Amplifier vs. HU to components

[ShakesAllDay 10+ year member]

I've got some older (about 3 years old) Kicker 5x7 components (front) and Kicker 5x7 coaxials (rear). At the moment, they are all running off of an Alpine 9883 head unit (18w x 4 RMS). They actually sound pretty good... better than I thought they were going to.

I'm wondering if amping them with an Alpine MRP-F250 (40w x 4 RMS @ 4-ohm) would make a LOT of difference? I had them amped before, but the amp was stolen, so I hooked up them up to the head unit... and honestly, with the HP crossover set at 80hz, they sound pretty darn good.

I'm just wanting opinions on whether or not it would be worth the time and money ($200) to put them on the F250. I'm getting an Alpine MRP-M450 to run a single 12" sub, and I like to have all my stuff match (I'm silly like that).

Another option would be to bridge the 4 channels into 2 channels and just run the front component set off the amp and leave the rear 5x7 coax's running off the head unit since they are just filler anyway.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance!!!

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[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

I think amping your components with the amp you're considering would make a world of difference.

Look at it this way - you'd be more than doubling the power being fed to them while still staying within acceptable limits for the speakers in question. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsup.gif.3287b36ca96645a13a43aff531f37f02.gif

 

[xtremekustomz 10+ year member]

definately amp them

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

^ Agreed. To add to what Prowler said, the distortion from a HU's internal amps is much more than that of an external amplifier (typically about 5% vs 0.5%). So, you might get an audible increase in the SQ department by going with a standalone amp.

 

[ShakesAllDay 10+ year member]

Bye bye gift card. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

What about the option of bridging the amp to the components? Or just run it x4 to all speakers?

 

[tbasile1 10+ year member]

Night and Day difference with amping speakers

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

Bridging to 2x100w rms instead of 2x40w rms would probably not make much difference with a Kicker 5x7 comp set, to be honest. You can always try it and see which setup you like better.

 

[ShakesAllDay 10+ year member]

Yeah... I think I was giving them 65w RMS from my last amp and every once in a while the fuses in the crossovers would glow. LOL I know - not good. So, I'm sure 40w will do just fine.

I appreciate all the input! Now I just have to figure out where to mount everything to keep as much storage space as possible. My back seat folds down. It has two sections, one being one seat, the other being the other seat and middle (so it's the larger section). I have to be able to at least lay one seat down for storage, so I may end up mounting the amps to the back of the other seat, which would be directly behind the box.

 

[ShakesAllDay 10+ year member]

Here's a pic of my x-overs for shits-n-giggles.

 

[kross 10+ year member]

the distortion from a HU's internal amps is much more than that of an external amplifier (typically about 5% vs 0.5%).

I've read that as long as the internal amplifier isn't clipping (which can happen with the volume knob set as low as 1/2 volume), then the output is typically just as clean as an external amp. It's just a lot less power. Then again, maybe I shouldn't believe everything I read on the Internet. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[ShakesAllDay 10+ year member]

Well, too late... gettin' the amp!

Chant with me...

"Here we go again! Here we go again!"

 

[Gary S 10+ year member]

Shakes, you have made a wise decision. That amp will boost the power over your head unit by at least 4.5 DB... it will make a world of difference not only in output, but in midbass response and dynamics.

 

[ShakesAllDay 10+ year member]

Well, I've got both amps in-hand and it's GLORIOUS! Heavy sum *****es for the size, me thinks. Anyway, I am super pumped! I'm having a good stereo shop in a neighboring town wire up the F250 on Monday ($125 including labor and 4ga. amp install kit). It's worth the money for me to have them do it... they only charge $50 for labor.

My Infinity Kappa 12" and box are scheduled to be delivered on Monday (according to UPS tracking), along w/ a remote control for my Alpine HU. So, all should be well and bangin' come Monday night!!! I can't wait to cruise! It's been over a year since I had any music at all in my ride (other than an AM/FM radio I sit in the passenger seat sometimes).

Edit: Moved questions to new thread. Please respond ASAP! Thanks!