Upgrading from stock

[Theessence]

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 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 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

[PaulD]

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

[Theessence]

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?

[Galuple]

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.

[new2mitsu]

nice lil lower wattage 4 channel would be great

[Theessence]

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

[Galuple]

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/Produ...3&tp=115&avf=N

and apparantly profile stuff is pretty good for the price.

[Theessence]

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?

[sickcallawayc12]

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.

[adnasium]

Originally Posted by Theessence

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!

[Theessence]

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.

[sickcallawayc12]

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.

[Theessence]

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.

[vanilla gorilla]

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.

[PaulD]

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).