I've got a 2004 with a Sony head unit and the factory speakers. It sounds ok until I really crank it when I am top down at higher speeds, then it doesn't sound as strong as I'd like. Thinking about adding a small amp to up the output. Has anyone done this while keeping the factory speakers? I don't really want to put a lot of money into a system because I don't care about fantastic sound, I just want to strengthen the system a bit.

Thoughts? What type of small amp would you go with?

 

Depends on the power your head unit is pushing to the speakers. The stock speakers are 20W. Most head units push 15-20W. Honestly, you can pick up some db6501's for 110 dollars and they are 100w rms / 300w peak and then an amp to follow it. What amp you choose depends on whether you will want to add a sub or more speakers in the near future. The clarity of sound at high volume will drop your jaw compared to what you have now.

Considering you will drop at least 100 on the amp, and you will hardly notice the difference. Or you could spend another 110 and far madly in love with the music in your car.

 

Solid advice. I'd get the speakers for now, and when you've got another $150 to spend, add the amp.

 

Thanks for the advice. I guess I will add the speakers and then decide on the amp afterwards.

 

if you havent replaced the factory headunit, id start there. dont forget the amp will need an amp wiring kit and a mounting location. choose wisely grasshapper.

 

things to think about:

-adding aftermarket speakers to a very low-powered stock head unit will not yield much improvement. underpowering speakers designed to receive much more power doesn't seem like the best path. upgrading just the speakers won't be the best option.

-your typical aftermarket head unit is advertized at 50Wx4 channels, which is more of a maximum rating. During regular use, the head unit will consistently provide about 18W RMS to each speaker. stock head unit will provide even less.

-Polk db's seem to be this forum's component speakers of choice. they're rated at 100W rms, meaning they're designed to receive about 100W consistently. Given the minimal power that the stock head unit, or even an aftermarket headunit, will send out, the Polks only seem like a good choice if they're paired with an amp.

so as for options, i think it depends on what your future plans are.

-best bang for buck will be installing an aftermarket headunit and keeping stock speakers. you gain additional functionality and a moderate bump in power to your stock speakers. 100-200$.

-if you are willing to do amp + new speakers now, you can keep the factory stereo, wire it to an inexpensive amp, and power new component speakers. this will make a larger difference. you'll need to get some extra hardware.. an amp wiring kit and possibly a line driver to connect the factory stereo to the amp: http://www.sonicelectronix.com/viewc...rder=price_asc

-if you plan to eventually upgrade to all three (headunit, speakers, amp), i'd go with headunit first + stock speakers, then later do the amp + aftermarket speakers.

 

Thanks for the tips. As I said in my original post, I do have an aftermarket Sony headunit that did improve the sound over the stock HU. Just wanting to make things a bit louder than they currently are for when the top is down.

 

Sometimes I wonder if people read the OP before replying lol. You'll be fine under-powering the Polks (if that's the route you go) until you get the amp. People say you shouldn't send less power to your speakers than they are rated for, but that's what you do at lower volumes. I mean, that would be like saying you HAVE to listen to your music at full blast at all times to keep the speakers alive. Hardly, people listen to their systems at low volume all the time, and the speakers seem to last.

Long term, you'll want both the amp and speakers. So whether you get the speakers earlier and the amp later, or get them both at the same time, is up to you.

 

haha. fair enough, i missed that you have a sony hu. on severely underpowering speakers designed for higher rms, t-s.m.a.c. is right that the speakers won't end up damaged or anything; they just won't be sounding so great. it's a fairly common debate people have re: underpowering speakers. for example:

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...rpowering.html

if you plan to never get an amp, you might as well save some money by buying speakers with a lower rms that will sound better with 18-20W. no need to buy 100Wrms components if they'll just be powered at 18W forever. if you plan to get an amp, then by all means.. go big with those components..

 

just a quick question, will the db6501's fit in the s2000 without any modifications to brackets or anyting?