STEREO: how many watts is stock/what to replace with

[runrider]

Time for a new stereo. The stock head unit isnt putting out enough volume and it wont play mp3s. Whats the best way to make my car a little louder for the least amount of money? Would I get more power going to my speakers coming from a head unit like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7986609728&category=43948&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1
I dont know how many watts the stock unit pushes (doesnt say in the manual), but it would be pointless to buy a unit with the same or less power. Maybe i should just buy nice speakers? One of you stereoheads out there can hopefully help me out.
-r

 

[J32a2OwnsU]

mostly any aftermarket headunit you get will have WAY more wattage than any civic radio...

i suggest you upgrade your speakers all the way around when u upgrade your headunit

 

[Revolver]

Stock is like 1.5 or 2 watts... 3 tops.

 

[J32a2OwnsU]

Stock is like 1.5 or 2 watts... 3 tops.

Its GOT to be more than that...... im thinking in the range of 7-12 watts.

 

[PAguy]

7-12 is about right, generally on the lower end of that spectrum... I would go for an aftermarket head unit to be quite honest with you.. throw me a ballpark price you want to spend, and I will find you a deal.

 

[DirtyD]

new headunit and speakers all around and it will sound a billion times better

 

[DZNUTTS]

Just get a new player thats 50x4 watts and you'll be good............Then get new speakers.

 

[Revolver]

Its GOT to be more than that...... im thinking in the range of 7-12 watts.

No dude, its 1.5-3.

 

[PAguy]

No, Dude, its 7-12 watts rms... on the newer vehicles you are looking at more like 12-16 watts rms.

 

[J32a2OwnsU]

Yeah I need some proof of that low of wattage.. you would even HEAR anything with the inefficient speakers that are in Honda (85db @ 1W).

 

[Fawks]

The wattage is way different depending on the car. 03 EX? About 7-10 rms and 40 peak. Get an /////Alpine with V-Drive. 60x4 internal amp. 'Bout as good as it gets straight outta the headunit.

 

[J32a2OwnsU]

Lets just say a 6th gen.... for arguments sake. I could go back to the late 80s and he MAY be right.. but anything from teh mod 90s (6th gen) on theres NO WAY its pushing 1.5-3W.... RMS.

It has to be at least 5W RMS...

 

[96greencivic]

To keep it economical on my gf's 04 Ex, we upgraded the HU, mono amp powering a sealed 10" and replaced the front with some nice MTX coaxils. We left the 6X9's stock out back. It sounds pretty damn good and enough thump to shake the car.

BTW in case anyone was wondering the 7th gens have 5.25 up front vs. the 6th gen 6.5. We stuffed 6.5's in her door anyway

 

[h23civichb]

Replacing the stock head unit is always the first step. If you go aftermarket, and are interested in geting subwoofers, make sure the head unit has the preouts you need. In newer cars, factory speakers aren't too bad. If your factory speakers are really crappy, you can replace them for cheap. Kenwood has some rather cheap factory replacements that sound pretty good. To answer your question, yes an aftermarket cd player is many many times better than a factory player. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that cd player a special edition factory cd player?? I would say don't bother with thatcd player at all. Go out and get yourself a $250 Panasonic or Sony. For $250, you wil get all the features you want and around 22W RMS. To me, this is your best option.

 

[PAguy]

it actually has a 6.5 up front, the way the basket is designed (plastic) it really wont allow for many aftermarket speakers without a riser...

the vdrive amplifier on the alpine unit is nice, but nothing special.. Panasonic has a few models with a similar feature. not worth the extra money IMO. get a decent deck and a small 50x4 amplifier, and be done with it. all said, it should take about 45 extra minutes for an amp install in that car

 

[PAguy]

Replacing the stock head unit is always the first step. If you go aftermarket, and are interested in geting subwoofers, make sure the head unit has the preouts you need. In newer cars, factory speakers aren't too bad. If your factory speakers are really crappy, you can replace them for cheap. Kenwood has some rather cheap factory replacements that sound pretty good. To answer your question, yes an aftermarket cd player is many many times better than a factory player. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that cd player a special edition factory cd player?? I would say don't bother with thatcd player at all. Go out and get yourself a $250 Panasonic or Sony. For $250, you wil get all the features you want and around 22W RMS. To me, this is your best option.

The best deal you can get right now in general is the cd player I got today.. I needed a mid line deck in my vehicle with a lot of features.. JVC KDAR760. there are other comparable models out there for about the same price, but you can pick one of these up for around 200 bucks if you look.. i dont care for the pipe look on it, but it has excellent sound quality and a decent built in amp (using the internal amp for rear fill) the display is surprisingly good as well, and the menus are easily accessible.. make sure you go to a few shops and play with the decks first, see which one you like..

 

[Revolver]

Yeah I need some proof of that low of wattage.. you would even HEAR anything with the inefficient speakers that are in Honda (85db @ 1W).

lol there needs to be a sarcasm font...

 

[J32a2OwnsU]

lol there needs to be a sarcasm font...

ha ha ha... yeah, there is a need for that....

maybe THIS one? " "

 

[Revolver]

ha ha ha... yeah, there is a need for that....

maybe THIS one? " "

Nah, that one doesn't do it for me. Its doesn't emote sarcasm well enough.

 

[cujo613]

The wattage is way different depending on the car. 03 EX? About 7-10 rms and 40 peak. Get an /////Alpine with V-Drive. 60x4 internal amp. 'Bout as good as it gets straight outta the headunit.

Unfortunately Alpine hybrids are not available this year. Only 50x4
You might as well replace the speakers as well or it will sound the same.