Amplifier outputs help!

[joesouthgate]

Hi Guys,
I bought a Kenwood KAC-646X 4 Channel amp a while ago on the cheapand i was just looking through the spec...
I was planning to have it powering front and rear speakers but looking at the spec it seems i would be better using my 60w outputs on my headunit!
Can anyone correct me if i'm wrong?

 

[ollie240585]

Headunit amps are crap, i'd always use an external amp if possible, even if the stated ratings are lower, it'll sound better!

 

[joesouthgate]

thats what i was thinking i was just wondering!

 

[frank]

moddedmicra

i think you will get a 50w "gain" per channel, so if your hu inputs 60w to the amp, you should get close to 110w out the amp (per channel)

 

[joesouthgate]

So i would have to run from each channel on the head unit instead of just a preout?

 

[frank]

moddedmicra

i,m not sure

 

[joesouthgate]

maybe a resident expert such as Retepetsir could enlighten us?

 

[zanes]

Power wise the headunit is probably better
Quality wise the amp is probably better

 

[joesouthgate]

Well I'm after quality essentially but I do like my tunes up quite louD!

 

[Micramad]

moddedmicra

i think you will get a 50w "gain" per channel, so if your hu inputs 60w to the amp, you should get close to 110w out the amp (per channel)

Hmmm going back to my GCSE's I think it technically possible, but it will sound horrible. You will get the distortions of the HU and its amp being amplified again and on top of that you will get the distortions from the external amp, even though they are quite small.

I would defiantly go for the external amp, but it depends on whether you can be bothered to wire up an amp for only 25W RMS per channel.

 

[ollyc98]

25 watts is plenty, as long as you match the speakers. The sound quality will improve too so I say do it.

 

[Alienfish360]

you can't get quality on the cheap

 

[Arnold]

Well I'm after quality essentially but I do like my tunes up quite louD!

No reason you can't have both. My stereo was capable of being very loud but really good quality sound too.

 

[joesouthgate]

you can't get quality on the cheap

Just because i got the amp cheap on a job lot doesnt mean it isnt good quality does it. pretty sure it was fairly expensive originally!

 

[joesouthgate]

moddedmicra

i think you will get a 50w "gain" per channel, so if your hu inputs 60w to the amp, you should get close to 110w out the amp (per channel)

So i would have to run from each channel on the head unit instead of just a preout?

anyone else got any idea on this?

 

[Retepetsir]

Completely missed this thread. Frank, that's unfortunately not the case (headunit amplification plus external amp).

I'd use the amp, but bridge the 4 channels down to 2 to power just your front speakers (giving them around 70wrms each), then power the rear speakers off of your headunit (around 20wrms per channel).

What headunit do you have? You'll want to plug some RCA cables into the preouts in the headunit, then connect these to the inputs of the amp.

If I'd seen this before Saturday then I would have talked to you about it on the day!

 

[joesouthgate]

Yer i've got 2 rca cables coming from the headunit ready for the amps. Its the In-phast IPS920SD headunit with 60w outputs and 2 sets of preouts.

Yer ment to mention it on saturday but forgot :doh:

 

[joesouthgate]

Also, do you think I should wire my tweeters into the head unit?

 

[Retepetsir]

Also, do you think I should wire my tweeters into the head unit?

Have you got components or coaxials?

 

[joesouthgate]

These ones : http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-pioneer-tsg-1301i_p-23156.htm

 

[richj]

I have a 10cm set of those. They are not very good. I can imagine the 13's will be better mid, but they are certainly not tweeters. The high end on mine is quite bad.

 

[joesouthgate]

no i meant i have fli component tweeters aswell as those front speakers

 

[Retepetsir]

These ones : http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-pioneer-tsg-1301i_p-23156.htm

Then you shouldnt really need seperate tweeters....

but if you 'do' want them, wire the tweeters in to the 2 remaining front channels on the headunit.

 

[joesouthgate]

I've got them in now and it sounds better with them tbh. Cheers for the help pete (Y)