Does your head unit affect your overall sound system for amp and subs

[charleslatrelle]

Hey I was wondering if having a low wattage head unit will be a noticeable difference in amp and subwoofer performance? I just recently had a jensen vx3010 installed and it doesn't seem as loud as my factory unit in my 03 monte carlo the watts on it is 40 x4 watt max and 13 x4 rms I'm looking to get my 2 kicker 12 cvrs and rockford Fosgate prime 1200 watt amp install soon will that unit make it not as loud?

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[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

If you have to turn the gain way up on the amps, yes. That is bad.

I'm guessing those CVR's are going in a prefab too. That will also make things not as loud.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

If you have to turn the gain way up on the amps, yes. That is bad.
I'm guessing those CVR's are going in a prefab too. That will also make things not as loud.

Having 2v preouts is not that bad. More noise floor but it's not like we still use tape decks. The MS-8 only has 2.8v preouts.

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

Having 2v preouts is not that bad. More noise floor but it's not like we still use tape decks. The MS-8 only has 2.8v preouts.

The MS-8 is also a bit different than a Jensen deck, lol. Some difference in build quality..

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

The MS-8 is also a bit different than a Jensen deck, lol. Some difference in build quality..

I was about to say that Jensen might not do 1v

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Hey I was wondering if having a low wattage head unit will be a noticeable difference in amp and subwoofer performance? I just recently had a jensen vx3010 installed and it doesn't seem as loud as my factory unit in my 03 monte carlo the watts on it is 40 x4 watt max and 13 x4 rms I'm looking to get my 2 kicker 12 cvrs and rockford Fosgate prime 1200 watt amp install soon will that unit make it not as loud?

If you are using amps, its not the wattage you look for, its the preout voltage.

 

[charleslatrelle]

2-volt front, rear, mono subwoofer), rear A/V output according to website

 

[wew lad 5,000+ posts]

2 volt pre outs are completely fine, sure higher CAN be better, but really that's all you need. if you're really concerned about it buy a line driver..

 

[Popwarhomie 5,000+ posts]

The head unit is the source of your whole setup.. I hate when people cheap out on them..

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

2 volt pre outs are completely fine, sure higher CAN be better, but really that's all you need. if you're really concerned about it buy a line driver..

2 volts is only fine if its a legit 2 volts. Most head units that claim 4 volts barely even do 2 volts. Let alone the cheap ones that claim 2V that doesnt make it past .5 clean

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

Wasn't that long ago when 1/2v pre outs were standard and people built perfectly good quality noise-free sound systems. 2v is fine.

In regard to running speakers directly off the HU -- That's definitely not their strong point. An 03 stock radio could easily have produced more power than the Jensen.