TS> first, you need a reciever, a good one (like a CD player or tape
 TS> player for those of you technophobes...) it has something like 30x4
 TS> which is 30 watts to 4 speakers...i think...then a .5 to 2 volt
 TS> pre-amp (i'm not sure what this does...or what it matters)...that
 TS> will either run straight to your speakers or to an amp...the amp, say
 TS> 50x2 will put another 50 watts to 2 speakers...(presumably now the
Tyler, the preout voltage only matters when you're running multiple amps. 
The output of the deck's amp only matters if you're running speakers off of 
the deck.  In my system, I have a Clarion CD head unit, with a 30x4 output, 
but I don't have any speakers hooked up to it (I didn't buy it because of the 
internal amp obviously).
 TS> 50x2 will put another 50 watts to 2 speakers...(presumably now the
 TS> total to two of the speakers would be 80 watts...)  the speakers are
50+50=100 :-)
 TS> woofers, mid-ranges, and tweeters, i think...like 6x9's would be 6
 TS> inches by 9 inches i think...say for the woofers....then you have
You're on the right track.
 TS> inches by 9 inches i think...say for the woofers....then you have
 TS> sub-woofers that would usually take another amp (or you could take
 TS> the one off your speakers to power the subs..., say 8', 10', 12',
That's why I have a 4 channel amp.  2 channels powering the speakers, then 
the other two "bridged" (combined) to power a single 8" subwoofer.
 TS> the one off your speakers to power the subs..., say 8', 10', 12',
 TS> 15', or 18's...) the higher the watts, the louder the hit of the
I prefer 10's myself.  Plenty loud, without sacrificing sound quality. If you 
don't care about the sound quality, and just want it as loud as possible, go 
for the biggest woofers you can get.
 TS> 15', or 18's...) the higher the watts, the louder the hit of the
 TS> subs....(if you like that sort of thing...) now, i've heard of a
Just make sure the RMS output of your amp doesn't exceed the RMS rating of 
your speakers, unless you like the smell of things burning (and buying 
speakers every day)
 TS> subs....(if you like that sort of thing...) now, i've heard of a
 TS> 'cross-over' but don't really know what it does...please help me out
It directs the frequencies to the appropriate speakers.  I have three 
crossovers in my setup.  Two of them direct the highs to the 2 tweeters, and 
everything else to the 2 6.5's.  The third (which is built into my amp) 
directs everything below 120hz to the sub.
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