Rep Power: 0

Is my Alpine CDA 7894 (old I know but it gets the job done, 4x60 watts) enough to power some kappa perfects in the front and stock rears or am I gonna need an amp. If I need an amp what's a decent one that doesn't break the bank. Thanks a bunch.

 
Rep Power: 0

IMO, 27 watts RMS is not enough to power components.

 
Rep Power: 0

Generally speaking, you don't ever want to power any manufacturer's high end speakers off the head unit. It will just be a complete waste of money.

 
Rep Power: 0

any ideas on a good component amp then? thanks

 
Rep Power: 329

how much you wanna spend?

 
Rep Power: 0

From what i've heard, you can blow your speakers by not giving them enough power. Yes, sounds crazy but I believe its true.

 
Rep Power: 0

Yup underpowering is just as bad if not worse than overpowering speakers

 
Rep Power: 311

Nice way of putting it.

Time for a sticky dos and don'ts of basic car audio?

 
Rep Power: 0

Absolutely untrue. Underpowering a speaker does nothing too it. If it did everyone would blow their speakers the instant they turned the volume down.

Where too little power is a problem is when you try to turn it up too loud. Then when the big bass note comes along that needs 100 watts to play, the 60 watt deck barfs and puts out an ugly distorted and clipped signal. This in turn is what ends up hurting the speaker. The too little power problem is purely a function of the operator and the volume ****.

Add to that the other problem w/ deck power is that it isn't real power. Its 60 watts, at 5% distortion, across 50Hz-20kHz. So they get that big 60 watts number by rating it at a distortion level that is actually unlistenable and even then its not a full bandwidth signal.

Get an amp. Even a cheap 40 - 50 watt one. It will make a night an day difference. Most aftermarket amps will be 60 watts, at 0.05% distortion, across 20Hz-20kHz. So they operate on full bandwidth and with about 100x less distortion. IMO getting an amp is a no brainer and will make a huge difference.

Heres a good analogy. Your taking a trip on a road that you can drive 100 mph the whole way. You can choose to take a Civic or a Corvette. Obviosly you take the Corvette ..... The road is like the music. It varies, has peaks and dips, etc... The Civic is the HU, and the Corvette is an aftermarket amp. They can both do 100mph, but the Civic will be pushed to its limits the whole way and crap out on the hills. The HU is the same way. It can work, but it is going to be pushed to its limits 24/7.

 
Rep Power: 0

This is also very true. Due to the crossover and physical makeup, most components require more power and are less sensitivy than a standard coax speaker. Therefor off deck power a coaxial set may even be louder than the components. On an amp though most likely the components will smoke the coaxials. Plus without an amp you can never see what the speakers can really do.

Although a good set of coaxials on an amp can sound really really good. Most people don't realize just how good they can sound on an amp.

Honestly, IMO get the coaxials and amp them. You save some money and it will still sound great.

 
Rep Power: 329

If you're not gonna get an amp, keep the stockers, you won't notice much difference.

 
Rep Power: 0

roger, thanks for the awesome info everyone, looks like i'll be getting an amp then. I'm an audio newb so anyone got any ideas on what a good amp would be to power speakers? brands I should stay away from, I don't really wanna spend more than 200 on an amp, any chance of that? thanks a bunch.

 
Rep Power: 0

Any reputable amp in the range of 40-150 watts per channel will work just fine.

JBL
JL
MTX
Alpine
Rockford
Soundstream
Eclipse
Hifonics
Pioneer

 
Rep Power: 0

awesome thanks a bunch.

 
Rep Power: 347

Perfects are some of the most power hungry components IMO...I would not run them without atleast 150 watts to get decently loud and to avoid clipping.

 
Rep Power: 311

Fonto, true true true. Can I get an AMEN on the "at least" part as well?

 
Rep Power: 0

150W per channel? shiiet that's a lot, i'm thinking of getting the perfects myself, but I also think regular kappas are good. Should I shell out the extra money and get kappa perfects?

P.S.
I also heard that infinitiy reference components are good, which makes me even more confused.

 
Rep Power: 347

Well, they are inefficient speakers in my opinion...which means that you have to give them a lot of power for them to really shine. If you have a lot of bass, you will need to give them a lot of power for them to keep up with the bass...but I love the way the speakers sound! ...the perfects can also take A LOT of power.

Anyway, I will be selling my perfect 6.1 speakers if you are interested...they are in very good condition. Where in Cali are you from?