I have a 2x150 Kicker amp powering the Polk speakers in my doors. If I installed S-Pods would my head unit amp be adequate to power 5 1/4" speakers plus tweeters in an S-Pod? I have a Harmon Kardon Navigation head unit, power is 4x18w. Or should I dump the 2 channel amp and invest in a 4?

 

I do not have S-Pods, but I have 5 1/4" coaxials on the rear panels behind the seats powered by Nakamichi HU (about 15Wrms/ch). Since I tune my system such that the main sound are coming from front speakers, the rears are for ambience/fill only. The result is the power from HU is more than adequate to drive the rears.
The S-Pods is right behind your head, you do not need a lot of power to drive any speaker in it, if you still like your fronts as the main sound source.

 

Most people I have seen on here just amp the fronts, and leave the HU to power the rears. Rears are usually only designed to fill in the sound. If you were going to amp all 4 the same, I dont think you would hear the fronts, as the rears would be blazing just as loud at 6" from you ears. Imaging is also thrown off, as the sound stage is right at ear level.

I would try the HUpower first, then if you dont like the staging / imaging of that, and think it should be higher, then get an amp.

I am actually going to be getting a Boston GT-22 in the next month or two (just blew $ on Comptech exhaust), and am just going to amp the fronts.

John

 

 

With Harmon Kardon I'd say you're fine. With an OEM headunit or something not so great I'd say to get a cleaner external amp. You'll have plenty of power -- that's never the issue with S-Pods. Typically, you just want something that will match the warmth of fronts good enough so that the rear speakers don't distract. If the rears are tuned correctly you should not hear them enough to be able to locate audio coming from behind you. They should just fill enough to lift the soundstage higher up in the car so it's about at your shoulders.

 

John

 

I agree with everything said above...well accept the "i'm with stupid", "whore" comments. I advise people to try S-Pods without an amp first & save a little money.

 

[QUOTE]I agree with everything said above...well accept the "i'm with stupid", "whore" comments.

 

great product, and most good headunits offer sufficient power. I haven't experienced the imaging problems that so many have speculated would occur with them. I just get a fuller sound from a killer mod.

 

Anyone have any recommendations on what speakers to put in one?