Head unit change

[FireRescueFL]

I was told at a local shop (a reputable shop that I've used for over 8 years and has always treated me right) that the 10 speaker set up in our car sometimes uses 1 ohm speakers to get more power from the little amp. They said that if I change my headunit and run everything off of it that I run the risk of blowing the amp in the headunit due to it not being able to withstand the lower impedeance. Anyone know for sure what the ohm rating is on the stock speakers? I really want to put my CD headunit in but it's not worth taking a chance if I can't be 100% sure it's not going to cause any problems.

Thanks,
---Chris

[STR1CK]

Chris
My wifes 95 325i has an aftermarket stereo. Its a JVC and we just leave the loudness off . It works great.

Hope that helps
Chris

[barische]

i got a sony head unit wiht mp3 and all that i also leave the loudness off too, ijust dont like the way it sounds. my system was installed at circuit city, and it has been almost 4-5 months and still running great.

[bmwracerchick]

I have a JVC head unit, had improved sound over the stock stereo and I love it. I got it at Best Buy so they installed it for me. I too have not had a problem with it and its been almost a year since I have had mine.

[Juni]

I have a Nakamichi head unit (looks almost stock), and I have had no problems what so ever. I even have the loudness on and the stock speakers sound great with my subs.

[GREX1969]

I've also put a JVC head unit in my BMW. No problems even when I wack the bass up, it just sounds sweet. Much better than my really expensive Kenwood setup in the Alfa (Mini Disk, CD Changer) which sounded like a wet fart.

[95ClubSportDelaware]

Upgraded to a Clarion with integrated Sirius maybe 10 months ago...no new problems. Of course one of my rear shock tower speakers sounds like loose change jingling, but that was pre-existing.

[L84THSKY]

Why would you bypass the OEM amp? When you hook a head unit to an amp, you are using the Line Level outputs to the amp. The impedance of that output is much different, then going directly out of a built in amp in the head unit. I replaced my stock unit with my current Blaupunkt CD player. I'm not certain, but I think I am going line level out to the BMW amp, and then all of my speakers are powered by that amp. No head unit is gonna have more power than the BMW amp, unless the BMW amp is very low power.

There should be line level signal outputs from your head unit, look for them, and use them. It's like comparing an intergrated amp, with a separate pre-amp and amplifier.

Originally Posted by FireRescueFL

I was told at a local shop (a reputable shop that I've used for over 8 years and has always treated me right) that the 10 speaker set up in our car sometimes uses 1 ohm speakers to get more power from the little amp. They said that if I change my headunit and run everything off of it that I run the risk of blowing the amp in the headunit due to it not being able to withstand the lower impedeance. Anyone know for sure what the ohm rating is on the stock speakers? I really want to put my CD headunit in but it's not worth taking a chance if I can't be 100% sure it's not going to cause any problems.

Thanks,
---Chris

[JPerfect]

I installed an AIWA head unit in my ti, only because it has a front input jack for my mp3 player. I also replaced all speakers and installed a sub/amp.

It has been in since November with no issues, besides the braket breaking and me having to wedge the head unit into the console with paper.

But it still works.

[atlanta318ti]

Originally Posted by Juni

I have a Nakamichi head unit (looks almost stock), and I have had no problems what so ever. I even have the loudness on and the stock speakers sound great with my subs.

Juni, Do you have a pick of your nakamichi unit in the car? I want to replace my unit, but do not like most of aftermarket head units out today, because they all tend to be unappealing (just my own preference) in design. Nakamichi relies on performance more than shiny knobs and colors from what I've read and seen, so I'm interested in what you installed.

[GDB]

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

Why would you bypass the OEM amp? When you hook a head unit to an amp, you are using the Line Level outputs to the amp. The impedance of that output is much different, then going directly out of a built in amp in the head unit. I replaced my stock unit with my current Blaupunkt CD player. I'm not certain, but I think I am going line level out to the BMW amp, and then all of my speakers are powered by that amp. No head unit is gonna have more power than the BMW amp, unless the BMW amp is very low power.

There should be line level signal outputs from your head unit, look for them, and use them. It's like comparing an intergrated amp, with a separate pre-amp and amplifier.

Very good points, except the factory amp is only rated to 200watts. Oh well, I'm still running it

[stormos]

Originally Posted by Juni

I have a Nakamichi head unit (looks almost stock), and I have had no problems what so ever. I even have the loudness on and the stock speakers sound great with my subs.

COSTLY, but definetly one of the best!

[JPerfect]

also, my ti doesn't have an amp... or does it? It's a 95 active, and it had a pre-existing 5 speaker setup. One tweeter on the passenger door, two underneath the dash on the sidewalls, and two in the rear... I have since installed All new speakers, an amp and a sub, and I have not found any evidence of wiring to an amp other than the one I installed.