--- Do i REALLY need a speaker amp? ---

basslover911 · Newbie Joined: 23 Jul 2009 Posts: 13 City: Fort Worth

Im finally building my budget sound system for my tiny 16 foot seadoo speedster.

I am putting only two 120W 6.5" speakers, so do I REALLY need a speaker amp or would it be good enough with just the receiver output?

?

--> Also running one 10" 450W RMS subwoofer off an amp.

Crookcatchr · Newbie Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 43

No, you don't need one, but with you having a sub, I would probably get one.

ExileEngineer · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 3 City: Portland

Adding a dedicated full range amplifier for your 6.5" coaxials will make a big difference. The power in even the highest output CD players are simply not adequate to keep up with the noisy boat environment or your powered subwoofer. I would suggest adding an additional 2 channel full range amplifier for your coaxials or selling your sub amp and getting a 4 channel amplifier that can run the whole system for a simple installation.

Bill
Exile Audio

basslover911 · Newbie Joined: 23 Jul 2009 Posts: 13 City: Fort Worth

Well I haven't bought the sub amp yet, I was just planning on doing it.

So what I would need would just be a 4 channel amp? And I can run the two speakers and the sub from it?

ExileEngineer · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 3 City: Portland

If you have the sub it would make sense to get a 4 channel amplifier that can run your whole system. The additional cost to go to a 4 channel amplifier is less than buying two amplifiers and the installation is much easier. You would run the rear two channel of the amplifier to you subwoofer and the front two channels to your coaxials. If in the future you purchase any additional coaxials you can add them to the front channels and load your amplifier down to make even more power.

What sub do you have? This is a good place to start on what amp to use.

Bill
Exile Audio

basslover911 · Newbie Joined: 23 Jul 2009 Posts: 13 City: Fort Worth

Its a generic subwoofer but I do have the specs on it (yes, im going on a budget here Smile

)

# 10” Dual Voice Coil 4 Ohms
# 900 Watt Total Power Handling
# 450 Watt RMS Power Handling
# 2" high-temperature voice coil with 60 oz. magnet
# 1/2" polypropylene diaphragm tweeter with neodymium magnet
# 60Hz to 20kHz frequency response
# Impedance: 4 ohm

Thing is, if you "bridge" the rear two channels to the subwoofer, doesnt the impedance go down to 2 ohms or something like that? I don't know if this subwoofer can run on that ... or can all subwoofers run a lower impedance?

ExileEngineer · Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 3 City: Portland

Understand, who isn't on a budget these days....

The impedance is fixed by your subwoofer. When bridging the rear channels your amplifier still see's a 4 ohm load which is what most 4 channel amplifiers want to see on the rear channels in bridge mode.... you are good there.

The 2" Voice Coil means the woofer is good for about 200 - 350 watts of real power. What you are looking for is a good 4 channel amplifier from a name brand company that states "real" watts not marketing watts. The amplifier you want should be rated at 400 - 600 watts total power (800 - 1200 peak watts).

An example of such an amplifier is our S400.4 which retails in the $299 range. I would look at this amplifier to start.

http://www.exileaudio.com/products/amplifiers/?model=s400.4

Your money is best spent with a manufacture that will stand behind the product and give you room to grow your system. Exile or any of the other manufactures that support the forums are a great choice. You might pay slightly more than the ebay special buy you always get what you pay for.

basslover911 · Newbie Joined: 23 Jul 2009 Posts: 13 City: Fort Worth

Ok I found a 700watt amp a friend is selling me for cheap so I can't really pass on that offer...

5 channel
4 x 100 watts + 300 watts for the subwoofer
front and rear channels can be bridged so it becomes a 3 channel (which is what I need, for now)

But its good because if I want to add tower speakers later I can just put them on the rear channels and make it a 5 channel amp again.

I know it probably wount be too loud, but then again like I said the boat is pretty small (16'). Now I just need a head unit, and I think I am just going to go with a generic walmart one since it is going to be hiddden out of waters view... ??