Head Unit vs Pre Amp?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Midland Texas
Head Unit vs Pre Amp?
If a head unit does not have sub woofer or pre amp outputs then the speaker wires themselves would be the tie to the amp? What about the sub? I guess I am a stereo dummy... :lolg:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Wesley Chapel Fl
Re: Head Unit vs Pre Amp? (autotech)
Some amplifiers have a speaker level input. Meaning you can put the speaker wires from the radio into the amp. You can purchase a high to low adaptor which will convert your speaker wires into RCA ouput. Or most amps have the ability to take high amput of input. So you can cut a pair of RCA cables and wire them to your speaker outputs and plug those right into the amp. Either way you have options and can still use an amp with your current radio.
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From: Clemson University SC
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Re: Head Unit vs Pre Amp? (autotech)
If a head unit puts out 200 watts total, then will a 200 watt amp help?
Ignore the "200 watt" labels on headunits...in reality you might get 18-25 rms per channel at the most. :cheers:
[Modified by TheWacoKid, 6:49 PM 2/27/2004]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,306
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From: Wesley Chapel Fl
Re: Head Unit vs Pre Amp? (TheWacoKid)
Wacko is right...even with todays high powered head units there is no 200 watts there. The easiest way to tell is look at the back of your radio. What does it have for a power wire? 18ga to maybe 12ga which you are going to hook to the factory 18ga anyways. Now look at a 200 watt amp...it requires a 8ga power.It takes power to make power. Not to mention it is bigger than the radio and the radio has to have an AM/FM tuner and a cd player in it. It takes power to make power.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 273
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From: Midland Texas
Re: Head Unit vs Pre Amp? (EatRice)
Makes good sense to me. So how powerful of an amp for just a decent sound? All I have is a pioneer head and 5 1/2s up front and 6x9s in the rear. Each rated at 60 watts max I guess...
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Re: Head Unit vs Pre Amp? (autotech)
A 40-50 watt rms four channel amp would probably be enough for everyday use and still have the ability to get really freaking loud. Not too expensive either. :yesnod:
[Modified by TheWacoKid, 7:51 PM 2/27/2004]
[Modified by TheWacoKid, 7:51 PM 2/27/2004]
