I have a Chrysler factory 4 channel head unit (not the Infinity unit), Eclipse 3.5's in front, Bazooka 5x7's in the rear. I get a lot of distortion before the volume is at the level I like to listen at. Will an amp help this situation? What would be a good amp? I'm not looking for thumpin' bass or ear splitting volume, I'm an old fart that listens to bluegrass and 60'-70's stuff. It's been about 25yrs since I bought any car stereo amps, so I'm a little overwhelmed with the physical size of what's out there today. I'm used to the little amps and equalizers of my youth that generally put out 20-40watts and sounded good to us back then. I'm looking at an Ample Audio A414X. Is this a reasonable choice? I'm not particular about brand, but I don't want to spend my $$$ on junk. Any recommendations and/or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Replies (14)
swez on 12/11/2004 13:18:39
A solid 4 channel amp will provide adequate power for a sub. The front speakers may be a problem, as they are so small, not much lows. The rear channel speakers can be run off the stk HU... but probably only 20 watts Wrms x 4, if not less.
Can you see a place to upgrade the front speakers to 5.25 or 6.5" Comps or Coaxials that can take some power. (75-125 watts/channel) Door mounted would be good. Kick panels are even better.
You are correct! The HU is the source of your distortion problems. It does not take much for stk HU's to "clip" and sound horrible. An outboard amp and some wiring tweaks can change this into a very nice system. It lacks power to drive speakers with a clean, potent signal. On the right rack here. (boost power to speakers and add a sub)
I have a friend who bought a new Kicker KX-600.4. It's 150 Wrms x 4 @ 4 ohms. I think he will let it go for about $275.00. It lists for over $400.00 retail, if you are interested. Solid product and a well known brand name.
http://www.kicker.com/images/manuals/02KX300_600_800_
4Manual.pdf
It's a 2002-03 model, but new... fresh in the box.
What say you?
Swez
gearhead on 12/11/2004 16:24:23
Thanks for the offer, but that's quite a bit more than I want to spend on an amp (I know, I'm a cheapskate). That's why I asked about the Ample Audio amp, I can pick one up for about $60. From what I've been able to gather, it's a decent amp. I'm pretty much committed to the 3.5's & 5x7's. 3.5's are the largest that will fit in the factory dash, and the 5x7's are adequate in the rear for my tastes. I don't want there to be ANY outward signs of anything other than a factory stereo in this car when a lowlife is scoping out vehicles in a parking lot. NOBODY is going to break into a car to steal a factory Chrysler radio. I do appreciate the info.
uochronos on 12/11/2004 17:48:26
for 60$ you get what you pay for... no need to spend a ton but on usual you get what you pay for. whats your price range? we may be able to find some solid amps for you..
i have never heard of ample amps sounds like one of the low end lines though but i'am unsure... could not find a web site with them allthoughn i only did a quick search. could you provide a link perhaps?
Chronos
swez on 12/11/2004 18:34:35
Ample makes some very good products. Not all that well known, but they are quality, just the same.
That's a great price on an amp that normally sells for ~$200.00. What is the power handling of those speakers you mentioned? This amp will deliver 70 Wrms x 4 into a 4 ohm speaker load. So you will have to be "very deliberate" in setting both the amp gain controls and crossover filters.
Since these are very small format speakers, you will not get much bass from them. When you make your purchase (I would jump on this one fast) come back and we'll walk you through install and setup options.
Swez
PS "Cheapskate" ? Naw, just froogle I'd say. Relax, you're among friends. We are some of the most froogle friendly folks on the planet. SMILE
gearhead on 12/11/2004 18:49:24
http://www.ampleaudio.com/product.htm
http://www.ampleaudio.com/pressreleases7.html
http://www.ampleaudio.com/pressreleases10.html
http://www.audio-n-more.com/ample_audio/amplifiers.shtml
This amp normally sells for around $190.
swez on 12/11/2004 18:57:05
Yes, I looked it up earlier. It is a good little amp at a great price!
Swez
gearhead on 12/11/2004 18:59:26
The 5x7's are listed at 75 watts "power handling" with a "recommended power" of 55 watts.
The 3.5's have the following specs-
Frequency Response: 120Hz ~ 40kHz
Continuous power handling: 20W
Music power handling: 40W
swez on 12/11/2004 19:07:09
Yep, that sounds about right. The 3.5" speakers are just a few watts better than a stock speaker. The key to not blowing them out, will be your gain settings and HPF on these speakers. I don't think I would go much lower than 200 Hz., on these. Especially when you want to throw some power into them.
The 5x7's are a little better in nominal power handling, but here again, the HPF will be key. I don't think any bass below ~80 Hz., should be used on these either. If you did go lower (than 80 Hz.) and put some power to them, may wind up with blown speakers or damaged motor systems here.
Swez
gearhead on 12/11/2004 19:09:12
HPF- High pass Filter?
swez on 12/11/2004 19:13:47
Yes, HPF is the High Pass Filter.
Care to meet in chat room and discuss your application in more detail?
I'm there now.
Swez
gearhead on 12/11/2004 19:16:04
I'm just about to sit down to dinner. I should be done in about 1/2 hour if your still going to be there.
swez on 12/11/2004 19:17:57
OK, I have a errand to run. Can meet you back here in say 30 mins?
Swez
PS This way of exchanging details is very cumbersome. The chat room will allow us to move a lot faster through the details.
gearhead on 12/11/2004 19:24:36
I'll be back in 30.
swez on 12/11/2004 20:07:48
OK, will meet you in the chat room.
Swez
Replies (14)
swez on 12/11/2004 13:18:39
A solid 4 channel amp will provide adequate power for a sub. The front speakers may be a problem, as they are so small, not much lows. The rear channel speakers can be run off the stk HU... but probably only 20 watts Wrms x 4, if not less.
Can you see a place to upgrade the front speakers to 5.25 or 6.5" Comps or Coaxials that can take some power. (75-125 watts/channel) Door mounted would be good. Kick panels are even better.
You are correct! The HU is the source of your distortion problems. It does not take much for stk HU's to "clip" and sound horrible. An outboard amp and some wiring tweaks can change this into a very nice system. It lacks power to drive speakers with a clean, potent signal. On the right rack here. (boost power to speakers and add a sub)
I have a friend who bought a new Kicker KX-600.4. It's 150 Wrms x 4 @ 4 ohms. I think he will let it go for about $275.00. It lists for over $400.00 retail, if you are interested. Solid product and a well known brand name.
http://www.kicker.com/images/manuals/02KX300_600_800_
4Manual.pdf
It's a 2002-03 model, but new... fresh in the box.
What say you?
Swez
gearhead on 12/11/2004 16:24:23
Thanks for the offer, but that's quite a bit more than I want to spend on an amp (I know, I'm a cheapskate). That's why I asked about the Ample Audio amp, I can pick one up for about $60. From what I've been able to gather, it's a decent amp. I'm pretty much committed to the 3.5's & 5x7's. 3.5's are the largest that will fit in the factory dash, and the 5x7's are adequate in the rear for my tastes. I don't want there to be ANY outward signs of anything other than a factory stereo in this car when a lowlife is scoping out vehicles in a parking lot. NOBODY is going to break into a car to steal a factory Chrysler radio. I do appreciate the info.
uochronos on 12/11/2004 17:48:26
for 60$ you get what you pay for... no need to spend a ton but on usual you get what you pay for. whats your price range? we may be able to find some solid amps for you..
i have never heard of ample amps sounds like one of the low end lines though but i'am unsure... could not find a web site with them allthoughn i only did a quick search. could you provide a link perhaps?
Chronos
swez on 12/11/2004 18:34:35
Ample makes some very good products. Not all that well known, but they are quality, just the same.
That's a great price on an amp that normally sells for ~$200.00. What is the power handling of those speakers you mentioned? This amp will deliver 70 Wrms x 4 into a 4 ohm speaker load. So you will have to be "very deliberate" in setting both the amp gain controls and crossover filters.
Since these are very small format speakers, you will not get much bass from them. When you make your purchase (I would jump on this one fast) come back and we'll walk you through install and setup options.
Swez
PS "Cheapskate" ? Naw, just froogle I'd say. Relax, you're among friends. We are some of the most froogle friendly folks on the planet. SMILE
gearhead on 12/11/2004 18:49:24
http://www.ampleaudio.com/product.htm
http://www.ampleaudio.com/pressreleases7.html
http://www.ampleaudio.com/pressreleases10.html
http://www.audio-n-more.com/ample_audio/amplifiers.shtml
This amp normally sells for around $190.
swez on 12/11/2004 18:57:05
Yes, I looked it up earlier. It is a good little amp at a great price!
Swez
gearhead on 12/11/2004 18:59:26
The 5x7's are listed at 75 watts "power handling" with a "recommended power" of 55 watts.
The 3.5's have the following specs-
Frequency Response: 120Hz ~ 40kHz
Continuous power handling: 20W
Music power handling: 40W
swez on 12/11/2004 19:07:09
Yep, that sounds about right. The 3.5" speakers are just a few watts better than a stock speaker. The key to not blowing them out, will be your gain settings and HPF on these speakers. I don't think I would go much lower than 200 Hz., on these. Especially when you want to throw some power into them.
The 5x7's are a little better in nominal power handling, but here again, the HPF will be key. I don't think any bass below ~80 Hz., should be used on these either. If you did go lower (than 80 Hz.) and put some power to them, may wind up with blown speakers or damaged motor systems here.
Swez
gearhead on 12/11/2004 19:09:12
HPF- High pass Filter?
swez on 12/11/2004 19:13:47
Yes, HPF is the High Pass Filter.
Care to meet in chat room and discuss your application in more detail?
I'm there now.
Swez
gearhead on 12/11/2004 19:16:04
I'm just about to sit down to dinner. I should be done in about 1/2 hour if your still going to be there.
swez on 12/11/2004 19:17:57
OK, I have a errand to run. Can meet you back here in say 30 mins?
Swez
PS This way of exchanging details is very cumbersome. The chat room will allow us to move a lot faster through the details.
gearhead on 12/11/2004 19:24:36
I'll be back in 30.
swez on 12/11/2004 20:07:48
OK, will meet you in the chat room.
Swez
Copyright ClubKnowledge 2009 * All Rights Reserved
