I have an '04 SCrew. It has the factory single-CD head unit, and Pioneer 4-way speakers in front & rear. My question is, Will I see an improvement with this setup by adding an amp? Please keep in mind that I do NOT intend on adding a sub.

The only reason that I'm considering an amp is because now that I replaced the speakers, I have to turn up the volume much more to get the same amount of sound. And when it's turned up all the way, it gets distorted some. So would adding an amp help? If so, what brand/model would you recommend? I will be leaving the factory HU in. Thanks for your help...

 

Yes, an amp would help. Some speakers are more power hungry than others so this is why you have to turn the radio up louder. By turning it up too loud can drive the internal amp into cliping and you will get distortion...not good for the speakers. It is better to feed them more "clean power" and you won't have to turn it up as loud. If you do add an amp, try to use line output converters at the back of the stock HU and run RCA's from there to the amp...will sound better and they are cheap. Better than stock speaker wire from the amp to the speakers is a big plus also. Good Luck!

BTW: Alpine is good.

 

Great question Ba i was on the same thoughts need better sound i have the 6 disc but could use more push. You know with the right cd playing mine hits full volumn.

 

An amp will produce a cleaner sound thus allowing you to use less volume control for equal or greater sound quality. Consider a sub also, because they make a huge difference in sound presence.

 

Exactly

 

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I went down to Al & Ed's today. Here's what I ended up going with:

Eclipse 4 ch amp (EA3422)
Alpine 6 1/2"components for the front (SPS171A)
Alpine 5x7 2-ways for the rear (SPS570A)
Kept the factory HU

Due to cash constraints, I decided to pass on the sub for the time being. Maybe later...

Anyway, my systems sounds much better now. The highs/mids/lows are all much more defined now. And I can drive with the windows down, radio loud, and still have pretty clean & crisp sound. Just what I was hoping for. Thanks again...

 

Your welcome!!

 

The reason you have to turn up the stereo more is because the new speakers you got are not as efficient. If you look at the specs of a speaker and see 92db or something like 87db. This means that the speaker with 92 db will play as load as 92 decibles with 1 watt at 1 meter away. The one that said 87 db will play 87 decibles and so on. Meaning the 92 is more effcient and play loader with the power you give it.

BTW eclipse and alpine are great products! When you look for a sub check out bazooka tubes if you want something simple and just want to add some bottom end.

 

One more question: What do you guys think about Bazooka subs? I'm thinking that it may be an economical way to get a little base. I am NOT looking for the type of thumping base that alot of kids have these days. And I don't necessarily want it to be heard clearly from OUTSIDE my truck. I'm just looking for a little more low end fill. I mainly listen to classical rock (Zeplin, Skynard, AC/DC) and some country.

So what do you think, would a Bazooka be a good fit for what I want? If so, what size? 6"??

 

You have enough room in a Screw for a better subwoofer than a tube. Tubes are mediocre at best.

 

This is pretty much exactly what they are desighned for. Sure you have enough room for a regular sub, but if all you want is what you described above it will work great. If you get one go for the one with an amp built in. A regular sub will out perform a bazooka but if all you want is a simple sub to fill in the bass without having to match a box and amp it will do the job just fine.

 

I agree that Bazooka is not a first choice, but it is is a choice. My hearing is not the best and my wife does not care for subs. So Bazooka works for me. It (8 in amplified Bazooka) fits under my rear seat (04 Screw). My Sony HU has a control for the sub signal, allowing me to set it higher when alone and reducing it when my wife is aboard. It is controlled just like the bass, treble, fade, etc. Front speakers are 6x8 MB Quarts and the rears are 5x7 Pioneers.


https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=4520

 

Bluerider -- Thanks for the input. But would you say that the sound from the Bazooka is sufficient for what you want? Are you overall satisfied with it? Or do you wish you had went with a 'real' sub?

Also, can anyone out there comment on how I should hook it up to my amp. I have an eclipse 4 ch amp (currently 1 ch per speaker). Should I have ch 1 & 2 for the front, then 3 & 4 for sub, and the rear speakers not be amplified? Or should I go with a powered sub that has a built-in amp? If so, does the built-in amp somehow connect to my existing Eclipse sub? I guess I'm a little confused on how the connections are made...

 

bamorris2,

I am happy with my Bazooka. If I were 19 and had excellent hearing, I might have considered a real setup. But the Bazooka still vibrates the mirrors and seats. I usually only give it half the signal for normal radio listening.

In addition to my 04 SCrew, I have 99 Flairside SCab with a Bazooka harness. It is easy to remove and plug the Bazooka in to either vehicle. Actually, I just removed the harness and gave it to my daughter along with another Sony HU, mostly because my wife drives the 99 most of the time and did not want the sub. An advantage of the Bazooka is the wiring harness. I can simply unplug the Bazooka and remove it from the truck when I want to use the cargo space.

I would buy it again under the same circumstances......

 

How did you connect the factory HU to the amp? Always been confeused by that.