View Full Version : Stock Radio Power?
Big House
10-06-2005, 04:16 PM
How much or little does our stock radio systems put out. I am in the mood to upgrade but I am not in the mood to pay a lot of money. Infinity Kappa Series is my internal speaker of choice, just need to know if I need to have an amp run to power them.
BruteForce
10-06-2005, 04:31 PM
It has enough power to drive 'em at a moderate level (I have Kappas fore and aft). If you like it *LOUD*, you'll need more power.
Big House
10-06-2005, 04:44 PM
I am not trying to win any shows just trying to ride good and sound better.
looking97233
10-06-2005, 05:39 PM
I believe the head unit is rated at 35w X 4. This is from a brochere about the Marauder from 2002. The sub has a 100w amp made by Panasonic. I think the head unit is from Alpine. I had a friend of a friend who manages a stero shop look at one day to give me a price on upgrading the system, he pulled the deck and thout the 35w X 4 sounded about right from the size of the heat sinks on the back.
I am not trying to win any shows just trying to ride good and sound better.
Big H take another look at your selection. The speakers you have selected are 2 ohm rated. Your factory head unit will work, but a reduction of sound output will be noticeable. Try to find a match pair that is 4 ohm. If I am not mistaken your O.E.M speakers have a 6 ohm rating.
Be sure to take note of the requirements of the amp as far as how it is affected by the load placed upon it. For example, a mono amp cannot be bridged, so when you hook it up to a 2 Ohm load, that is exactly the load that it "sees". However, if you were to hook up a 2 Ohm load to a 2-channel amp that is in the bridged configuration, you must remember that bridging a 2-channel amp halves what the amp sees, because you are tying two channels of the amp together. Therefore, the 2-channel amp would see a 1 Ohm load when a 2 Ohm load is hooked up to it in the bridged mode.
Big House
10-06-2005, 06:15 PM
Electronic physics was never my forte. Could you please explain that in lamens terms?
Hotrauder
10-06-2005, 06:22 PM
Big H take another look at your selection. The speakers you have selected are 2 ohm rated. Your factory head unit will work, but a reduction of sound output will be noticeable. Try to find a match pair that is 4 ohm. If I am not mistaken your O.E.M speakers have a 6 ohm rating.
Be sure to take note of the requirements of the amp as far as how it is affected by the load placed upon it. For example, a mono amp cannot be bridged, so when you hook it up to a 2 Ohm load, that is exactly the load that it "sees". However, if you were to hook up a 2 Ohm load to a 2-channel amp that is in the bridged configuration, you must remember that bridging a 2-channel amp halves what the amp sees, because you are tying two channels of the amp together. Therefore, the 2-channel amp would see a 1 Ohm load when a 2 Ohm load is hooked up to it in the bridged mode.
I have read 2 posts one on gearing and drive shaft RPM's and this one..I promise not to drink before reading anymore...if you guys stop confusing me with all this stuff I don't understand:)
Big House
10-06-2005, 06:27 PM
:lol: :lol: :lol: I am picking myself up off the floor from that one.
:lol: :lol: :lol: I am picking myself up off the floor from that one.
http://www.bcae1.com/images/gifs/spkimp01.gif
Notice how the power doubles each time the load impedance is reduced by ½. Now keep in mind that the output transistors/chips cannot usually deliver the entire battery voltage to the speaker leads due to inefficiencies in the semiconductors. If it could apply the FULL 13.8 volts the power output shown in the diagram would be possible. Please note that those numbers would be PEAK power. The Actual RMS output would be ½ peak power.
Note: A head unit's internal amplifier can NOT drive a 1 ohm load and survive. The impedances in the diagram are only to show how power output is related to load impedance. Check the owner's manual for your equipment's minimum load impedance.
Big H, this example references a single stereo amp, but these principles applies to powered head units, like the ones we have in the Marauder.
Big House
10-06-2005, 06:49 PM
So bottom line Merc, what should I be on the look for. I want a quality sound, but something I can do in my garage. Help me out.
So bottom line Merc, what should I be on the look for. I want a quality sound, but something I can do in my garage. Help me out.
This is a good place to start.
Infinity Reference 6812cf
Alpine SPS-570A
Kenwood Excelon KFC-X680
Big House
10-06-2005, 08:09 PM
Thanks. I took a look at the kenwoods and I might have to pick those up. I have priced them @ 89 a pair plus shipping and a 10in free air application. That one will take a little more research.
mrjones
10-06-2005, 08:14 PM
This is a good place to start.
Infinity Reference 6812cf
Alpine SPS-570A
Kenwood Excelon KFC-X680
Has anybody installed the Pioneer 6870's? I bought a pair to put in my F150, but if they work pretty well, I may just put them in the Marauder, and put the MM speakers in the F150 (one of them is busted).
GreekGod
10-06-2005, 08:17 PM
My experience with the 4 "Boston" 5x7 2-way speakers I installed recently confirms what BruteForce said. They sound ok but don't play very loud. The OEM speakers actually are very well matched to the OEM 'radio'. Quality replacement speakers do require much higher power than is available with the OEM unit driving them. A 35x4 power rating is bogus! That might be a 'peak' power rating that is meaningless. I've listened to enough aftermarket amps and head units to know how manufacturers lie about power ratings. My guess is our OEM might put out 15x4 or less when compared to a quality Alpine that's rated more realistically at 35x4!
MENINBLK
10-06-2005, 08:35 PM
I have read 2 posts one on gearing and drive shaft RPM's and this one..I promise not to drink before reading anymore...if you guys stop confusing me with all this stuff I don't understand:)
You and me both :rofl:
I put in the Kenwood KFC-6879IE all around.
I got them from Crutchfield for $59/pair.
They sound great and Crutchfield gives you the adapters you need
so there is no splicing and soldering to install.
Took me about 2 1/2 hours to install all 4.
Now I need to work on a new Subwoofer...
martyo
10-06-2005, 08:36 PM
This is a good place to start.
Infinity Reference 6812cf
Alpine SPS-570A
Kenwood Excelon KFC-X680
Go with the Infinity References. TAF has them in his car and they sound great.
I have the Kenwoods but like the Inifinitys better.
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