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Running hi-fi speakers off a headunit... |
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Symzzi 
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Joined: 23 May 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 245 |
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 Topic: Running hi-fi speakers off a headunit...Posted: 04 November 2006 at 4:50pm |
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As far as my car goes i don't have the time or money to spend sorting out my setup, all i want is a bit of music with respectable sound. All i really want to know is - is it alright to run hi-fi speakers off a headunit? (As opposed to purpose-designed car speakers?).
I have an old escort ('88) and the factory speakers are long gone and can't be replced with anything off-the-shelf (custom ford speakers only).
My solution so far was to throw a couple of 80w 3-way technics hi-fi speakers (8 ohm impedance) in the boot, no parcel shelf, and run them off the rear outputs. I couldn't really see a problem with this...
Its been fine so far (and the sound is good for what it is
 ) but my headunit has just gone up the creek (2 yrs old), i think this is an internal connection problem but i just want to make sure i haven't killed it (semi)unintentionally.New unit on the way i intend to use for the same purpose is a pioneer deh-p6800mp. Please wave frantically and slap me if i'm heading to kill this one too....
Many thanks,
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gingerbiscuit69
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Joined: 23 September 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2540 |
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Posted: 05 November 2006 at 5:53am |
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should be fine providing you arnt hammering the headunit into them. most car speakers are 2ohm so would get roughly 4x the wattage than the 8ohm technics. the only risk is turning the headunit up too loud for its own good, clipping it and killing it. Id guess the old headunit has died seeing its the same age as me! check the wiring first, but is probably the headunit being shlte!
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Tom Umney
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Joined: 26 February 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 4954 |
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Posted: 06 November 2006 at 6:35am |
Why can't the door speakers be replaced? Anything almost can go in there that fits.
Better than having some low wattage hifi speakers in the boot that you would crank up and most likely blow.
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adambomb
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Joined: 10 April 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 3220 |
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Posted: 06 November 2006 at 9:18am |
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Most car speakers are 4 ohm not 2 ohm (!?!?) so half the power... I have done this before in my mothers old van.. can sound ok.. but don't expect it to be amazing.
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gingerbiscuit69
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Posted: 06 November 2006 at 11:03am |
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my bad, i always thought they were mostly 2ohm. so why wouldnt a decent pair of hifi speakers sound better than car speakers, as most car speakers i hear are truely shocking!
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adambomb
Old Croc
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Posted: 06 November 2006 at 12:32pm |
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Mainly cos most headunits (even nice Alpines) only put out about 5wrms... and most home speakers need about 20wrms+ to come alive (and the impedence doubling means half the wattage so the headunit will put out more like 3wrms@8).
Try to get decent volume and the headunit will clip...
The answer.... plum an amp in there (and not a shonky "boss" one from your local motor factors either! a nice one!)
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adambomb
Old Croc
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Posted: 06 November 2006 at 12:33pm |
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head unit should actually last longer (and sound sweeter) pushing 8ohm rather than 4ohm if you think about it... just wont be as loud.
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gingerbiscuit69
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Posted: 06 November 2006 at 12:50pm |
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i was thinking that altho it should last long, as it would sound quieter he would push it harder instead thus killing it anyway.
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Symzzi
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Posted: 06 November 2006 at 3:02pm |
 Head unit does 4x50w which is more than loud enough for inside the car i can tell you! I've been asked a few times if i have a sub running in the back!
 No complaints about volume or quality or anything, the technics speakers i've got in there are 80w rms, 3-way (8", 2" and a tweeter of somesorts). They're rather 80's (like the car) but i got given them for free and they're perfect for the job.
For Toxic - I think this was before they figured out comsumer car stereo's. The ones that are in the footwell are 4", 3w each, and being super old the suspension has rotted away. They're also really shallow, have tried replacing with other same size car speakers in the past but the mounting bracket/associated plastic covers are far too shallow.
I was almost sure there was no problem (probaly better for the unit running at 8ohm anyway) as long as i don't crank it.
The car itself, as much as i love it, isn't worth my time/money on fancy amps and subs when i've got a good DIY solution.
Money is better spent on PA
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gingerbiscuit69
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Posted: 06 November 2006 at 3:09pm |
amen brother!! we have a believer! |
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Jay Lawless
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Posted: 06 November 2006 at 6:19pm |
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most head units now are designed to have 40-70watt rms per channle depending on the make. for example, the Eclipse AVX5000, 50watt RMS x4 channles at 4ohm. theres no real main ohm rate to play at, 8,4,2ohm but look at it this way, 25watt RMS x4 8ohm, 50x4 4ohm, about 75-90wattx4 2ohm.
you'll have nice sound, but you want get very loud at all. i would sugjest finding some component kits that fit with the ability of the head unit that are design for vehicle use and not home.
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Previously known as NeverWinter
Background: Automotive, Live and Home Custom Design. mid/high level based design and feild experience. Bass specialist |
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adambomb
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Posted: 07 November 2006 at 7:51am |
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Just cos the head unit says 2 x 50 watts or whatever... does NOT mean they actaully put out that power... that will be PMPO or about 4 x RMS..
So 50w on the box probably equates to 12.5 wrms @ 4
50w / 2 = 25w (peak)
25w / 2 = 12.5 rms (if your really lucky, not taking into account THD level at this power).
My Alpine headunit says 4 x 50w on it... I know and accept it puts out no where near this.
However... years ago... I did read about some dude running in SPL comps with JUST a headunit (don't know the model)... it may have hit high SPLs.. but I garuantee it would have sounded like sh*te.
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Symzzi wrote: