I have a stock 2000 bonneville and a single jbl gto 12" with an 800w mb quart amp,

the sub its 375 rms @ 2ohms, and the amp is 500w @ 2 ohms, it IS CEA certified so i know its decent.

i havent installed anything yet, and im wondering about a cap, im not sure if my headlights dim or anything like that because its not in the car, but a few guys say you should have it anyways because it makes the power to the amp steadier. even if i may not need it, should i install it anyways to smooth things out?
and how do the farads things work, i seen sonics chart, but that says total system wattage, is that the RMS?

 

Most car audio enthusiasts will probably tell you that caps are crap. even if you wanted to go the cap route i don't think you'd see any improvement with your setup anyway, i have an 800w RMS speaker amp + a 500w sub amp (@2ohm, running them both 4ohm) and i get no light dimming at all off a newer $100 Costco battery. If you're worried about it, you'd get alot more out of throwing in a decent Kinetic battery than a cap in my opinion.

 

your car's electrical system will be fine with that power (assuming it's in good working condition). Caps have their place, I find their best suited to systems that are just at the point where an electrical upgrade (alternator, bigger battery etc..) could be used, but isn't really necessary. The cap can assist in keeping things in check. Many, including myself, have found them useful in preventing or minimizing light dimming at high volumes without having to do the upgrades mentioned earlier (if that's your main issue a 50.00 cap is a lot cheaper than a 400.00 alternator). It really depends on your listening habits, if you drive around with the volume cranked..a electrical upgrade is best, if you're like me and only occasionally crank it..a cap might fit bill.

 

^ Yep. Make sure your current battery is healthy or invest in a new decent battery (I bought a motomaster Eliminator 7 years ago and it's still kicking great) and make sure your connections are all clean and upgrade your grounds under the hood.

Need to cover the basics first.