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Amplifying and Amplifier?


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I am having a nice little system installed in my 14 Silverado Non Bose and they are installing an amplifier for the new speakers. My question is doesn't the stock head unit already have an amplifier? What is the purpose of the second amp and can adding this be harmful to the head unit?

 

Thanks in advance for the help!

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Did you have any issues with your door chime or turn signal after adding the amps?

My system in my truck eliminated ON-Star, door chimes, turn signal clicks, my back-up sensors/lights, and my dash lights are on whenever the truck is. But haven't had any "issues" as far as drivability or reliability.

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  • 2 weeks later...

The best way to think of devices without amplifiers might be to consider them an iPod.

 

If there is no amplifier, at most you would be able to listen to headphones through the unit. Any device that is able to drive a speaker larger than an earbud has an amplifier in it. The size of the amplifier is variable.

Due to heat dissipation and other design limitations a new "head unit" is usually around 25 watts per channel (some more, some less)

 

When hooking up an amplifier you have a couple of options.

1. hook your new amplifier up to Pre-Outs if they are available (outputs on the unit that are before the amplifier portion of the deck, therefore un-amplified and capable of playing ear buds)

2. Use a high to low level converter to take an amplified signal from any unit, to de-amplify the power so that you can hook it up to another amplifier.

3. Utilize an amplifier that has High Level (amplified) inputs. These inputs will essentially do the job of number two listed above.

 

Number one option is the preferred method as the signal goes through fewer devices before achieving its ultimate goal, therefore hopefully providing a cleaner sound. If you are dealing with a deck that does not have pre-outsl like a stock head unit, then number two is one of your only options. You can get very cheap converters starting at $10 or you can purchase very expensive signal converters that do much more like Rockford's 3Sixty or JL's Cleansweap.

 

A bigger amplifier ( assuming it is a good one) can play music louder without damaging the speaker. Resulting in a cleaner purer sound.

 

A good amplifier is kind of like getting your tires properly balanced. Balanced or Unbalanced you will be able to go down the road at 70mph either way. But the experience and life of the tire will not be the same.

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The best way to think of devices without amplifiers might be to consider them an iPod.

 

If there is no amplifier, at most you would be able to listen to headphones through the unit. Any device that is able to drive a speaker larger than an earbud has an amplifier in it. The size of the amplifier is variable.

Due to heat dissipation and other design limitations a new "head unit" is usually around 25 watts per channel (some more, some less)

 

When hooking up an amplifier you have a couple of options.

1. hook your new amplifier up to Pre-Outs if they are available (outputs on the unit that are before the amplifier portion of the deck, therefore un-amplified and capable of playing ear buds)

2. Use a high to low level converter to take an amplified signal from any unit, to de-amplify the power so that you can hook it up to another amplifier.

3. Utilize an amplifier that has High Level (amplified) inputs. These inputs will essentially do the job of number two listed above.

 

Number one option is the preferred method as the signal goes through fewer devices before achieving its ultimate goal, therefore hopefully providing a cleaner sound. If you are dealing with a deck that does not have pre-outsl like a stock head unit, then number two is one of your only options. You can get very cheap converters starting at $10 or you can purchase very expensive signal converters that do much more like Rockford's 3Sixty or JL's Cleansweap.

 

A bigger amplifier ( assuming it is a good one) can play music louder without damaging the speaker. Resulting in a cleaner purer sound.

 

A good amplifier is kind of like getting your tires properly balanced. Balanced or Unbalanced you will be able to go down the road at 70mph either way. But the experience and life of the tire will not be the same.

Very good info. So I will hijack . If you only wanted to spend under 500.00 dollars.to upgrade the stereo , what would you spend it on? Non-Bose.

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That is a loaded question.

Depending on what you want to do, and more importantly where you want to go. Is $500 the budget for the next 4 years, or the next 4 months?

$500 is not much to start with. Most people would leave the stock head unit and add a sub. I tend to agree. Why?

When you purchase a head unit for our vehicles part of the price will be eaten up by adapters. Steering wheel controls, bluetooth. Door Chimes..

A sub reproduces this frequencies that are totally lacking in stock vehicles.

 

Of course a sub requires an amplifier ( or a complete amplified solution, but that goes back to the 4 year or 4 month question.)

 

My philosophy is that a speaker can only reproduce the signal that is sent to it. Crap in equals crap out. I believe that quality amplifiers is the place to start. There are very few of these that are under $200 new.

 

There is more to an amplifier than simply how many watts it can put out. Remember that most amplifiers are rated at their rated power @ 14.4 volts. Since your charging system is most likely not putting out ( to the amplifier ) that high of a voltage you are not getting that power. Also the amplifier is rated at that power with a certain amount of distortion. Distortion is not good. If you amplifier is distorting the signal before it EVER gets to the speaker then guess what.... The speaker will try to reproduce that distorted signal. When you are purchasing and amplifier look at the the THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) It is another important factor to consider when purchasing an amplifier.

 

Assume that the spec sheets are wrong until proven correct. In quality Audio ( or most anything ) there are not many places to cut corners. Stick with quality name brand components and you will be happier. Not to mention resell of you equipment is higher a few years down the road.

 

If you are just wanting a head unit... That is a personal preference. I have the Advent. But I have had Pioneer, Kenwood, Alpine, Eclipse (man I am getting old), and a few other cheaper units. My overall preference is probably Kenwood. I don't always like the button layout, but generally am happy with with unit over all.

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