How can I identify a premium system?
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New User
Joined: Oct 2002
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How can I identify a premium system?
This is for my '90 e-150 conv. van. By chance I wanted to know the speaker wattages so I removed one of the rear speakers and it said "Ford Premium Speaker" no wattage of course! Does this mean I have the premium stereo?
If it is, didn't they come with an amp or something? If they did where would it be? I have a big heat-sinked thing behind the stereo attached to the bottom of what I thought was a center speaker grill up on top of the dash, until I removed it and that thing was stuck on the under side of it. until now I thought it was the computer since it has a million wires going in, and no obvious connection to the stereo.
Anyone know what I'm talking about? If it is the premium pkg. Do you know the wattage of the spkrs?
Last thing: if it is premium will the amp and stuff effect the install of an aftermarket stereo?
Thanks for your info guys!!!
If it is, didn't they come with an amp or something? If they did where would it be? I have a big heat-sinked thing behind the stereo attached to the bottom of what I thought was a center speaker grill up on top of the dash, until I removed it and that thing was stuck on the under side of it. until now I thought it was the computer since it has a million wires going in, and no obvious connection to the stereo.
Anyone know what I'm talking about? If it is the premium pkg. Do you know the wattage of the spkrs?
Last thing: if it is premium will the amp and stuff effect the install of an aftermarket stereo?
Thanks for your info guys!!!
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 594
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How can I identify a premium system?
Alright, I'll give it a shot. I don't know much about your ride specifically, but I can't tell you what I've noticed.
Usually, I find the stock speakers are high Ohm, like, say 9.6 or something. They usually made of paper and have a high sensitivity. They really do sound good, when newer. I have always maintained, a high ohm, paper cone driver will sound better than a 2 ohm plastic model. As far as power is concerned, they don't handle very much. Of course they see very little as well, even with an amp, because of the high resistence. Hook an amp that is rated 100 watts at 4 ohm to a 9.6 ohm speaker and you'll be lucky to see 40 watts. Even then I would think 40 would be too much for these stock speakers. Go to radio shack and check out some of the replacement models they sell and you see they are rated around 20-30 watts. But before you go thinking the Ford engineers are idiots, consider this. If a speaker can put 95 dB at 1 watt (most stock ones exceed this), then at 10 watts it will put out 105 dB and at 100 watts it will do 115 db. So, you may be getting 110 dB or more out of a stock system, which is loud enough for most listeners.
As far as a premium system would go, I doubt you would get much more power, but more speakers and a crossover. Sometimes, even a sub. Usually, auto makers hide the crossover in the trunk, but it could be anywhere I guess. It would have lots of wires and an obvious connection to the head unit.
Usually, I find the stock speakers are high Ohm, like, say 9.6 or something. They usually made of paper and have a high sensitivity. They really do sound good, when newer. I have always maintained, a high ohm, paper cone driver will sound better than a 2 ohm plastic model. As far as power is concerned, they don't handle very much. Of course they see very little as well, even with an amp, because of the high resistence. Hook an amp that is rated 100 watts at 4 ohm to a 9.6 ohm speaker and you'll be lucky to see 40 watts. Even then I would think 40 would be too much for these stock speakers. Go to radio shack and check out some of the replacement models they sell and you see they are rated around 20-30 watts. But before you go thinking the Ford engineers are idiots, consider this. If a speaker can put 95 dB at 1 watt (most stock ones exceed this), then at 10 watts it will put out 105 dB and at 100 watts it will do 115 db. So, you may be getting 110 dB or more out of a stock system, which is loud enough for most listeners.
As far as a premium system would go, I doubt you would get much more power, but more speakers and a crossover. Sometimes, even a sub. Usually, auto makers hide the crossover in the trunk, but it could be anywhere I guess. It would have lots of wires and an obvious connection to the head unit.
