Will a 100 watt amp be enough for 4 speakers? Options

[Cutrara]

I have a Sony Xplod HU, Pioneer 3-ways in the doors, and stocks in the back. I'm definatly going to replace the rears before I amplify anything. So lets assume I have 4 pioneers 3 ways. Would a 100 watt amp be alright? I don't want/need subs at this time. Just want to ampilfy my speakers.

Thanks,
Alex Cutrara

[Cutrara]

I'm kinda new with car audio: Do I need one channel for each speaker or one channel for each pair of speakers?

[1900WattCelica]

I'm kinda new with car audio: Do I need one channel for each speaker or one channel for each pair of speakers?
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Each channel is capable of producing a type of output. That means if you hook 2 speakers up to the same channel, it will produce the same sound. If you only bought a 2 channel amp, and hooked the fronts up to 1 channel and the backs up to the other channel, the front two will produce the same sound and the back two will produce the same sound.

Obviously you would then be incapable of listening to true stereo cds that have different sounds for the front left, front right, back left and back right. You need 4 channels for that, 1 channel for each of the front left, front right, back left and back right.

Bottom line, you SHOULD have 1 channel for each of the 4 different sections of the car. My recommendation is to get a 4 channel amp, or get two 2 channel amps.

This post has been edited by 1900WattCelica: Jul 5, 2005 - 1:02 PM

[runriot95]

I'm kinda new with car audio: Do I need one channel for each speaker or one channel for each pair of speakers?
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Each channel is capable of producing a type of output. That means if you hook 2 speakers up to the same channel, it will produce the same sound. If you only bought a 2 channel amp, and hooked the fronts up to 1 channel and the backs up to the other channel, the front two will produce the same sound and the back two will produce the same sound.

Obviously you would then be incapable of listening to true stereo cds that have different sounds for the front left, front right, back left and back right. You need 4 channels for that, 1 channel for each of the front left, front right, back left and back right.

Bottom line, you SHOULD have 1 channel for each of the 4 different sections of the car. My recommendation is to get a 4 channel amp, or get two 2 channel amps.
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Actually, you CAN listen to true stereo if you wire the speakers in parallel. If you connect the Front Right and Rear Right to the same channel and then connect the Front Left and Rear Left to the same channel, you will then have stereo sound in the front AND in the back.

The key here is that the amp HAS TO BE 2 ohm stable. Check the specs on the amp and make sure that it is.
If not, the only other way to hook up 4 speakers to 2 channels is to wire them in series. I would suggest checking out www.crutchfield.com and doing a search for speaker wiring for more information on this.

One last piece of advice, if you're just using the rear speakers for "fill" - that is, just to provide a little sound in the back, then using the head unit's built-in amp will be sufficient.