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Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

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Old Sep 8, 2013 | 10:03 PM
  #1  
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Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

I've just purchased a set of infinity reference 4x6 and 6x9s for my bird, also have a alpine ics-x7hd headunit to power em all.
I have a 200 watt component amp laying about, would it be beneficial to amp these components or is the headunit more than capable to run them at there best.
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Old Sep 9, 2013 | 07:04 AM
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

the hu peak power is 50 but likely 15-20 rms. if the amp is 200rms then 50w would be much better
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Old Sep 9, 2013 | 08:07 AM
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

Yea it's 200 rms, wasn't sure if 20-30 watts would make a noticeable difference.
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Old Sep 9, 2013 | 11:03 AM
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

thats at least double. which ones are they exactly so i can look up the specs? might be better to bridge the amp for the 6x9s and run the fronts off the HU, thats how the power specs usually work out with 4x6's
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Old Sep 9, 2013 | 11:13 AM
  #5  
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

The 4x6's are 6432cf the 6x9's are 9632cf
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Old Sep 9, 2013 | 12:56 PM
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

When I had my 88 convertible, I tried the incremental approach to improving my sound system.

First, I tried replacing the head unit with the stock speakers. It was an Alpine head unit that said 40 or 50 watts per channel. No real difference here.
Then I replaced the speakers with Alpine speakers that were compatible with the head unit. A slight improvement but no punch.

All the while, the stereo guy was saying I needed an amp and a sub-woofer, but he was patient with me while I experimented.

My last iteration, which I liked very well, had the head unit drive the front speakers and the pre-amps for the rear speakers to the 200W amp in the trunk and I took half the amp to drive the rear speakers and the other half to drive the sub-woofer.

At that point, I had the sound I was looking for.

When I get to the point with my 92 convertible restoration when it's time for the sound system, I will probably do pretty much the same thing.

I also think that everybody has a different view of what sounds good, depending on the type of music you play.

I found that the sub-woofer added a layer of bass that I found very beneficial, so every car since then, has had a sub.

Good luck.
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Old Sep 9, 2013 | 01:19 PM
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

i think i would run the fronts off the hu and the amp i would bridge for the 6x9's since they can go to 100w. i think this will sound the best.
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Old Sep 10, 2013 | 05:39 PM
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

sounds like a plan to me
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Old Sep 11, 2013 | 06:33 AM
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

Aren't infinity speakers 2 ohm? If that's so your going to need the amp. Contrary to what infinity says they don't work very well with a head unit. Make sure you don't put too low of an ohm load on the amp. I can think of a dozen ways to wire the speakers but that all depends on the amps ohm load capabilities and how many channels the amp has.

If I'm wrong about the speakers being 2ohm then just ignore my post. Good luck!
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Old Sep 11, 2013 | 08:27 AM
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

not sure if that means 2 or 4. i thought 4. but if they are 2 they need hooked to the amp and the amp specs need to be checked for compatibility.


"True Four Ohm Impedance technology: speaker's 2-ohm impedance combines with speaker wire impedance for a 4-ohm load"
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Old Sep 11, 2013 | 10:08 AM
  #11  
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

"True Four Ohm Technology

The engineers are Infinity have developed a speaker that works for all applications. The True Four Ohm Technology used in these speakers make it perfect for running directly of a headunit or with an aftermarket headunit and amplifier. All of the speakers in the Infinity Reference line feature a 2 ohm voice coil. However, when you factor in the small OEM speaker wire of most vehicles and the heating in the voice coil during use, the impedance actually seen by the amplifier will increase. Infinity has adjusted the speaker to be safely connected to any headunit.

4" x 6" 2-way Reference Series Car Speakers
Power Handling:
Peak: 240 watts per pair / 120 watts each
RMS: 80 watts per pair / 40 watts each
Plus One+ Injection-molded, polypropylene woofer cone
Hi-roll rubber surround
1" UniPivot edge-driven, textile dome tweeter
2 Ohm impedance/li>
True Four Ohm Technology - speaker's 2 ohm impedance combines with OEM speaker wire impedance for a 4 ohm load
Top-mount depth: 1-15/16"

From what I understand they are a 2 ohm voice coil but when combined with the factory wiring they say the load equals 4... Well I'm not using factory wire, kicker spiral speaker wire is what I'm using. So I should amp all 4 I guess. May need a bigger amp. Any recommendations? I want it small enough to fit in the side in the spare tire thing.
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Old Sep 11, 2013 | 10:48 AM
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

what amp do you have now?
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Old Sep 11, 2013 | 11:09 AM
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...TX-TD75.4.html
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...t-OA400.4.html

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...t-RM440.4.html

Last edited by jwfirebird; Sep 11, 2013 at 11:18 AM.
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Old Sep 11, 2013 | 11:21 AM
  #14  
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

Honestly I'm not sure the brand. Ill have to look next time I'm at my shop since work has me busy with overtime right now.
All I know is its a 200 watt 4 channel.
I do have a db drive spa 120.4 4 channel amp but its big and I'm not sure where to put it. And it may be overkill
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Old Sep 11, 2013 | 03:39 PM
  #15  
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

Decent amps are cheap. Tweeters off the HU and amp the 6x9's.
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Old Sep 11, 2013 | 04:51 PM
  #16  
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

Originally Posted by 396lsx
"True Four Ohm Technology

The engineers are Infinity have developed a speaker that works for all applications. The True Four Ohm Technology used in these speakers make it perfect for running directly of a headunit or with an aftermarket headunit and amplifier. All of the speakers in the Infinity Reference line feature a 2 ohm voice coil. However, when you factor in the small OEM speaker wire of most vehicles and the heating in the voice coil during use, the impedance actually seen by the amplifier will increase. Infinity has adjusted the speaker to be safely connected to any headunit.

4" x 6" 2-way Reference Series Car Speakers
Power Handling:
Peak: 240 watts per pair / 120 watts each
RMS: 80 watts per pair / 40 watts each
Plus One+ Injection-molded, polypropylene woofer cone
Hi-roll rubber surround
1" UniPivot edge-driven, textile dome tweeter
2 Ohm impedance/li>
True Four Ohm Technology - speaker's 2 ohm impedance combines with OEM speaker wire impedance for a 4 ohm load
Top-mount depth: 1-15/16"

From what I understand they are a 2 ohm voice coil but when combined with the factory wiring they say the load equals 4... Well I'm not using factory wire, kicker spiral speaker wire is what I'm using. So I should amp all 4 I guess. May need a bigger amp. Any recommendations? I want it small enough to fit in the side in the spare tire thing.
It would be very easy to check infinity's claim but only after you had at least one speaker hooked up. Just use an ohm meter or multimeter and meter that speaker at the plug that goes into your head unit. That would measure the resistance/ohm load of the wire and speaker together at the head unit.
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Old Sep 12, 2013 | 12:49 PM
  #17  
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Re: Should I amp or run off headunit?infinity reference

Originally Posted by 396lsx
Honestly I'm not sure the brand. Ill have to look next time I'm at my shop since work has me busy with overtime right now.
All I know is its a 200 watt 4 channel.
I do have a db drive spa 120.4 4 channel amp but its big and I'm not sure where to put it. And it may be overkill
way over kill. the amps i posted are pretty small. not sure exactly what the size is of where you want it though
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