Amplifiers for Dummies

[HarlequinPixie]

After I got my car, we swapped out the existing Pioneer aftermarket stereo with my Sony one I had in my old car. After a couple of months, I noticed that my speakers get crackly if I turn the volume to 20 or higher (20 isn't really that loud at all), and I think that the front drivers side isn't working at all (could be a loose wire, though... I know one of the wire nuts we used was too big and could've come loose, just haven't had the chance to check it out.)

So anyways, I've decided just to upgrade the system. I've got new speakers coming, but I want to get an amplifier and have no idea what to look for in that department. I feel quite comfortable in my knowledge of other things (mostly non-car related) to say that car stereo lingo is pretty much gibberish to me.

So, first of all, this is my stereo: Sony CDX-F5710

Details:

• CD receiver with built-in amplifier (17 watts RMS/52 peak x 4 channels)
• flip-down, detachable faceplate with variable color display
• plays CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs (including discs loaded with MP3 and ATRAC3plus files)
• EQ7 (7-band equalizer and 7 preset tone curves)
• BBE MP (restores detail and warmth lost to MP3 files during compression)
• CEA-2006 Compliant amplifier
• SSIR-EXA tuner
• 18 FM/12 AM presets
• seek tuning
• Dynamic Soundstage Organizer
• spectrum analyzer
• XM Satellite Radio controls (XM subscription, tuner, and antenna required to receive the satellite radio signal)
• CD changer controls
• front, rear, and subwoofer preamp outputs
• high-pass and low-pass filters
• "Aux Lite" rear auxiliary input (when not using a CD changer or XM tuner) (have cable hooked up for cell phone\mp3 player connection(
• clock
• wireless remote (which circuit city never gave me when the stereo was originally installed 3-4 years ago, but i didn't realize was supposed to come with it until swapping the stereos in december)
• CD frequency response: 10-20,000 Hz
• CD signal-to-noise ratio: 120 dB
• FM sensitivity: 9 dBf

and these are the speakers I've got coming (2 sets, for both front and back): Sony XS-GTX1640

Details:

• 6-1/2"/6-3/4" 4-way car speakers (pair)
• Highly Oriented Polyolefine (HOP) woofer with Santoprene rubber surround
• 1-1/2" High Density Layered Diaphragm (HDLD) balanced diaphragm midrange
• 3/4" piezoelectric dome tweeter and 1/2" piezoelectric dome supertweeter
• power range: 2-75 watts RMS (300 watts peak power)
• frequency response: 30-27,000 Hz
• sensitivity: 89 dB
• top-mount depth: 2-1/8"

and now.. some the questions:

• any ideas what i should look for in an amplifier? Not looking for anything too crazy. I'm not going to put any subs or anything..
• what's the difference between 1 & 2 channels?
• know where to find instructions for running wires, or should i just take it someplace(i'd probably get everything as mounted as possible, first)?
• anything else i will need to\should do?