What car speakers?

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BiggusDoggus

391 posts

Ultimate Geek

#139322 4-Feb-2014 20:34

Hi

I have a low-end car stereo that claims 4 x 50w output. No amp, and no plans at this stage to get one.

However, I do want to replace the speakers.

I currently have a pair of 4" 80w speakers in the front doors, and....well.....I'm not going to go into details but lets just say I have 20-40w "box" speakers in the back that I knew weren't actually car speakers, but have turned out to be even worse than I feared.

So - I'm no audiophile. I don't need enough bass to get the liquefaction bubbling again in my street. I would, however, like a reasonable amount, which is approx 36,000 times more than I have now.

I'm looking at 160w ones for the front, and maybe 240-260w 6" ones for the back.

My question - is there any point going that high?

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

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935 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#980333 4-Feb-2014 21:34

simple answer - you need an amp - head unit amplifiers are poo - and even a small amp will make a BIG difference - suggest a 4ch

as for speakers - ANY - speaker will be better than the factory units

car audio is well cheap now - esp compared to when i first got into car audio 25 odd years ago

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#980334 4-Feb-2014 21:40

The wattage on a speaker does not relate to the power output of speaker - a 240w speaker isn't louder than a 160w one, but it does make good advertising!

The wattage relates to the power handling of the speaker - usually limited by how much energy the voice coil can take before it overheats. As long as the power of the speaker is equal to or higher than the output of the amp that feeds it, then it's OK.

If you compare the sensitivity of speakers, that will tell you which is louder given the same input.

It's probably going to come down to budget - what do you want to spend?

Also, what size do you need for the rear?

BiggusDoggus

391 posts

Ultimate Geek

#980339 4-Feb-2014 21:49

Thanks guys.

I have zero budget (virtually). I just want better than I have now, which is poo.

As I mentioned, for the rear I'm looking at 6", or maybe 5 or 5.25. I have a hatch-back, and am going to make some mounts, so the size doesn't really matter.

And 4" for the front.

No amp - no plans to, no money to buy one. Less than $50 for the front 4", $60 or $70 for the rear. I know that's not much, so I'm looking at Fusion or Xplod.

My question really is, though, that without an amp is there any point getting 160+ watt speakers? I figure it's got to be better than what I have at present though.

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#980342 4-Feb-2014 21:51

driller2000: simple answer - you need an amp - head unit amplifiers are poo

How did you come to this?

lxsw20

3552 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#980344 4-Feb-2014 21:54

johnr:
driller2000: simple answer - you need an amp - head unit amplifiers are poo

How did you come to this?

Because they are, rms wise you would be lucky if they were 20w per channel.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#980347 4-Feb-2014 21:57

20w per channel rms is heaps

BiggusDoggus

391 posts

Ultimate Geek

#980349 4-Feb-2014 21:59

I'll give a couple of examples of what I am maybe looking at:

JVC 4" 160w (yes it's in Hungarian but you'll get the idea) - $25 from Repco

JVC 6" 230w - ditto - $35 from Repco

Fusion 5.25 190W - around $60 from Repco

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

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RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#980350 4-Feb-2014 21:59

4 x 20w RMS isn't bad in a small car for general listening - it really depends what you want, and what budget you work with. Sure, you won't be able to crank it up loud without the output circuits clipping and distortion setting in, but for having some music in the background on the way to work, it's OK for most people.

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#980351 4-Feb-2014 22:02

BiggusDoggus: I'll give a couple of examples of what I am maybe looking at:

JVC 4" 160w (yes it's in Hungarian but you'll get the idea) - $25 from Repco

Fusion 5.25 190W - around $60 from Repco

Those are probably going to be fine for your head unit, and should sound better than the originals.

Check the holes in the car though - if you can fit the next size larger speaker, there will be a noticeable improvement - i.e. 6 or 6.5" in the rear, and 5.25" in the front.

Have a shop around for prices through - you may be able to get cheaper than that.

BiggusDoggus

391 posts

Ultimate Geek

#980365 4-Feb-2014 22:04

Thanks RM.

Front speakers definitely 4", rear (as I said) can be any as I'm making the mounts, but have limited room in the "boot" so 6" is probably the max.

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#980367 4-Feb-2014 22:07

In general terms, a larger speaker will give better bass than a smaller one - all else being equal, so within the same product range...

Stick with any of the brand names (like you've mention above), and you should be OK quality wise too.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#980413 4-Feb-2014 23:12

Don't cut any metal in the parcel shelf of your car. Wof inspectors are getting tough on that now. Assuming you are just cutting some holes in a lift up panel, then just get 6 by9 speakers for the rear. More cone surface area therefore better bass output. Even off a head unit amplifier.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#980416 4-Feb-2014 23:15

And check the wiring to your headunit. Can it provide 15A with only a very small amount of volt drop? If no then upgrade it to get some extra almost free power.

BiggusDoggus

391 posts

Ultimate Geek

#980970 5-Feb-2014 19:59

Sorry, but what's the opinion on these, compared to the ones I have listed above?

https://trademe.co.nz/listing/view/692712331

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#980974 5-Feb-2014 20:15

If you want them for the rear, 6x4 is smaller than 6" round.

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