I have a Sony CDX-CA650X with 52 x 4 watts(23.2 RMS watts according to Crutchfield), two 2 volt preamp outputs, but no specific sub-woofer preamp outputs. For my speakers I have Pioneer TSA-1663(6 1/2in 3 ways) and Pioneer TSA-6865(6x8in 3 ways) Both rated up to 180 watts, but their nominal power is 50 watts. I think I mihgt be able to get a great deal on some Pioneer 12inch speakers because a freind bought them but apparently cant install them.

Any suggestions on what I should do next? I think I want to add a mini-disc changer(if I can afford one) and then spend preferably less than $200 dollars on amps/whatever else I need. I would like to stay with Sony or Pioneer for everything since they seem to be pretty cheap, and their quality is good enough for my ears. What kind of amp should I look for? can anyone explain just what any of the rateings on a amplifier will mean, I pretty new at this? Or what are "average" specifications, what should I look for?

Thanks, Logan.

 

>I have a Sony CDX-CA650X with
>52 x 4 watts(23.2 RMS
>watts according to Crutchfield), two
>2 volt preamp outputs, but
>no specific sub-woofer preamp outputs.
>For my speakers I
>have Pioneer TSA-1663(6 1/2in 3
>ways) and Pioneer TSA-6865(6x8in 3
>ways) Both rated up to
>180 watts, but their nominal
>power is 50 watts. I
>think I mihgt be able
>to get a great deal
>on some Pioneer 12inch speakers
>because a freind bought them
>but apparently cant install them.

>
>Any suggestions on what I should
>do next? I think I
>want to add a mini-disc
>changer(if I can afford one)
>and then spend preferably less
>than $200 dollars on amps/whatever
>else I need. I would
>like to stay with Sony
>or Pioneer for everything since
>they seem to be pretty
>cheap, and their quality is
>good enough for my ears.
>What kind of amp should
>I look for? can anyone
>explain just what any of
>the rateings on a amplifier
>will mean, I pretty new
>at this? Or what are
>"average" specifications, what should I
>look for?
>
>Thanks, Logan.


Logan,

Trying to get subs and an amp for under 200 probly won't happen. and if it does, you won't be happy with the results. Do you want to run your pionner 6 1/2's and 6X8's off an amp. A nice 4 channel amp would work good in this situation. Of course you could always run these speakers off the deck and get a nice mono amp to run your subs off of. You will however have to shell out some kind of money to get subs and an amp. You may want to look at increasing you budget by 100 to 200 dollars to get quality peices.

Good Luck

Murph

 

I have noticed a lot of Sony and Pioneer seem to be pretty cheap, which is why I want to stick with them. If I get any subs, I will probbably only get one, and I'm quite sure I can get a great deal since my freind has no use for the subs he bought. Now I'm thinking about getting a 4 chanel amp that is tri-way compatiable, so that if I ever get a sub that would fit behind by seat, that I could power it with a tri-way crossover. I dought I will get a system that goes over 180 watts(If I did I would need new speaker), so I think I'll hunt for a 50-100 watt amp.

Logan

 

A Pioneer or Sony 4 x 40 watt amp will do just fine. Don't waste your money on a tri-way crossover. Either amp can run the set-up you need. Run the four small speakers(6 inch) off the front 2ch. Bridge the sub to the rear 2ch. You will love the results. Any ???? just ask me.

 

I think you just helped me a lot. But, If I get a 2 channel amp and all 4 speakers with it, then would I loose any ballance control? I found a nice(in my opinion) Pioneer amp for about $165
with continouw 50W x 4, and max of 100W x 4(at 4ohm of course), but I think I can get a higher power amp for nearly the same price if it 2 channel. Won't I most likely have to get a 2ohm stable amp if I reun them parallel/in series? What about the power directed to each speaker, would it be cut in half or stay the same(excpet with a higher load if I don't wire everything right?). Thanks for helping me a lot, but I think I will have nearly a million questions about the 2 channel for 4 speaker idea, and I will check on more info for the 12 inch subs that I might be able to get.

Logan

 

Your ??? are no problem. I believe most any Pioneer amp should run this configuration with no problem. From reading past posts you don't want a pounding system that will help out. Power to your speakers will be sufficent to make you really happy. As for the balance issue if your in a reg cab truck you don't need to worry about f-b just l-r. BTW what are you putting this in???? ask more questions be glad to answer. anymore suggestions from anybody else to help logan out.

 

I have a reg cab, I guess I don't really need to worry about fade. Maybe I should get the 4 channel amp that I found and bridge the channels togother. Actually I dought that is the right term, what I'm thinking about is useing one terminal from the back output and one from the front, then running two speakers, witch would creat about a 2ohm load(I think, I know I can wire them is series or parallel, and I think in series increases the ohms?). What are the advantages/disadvantages of wireing in series vs parallel?

Logan

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 02-May-01 AT 06:57 PM (EST)[/font][p]Yes, the only way you can retain both balance and fader functions when running speakers off amps is to have two pairs of RCA outputs from the deck running to either a 4-channel amp or 2 2-channel amps, and then having only one speaker hooked up to each channel. However, I doubt you will even notice the difference.

The lack of subwoofer-specific RCA outputs in the deck is really nothing to worry about, the only thing they do is allow you to use a crossover integrated into the deck, and you can turn them on and off remotely. Nothing especially important.

If you go with the Pioneer, I'm sure it has all this, but some things to check for: Make sure it has 2 crossovers in it, one for each pair of channels. You may not choose to use a crossover on your highs, but you must have one on your sub or subs. It should have full range, high pass, and low pass, and preferably some way to adjust the frequency cutoff. If it does not have one you will have to get one separately. Make sure it is bridgeable, because that is how you will want to hook up the sub. Bridging is a way of combining two channels of an amp into one, with a net power gain. If your amp was rated at, say, 50 watts X2, it might put out 150 watts X1 bridged. The amp's instructions will tell you how to bridge it. I would go with only one sub, because you won't have enough power to really take advantage of the second one, and this way you will have a little more room in the cab.

If you decide to go with a 2-channel amp, you will be forced to devote it exclusively to your sub or subs and run the other speakers off the deck. This will cost a little less, and it may be a better option considering your budget. Also the wiring would be simpler, as hooking up the other speakers is kind of a PITA anyway.

It all depends on what you want.

sorry, this post looks kinda stupid. I was writing when the last message was posted.

 

Nicely put! What did you say your background was?(haha)

 

While, thanks for all the information witch will probbably save me a lot of money.

Logan