Aftermarket System Question... HELP...
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 100,672
Likes: 2
From: Cleveland OH
Aftermarket System Question... HELP...
Hello,
A friend of mine wants to get into a better sound system for his C5, but he does not want to spend too much money...
He already has a "old" Alpine CD/Mobile Screen which has a 45 x 4 MOSFET amp. It is only 500 miles old so he wants to put it into his C5 but does not want to add an amp and just use the built in amp to power the 2 fronts and 2 rears, he is going to replace the speakers with MB Quart Components in the front and 2way's in the back.
Questions:
1. Will this have enough power...?
2. Will this sound as good as if it were ampilified?
The total cost so far is only $600
An amp would add another $500...but is it worth it?
A friend of mine wants to get into a better sound system for his C5, but he does not want to spend too much money...
He already has a "old" Alpine CD/Mobile Screen which has a 45 x 4 MOSFET amp. It is only 500 miles old so he wants to put it into his C5 but does not want to add an amp and just use the built in amp to power the 2 fronts and 2 rears, he is going to replace the speakers with MB Quart Components in the front and 2way's in the back.
Questions:
1. Will this have enough power...?
2. Will this sound as good as if it were ampilified?
The total cost so far is only $600
An amp would add another $500...but is it worth it?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 51,504
Likes: 6
From: Sacramento CA
Re: Aftermarket System Question... HELP... (NewVetteLover)
My 45x4 rated headunit doesnt sound NEARLY as good as my 35x4 rated Soundstream amp, that i picked up for $220~ dollars or so. Without an amp, I'd be th BOSE would sound better.
you can get reconditioned amps at soundcityoutlet.com
you can get reconditioned amps at soundcityoutlet.com
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: Aftermarket System Question... HELP... (Smash)
The amp really has about 10Wx4. It will be woefully underpowered and he will be in serious jeopardy of blowing out his expensive speakers at anything lounder than talking levels. Ever wonder how you fit an amp thats 45wx4, which would normally cost $300 and be twice the size of a head unit into a head unit with an FM tuner, cd, all the other features and sell it for $300? Magic? Answer is you can't. The rating system used for decks is different and you really should devide any deck ratings by good manufacturers by 5, by more from mediocre brands. http://www.mmxpress.com/ads/ads_p450.htm
If he doesn't want to spend $370 for an amp, look at a 4 channel little wonder amp here. http://www.mmxpress.com/soundstream.html
You can also find some good deals at http://www.soundcityoutlet.com
Hope this helps
92TripleBlack :cheers:
[Modified by 92TripleBlack, 3:06 PM 10/8/2001]
If he doesn't want to spend $370 for an amp, look at a 4 channel little wonder amp here. http://www.mmxpress.com/soundstream.html
You can also find some good deals at http://www.soundcityoutlet.com
Hope this helps
92TripleBlack :cheers:
[Modified by 92TripleBlack, 3:06 PM 10/8/2001]
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,029
Likes: 63
Re: Aftermarket System Question... HELP... (92TripleBlack)
Basicly you cannot make more than about 12W per channel with 12V electric system in conventional decks.
Power amps on the other hand have different style of power supplies (cannot translate the type, my dictionary does not know the right word) and they can convert the 12Volts into something higher like 20Volts. With that increased power it is possible to produce higher Wattages of power with dedicated amps.
Conventionally they have been unable to fit this type of power supply into a deck but...
There is some brand new Alpine decks which include this same type of power supplies as the power amps and they can indeed produce more than the max 12W seen in virtually all other decks. These decks even have warnings they cannot be connected to cars standard power wiring. You must run a dedicated wire directly from the battery to the deck. I only know this because a client of mine imports Alpine to my country and he showed me these decks just 3 days ago.
Greets,
ToniH
'91 coupe
Power amps on the other hand have different style of power supplies (cannot translate the type, my dictionary does not know the right word) and they can convert the 12Volts into something higher like 20Volts. With that increased power it is possible to produce higher Wattages of power with dedicated amps.
Conventionally they have been unable to fit this type of power supply into a deck but...
There is some brand new Alpine decks which include this same type of power supplies as the power amps and they can indeed produce more than the max 12W seen in virtually all other decks. These decks even have warnings they cannot be connected to cars standard power wiring. You must run a dedicated wire directly from the battery to the deck. I only know this because a client of mine imports Alpine to my country and he showed me these decks just 3 days ago.
Greets,
ToniH
'91 coupe
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,178
Likes: 2
From: Windermere FL
Re: Aftermarket System Question... HELP... (ToniH)
Amps also have capacitors, and create large amounts of heat an indash unit wouldn't be able to deal with. When generating power, amps release heat. This is why there are the large heat sinks on the amps. Just imagine what would happen to a dash if that kind of heat was generated in the confined space where a deck is installed.
92TripleBlack :eek: :cheers:
92TripleBlack :eek: :cheers:
