daQueefa

Quick question about DEH-P9200R with MOSFET 45Wx4... do I need an amp?

Mark P

Circuit City (near me, at least) has a nice (Kenwood?) display that shows the differences between a head unit 30W amp and an external 30W amp. It's pretty cool. Anyway, it depends on what speakers you are running to and what you expect out of your system. If you are using the stock speakers, that headunit power should be sufficient (ie the speakers will distort before the amp). However, if you are putting in high quality components, you're going to want an external amp. Overall, it will operate clearer at the same volume levels and play higher volume without distorting. Many of these higher quality larger speakers also consume more power. (ie...as the woofer is designed, if you can get more cone excursion, you can play to lower frequencies. If you have more cone excursion, you need a magnet that has more force to return the cone to it's zero location. Now you need more power to overcome this increased magnet force, thus more power is needed). A stock speaker with a small magnet and a paper cone may be very efficient, but it won't reproduce the same frequencies or play clean at the same volume levels.

So with stock speakers, yes your head unit is fine, but if you are going aftermarket, then get an amp, too.

This doesn't even address that the stock speakers have their own amp and you wouldn't even be using your head's amp anyway. More of a generic response, I guess.<p>Mark P

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Foo

As headunit amps go, that one is very very good... its probably enough for now.

Foo

the pioneer actually puts out nearly what it claims wattage wise and quite cleanly. i am certainly not advocating it over an aftermarket amplifier but i know several ppl using this amplifier with aftermarket speakers with great results.


Darren

Mark P

So I don't know the latest on the head units. Plus I am using a cd player and EQ from 3 years ago, so I didn't even recently look at what the new head units have to offer.

If I recall the two largest disadvantages with the head unit amplification is the lack of capacitance and step-up DC/DC converters.<p>Mark P

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siberian

as internal amps go, this is supposed to be one of the better ones..... for what it's worth.

daQueefa

Thanks so much - you've all been a big help!