speaker power rating ??
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
speaker power rating ??
I have polk audio speakers in my 93. 5 1/4 components up front and 6x9 in the rear they are rated at 10-100 watt rms with a peak of 200 watts. what size amp can I use. I want a 4 chanel amp and might possibly add a subwoofer later. any sugestions?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,289
Likes: 16
From: Skippack PA
St Jude Donor '13
Component speakers tend to require a bit more power as sometimes the crossover can be parasitic (depending on the crossover). Also the power ratings of manufacturers are a bit misleading - higher end companies tend to rate their amps lower but the amps are usually capable of far more power than their ratings. Since you're using components I'd go at least 4x50, probably more like 4x75 to give yourself some headroom. An amp that has lower power output for the rear channels may also suit your needs since you'll only want those rear providing fill and your sound stage to be driven by the components.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles Ca
i wouldn't put anything less then 75 wrms (especially if you have modded car or vert) and don't be afraid to throw 200 wrms at them. like komo said you just need clean power. if you set your gains correctly you'll have what is known as 'headroom' and your system will sound great.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
What they have said. I recommend getting an amp with built in crossovers so that you can set your spots on your fronts and rear speakers accordingly (probably about 80hz on the fronts and 50-60 on the rear 6x9's). 4x75 would be a good choice at 4 ohms. Might want to look into a 4x100 amp like the Phoenix Gold Xenon line. (a little tough to find but well built and solid performing for the money).
Use 75% or so of the max volume of your HU and keep your amp gains down, whether you have them at minimum or maximum the amp still has the full range of its power available, the lower the setting the less likely it is to clip, which will send distortion to your speakers, which is never a good thing.
Fej
Use 75% or so of the max volume of your HU and keep your amp gains down, whether you have them at minimum or maximum the amp still has the full range of its power available, the lower the setting the less likely it is to clip, which will send distortion to your speakers, which is never a good thing.
Fej
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
Basically what all the guys said. Polk makes a really nice 4 channel amp as well the c400.4 its underrated i absoultely love mine and i have polk 6.5 components and 5x7 coaxials in my mustang and they scream
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles Ca
i was shown this on another forum:
http://www.ikesound.com/product-product_id/3880
great price and great brand. dont know much about the amp specifically though. the ratings on it are very nice
http://www.ikesound.com/product-product_id/3880
great price and great brand. dont know much about the amp specifically though. the ratings on it are very nice
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
I just came back from amp shopping. I picked up an Eclipse EA400 4 channel amp. 100 watt x 4 @4 ohms. I also picked up some Tsunami 4 channel twisted pair RCA's. I spent twice what i thought i would, but that is usually what happens. 
would 8 gauge wire be enough for this amp? seems like it would. also where is the best place to ground the amp in the rear of the car? thanks 
would 8 gauge wire be enough for this amp? seems like it would. also where is the best place to ground the amp in the rear of the car? thanks
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
any particular reson you would go with 4 gauge? I was looking at this reference
http://www.electronixwarehouse.com/e...s/wiresize.htm
I bought locally at Circut City
http://www.electronixwarehouse.com/e...s/wiresize.htm
I bought locally at Circut City
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
Darn. Too late. I was going to agree with pretty much all of the above except I was going to recommend an amp with clip lights. Without hooking up an oscilloscope, there's no better way to properly adjust the system for a proper gain structure. As stated above, you don't want to clip the amp (and certainly not the HU) in order to get the volume you want. The clip indicators will tell you well ahead of time that you are beginning to reach high levels of distortion. After the system is installed and balanced, you set the head unit for about 7 on the 1-10 scale. Then you raise the gain on the amps until the clip lights just begin to flicker. This is when you know you've reached the maximum output of the system. If the volume is sufficient for your needs then you know you've got the right amount of power. Power amps without clip lights is a sin. 
Unless it's just for background music. This procedure will allow a little bit of extra gain on the HU for putting a little extra crank on low volume recordings. 
Unless it's just for background music. This procedure will allow a little bit of extra gain on the HU for putting a little extra crank on low volume recordings.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Darn. Too late. I was going to agree with pretty much all of the above except I was going to recommend an amp with clip lights. Without hooking up an oscilloscope, there's no better way to properly adjust the system for a proper gain structure. As stated above, you don't want to clip the amp (and certainly not the HU) in order to get the volume you want. The clip indicators will tell you well ahead of time that you are beginning to reach high levels of distortion. After the system is installed and balanced, you set the head unit for about 7 on the 1-10 scale. Then you raise the gain on the amps until the clip lights just begin to flicker. This is when you know you've reached the maximum output of the system. If the volume is sufficient for your needs then you know you've got the right amount of power. Power amps without clip lights is a sin. Unless it's just for background music. This procedure will allow a little bit of extra gain on the HU for putting a little extra crank on low volume recordings.
Unless it's just for background music. This procedure will allow a little bit of extra gain on the HU for putting a little extra crank on low volume recordings. it does have a clip light
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
ok another question, is there a good place other than the pos battery post to get the amp power? is there another lug somewhere close? this is on a '93 C4. also I used the factory wires for the head unit but they are a little small. what is a good source for 12v and switched 12v? I did run my own ground wire to the chasis. thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
well it sucks alot of power you could prly get away with 8ga but it will bottleneck the amp. knukonceptz.com has best pricing on amp kits. Also just an fyi that amp is alot cheaper online. You have to go to the battery for amp power, radio power is fine with stock wiring
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
I would go with 4 gauge. 4 gauge from terminal at battery, fused within 12" of terminal, (say 120a) run through the firewall into the car to another fused connection (say 50-60a) and then run as short a length of 8 gauge as you can to the amp itself. Usually fairly easy to make that run less than a few feet, which 8 gauge will handle without problem. Power wire is not really the place to skimp on size IMO. You don't need large gauge speaker cable but a little oversize on the power wire for the main run of length is good idea. Ground is the same idea ... better to have a size over what would be the minimum requirement for the length and current draw.
Fej
Fej
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,981
Likes: 37
From: Piedmont, SC Currently Own: 99 Nassau blue FRC. Previously Owned: 84,95,98 Indy Pace,01 Z06
I would go with 4 gauge. 4 gauge from terminal at battery, fused within 12" of terminal, (say 120a) run through the firewall into the car to another fused connection (say 50-60a) and then run as short a length of 8 gauge as you can to the amp itself. Usually fairly easy to make that run less than a few feet, which 8 gauge will handle without problem. Power wire is not really the place to skimp on size IMO. You don't need large gauge speaker cable but a little oversize on the power wire for the main run of length is good idea. Ground is the same idea ... better to have a size over what would be the minimum requirement for the length and current draw.
Fej
Fej
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 12,599
Likes: 1
From: Texas
i wouldn't put anything less then 75 wrms (especially if you have modded car or vert) and don't be afraid to throw 200 wrms at them. like komo said you just need clean power. if you set your gains correctly you'll have what is known as 'headroom' and your system will sound great. I would recommend at least 75 per
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,783
Likes: 15
From: Northern California
I returned the amp later and now have a 4 channel Hifonics Zeus which is half the cost (bought on the internet) of the Eclipse and has 85 watts x 4 at 4ohms or 340 watts x 2 at 4ohms bridged for the subwoofer.
The Eclipse has enough power to drive component speakers but, you might want to get another amp to power a subwoofer.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
