and an extra battery. But if you thought a cap was expensive. I have a 25 farad cap in my civic and it improved my spl from 140.2 to 142.7. The proof is in the performance. A cap gives the elec. demand like a hundred times faster than a battery. But your right it only has so much juice to give. A cap is one of the cheapest ways to regulate current to your amp. I wouldn't say that they are usless. Whan a amp is under powered, it produces less wattage which causes your spekers to distort at a lower volume. I would say its a small thing that definatly helps, like a good ground and power wire(at least 8 gauge or better would be 4 gauge), good rca cables, connectors. A good wiring kit will cost you as much as a 1.0 fraud cap, and i've heard people talk about rca cables and large power wires the same way you guys are talking about caps. And your wiring def. makes a diff. in perf. This is all IMO. but with some experience in running cars in spl drags and sound quality compitions.

 

naw not if you have a 300 watt amp. now if was pushing like a 800 to 1000 watt i would reccomended it cause me i got 2 12 mtx with a 1200w amp and i killed my batt from pushing it. but wit a 300 w you should be fine