Please Educate Me!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 1
From: It's Bad Ass in Black! Cape Coral, Florida
Please Educate Me!
Guys, got an 85, what can I expect from adding an amp to an aftermarket radio with 4 new speakers, no sub? Stereo I have is a new 208 watt sony. I need to know if its worth it! Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
The "amps" in headunits are marginal at best. Ok for running rear fill some times or the occasional pair of tweets but other than that not very good "quality" watts.
Adding an amp of almost ANY brand to an existing stereo will improve both your volume and your clarity 99.9% of the time over a head unit's power. This is provided that you do not run the amp into "clipping" and have it tuned properly.
Stereo stuff is very subjective. Me personally I can not F'n stand the Blose system and the over the right shoulder "sweet spot" for the sound that it has. But then again I am a big audio guy and hate rear fill.
With 4 aftermarket speakers and a new head unit you may find it suits you just fine off of stock power. Again this is all subjective again. If it never crossed your mind to spend $500+ on a set of front speakers and loud to you is 17 on your head unit volume you will be fine with the head unit power. If you want the car 2 cars back to hear a Clapton solo you are probably going to need an amp
The other thing that amps provide that most mid level decks do not is some frequency control, or crossover points to help manage what frequency ranges your speakers are trying to play (this IMO is the biggest thing you can manage to improve sound quality) IE not forcing your 6.5" front coaxial to play a 40hz bass note.
G'luck
Fej
Adding an amp of almost ANY brand to an existing stereo will improve both your volume and your clarity 99.9% of the time over a head unit's power. This is provided that you do not run the amp into "clipping" and have it tuned properly.
Stereo stuff is very subjective. Me personally I can not F'n stand the Blose system and the over the right shoulder "sweet spot" for the sound that it has. But then again I am a big audio guy and hate rear fill.
With 4 aftermarket speakers and a new head unit you may find it suits you just fine off of stock power. Again this is all subjective again. If it never crossed your mind to spend $500+ on a set of front speakers and loud to you is 17 on your head unit volume you will be fine with the head unit power. If you want the car 2 cars back to hear a Clapton solo you are probably going to need an amp
The other thing that amps provide that most mid level decks do not is some frequency control, or crossover points to help manage what frequency ranges your speakers are trying to play (this IMO is the biggest thing you can manage to improve sound quality) IE not forcing your 6.5" front coaxial to play a 40hz bass note.
G'luck
Fej
Last edited by fej; Jan 29, 2006 at 03:24 PM.
