Need help choosing equipment

[N00bCybot]

I have a 1985 Mercedes Benz 190e and im looking to upgrade my sound system. Currently I have a pioneer cd deck and 4 Kenwood speakers with a peak power of 120 watts. Im looking to get a subwoofer and a 5 channel amp to power all 5 of the speakers. Does anyone have any recomendations on what I should buy? Do I need to get a 120 watt amp and sub since the peak power of my speakers is 120 watts?

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[lrgnation 10+ year member]

Do I need to get a 120 watt amp and sub since the peak power of my speakers is 120 watts?

No.

You are going to want to run 2 amps. One for the speakers and one for the subs.

Give us a budget and we'll be able to set you up with what you need.

 

[evan 10+ year member]

You are going to want to run 2 amps. One for the speakers and one for the subs.
Give us a budget and we'll be able to set you up with what you need.

Why is he going to want to run 2 amps? There are plenty of nice 5 channel amps that would potentially work find for this application.

I have a 1985 Mercedes Benz 190e and im looking to upgrade my sound system. Currently I have a pioneer cd deck and 4 Kenwood speakers with a peak power of 120 watts. Im looking to get a subwoofer and a 5 channel amp to power all 5 of the speakers. Does anyone have any recomendations on what I should buy? Do I need to get a 120 watt amp and sub since the peak power of my speakers is 120 watts?

No, you don't need to match those numbers. Without knowing exactly which speakers you have I'd guess those numbers are the peak power that Kenwood recommends you supply the speakers.

Some more information would be helpful.

• What are you looking to achieve?
  
• Do you want the ability to cause hearing loss, or do you just want to fill out the sound and be able to feel more of the music?
  
• What is the model of the cd player and speakers?
  
• Do you have a budget in mind?
  
• Did you ask about 5 channel amps because that's the number of speakers you'll end up with, or for different reasons like space restrictions, simplicity of wiring, etc.?

 

[lrgnation 10+ year member]

Why is he going to want to run 2 amps? There are plenty of nice 5 channel amps that would potentially work find for this application.


No, you don't need to match those numbers. Without knowing exactly which speakers you have I'd guess those numbers are the peak power that Kenwood recommends you supply the speakers.

Some more information would be helpful.

• What are you looking to achieve?
  
• Do you want the ability to cause hearing loss, or do you just want to fill out the sound and be able to feel more of the music?
  
• What is the model of the cd player and speakers?
  
• Do you have a budget in mind?
  
• Did you ask about 5 channel amps because that's the number of speakers you'll end up with, or for different reasons like space restrictions, simplicity of wiring, etc.?

Go ahead and do whatever this guy says than^^ 5 channel amps dont put out enough power for most peoples setup.

 

[KidThump 10+ year member]

get a 4 channel amp for ur highs and a sub amp for a sub listen to irgnation

 

[N00bCybot]

Some more information would be helpful.

• What are you looking to achieve?
  
• Do you want the ability to cause hearing loss, or do you just want to fill out the sound and be able to feel more of the music?
  
• What is the model of the cd player and speakers?
  
• Do you have a budget in mind?
  
• Did you ask about 5 channel amps because that's the number of speakers you'll end up with, or for different reasons like space restrictions, simplicity of wiring, etc.?

Im looking to achieve a full and clean sound. But being able to cause hearing loss would be a plus. Im not sure of the cd player or speaker model at the moment but I can try to find out later. Im looking to spend no more than $500 altogether. I asked about a 5 channel amp because thats the total speakers Ill end up with.

 

[evan 10+ year member]

Im looking to achieve a full and clean sound. But being able to cause hearing loss would be a plus. Im not sure of the cd player or speaker model at the moment but I can try to find out later. Im looking to spend no more than $500 altogether. I asked about a 5 channel amp because thats the total speakers Ill end up with.

If that's the only reason you're looking at a 5 channel then I'd recommend you broaden your search to include the possibility of using two amps as well. You might be able to find some better deals on the more common 4/2/mono amp configurations.

 

[N00bCybot]

Does the amp power have to match the peak power of the speakers? and if the amp is to strong will it blow the speakers?

 

[champaned_out 10+ year member]

Does the amp power have to match the peak power of the speakers? and if the amp is to strong will it blow the speakers?

no not the peak, more matching the sub's rated RMS

for example if your sub is rated at 500watts rms then you'd want an amp that does anywhere from 500 rms and up... its always better to get a amp that overpowers the sub because you can control the gain

you dont want a weak amp with the gains all the way up cause it'll start clipping

 

[WantedIsHere]

there are some nice 5 channel amps out there... if your sub isnt going to require thousands of watts to run then you should be able to find one really easy... what kind of sub are you looking at?

 

[N00bCybot]

no not the peak, more matching the sub's rated RMSfor example if your sub is rated at 500watts rms then you'd want an amp that does anywhere from 500 rms and up... its always better to get a amp that overpowers the sub because you can control the gain

you dont want a weak amp with the gains all the way up cause it'll start clipping

What about matching the amp with the normal speakers. Would I get an amp that overpowers the normal speakers as well? And if I get two amps (one for the sub and one for the other speakers) do I get two amps that are the same strength.

 

[lrgnation 10+ year member]

What about matching the amp with the normal speakers. Would I get an amp that overpowers the normal speakers as well? And if I get two amps (one for the sub and one for the other speakers) do I get two amps that are the same strength.

No. For instance if you were to run a kicker amplifier for the speakers you coud do this one.

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=3789

It does 60 watts to each speaker at 4 ohms. (normal speaker resistance 4ohm)

and for you sub you could run this one.

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=3788

It does 750 watts to 1 channel at 2 ohms. (average sub resitance .5-4ohm)

Your going to want to slightly over power the RMS rating on your speakers as well.

 

[champaned_out 10+ year member]

^^

+1... what he said

 

[N00bCybot]

No. For instance if you were to run a kicker amplifier for the speakers you coud do this one.

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=3789

It does 60 watts to each speaker at 4 ohms. (normal speaker resistance 4ohm)

and for you sub you could run this one.

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=3788

It does 750 watts to 1 channel at 2 ohms. (average sub resitance .5-4ohm)

Your going to want to slightly over power the RMS rating on your speakers as well.

Its not a problem if the sub overpowers the speakers?

 

[N00bCybot]

Would this be a good setup for the sub?

Alpine Type R 12" Power handling: 50-500 watts RMS

http://www.techronics.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=2167&aff=45847

Alpine MRP-M650 1 Channel Amplifier 400 watts RMS x 1 at 4 ohms (600 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms)

http://www.techronics.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=3637