2V vs 4V preamp outputs

[actiondcpd]

How much difference does the voltage of a receivers preamp outputs make? I recently bought a Sony MP80 with 4V outputs for my boat and used the same amp/sub from my car which has 2V outputs. Bottom line is my amp/sub combo sounded about 100 times better in the boat and I can only guess it is from the difference in preamp voltages. Is this true?

[Xaggerate]

A higher voltage signal will allow your deck to send a cleaner, clipped-free signal to your amps...

In reality....the majority of the decks under $350 on the market will rate their voltages at maximum volume level...a truely clipped signal...

If you have a dedicated sub level controller on your deck...with a sub gain option on it...that voltage signal of 4v is obtained at only maximum voltage when that sub gain option is maxed as well...it's a piss poor rating system..and it needs to be changed...

My Alpine 7894...while rated at 4v...doesn't put out 4v unless it's at full volume, and doesn't put out 4v on the sub rca's unless the sub gain is set at +15 (max)

Any deck that provides a signal of 4v or higher is recommended...Pioneer makes deck's with 6.5v signals...but they too rate at max power as well..their voltage output at a lower volume level is pathetic...but they don't want people clipping their signal...so this is the reason why they do it...

Eclipse is by far the best, providing an 8v unbalanced (common analog) signal, and a 16v balanced signal for maximum signal transfer quality....My next deck will most definitely be either an Eclipse 8053 with 16v out...or the P9 combo by Pioneer...

[BigDeal]

I can't provide the detailed info that Xaggerate can, but let me offer a personal impression instead. I run three Kicker amps in my boat (KX300.4 AB, KX600.4 AB, KX600.1 Class D) that up until recently were fed by an older Kenwood CD deck. Two weeks ago, I installed a new SONY MP80 headunit that has 4V outs along with a separate sub out, and the difference in sound output was amazing. The new SONY deck was far cleaner / clearer than the old Kenwood deck, and my CD's no longer skip constantly (Thank God!).

I think the long and the short of it is, more is definitely better when it comes to preamp output voltage.

-Mike-