protastain
Member
Any guess how much power the stock head unit puts out?
Stock Sound System
- Thread starter protastain
- Start date
Snacks McGee
Member
- :
- 2003 Vivid Yellow P5
If I'm not mistaken...I think its 100 watts
- :
- 2002 BJFW, 2007 BK3P, 1979 SA22C, 2005 BK3P
that sounds about right - the speakers are rated at a stellar 15 watts a piece 
Snacks McGee
Member
- :
- 2003 Vivid Yellow P5
I have two 10" with an amp hooked up to my stock unit and it sounds fine to me. While I don't like to look of the stock system, with all the extra hardware I'm satisfied with what I have. I'd almost rather keep the 6-disc than change out the stock unit.
Snacks McGee
Member
- :
- 2003 Vivid Yellow P5
Nope...It can't play mp3 format files
guys....you have WAY over rated the stock head unit....its puts out approx. a whooping 10 watts/channel....that is it.
I don't know about the speakers that came in your cars....but the ones I removed from my P5 are clearly marked 25 watts max on the back...not 15. but regardless of that fact....they are typical stock speakers....ment to handle the low output of the stock unit.
The stock head unit itself is a very nice piece of gear.....in case you didn't know...its made by Nokamichi. I have the 6 disc changer so I wanted to keep it.....I added a 5 channel amp, upgraded all the door speakers and put a jl audio 10" powerwedge in the back....the system rocks...and is about as stealth as you can get.
(stash)
I don't know about the speakers that came in your cars....but the ones I removed from my P5 are clearly marked 25 watts max on the back...not 15. but regardless of that fact....they are typical stock speakers....ment to handle the low output of the stock unit.
The stock head unit itself is a very nice piece of gear.....in case you didn't know...its made by Nokamichi. I have the 6 disc changer so I wanted to keep it.....I added a 5 channel amp, upgraded all the door speakers and put a jl audio 10" powerwedge in the back....the system rocks...and is about as stealth as you can get.
(stash)
GerardPRO5
Member
according to the shop manual, our head units are made by either of the following companies:
-Panasonic
-Clarion
-FMS Audio
there's no way Nakamichi will make a stock head unit and be completely incognito about it. there are very few high-end manufacturers of home audio who have also crossed over into car audio...I can only think of Nakamichi (Lexus), McIntosh (Subaru), and Mark Levinson (Lexus). Harman Kardon (BMW) isn't all that great compared to Mark Levinson.
also, the stock head unit only has four channels of nominal output...for a whopping total of 40 watts...the tweeters are actually wired inline with the front speakers...with no crossover.
if our head unit actually pushed out six channels and was made by Nakamichi...damn, what a deal!
once one of my speakers blow out, then I'll have an excuse with swapping out all six with Nakamichi coax and components...with a Nakamichi or A/D/S amp, of course.
The head unit is fine. nothing wrong with it...and who needs a flashy audio system?
-Panasonic
-Clarion
-FMS Audio
there's no way Nakamichi will make a stock head unit and be completely incognito about it. there are very few high-end manufacturers of home audio who have also crossed over into car audio...I can only think of Nakamichi (Lexus), McIntosh (Subaru), and Mark Levinson (Lexus). Harman Kardon (BMW) isn't all that great compared to Mark Levinson.
also, the stock head unit only has four channels of nominal output...for a whopping total of 40 watts...the tweeters are actually wired inline with the front speakers...with no crossover.
if our head unit actually pushed out six channels and was made by Nakamichi...damn, what a deal!
once one of my speakers blow out, then I'll have an excuse with swapping out all six with Nakamichi coax and components...with a Nakamichi or A/D/S amp, of course.
The head unit is fine. nothing wrong with it...and who needs a flashy audio system?
no offence Gerand...but there are a number of things that the FSM doen't cover...or has omitted. I got my information from an expert on our systems...and I tend to believe him.
REGARDLESS of who actually makes the unit....its a decent piece of gear....and as stated before, with the addition of an amp and the upgrade of the speakers you can have a very nice system....and its as stealth as you can get. As Gerand stated...
"who needs a flashy audio system" its how it SOUNDS that counts...not how many lights/bells/and whistles it has.
(stash)
REGARDLESS of who actually makes the unit....its a decent piece of gear....and as stated before, with the addition of an amp and the upgrade of the speakers you can have a very nice system....and its as stealth as you can get. As Gerand stated...
"who needs a flashy audio system" its how it SOUNDS that counts...not how many lights/bells/and whistles it has.
(stash)
GerardPRO5
Member
wow...if it is made by nakamichi, that makes it even better...
why are people getting rid of their stock systems?
hmmm.
you're right though...the shop manual doesn't have the connection between the 5"x7" speakers and the 1" tweeter.
I had a full Nakamichi audio system in my last car ('89 BMW 325i)...and it looked stock and only pumped out 200w, but the sound and frequency definition were immaculate.
Nakamichi all the way (unless I get a Mark Levinson or McIntosh system).
why are people getting rid of their stock systems?
hmmm.
you're right though...the shop manual doesn't have the connection between the 5"x7" speakers and the 1" tweeter.
I had a full Nakamichi audio system in my last car ('89 BMW 325i)...and it looked stock and only pumped out 200w, but the sound and frequency definition were immaculate.
Nakamichi all the way (unless I get a Mark Levinson or McIntosh system).
GerardPRO5 said:
Which shop manual, Nak has been the rumor for awile now.
GerardPRO5 said:
Might not be home audio but the kings of car audio, Alpine, have been making facotyr Honda and BMW CD players and CD changers for years now. Also LExus was originaly Fujitsu Ten and when Nak got awarded the contract for Lexus Fujitsu realized they needed an aftermarket present which lead to Eclipse. Pioneer also makes a tone of car audio factory speakers and decks. Just becuase the names not there doens't mean it not a good manufacturers unit.
GerardPRO5 said:
Yep, wired in parrellel and if the tweeters are also 4 ohms then they are taking up 5 watts rms and leaving the front mids with only 5 watts.
The stock systems lack of detail and high/lows is NOTHING to do with the radio. Its a combination of lack of power and lack of a decent driver. Replace the speakers and add an amp and you will see the factory radio puts out a very clear and detailed signal it was just a little low powered an going to speakers that could not reproduce all the sounds.
GerardPRO5 said:
Gerard, there is only ONE reason that people get rid of their stock systems....they want the FLASH....more bells, more whistles....plain and simple. That and they are under the misconception that STOCK means garbage....which is far from the turth in todays car market.
As I stated before....I still have the stock headunit....6 disc indash changer....I added an Alpine 5 channel amp that puts out ONLY 40 watts/channel RMS....and an additional 120 watts RMS to the sub channel. I upgraded all the door speakers and added the JL Audio 10" Powerwedge in the rear....the system really kicks ass. I have gotten MANY compliments on it since the install. Best of all, if I am out and about...and the BAD GUYS start peekin in my windows...all they see is a "crappy" stock headunit.....nothing more.
I completely agree with Sir Nuke...
as far as aftermarket heads go these days...they're all about flashy buttons/displays and features you'll probably never use. I can do without that crap. How many people have actually used the 'repeat' (a single track) option on their cd player?
The only advantage I see is the high voltage outputs that most aftermarket units come with. This ensures a clean signal will be sent to your amplifiers provided you aren't stupid and run your power wire right next to your RCAs. However, its not worth $300-500 plus the risk of a break in just to get rid of a little hissing at high volume...unless of course you listen to classical music all the time...but in that case the Protege is not the car for you because it doesn't have great insulation like a Mercedes.
And if you're not even going to use the RCAs, lets say you just want more power from your head unit...its still not worth it because I could spend that same $300-400 on a low end amp and wiring kit and get more power and better sound than those internal amps could dream of. . .and some punk won't break into my car to steal it because it'll be under my seat out of sight!
as far as aftermarket heads go these days...they're all about flashy buttons/displays and features you'll probably never use. I can do without that crap. How many people have actually used the 'repeat' (a single track) option on their cd player?
The only advantage I see is the high voltage outputs that most aftermarket units come with. This ensures a clean signal will be sent to your amplifiers provided you aren't stupid and run your power wire right next to your RCAs. However, its not worth $300-500 plus the risk of a break in just to get rid of a little hissing at high volume...unless of course you listen to classical music all the time...but in that case the Protege is not the car for you because it doesn't have great insulation like a Mercedes.
And if you're not even going to use the RCAs, lets say you just want more power from your head unit...its still not worth it because I could spend that same $300-400 on a low end amp and wiring kit and get more power and better sound than those internal amps could dream of. . .and some punk won't break into my car to steal it because it'll be under my seat out of sight!
Oh yeah...and all red-orange lights illuminating your interior at night is totally worth not installing an aftermarket head!
my friend has an audi and that was the one thing I loved about it...then he put an eclipse head unit in and it just wasn't the same...it doesn't look right at night.
my friend has an audi and that was the one thing I loved about it...then he put an eclipse head unit in and it just wasn't the same...it doesn't look right at night.
