What amp to pair with my speakers?

[e30mitch]

Hi Everyone,

I am planning to buy the Rockford Fosgate T0D210 sub: 2 Ohm 10-Inch 550 Watts RMS

I already have a new pair of Alpine Spr-50c 5.25-Inch 2 Way Component Car Speakers (Peak Power: 300W RMS Power: 100W)

I am planning to put the alpines on the front of my E30 and just have regular coaxials in the back.

So I am not sure what amp to use for both the sub and the alpines..should I use one amp and run both the speakers and the sub from there, or buy two separate amps? Also, which amp do you guys recommend? I'm not too familiar with "ohm" and all that stuff, all I know is that I should match RMS power from speakers to amp. Thank you in advance!

[325e '87]

Is your head unit fairly good? I’ve set up a handful of cars for my own liking and I would just tell you this, a 250W mono sub amp for your sub and just leave the front and rear main speakers powered by the head unit. I have always had plenty of boom when I want and never have trouble balancing the sound between the mid and highs and the sub. Just make sure all your speakers are decent quality and keep everything at the 2ohm. It’s easy and inexpensive to just power the sub.

There are a ton of people that will disagree, I’m probably committing some kind of sin but my systems have always left me satisfied.

[Mwishlist]

Try the actual stereo forum, there is a ton of info there:

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=102

[superj]

I do like 352e '87 does. never had a problem

[glnr13]

For years I've done the amp powered sub and letting the head unit supply power to the in cabin speakers. The first time I hooked up a multi channel amp to one of my cars I was beyond amazed, I'm not really an audiophile so it never was a big deal to me. Amplifying the in car speakers is waaaay better than just letting the head unit do the work. Head unit alone works well but sound quality is much better with amp to all speakers.

[Mwishlist]

^^^ This

If you are mainly into bass or have a quiet car it's fine running off the head unit. I have a convertible so I am running a single six channel amp; two to front components, two to rear speakers and two bridged to a sub in the trunk.

[e30mitch]

Thanks everyone! I'm running an Alpine CDE-HD149BT, which is like Alpine's best single-din out there right now.

I would like to amp my components because I hear these really only come alive when powered through an amp.

Thanks for your feedback

[e30davie]

Its always better to run speakers on an amplifier, but these days head units are alot better than they used to be so speakers can run quite well on them for casual music listening.

Generally in the past I have gotten a 4ch amp. Bridged 2 channels together to run the sub, used the other two channels to run the front speakers, left the rear speakers on headunit.

Makes for a neat install, does leave out your rear passengers a bit but better than having a much bigger 5ch amp, or two amps.

[NYCDelphin]

so if the goal is to leave the stock head unit in ( for period correctness :) ), it would be an improvement to get a 5 channel and power the 2 front, 2 rear and have a sub for the boom ?

Can you amplify the stock premium rear speakers? Can the woofer and tweeter handle an amplifier?

[Mwishlist]

so if the goal is to leave the stock head unit in ( for period correctness :) ), it would be an improvement to get a 5 channel and power the 2 front, 2 rear and have a sub for the boom ?

Can you amplify the stock premium rear speakers? Can the woofer and tweeter handle an amplifier?

I'm not sure what the stock speakers can handle but I kept the original radio and replaced everything else. I'm using an LC8i IIRC so I can run a six channel amp and also have a bluetooth aux input. Then out to components in the front, coax in the back and a single sub in the trunk. It's nice because in the vert, even if I leave the top down somewhere it looks like a stock 80's cassette deck system.

[george graves]

There are a ton of people that will disagree, I’m probably committing some kind of sin but my systems have always left me satisfied.

Naw. That's a good set up. It gets you good sound. Speaker off the head unit and sub on it's own amp. That get you to the point if you want to go further, you didn't really waist any money. Once it's installed, you'll know if you want more and go down that rabbit hole.