To any Audio pros out there

[RedP52002]

The first thing that I checked when I test drove my MP5 was the sound system. With only four speakers, I was VERY impressed. I would turn it 4 times and all ready I felt the treble and bass sound smoothly. However, I get annoyed when I turn the volume up past the middle, and when i lower it back down to where I had it before, the speakers seemed to have lost there thump.
SO, my question was, is it possible to put aftermarket speakers, amps, sub, etc. onto the stock head unit? If so, what brand would you guys prefer?
If you can't connect to the head unit, what should I get?
Thanx

 

[MP5Alive]

there's an audio section on this board:
http://www.protege5.com/vbb225/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=11

there's also an Audio section on the "other board":
http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=40

you might want to try asking there.

 

[Don]

Unless your goal is to wake the neighbors at 4 AM, all you really need do is change out the speakers for any quality units - The OEM speakers are JUNK, and if you're remotely satisfied with how it sounds now, you'll LOVE it when you get some decent speakers in the car.

Don

 

[azeli73]

how many watts does our stock head unit push?

 

[MP5Alive]

most decent head units will have max power rating of 200W (50W x 4channels). the RMS rating would probably be around 20-22W per channel, i'm not sure. these are for decent head units with a built-in amp. the stock head unit is most likely no where near these kinds of numbers.

if you want to upgrade just the speakers for now, look for speakers with a high sensitivity rating (in dB) - usually 90dB or higher. they're more efficient when driven with less power.

so if you want to run let's say Alpine's SPR-176A component speakers (handles 50W RMS, 86dB sensitivity) in the front powered by the head unit, it'll probably work. you just won't be driving the speakers to their full potential and it probably won't sound that great.

also, the stock headunit doesn't have RCA pre-outs, so if you wanna add an amp, make sure it has "speaker-level inputs".

you should really consider going aftermarket on the headunit. only problem is you'll be stuck with the stock headunit just lying around. mine's collecting dust as we speak.

 

[Sir Nuke]

RedP5....YES you can do all the things you ask....

upgrade the stock speakers...

add an amp

add a sub....and all to the stock head unit.....I know you can....I have done it...and love the system...

do a search in the audio section for upgrades to the stock system....there is a lot of info there....and if you need any specifics feel free to send me a message.

 

[RedP52002]

Thanks. Now, I just need to save my lunch money....

 

[mp301guy]

get a head unit first

the best thing to do is just go ahead and get a new headunit i believe. It will make your stock speakers clearer for one until you get new ones and you will be able to have more control over your system and be able to add an amp. u can still add an amp though but i wouldnt recommend it.

 

[RedP52002]

Re: get a head unit first

It will make your stock speakers clearer for one until you get new ones and you will be able to have more control over your system and be able to add an amp. u can still add an amp though but i wouldnt recommend it.

Do you mean not to add an amp with the stock speakers?

 

[hihoslva]

The stock stereo in the P5 doesn't even come CLOSE to pushing 20 watts per channel.

A few guys have tested the output, and it was something like 14 watts MAX per channel, with serious distortion (read: kills your speakers) at around 10 watts.

You can absolutely add an amp to the factory head unit. You'll either need an amp that can accept the speaker wires as signal inputs (the stock HU has no RCA jacks), or converters that will change the high-level speaker signal to low-level RCA. Either method is widely available.

I would not recommend using the stock speakers for anything except refrigerator magnets. Change the speakers if you want, and add an amp if you feel like it, but do not add an amp and keep the stock speakers. They are total crap - paper bulls***.

You can get an amp and speakers as decent prices online - there is no need to spend thousands of dollars. I'd say for just a couple hundred bucks, you can upgrade the speakers and get a nice little amp to power them. Consider working only on the front speakers - the rears are in such a bad location, that even with a great amp and super speakers, the sound quality increase will be minimal. My preference would be to spend more money on the front (two channel amp, and nice component speakers) and leave the rear stock speakers connected to the head unit. IMHO, that's the best use of your hard earned money, leaves you more to spend on it, or even the ability to add a subwoofer also.

~HH

 

[Murda]

Like everyone else has said. Don't just simply upgrade your speakers. You will most likely blow your speakers due to underpowering.

If you are doing it in phases, do the HU first. That will get the full potential out of your speakers. They're better than stock civic speakers if that's any consolation. Then, change your speakers. Then, if you're really picky, you can upgrade to a 4 channel amp to drive your speakers to their absolute potential.

Good luck!

 

[1sty]

You can't blow a speaker from to little power, only from WAY to much power or to much distortion.

 

[hihoslva]

You can't blow a speaker from to little power, only from WAY to much power or to much distortion.

True - but typically, when using an underpowered amp, people have a tendency to push it too hard - thus creating distortion and damaging the speakers.

Of course, it's not the lack of power that blows the speaker, it's the abundance of distortion.

Match RMS of amp to RMS of speaker, and all is generally well.

Of course you know this, 1st - but I'm just clarifying a little....

~HH

 

[1sty]

I know, but anyones ears can hear distortion, if you crank on a system into distrotion until you blow somthing then your a dumbass. It was audibly there and sounded like ass aswell.
So anyone that smokes a speaker deserved it from being a Knucklehead.

Not directing toward you hihoslva!

 

[hihoslva]

Sure - you're 100% correct. It gets a little harder to hear with REALLY loud systems, though. But you should still be able to hear distortion before it kills your cones...

It IS, though - tougher with subs. distortion is harder to hear, especially with a sub in the trunk or whatever, and driving down the road. I blew a sub already from distortion - amp gains maxxed out, pumping it as hard as I can.

~HH

 

[1sty]

Well ya, if the amp gainis maxed then you'd better only have 0.5 volt prepouts or the amp will be in pure saturation and clipping like crazy. I have yet to see a system where amp gains on a sub were ok at dead max.

 

[Murda]

You can't blow a speaker from to little power, only from WAY to much power or to much distortion.

Like hihoslva said, people are more likely to blow their speakers due to underpowering plus operator error rather (which leads to clipping) than too much power.