speaker upgrade
04-15-2003, 09:56 AM
#18
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Posts: n/a
***can you add an amp to the stock head unit or does it not have pre outs?***
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Yes, you can add an amp to any stock head unit. A lot of amps out there will take both pre-amp RCA hook-ups or direct line-in from your head unit. Just check the amp. Most of the better RF amps have both.
Another option is buying line converters, depending on the ones you buy, you can get them for 25-40 bucks a piece. You will need one per set (i.e. one for the front, one for the back).
To clarify any mis-conceptions: The biggest issue with stock head-units is Voltage, not the Power (Watts). Your better speakers (MB Quart being my favorite) need A LOT of Power to sound good, usually 50W plus. To get this, all you need is an Amp, not a new head unit. Higher Voltage on the other hand will provide better signal quality... if you get to that point... you would need a new head unit.
But power is not everything. In my old integra I had MBQ components in the front, MBQs in the back powered by a 200x4 RF amp... not a lot of power there (only about 50W per channel), but the speakers sounded great. Of course, I had a single 12 amp sub powered by a 360x1... but I like my bass.
Hope this helps
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Yes, you can add an amp to any stock head unit. A lot of amps out there will take both pre-amp RCA hook-ups or direct line-in from your head unit. Just check the amp. Most of the better RF amps have both.
Another option is buying line converters, depending on the ones you buy, you can get them for 25-40 bucks a piece. You will need one per set (i.e. one for the front, one for the back).
To clarify any mis-conceptions: The biggest issue with stock head-units is Voltage, not the Power (Watts). Your better speakers (MB Quart being my favorite) need A LOT of Power to sound good, usually 50W plus. To get this, all you need is an Amp, not a new head unit. Higher Voltage on the other hand will provide better signal quality... if you get to that point... you would need a new head unit.
But power is not everything. In my old integra I had MBQ components in the front, MBQs in the back powered by a 200x4 RF amp... not a lot of power there (only about 50W per channel), but the speakers sounded great. Of course, I had a single 12 amp sub powered by a 360x1... but I like my bass.
Hope this helps
04-27-2003, 11:08 PM
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
There is a way to hook an aftermarket amplifier up to the factory deck. It is called a high-low line converter. It basically taps the signal coming out of the factory deck (which is a high signal) and converts it to a low signal for an amplifier to accept. It then gives you RCA preouts that you can plug an amplifier into. A nice touch if you want to keep the factory look (i.e. so theives will look in the car and see a factory deck) while still giving you the ability to have a nice loud system. Any aftermarket stereo shop will know what this is, so just ask them, they will install for around 40 dollars, and the part itself shouldn't cost more than 40-50 bucks depending on area.
04-30-2003, 01:48 PM
#20
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 167
Car Info: 1999 OBS
The stock head unit, i assume, only give like 8-15 w rms to your
stock speakers. Usually the first upgrade in the system will
be the HU, next the speakers and then amps. If you have the
budget, get them all at the same time. It is not worth buying the
upgrade speakers from the dealer because you can get better
aftermarket speakers with the same or close to dealers price.
So if you dont want to replace your head unit, get an aftermarket
amp hooked up to your stocks and replace the stock speakers on your doors. Check out crutchfield and check which speakers fit in
your doors.
stock speakers. Usually the first upgrade in the system will
be the HU, next the speakers and then amps. If you have the
budget, get them all at the same time. It is not worth buying the
upgrade speakers from the dealer because you can get better
aftermarket speakers with the same or close to dealers price.
So if you dont want to replace your head unit, get an aftermarket
amp hooked up to your stocks and replace the stock speakers on your doors. Check out crutchfield and check which speakers fit in
your doors.
04-30-2003, 02:34 PM
#21
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Something to watch out for when replacing the speakers, most aftermarket 6-1/2" speakers are much deeper than the stock units. I have a nice new set of Focal polyglass separates sitting at home waiting for me to get off my butt and make some spacers...
on a side note, i'm currently running an Alpine 9813 head unit, the Focal tweeters and crossovers, the factory drivers in the front doors, and factory rear speakers. My car came with the upgrade speakers and subwoofer. This new setup sounds much much better than the factory setup ever could. The Alpine head unit makes a big difference, but the high end crossovers that came with my Focal seperates is responsible for a large part of the difference. The factory system uses a capacitor on the tweeter as a crossover. I can't wait to get those new drivers in the front door to complete the installation.
on a side note, i'm currently running an Alpine 9813 head unit, the Focal tweeters and crossovers, the factory drivers in the front doors, and factory rear speakers. My car came with the upgrade speakers and subwoofer. This new setup sounds much much better than the factory setup ever could. The Alpine head unit makes a big difference, but the high end crossovers that came with my Focal seperates is responsible for a large part of the difference. The factory system uses a capacitor on the tweeter as a crossover. I can't wait to get those new drivers in the front door to complete the installation.
04-30-2003, 08:15 PM
#22
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Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 167
Car Info: 1999 OBS
RussB, you will be needing an 3/4" spacer for your focal speakers.
Is this the Polyglass 165 V2? I think they have a depth of 2.8".
With spacer it should fit. How much did you pay for your focal's
and where did you buy it? I'm thinking of getting the same one.
They say that TN 47 and TN 51 tweeters sound really good.
Enjoy!
Is this the Polyglass 165 V2? I think they have a depth of 2.8".
With spacer it should fit. How much did you pay for your focal's
and where did you buy it? I'm thinking of getting the same one.
They say that TN 47 and TN 51 tweeters sound really good.
Enjoy!
05-01-2003, 12:09 PM
#23
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yeah, they're the 165v2 set. I'm going to do the spacers this evening, thanks for letting me know what thickness they need to be. I'm probably going to cut them out of mdf. as for the price, i can't post that on here, it was kind of a local shop promotional deal.
05-12-2003, 10:38 PM
#24
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I finally got my spacers cut out, but they're flat, not at an angle like the factory spacers. At high bass levels, the speaker actually travels out so far it hits the factory grill. has anyone else had this problem and has any suggestions?
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