[Mahkku]

Aside from allowing you to play music louder, what else will an amplifier do for you? I don't need super loud volume, I just want some nice bass and balanced sound out of my speakers. I've heard people speak of "more clarity" and whatnot, but what does that really mean?

I'm currently using:

Fronts: Focal 165VR3 3-way comps
sensitivity 93dB, RMS power handling 80W
Rears: OEM Mini "HiFi" 6x9" speakers
Amp: OEM Mini "HiFi" amplifier
8 channels, 6 x 25W (2 ohm), 2 x 40W (2 ohm) bass

I don't know whether or not a good amp will make a serious difference in terms of sound quality... what could I expect from a stronger amp? Or would it be better to get an EQ up and running on the existing amp, if possible?


edit: as a quick note, the HU in the Mini is integrated into the car central computer and cannot be upgraded, however an amplifier can be

 

[Oliver]

I've heard people speak of "more clarity" and whatnot, but what does that really mean?

More clean power is what it is all about.

If you can use something that is not being stressed it will be nicer than running something to the ragged edge.

Things last longer when they are asked to work moderately-vs-balls to the wall, all of the time.

 

[cgarnes]

Amplifiers are supposed to be used to create "better" sound at lower to normal listening volumes. Your midbass/midrange drivers require more energy to move so more power helps with this problem. ALWAYS buy an amp because it will make your overall system sound better. A side effect of the amp will be more volume, but that is NOT the reason to purchase one. That's my two cents.

 

[kyheng]

Any speakers can be driven by HU's speaker output but sound good or not that's another topic.
If don't want to use amp, getting high efficiency drivers(only 10-20W) will be the best bet.

 

[sqshoestring]

If any amp does not sound the same (ok very close as some have slightly different response) as any other under clipping, it is a pos. If you play it louder and it clips then you need a larger amp, if you have less efficient speakers they take more to run. OEM amps can have EQ in them, but has little to do with clipping just the tone. A larger amp can make bass better sometimes, because a small amp may not have the reserve to produce it properly or may have bass roll off in its response so it seems to have more power/go louder, because low bass takes more power. Some have a built in subsonic more or less.

I like more capability than a HU can do, so I always run amps no matter. I detest HU IC amps they just make the HU run hot. BTW, any amp without a power supply is worthless too, that is max 18rms.

But for example and there are many of them, I have an old alpine 3522S that is IIRC 2x35 and 1x90rms. It has great bass and sound, will stomp any HU, is a real amp inside. I would use that or similar as a minimum for any system I would run. I don't know what your factory amps are so I can't say what they are...but amps that small can use the HU bs ratings and say 50w when they are not and can't get the job done.

Near any amp that is a brand name since the late 80s can properly reproduce the original signal before it hits clipping level. If it does not, there is a problem. The problem usually is that you are clipping that small amp and don't think you are. Some amps clip and go louder, some clip and fall off a cliff in quality. If you have the first one, a larger amp will help you. If you have the second you know you need a larger one. About all you can do to find out if its clipping is listen closely at low volume and then see if it changes at the higher volume, it should not unless you have OEM EQ kicking in or the loudness on.

 

[BassAddictJ]

i recommend a decent amp a nice 7+ band EQ.....good times

 

[Mahkku]

Amplifiers are supposed to be used to create "better" sound at lower to normal listening volumes. Your midbass/midrange drivers require more energy to move so more power helps with this problem. ALWAYS buy an amp because it will make your overall system sound better. A side effect of the amp will be more volume, but that is NOT the reason to purchase one. That's my two cents.

Better sound at normal listening volume is what I'm looking for exactly, particularly for the midbass/midrange drivers. Would powering my Focal 165VR3s on a stronger amp create a very noticeable difference in sound quality?

 

[2_Lude]

Yes.

I'm not sure about the quality of your OEM amp, but for me I using the same speakers going from OEM to amplified aftermarket HU. Made a huge difference.

Then I went to stand alone amp and it made an even bigger difference in sound quality.

 

[Oliver]

Better sound at normal listening volume is what I'm looking for exactly, particularly for the midbass/midrange drivers. Would powering my Focal 165VR3s on a stronger amp create a very noticeable difference in sound quality?

Things that determine quality of sound

1] recording [ who, how well, type of music, acoustic, etc.., ]

2] amount of clean power [ before distortion sets in ]

3] material of cones used in speakers

4] how said speakers are installed .. location , location , location

 

[nismomike09]

remember to sound deaden the crap out of your car. Makes a huge improvement also

 

[Mahkku]

Then I went to stand alone amp and it made an even bigger difference in sound quality.

Could you describe some of the differences you noticed?

 

[cgarnes]

I've had people notice "new" instruments in songs they have listened to for several years; a guy actually heard a tambourine for the first time after listening to his music with a new pair of separates, and a good amp. There are VERY noticeable differences when a good amp runs a good pair of speakers. I would almost say you are too worried about not noticing a difference; if you buy a good amp for your Focal separates there will be a difference, and you will love yourself for making the right decision.

 

[Mahkku]

Thank you! That's a terrific endorsement. Time to start searching for the right amp :thumbsup:

 

[snaimpally]

A better amp with more power will give you more headroom, more dynamic range in the music. I would ditch the 6x9s and concentrate on getting better power for your front components. Also, experiment with speaker placement to help with getting a good soundstage/image.

 

[jjlwis]

more power = more control

 

[don_chuwish]

I've been pondering the same question as the OP. Didn't really doubt the validity of everyone's claim that it improves the sound, just hadn't ever seen it explained HOW very well. For example what's the difference between adding an amp and just turning it up past 11? ;-) But I think I sorta get it now.
Put a singer on stage in a huge auditorium and have her try to fill it with sound. No mic. She'll have to push her voice very hard, won't sound very good and probably still won't create enough volume. But give her a mic with amplification and good speakers, now she can sing in a comfortable volume range and add subtle phrasing touches that the sound system can reproduce at higher volume for the audience. Amps help avoid a screaming HU. Fair analogy?

- D

 

[2_Lude]

Yes that's a pretty good analogy. Amplifiers do exactly what the name suggests, it amplifies the signal/sound.

Cranking it past 11 will more than likely induce distortion/clipping. Clipping is bad all around and it is stressing your system to the max. With an amplifier your giving yourself more headroom and have a better chance of sending a clean signal at volume 11.

 

[2_Lude]

Could you describe some of the differences you noticed?

I started to notice different sounds/instruments that were much clearer than before. Not necessarily louder, but just more pronounced. The music coming out of the speakers definitely was a much broader range.

Well another obvious difference was there was much lower distortion at higher volumes with an amp. Plus with bigger magnets on the speakers you will need more clean power to drive them to achieve full range.

 

[howardbarker]

Some interesting comments here. I also appriciate info.

 

[gijoe]

Plus with bigger magnets on the speakers you will need more clean power to drive them to achieve full range.

That part isn't particularly true. The speakers will play their intended range with 1 watt or 500 watts. What the extra power will do is give you better dynamics, so you will have stronger midbass at the same average volume.

An amp doesn't increase the speakers range, but it allows a speaker to play the power sucking lows to their fullest without clipping them.