How many amps do I need?

[connerprince]

I just bought a brand new Toyota Corolla Cross but wanted to upgrade the cars audio system. I would max out the volume knob almost everyday leading to distorted music at high volume. I met with one car audio shop that says they're fine they just need an amp and a Hi low converter, and I want to add a sub and would need another amp for that, but also met with another shop that said they would swap out the speakers and they're made from Taiwan (cheap). How many amps do you think I need? Do you think I need to replace the speakers or should the new ones be fine with an amp?

PS. the one shop said they'll do new pioneer speakers an amp and sub for 1100, but the one that just wants to use an amp for the speakers and an amp for the sub would be 1300. Who do you think I should go with?

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[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Certainly seems like Ive answered this question once before recently. Put an amplifier on all your speakers if you can afford to do so. at a minimum .. I would get a 4ch with 75-125 per ch@40hms and a Mono/sub amp with a minimum of 1k-1500 RMS @1ohm.

 

[2023 LTZ]

Believe it or not but “made in Taiwan” is good. Back in the 70s and 80s the Japanese were ridiculed for creating cheap crap but now we covet their ingenuity. Taiwan is where all the high quality microchips come from. Many quality electronics come from there. Your Corolla speakers may not be high end but likely better than cheap a** speakers from best buy. Get an amp on them, run them til they blow then replace em.
My 2 cents worth.

 

[Bobbytwonames 5,000+ posts]

Certainly seems like Ive answered this question once before recently. Put an amplifier on all your speakers if you can afford to do so. at a minimum .. I would get a 4ch with 75-125 per ch@40hms and a Mono/sub amp with a minimum of 1k-1500 RMS @1ohm.

What makes you think you've answered this particular question previously?

 

[Bobbytwonames 5,000+ posts]

I just bought a brand new Toyota Corolla Cross but wanted to upgrade the cars audio system. I would max out the volume knob almost everyday leading to distorted music at high volume. I met with one car audio shop that says they're fine they just need an amp and a Hi low converter, and I want to add a sub and would need another amp for that, but also met with another shop that said they would swap out the speakers and they're made from Taiwan (cheap). How many amps do you think I need? Do you think I need to replace the speakers or should the new ones be fine with an amp?

PS. the one shop said they'll do new pioneer speakers an amp and sub for 1100, but the one that just wants to use an amp for the speakers and an amp for the sub would be 1300. Who do you think I should go with?

Do you want "real" bass or not? Budget? I would tell you to get a decent four channel amp and run a pair of Infinity 6½" coaxials up front on channels 1/2 and then run 2 - 8" subs (VFL 8) in your trunk on channels 3/4. Run another set of Infinity coaxials off of your headunit for your rear fill. You don't sound sound like you want Earth shaking sound IMO.

 

[1aespinoza 10+ year member]

What makes you think you've answered this particular question previously?

This is the 3rd time OP has asked this same question.

 

[connerprince]

Do you want "real" bass or not? Budget? I would tell you to get a decent four channel amp and run a pair of Infinity 6½" coaxials up front on channels 1/2 and then run 2 - 8" subs (VFL 8) in your trunk on channels 3/4. Run another set of Infinity coaxials off of your headunit for your rear fill. You don't sound sound like you want Earth shaking sound IMO.

Definitely want real bass, was looking at one Rockford fosgate p2 or digital design 600 with a 5ch amp, thoughts?

 

[2023 LTZ]

For me it was a learning curve to what actually filled my bass wants. I started w 2 kenwood 12s that were $79 each. That sounded good on the 300w mono amp.
Since then I’m on my 4th set of 12s and 4th amp. The guidelines say pick an amount of $ you’re comfortable with and stick w it. Read reviews of items you may purchase. Some like to exaggerate their systems to make themselves feel better but in reality, it’s what you like and what makes you happy.
Don’t forget about your charging system. May want to upgrade the positive wire from the alternator and ground using equal size wire. Many opinions on wire from cca to solid gold but quality all copper is best. My suggestion is to source the wire from “windynation” available through Amazon or it’s own website. Far cheaper than wiring kits.
a single 12 will definitely addsome lows. Also check the frequency response as thistells how low a sub will go. The amp is critical to good full sound too. Not all amps are the same. Some really thrive and some just pump electricity to paper cones, you can hear the difference. That’s another consideration, sound quality or spl which is what competitive systems have, those huge house rattling waves. The same $ can get arguably close to either but not both.
Hopefully you can find value in this and not be pissed off I said something.
Happy hunting enthusiast!

 

[Jimi77 5,000+ posts]

You put a decent amp on OEM speakers and you'll blow them. Budget for both the speakers and the amp.

As for Taiwan..... very generally speaking Taiwan > Korea > China.

 

[2023 LTZ]

Again with my 2 cents
Buy a decent 4 channel. Learn if your oe speakers are 2 or 4 ohm. Install power wire and a fuse that could to feed your new amp and also serve your mono amp in the future. Once you get through the install you can play with the gain, low pass and high pass, frequency settings and learn what that’s all about. On a reasonable setting you won’t blow the oe. Wanting too much from them will inevitably blow them or require an upgrade. Consider if you’ll want to change your speaker wire bc planning is critical to having the best, practical layout and not doing it 15 times or having wire laying throughout your vehicle. Having an idea of what more you’ll want makes the selection easier. No component or 2 way speakers have much bass. Their frequency response is usually 55-60 hz which isn’t gonna do justice to anything bassy. Get full range speakers wether you have room for separate tweets or not which doesn’t matter but can help decide to go with components or not. High wattage speakers isn’t necessarily the answer to loud or bassy sound. That’s where the sub comes in. A decent 8” will produce ample bass but two will not double it. To notice an increase in sound the db level you’d have to increase 3 db. Essentially there’s no substitute for going bigger bc it delivers better lows. I’m not sure anyone has stuck w their first purchases so make them count. I’m embarrassed to say how much I’ve spent but I reached my happy level. Time? Holy crap, I can’t account for all the time reading about stuff to aid in my decisions. Sooo much time in the install, settings, dsp, tear out, rewire, alternator change out battery change outs just making it exactly what I’d be proud to show off. I have a solid system in a decent sedan. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, with in reason. Interestingly no one cares outside the audio world. It’s all what you want to create to make your sound heaven.

 

[Bobbytwonames 5,000+ posts]

One good 4 channel amp. Run your front speakers on channels 1/2. Run your rear speakers off of the headunit. Then run your sub from channels 3/4. A single Alpine Type R or American Bass XD series would be a good choice.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

5 ch amps can get expensive and most of the sub stage lacks power for a decent mid-sized sub. And end up running hot. Some times its best to look at a multi-ch and a sub/mono amplifier to get some decent power. There are some 5 ch out there but not alot to choose from as in the multi and mono sector