audio help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 421
Likes: 27
From: Harrisburg PA
audio help
Just bought a new radi (custom autosound USA 230), 200 watt stereo for my '77 and a sound bar for the rear cargo area.
The soundbar handles 200 watts, and says it is designed to work best with a full 200 watts.
I want to run a 4 speaker system--keep 2 in the dash, and power the back speakers.
I can get small 200 watt amp, but have very little experience in what is needed all around.
Any recommendations, or will I be ok just running the front speakers and soundbar off o the radio power alone?
The soundbar handles 200 watts, and says it is designed to work best with a full 200 watts.
I want to run a 4 speaker system--keep 2 in the dash, and power the back speakers.
I can get small 200 watt amp, but have very little experience in what is needed all around.
Any recommendations, or will I be ok just running the front speakers and soundbar off o the radio power alone?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 904
Likes: 46
From: Crestline CA
Checked out that radio online, it does have 4 RCA outputs so it will suppport a external amp no problem. Im very skeptical that the internal amp is anywhere close to 200 watts(probably closer to 20) even though thats how they advertise it. You could always just hook it up w/o a external amp and see if you like it, itll be a easier wiring job and will be done in minutes rather than hours. But I can tell you this, it will sound exponentially better with a quality external amp. If you decide to get a external amp, get a 4 channel one if you want balance and fader control or a 2 channel if all you want is balance control but get a quality one, cheap amps arent worth it, get a quality one and never look back.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 421
Likes: 27
From: Harrisburg PA
Checked out that radio online, it does have 4 RCA outputs so it will suppport a external amp no problem. Im very skeptical that the internal amp is anywhere close to 200 watts(probably closer to 20) even though thats how they advertise it. You could always just hook it up w/o a external amp and see if you like it, itll be a easier wiring job and will be done in minutes rather than hours. But I can tell you this, it will sound exponentially better with a quality external amp. If you decide to get a external amp, get a 4 channel one if you want balance and fader control or a 2 channel if all you want is balance control but get a quality one, cheap amps arent worth it, get a quality one and never look back.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 301
Likes: 5
From: Youngstown NY
Cruising
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
I agree with dugsgms74. It's not likely that your radio has a 200watt RMS internal amp and you can defiantly try the speakers and radio alone first to see if you like it.
There are small high quality 4 channels that you can have hidden behind the dash, like the Alpine power pack. Kenwood and a few other brands make similar once but I've installed a ton of these Alpine power packs and they are an amazing amp.
http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/ktp-445u
The benefit to having an amp like this is not only does it improve the quality of sound, increase power and can behind the dash but it also has bass filters on it. This is good because your front 4x6 speakers can't handle the same amount of bass that your rear sound bar can and so you can filter more bass out of the fronts. You will be able to turn your volume up higher without distorting your speakers or blowing them and still get the bass from the rears.
There are small high quality 4 channels that you can have hidden behind the dash, like the Alpine power pack. Kenwood and a few other brands make similar once but I've installed a ton of these Alpine power packs and they are an amazing amp.
http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/ktp-445u
The benefit to having an amp like this is not only does it improve the quality of sound, increase power and can behind the dash but it also has bass filters on it. This is good because your front 4x6 speakers can't handle the same amount of bass that your rear sound bar can and so you can filter more bass out of the fronts. You will be able to turn your volume up higher without distorting your speakers or blowing them and still get the bass from the rears.
Cruising
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Carpet
Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
I agree on the power output... the put a meter on the stereo output and turn it as loud as it goes with full distortion and the highest the meter jumps is their idea of peak wattage..... you want an external amp... I put mine in the lower storage compartment.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
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
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 421
Likes: 27
From: Harrisburg PA
Thanks for the responses all...The radio does come with pre-outs, so I may run the cabling at this time, and install an amp later...Not looking to spend a ton of $$$, just something that'll be enjoyable (and audible) with the T-tops open and the glasspacks flowin'!
LOL
LOL
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
Thanks for the responses all...The radio does come with pre-outs, so I may run the cabling at this time, and install an amp later...Not looking to spend a ton of $$$, just something that'll be enjoyable (and audible) with the T-tops open and the glasspacks flowin'!
LOL
LOL
I have sweetthunder chambered sidepipes to overcome.... then again with that sound who needs tunes...
Last edited by augiedoggy; May 23, 2014 at 04:49 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 301
Likes: 5
From: Youngstown NY
Carpet
80/20 loop I purchased it through Willcox, Corvette. The manufacturer of the carpet is Auto Custom Carpet Inc. (ACC) made in the USA excellent product. I also used their insulation/sound deadener.