Amp with no Subs

[EclpzLvr97]

Okay, I tried to read a few threads dealing with amps but they were all about what amp to get with a sub combo.

I, on the other hand, wanted to ask about getting only an amp and how that'd work. I'm pretty sure the GSXs come with amps already, but I've never heard the system...

Basically, I know amps help with the sound level, correct? But does it bring out bass *at all*?...even a lil?

Right now, I have a Sony Xplod head unit and Infinity speakers all around. I wanted to get an amp just to boost up the sound and quality just a bit.

I'm thinking a 4 channel would be nice....do you agree? What size amp and all should I get for my particular wants?

 

[jessebenner]

Running an external amp will almost always provide better sound quality than a head unit's internal amp. as long as the amp is of decent quality/brand. A 25Wx4 to a 50Wx4 will do the job great. Also, don't think that your head unit's "50 watts" is comparable to an external amps 50 watts. Why do you think they are so much larger with much bigger heat sinks?

 

[EclpzLvr97]

Alright, great. Thanks for the input.

A nice 25wX4 or 50wX4 amp will be on my Christmas list then. The family asked for specific gift ideas rather than just gift cards.... so they got it.

 

[Zeppelin]

Since you have Infinity speakers, I'd suggest going with a bigger amp than 50x4. A 100x4 would be the minumum I'd put in for Infinity's. They like power, so give it to them!

 

[EclpzLvr97]

100X4 would be the *minimum* you'd put in for Infinity's?

This won't cause distortion?

 

[SoilentGreen98]

The Infinity's are setup to handle the stock amp. Anything else I could almost guarantee would be overkill. If you don't blast your speakers they might be ok, but if you do then they'll be dead in a short time.

BTW, get a better head unit, no offense to you whatsoever, but Sony car audio is garbage.

 

[EclpzLvr97]

I definately agree, Solient. I want to get a new headunit a little later.

Music is my next love to the car and so it was the first thing I did when I got the car.....even though Sony may not be the best for car audio, it sure was a HUGE improvement over the stock crap I had in there before.

 

[irish_love]

You should find out what the power ratings are on the speakers. Just cuz you have a name brand doesn't mean they will be able to handle alot of power. If you have a base model speaker, it might not be able to handle as much power as the top of the line from the same company. Of course this is pretty much common sence. I would still go the a 100X4 amp. You may want to upgrade your speakers in the future that will be able to handle the power, if the ones you have now will not. If not, you can adjust the amp down so that you don't over do it. Also, just adding an amp will not make your system sound better. You will still need to tune it, or have someone tune it for you to get the best sound out of your system.

 

[EclpzLvr97]

Sadly because it was at least 2 years ago now that I purchased the speakers, I don't remember all the specs on them. I just remember I paid in the $400 range for them.

I'm thinking 50wX4 will be fine for what I'm looking for. All I want is a little boost for the "system"...

I remember my friend's Sebring came with an amp stock like the GSXs do and his car sounded great...that's all I want.

 

[SoilentGreen98]

Yeah, get new speakers as well. In my old car all I had was Rockford Fosgate coaxials all the way around and people seemed to think I had a sub in the trunk from the way it sounded. But totally make sure your speakers are powered right, I've been through so many speakers before. Right the coxials I have in my rear are my favorite ones I've ever owned. Eclipse 6.5's, I highly recommend them if all you want is speakers.

 

[ricky750]

whoah... hang on a sec there tiger, b4 buying new speaks. When you say you have infinity speakers all around, you are aware that DSMs came with a stock option Infinity sound system/speakers etc... these guys that are advising you to buy new speaks are going off the thought that you have the STOCK Infinity speakers in your ride. You said something about paying about $400 for your door mids and rears? My guess is those prolly aren't stock. Infinity makes excellent aftermarket speakers too, sooo IMHO i don't think you'll be needing to worry about new speakers if you've got a cpl sets of those in. and if you do, yes, an amp will drastically help sound quality -without destroying them. The size of the amp would probably depend on your speakers' power handling capabilities (RMS or max).

and if you don't know what kind of Infinitys you have in your car, you cna probably pull one out and read the back of it to see what RMS handling would be...

i'm playing with my 1G sound system right now, learning/researching and all (just bought some alpines), so all this stuff is fresh in my brain.

hope this helps
-rick

 

[EclpzLvr97]

Thanks Rick.... yeah, you're right....these Infinitys are aftermarket. My RS didn't come with the Infinity sound system. I figured especially with the money I paid for them, that they'd be fine.

I'll be just looking around at amps probably this weekend to get better ideas of what I want.

How do you like your alpines? Did you get all new speakers/amp/sub or what are you working with?

 

[ricky750]

oh, and I've heard the stock GSX amps only put out like 15-20W per channel... :laugh: a good head unit does more than that.

-rick

 

[EclpzLvr97]

Makes sense, Rick....but then there is what Jesse said which also makes sense...

Also, don't think that your head unit's "50 watts" is comparable to an external amps 50 watts. Why do you think they are so much larger with much bigger heat sinks?

 

[95TSiNewbie]

TO bad we dont know what infinity speakers you have.... I have had 3 different infinity setups in the past, each better then the last. The Infinity Reference series (CircuitCity and most of BigBox electronic stores) sells these and sound decent, but only about 55watts RMS. The Infinity Kappa Series is the next step and is about 110 RMS. and the pride of Infinity is the Kappa perfects 150 RMS. Now this is just the 6x9's. THe doors a slightly less. I would say a 4x100 would sound the best with less stress on the amp. Any amp would improve sound quality even if 4x25. Personaly I am an Infinity MTX guy. All infinity speakers and 10" kappa perfect sub with MTX amps. Another thing to take into consideration is that Infinity and MTX all come with a performance sheet in the boxes saying what they really run at. Like my 1200watt mono block MTX amp actually is closer to 800 RMS at 14volts and the rear 6x9 kappa's are closer to 115 rms.

 

[96TSi_Chris]

oh, and I've heard the stock GSX amps only put out like 15-20W per channel... :laugh: a good head unit does more than that.

-rick

The stock amp in the Infinity systems control the front speakers in the dash and that is all. The rest stand alone off the headunit alone. The stock Infinity system is only good when everything stock is in. Any mix and match and it sounds like shit IMO.

 

[Redmachine]

Running an external amp will almost always provide better sound quality than a head unit's internal amp. as long as the amp is of decent quality/brand. A 25Wx4 to a 50Wx4 will do the job great. Also, don't think that your head unit's "50 watts" is comparable to an external amps 50 watts. Why do you think they are so much larger with much bigger heat sinks?

Just to let you now that the actual amp on anything is only the size of a credit card, you pay all that extra money for a piece of cooling metal

 

[jessebenner]

Are you trying to tell me the only difference in amplifiers are their heatsinks?
What parts of the amp are you saying are all the same size? There are lots of parts inside the make an amp what it is, not one individual circuit or cap, or whatever.
There are many differences in amps besides their heatsinks, both in size and quality.