Upgrading from stock

As a little background, I just want a nice sounding system that can go louder than my stock '99 grand am 2-watt speakers. I'm not going to put in a sub but I am going to put in new head unit +front and rear speakers.

The speakers I'm going to end up getting are going to be about 80W each but all of the head units I'm looking at say they put out 22W continuous power per channel. Is that a problem or will it be fine?

This (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v3/pg/product/details/0,,2076_310069882_338834001_tab=B,00.html?compName =PNA_V3_ProductDetailsComponent) is the head unit I'm going to get if it'll work for how I want to use it. It's a Pioneer Premier. These (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/premier/product/specs/0,,2076_58531249_376262691,00.html)are the rear speakers I'm looking at. I haven't looked for fronts yet. Does it look like that would work out and sound good? If I can do better for the money please let me know. Please give me any thoughts, concerns, interests, or questions you have.

Thanks a lot

pioneer are average speakers .... you will need more real power if you are going to buy new speakers

what do you mean I'll need more real power? How exactly do I do that? And are you saying that this isn't going to be better than stock?

I'll be running my stock speakers out of the new head for awhile but I'll be upgrading them sooner than later.

What do you recommend?

if you upgrade your stock speakers to something aftermarket, it will sound better, but at the same time, it'll sound the best if you get an external amp like a nice 4 channel, that way you can provide the power the speakers need.

nice lil lower wattage 4 channel would be great

I suppose that would be doable. I have no idea how to shop for an amp, or how to install one. I'm sure it can't be real difficult. Is it just input from the head unit, then output to the speakers? also do amps connect with clamps on to bare wire or do I need to get new wires with some kind of connector on the end of them?

I'll shop around online and try to find a little amp that would work for me but does anyone know of one that would work for me off hand?

thanks for the replies so far everyone

some amps have wire inputs, anothers just have the screw type. to hook up a 4 channel amp you're going to need to run the input from the head unit, the outputs to the speakers and then the power/ground/remote lines. shopping for an amp is pretty easy. in your case you want to get an amp with a nice 80w RMS or thereabouts for example this amp from profile:

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=120&i=489AP1040&c=3&tp=115&avf=N

and apparantly profile stuff is pretty good for the price.

well I definetly don't have an extra $300 for an amp and new wires so I'll have to stick w/ speakers + head unit for awhile. it'll still sound like a big improvement right?

New head unit and speakers will sound good, not great. You'll be able to fine tune the sound and such so it sound better but that is it. Head units don't put out a lot of power for speakers, just enough to get them moving. For full volume and clarity you will need a separate amplifier. Just get a 2 channel one and put two speakers to each channel.

As a little background, I just want a nice sounding system that can go louder than my stock '99 grand am 2-watt speakers. I'm not going to put in a sub but I am going to put in new head unit +front and rear speakers

Any quality head should be able to put out around 150 wts and into 2 speakers that should be fine. I start all my systems with the head then start there. I suggest an alpine head with front input jacks for mp3 players and other devices. You can't go wrong with Alpine speakers as well.

Just my 2 cents!

so I'm not gaining anything by just replacing the stock head unit? I understand it would sound "better" if or when I put an amp in but are you saying that if I don't then there's pretty much no point?

An amp is going to cost over $100 and however much more for wire. I could probably leave the long wires in place and buy wire to go from the head unit to the amp so it would be easier / cheaper.

Thing is I'm just on a budget for now and don't know if I should even get the new head unit until I could afford to get an amp. You're making it seem like there isn't any benefit by replacing my stock cd player and my stock 2watt speakers.

Well yes by all means do it. That is an excellent deck and it will sound much better compared to the stock stuff. Just saying that using a dedicated amp for the speakers instead of the deck amp is best, but can wait a while if you're short on funds.

okay I'll have to post up here again once I get the money for the amp so you all can help me install it :-) I've never even run a wire through a car so that'll be a good time. Thank's for the input everybody it helped a lot.

Heres a little info for when your buying your head unit and speakers. All those numbers on those boxes mean nothing. You cant go off the power ratings on the boxes.

all of the aftermarket "high power" head units put out about 18 watts RMS per channel of real power (and that's at like 1% THD or better).

yeah that's what I was seeing too. It'll be better than the 2-4 watts I was getting before though. Then once I hook up an amp I'll really be rockin :grinyes:.

all of the aftermarket "high power" head units put out about 18 watts RMS per channel of real power (and that's at like 1% THD or better).

I was mostly talking about the ratings on speakers. For instance door speakers with a "160watt peak", just for example. I'm just saying ratings don't mean anything. Like 160 peak ?...that can mean anything. Maybe it means 160watt playing ONLY the tweeter? Maybe it means 160watts at a frequency so low its not usable? I'm just saying all the ratings can be misleading.

Especially with amps...god...95% of manufacturers pull numbers out of their ass. For instance a 1000watt MAX amp. I mean what is MAX? What does max mean?...nothing. Its just made up. Max is the guy next door...he doesnt exist.

there is NO FTC standard for rating anything car stereo like there is for home stereo ...... so you're exactly right, an unscrupulous manufacturer can pull whatever numbers they want out of their ass, and you have no one you can complain to. That's why we posted a rating scheme, I thnk it's in the newbie thread, keep away from the ones in worst group and you should be ok.

As far as amps go, without a true DC - DC power converter it's VERY difficult to get more than 12.2 watts/ch RMS. Head units fall into this category.

That list I think is where I got pioneer premier from. It's in my price range and its not sold at wal-mart so it seems reasonable that it should be good (or at least not crap)

That list I think is where I got pioneer premier from. It's in my price range and its not sold at wal-mart so it seems reasonable that it should be good (or at least not crap)
The majority of Wal-Marts do in fact carry a few Pioneer products by way of speakers, HUs, subs, and amps. Don't feed bad buying their products here. I got my Pioneer amp there over 5 years ago and still produces amplified power to this day. They aren't top of the line models, but should suffice to your needs.

If you're short on cash I would skip the rear speakers altogether. Just get a decent front set of either 2 ways(good) or components(better) and a 2 ch. amp. This will save some money and give you better results.

If you're short on cash I would skip the rear speakers altogether. Just get a decent front set of either 2 ways(good) or components(better) and a 2 ch. amp. This will save some money and give you better results.

shhhh .... don't give away ALL of our secrets