Hey Guys,

My 97 A4 that I got yesterday has no BASS at all....I want to install an amp and a sub and maybe just get a 5 channel amp to power the dam speakers as well!!

My question is do I need to change my stock head unit (only tape+radio) to hook up the amp and subs, if so will do that first....thanks...
Q

 

not sure about your Q about whether it has those plugs in the back for it, BUT you could just change your headunit and add one sub and amp for it to make for an incredible set up. i did this, and have tried to convince everyone else about this as well. the new headunit would push a hell of a lot more power to your stock speakers (so you wouldn't need a seperate amp) and then you could run bass from the woofer in back. the key to this setup is to not skimp out on brand names. i personally swear by PIONEER decks (not cheapy ones) and preferably PRIMEIR line and ROCKFORD FOSGATE amps/subs.

 

Rockford is nowhere close to what they once were... and pioneer makes quality stuff, especially their premier... although it's a bit too flashy for my tastes.

As for running off deck... lets make this painfully obvious. A good deck, I mean a great deck, will give you 20 watts RMS per channel. A great little 4 channel amp, like a JL 300/4, will give you 75 watts RMS, at a wide range of voltage... so: 20 watts (though more likely 15-17) vs 75?

Even a tiny 4 channel amp will give 25 watts RMS, and a small 4 chan will give you 40 - 60, doubling deck power.

My JL 450/4 puts out 150 to the fronts, 75 to the rears

Oh, and you mentioned a 5 chan amp... that is a great way to go. I am not very familiar with them... but know the JL 500/5 kicks some ***. What they usually lack is power for the sub woofer... but anything is an upgrade over stock (in terms of power)

 

hey
ya headshock I was going to point out exactly what you said. In my 96 bmw around 2 years ago I changed all the speakers and head unit but hardly any diff. Then with the 5 channel amp I got all the speakers powered and MAN the sound in the front was freaking amazing!!

Yea it had one output for a sub with around 150W RMS and had a 10" audiobahn sub which blew my trunk apart. The amp I used was one recommended by a friend who is heavy into audio multimedia, it was the BOSS R935 along with a pioneer primier head unit and JBL speakers.

Now I am also thinking of doing the same thing for this one but due to cash straps for now (chippin..etc..) I did not want to change the speakers or head unit, just amp to power all of them with a sub.

SO the answer is I should change my head unit right? Howcome my 8 yr old head unit has PTY (song and artist names ) on the unit whereas these dam new pioneer ones dont?? Whats the deal?

Thanks guys..
Q

 

You seem to have your mind made up. But just so you know you dont need a headunit for sub and new amp though. If you wanted you cold do amp first, then sub, then head unit.

 

ok cool thats what i wanted to know. I didnt want to buy an amp online and find out I need a head unit for it to actually get connected to the speakers!!