I just replaced the stock MY '00 headunit with a Sony CDX-GT500 and replaced the door speakers with Alpine Type R's which run at 100 RMS each. If I turn it up to 75 percent of the HU's volume capacity, the music starts to distort. The Sony HU is putting out 20 watts RMS to the Alpine Type R's (100 watts RMS), with no amp.

I guess my question is, will the Alpine Type R's be much louder if I get an amp since they are rated at a much higher wattage? And is the loudness proportional. Say, I use an amp that sends out 80 watts RMS to the Alpine 100 RMS speakers, will this then make it 4 times as loud as before since I am currently only sending 20 watts RMS from the headunit? I just don't want to spend good money on amps and subs just to see a marginal increase in volume/clarity.

 

get an amp if your turning it up that much.... your feeding distortion into the speakers , more less the power from the radio isn't sufficent enough to push those speakers. In easy terms once a radio has to work so hard it's feeding the maxium power at lets say 60% , then your pushing it over it's limit so your not feeding it power anymore your feeding it power with distortion from the transistor packs