Audio Systems: Installing Speaker System, watts rms, channel amp

Question
Hi,
   Its my first time ever puttin a system in and i need help on what kind of Watts each component should have. I own an 89' Caprice and i would like to put a new speaker system and i bought a set of 12" speakers with tweeters in box, each speaker is 250w max. I would like to kno wat would be the requirements as far as watts for my amp and CD player. I was also wondering what else should i put in it for the best sound.

                            Greatly Appreciated,
                                  Daniel Taylor

Answer
Well, I would NOT recommend using a prefab box, but since you already have it...
Get a 150-250 watt per channel amp to power them.
250 watts 'max or peak' = 176 watts RMS or average/continous.

If you plan to use a cd players' internal amplifiers for driving the front speakers, get one with at least 25-30 watts per channel (rms watts [average]not peak power).

It is easier to blow up speakers with too little power than it is with too much.  
Seems odd, but this is true due to the fact that most people will try to turn a smaller amp up too much [at the input level trims on the amp]. This causes clipping and will destroy speakers and amps themselves (even at lower volumes). One is much less likely to do this when they have adequate power. ;)

Ultimately, you may find that a cd player will not provide enough power to match the output of the subs. This will not happen as quickly if you are using a prefab box as the 12's will not be optimally loaded and this results in less than optimal output no matter what you power them with(compared to a custom box built specifically for those 12's). Most prefab boxes are very very generic on the airspace alloted/used for the speakers in them. Addictionally, most of them are poorly constructed.
But the cure for the situation(if and when it happens), would be an additional dedicated amp (30-50 watts RMS)for the front speakers.

I hope this helps you with the wattage issues.
Since you claim to be new...Be sure you properly fuse the the entire power supply wires of the stereo system! Burning a car to the ground is NO way to start out on this journey.

Best of luck.

Sincerely,
Jerry Mael