Amplifier Advice

[340GLT]

Hi guys i wanna ask a favour really!! The Audio side of cars is not my forte, so i was after some advice!! I want an amp that will match the system i hacve already and at a reasonable price, i want it to basically give a good quality sound.
Main questions are what channeled amp do i need is it as simple as a channel per speaker or speaker pair etc?
Cheers Guys
Adam


Sorry forgot to add systema t the mo is all sony xplod, 3way 6 x 9 220w peak in parcel shelf, 3 way 4" components in front doors 120W peak, the speakers in the front will be moved to rear arm rests trim panels in the 3 door and i will be installing some 2 way 6" components in the front doors 180W peak.
Head unit is a sony xplod CDX F5500 output 4 x 52W

[Chris_C]

Can't remember what setup you have dude, but in general, you have one channel per speaker. You running standard fronts and 6x9's???

[foggyjames]

A few things I'd point out with regards to quality and power...

Firstly, ignore power ratings on cheap gear. Sorry Sony, but I'm calling you 'cheap'. They used to be good, but lost it big time, especially the Xplod range. The head units are still ok, but avoid their amps. Speakers....hmm....you can do better for the same money. Totally ignore power ratings on head units. My 4x45w JL Audio power amp kicks out 4x the power of my 4x50w Pioneer HU (in real terms). I'd also avoid Sony from now on...starting with these front speakers, unless you've already bought them...

Sadly, decent speakers cost serious money. My Alpines are what I'd call "just about acceptable", and they retail at £150/pair. I'm guessing you're not really into that ball park, but there are some bargains out there. Ideally, in the front you want components rather than co-axials (components have separate high frequency drivers, while co-axials have the HF driver fixed in the centre of the mid/bass driver). Take a look at some of the JBL GTO stuff on eBay - fairly OK kit for very cheap - the 5.25" versions can be had for £40/pair shipped, and the 6.5" ones not much more IIRC. Bear in mind that cheaper gear gives you fewer options - for example I found my JBLs overpowering with the HF drivers mounted up high, pointing straight at you, but they were just fine in my mates car facing away from you.

Get ready to build proper enclosures for the front speakers. I'll stick my neck on the line and say that the magic in any audio system is in the speakers, and how they're controlled (ie: crossover, etc). The upgrade from a budget amp to a low-midrange amp was marginal, but the upgrade from budget speakers to low-midrange speakers was very significant. Or to put it another way, crap speakers on a great amp won't sound nearly as good as great speakers on a head unit.

Let me get this right....you're going to end up with 6x9s on the shelf, 4" coaxials in the rear panels, and 6.5" components up front? I'd amp the 6x9s and the 6.5s, and then run the 4s off the head unit. Take a look at pretty much anything in the 4x50w ball-park, but make sure those are 'real' figures.

The used bargain at the moment seems to be the Alpine V12 range (right Chris ), but random things crop up. I paid very little indeed (in the broad scheme of things) for my 6 month old JL.

Once you've got a decent amp (and your Sony HU will be just fine), I'd take a long hard look at those speakers. You know the bass is calling you

cheers

James

[Chris_C]

V12's arn't always budget goodness.... You need to keep your eyes and ears open, pays to watch teh whole ebaying of stereo stuff if thats your plan, it'sa different game to most other ebay auctions in the way the bidding goes, as well as making sure the stuff is kosher.

However, as my amp proves, it's possible

I'd agree with Foggy as for what to amp, but don't get too caught up in it all. How much of an audiophile are you? My sound system won't push silly bass, but is tight as at all frequencies for the stuff I listen too, as well as showing up most systems quality wise. I do need to do a bit of work on my speaker set up now, after 4+ years the shelf needs some looking at, but remember I have played music since I can remember, and general have a vaguly tuned ear. If you want something that sound's good (in the same way a £20ish pair of headphones sound good over a mini system) you don't need to go silly. My setup has cost me £130ish, for cabling, all my speakers, and my amp. Those who have heard it when it running as it should (i.e., not pointing out it's flaws, which I seem to do more than show it off at meets!) will back me up on it sounding good.

Foggy's system is very nice (and if I was redoing mine, the sort of thing I'd go for this time), but has cost lots. If you really want to go the way of having an audio setup in four figures, it's a lot easier to get a good sound, but you might find you don't get so much out of it pound for pound.

Also remember you need to mount everything speaker like as tighlty as you can. Your installing skills will make or break the sound quality. Those pieces of paper Volvo tries to call door cards can make all good speakers sound like 99p crap.

[foggyjames]

I guess I am kinda fussy, but then audio is (soon to be) my job

cheers

James

[340GLT]

Yeh foggy i already have the 6" front speakers, and i'm happy to stay with them for now. So in future you reckon avoid the xplod range?
I mean i'm not mad about haveing a 4 figure watted system as it would get used as it should!! I just want a budget setup that sounds ok!
Cheers Adam

[SteveP]

I just want a budget setup that sounds ok!

I'll be attempting this shorly! I only really need front speakers now! As an aside foggy would you recommend the Alpine type r components? I can't seem to find anything competitve for a similar price?! Whoops.. threadjack!

[340GLT]

[Chris_C]

Xplode advoid if you can help it....

Type R get, if you rob a bank or something. They sound tight as, I have heard a few things around £100 components wise, all are sweet sounding as long as they are mounted right.

[foggyjames]

Would I recommend my own components?! Hmm... Calling them Type Rs though means you need to start buying accessories from Halfords. Mine are the 5.25" versions (but I think the range has just been revamped), and cost me less than £100 shipped brand new nearly a year ago (and from this country, for once!), so they're not *that* expensive.

Anyway, my system is only rated at 240w amp power!

The big problem with budget car audio is that it's orientated towards output level rather than quality. If you want quality to go with your high output, it costs money. If you're prepared to be highly flexible with your installation, you can get away with a lot.

Let me take you off on a tangent here...what's actually wrong with your system at the moment in your eyes?

cheers

James

[340GLT]

Nothings wrong with it as such, once the front speakers have been changed it will be ok. Main question i need an answer to is what amp can i buy at a reasonable price that will power the 6 speakers and allow me to have the opportunity to upgrade the speakers at a later date without then having to upgrade the amp.
Cheers Adam

[Chris_C]

He wants a simple answer!?!? NOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[foggyjames]

My counter-question is why do you need 6 speakers? Presumably, you want the 6.5s and the 4s to be your main speakers, then the 6x9s to provide the bass? It's generally accepted that your rear speakers ought to be quieter than your fronts, and since they're only 4"ers, you'll not want to put much bass near them...in which case, they don't need as much power.

4 channel amps (to power the 6x9s and 6.5"s) are much more readily available in your price band, and I'd start by looking at Alpine V12s. There's plenty of decent kit in that (sub £100) price band (even the 'chavvy' brands like Pioneer and Kenwood are perfectly good), but the V12 is the stand-out bargain I'd say, mainly because the new model is out I guess. As Chris says though, they're not all bargains, so watch out.

cheers

James

[340GLT]

Not exactly no i want six so if i need to take the parcel shelf out to carry something i still have four speakers as just the two up front sound shit on their own.
Cheers Adam

[foggyjames]

I know you want all six speakers operating, but I'm saying I think you'll not gain anything from amping the 4s (instead of running them from the HU). You're bound to lose a lot of bass if you take out the 6x9s if they're your main bass supply! Best make sure the 6.5s are being fed plenty of juice, and are installed in a suitably hefty mounting.

cheers

James