do different volt preouts matter?

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

the difference i noticed was negligible (sp?) i used to be a hardcore pioneer person but then got an eclipse and have changed my interest in decks now.

I didn't figure it would be much. Atleast not as much as some people try to make it out to be.

 

[billybrown66 10+ year member]

so then a headunit with lower voltage preouts wouldn't necessarily get louder than a headunit with higher voltage even though you have to turn the gains up, correct?

because all you are doing is matching up the signal from the headunit on the amp and the power from the amp will still be the same whether an 8v or 4v.

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

so then a headunit with lower voltage preouts wouldn't necessarily get louder than a headunit with higher voltage even though you have to turn the gains up, correct?
because all you are doing is matching up the signal from the headunit on the amp and the power from the amp will still be the same whether an 8v or 4v.

You basically have the right idea now.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Line voltage doesn't make a system louder at all. Higher line voltage just means you can keep the gains on the amps lower....thats all. With older or POS amps that WOULD make a difference since you would have noise with the gains up.

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

so then a headunit with lower voltage preouts wouldn't necessarily get louder than a headunit with higher voltage even though you have to turn the gains up, correct?
because all you are doing is matching up the signal from the headunit on the amp and the power from the amp will still be the same whether an 8v or 4v.

One thing many dont consider in this debate is cummulative error-those incorporated by other variables of the install- more importantly, distance of rca runs. The hotter the signal from the source , the stronger the signal delivered on the other end of that run as opposed to lower voltage outputs. This allows the amplifiers gain stage to receive optimal signal while not working as hard.

While the voltage aspect may not offer an SQ difference in music, higher voltage certainly has its advantages/benefits. Lower impedances of that signal transfer obviously are more ideal electrically. To argue its worth as far as SQ is like asking why Mercedes makes Maybachs. Simply a more refined product for the enthusiasts which desire contributing towards perfection by focusing on those 'lil things'.

 

[ThatDude 10+ year member]

I used to worry about this to, then I just said forget it, and got an Alpine CDA-9851 with a discount, it has everything i wanted, except the 4 volt ouputs I wanted. When i hooked it up it, the sound was much more crisp, and clear than my old sony HU which claimed to put out 4V. I it sounds great to me, so I would say gain noise was a thing of the past, if you have good amps. Unless you are going for like SQ competitions, I don't think there is that much of a difference if there is any difference at all.

 

[Spkrman]

For the most part.....NOPE.
Only if you are having noise problems in your system related to having a higher gain setting. Which, with the quality of amplifiers today, having a higher gain setting isn't that big of a deal.

Basically......don't put preout voltage as your #1 priority when selecting headunits. Look for a deck with the features you want (in terms of EQ, crossovers, MP3, aux input, aethestics, etc) at a price you can afford.

agreed.

A more objective point of view...

I went from a kenwood 5v excelon, to a 2 volt kenwood cheapy. There was absolutely no difference in my score, I just had to up the gain about .25, and maintain everything else on the deck the same as my 5v.