OK, I've had my Pioneer (P77MP) fitted for a week now, along with my Blaupunkt CMS 266 subwoofer, into the OEM speakers. As a recovering audiophile, decent sound quality is quite important to me. I have been told by some people that having an amp is a must, even with the standard speakers.

However, I have to say to my ears it sounds pretty darned good already. It goes up as loud as I would ordinarily want - in fact I am pretty certain that I have not really had it as loud as it can probably go. The sound is fairly good from a hifi point of view, the sound quality not that far off from my home hifi (Rotel amp, Rega speakers, EMU soundcard) - and the areas in which it 'lacks' are areas that I perceive to simply being a weakness of having a stereo in a car.

So would an amp really make that much difference again? I mean I can see the point if one was to buy new (bigger) speakers, but surely the OEM speakers are designed for use with the low powered headunit, thus the 27w x 4 RMS of the Pioneer should be more than enough...

What do you think?

So would an amp really make that much difference again? I mean I can see the point if one was to buy new (bigger) speakers' date=' but surely the OEM speakers are designed for use with the low powered headunit, thus the 27w x 4 RMS of the Pioneer should be more than enough...

What do you think?[/quote']

As I'm sure you don't need to be told, the power of the amp doesn't tell the full picture of the quality of the amp...power is good, but a powerful cheap amp probably won't sound as good as a quality low-powered amp.

Therefore, unless you've got the budget for a high-powered good quality amp, I wouldn't bother...and even if you did have the budget, I'd still say don't bother, as you're fighting a loosing battle with ICE...

Rob.

I'm in the same dilemma myself at the moment. I had my Blaupunkt DAB54 fitted at the weekend & I'm not really happy with the front speakers. I'm going to upgrade to a good set of components in the front doors, but the guy I spoke to at the audio shop virtually insisted that I need an amp to go with them.

I have pretty much no idea if the sound quality will be any better with or without an amp for the new speakers, but equally I will not be taking his 'advice' as gospel either.

So, basically the same question from me... Do I really need an amp?

I found that sound deadening the drivers door (not got round to the other door yet) made a big difference to the sound. The mids and tweeter sounded more like together if you know what I mean. You can't tell theirs two speakers in the door. more like 1. Also midrange is much better.

This is just my opinion:-

Any decent HU with decent amplification will be sufficent in a car. Road noise, engine noise & other external influences are going upset the "pure" sound quality.

If I want to listen to good, quality sounding music, I listen to it at home.

As I'm sure you don't need to be told' date=' the power of the amp doesn't tell the full picture of the quality of the amp...power is good, but a powerful cheap amp probably won't sound as good as a quality low-powered amp.

Therefore, unless you've got the budget for a high-powered good quality amp, I wouldn't bother...and even if you did have the budget, I'd still say don't bother, as you're fighting a loosing battle with ICE...

[/quote']

Thats just it.... and for me, because of the ambient noise, subtle differences between amps could well be totally lost in the noisy environment of a cars cabin.

I can imagine better speakers will make more difference than an amp, but then you probably would need an amp for better speakers since I would hazard a guess they will be harder to drive than the stock speakers.

The sound deadening is a good suggestion, and I guess I'll do that, but for me, the quality is pretty much good enough for me now.

For me sound-deafening sounds like a pretty good option. Apart from for listening to tunes and so on, it will also benefit me when I'm on my mobile (handsfree), it will reduce the overall noise level within the car and as such improve the overall quality of it for me.

Dunno if/when I'll do the sound deafening though, it kinda depends on warranty implications

I have an amp for my sub , but the kenwood components are just driven off the Sony head unit and are more than powerful enough to reach quite substantial volumes without distortion

If your only reason for buying an amp is because people say you need one, then you probably don't!

If you're happy with the sound you've got, then that's what counts. Stuff the rest of 'em, I say. Interfering gits, they're all the bloody same. Come over here, criticize our ICE.....

Sorry, I think it's time for one of my little yellow pills..........

Phil

Paul, you're more than welcome to have a listen to my car at WSM

Don't bother upgrading the speakers or amp. (my opinion)

I'm happy enough with my Symphony (although an MFD is on the cards) the standard speakers do their job but just needed a bit more bass to complete the package and my Infinity Basslink does that job.

More amps equals less space, more weight, more on your insurance, plus the initial cost. If you are happy with what you've got put the money towards something else, a remap perhaps!

Des

I wouldn't bother with an amp, but I would upgrade the speakers.

Cheers

Lee

Does the DEH-P77MP make a big difference? I know it's highely regarded, but again, is there a noticable difference?

Also, if your not wanting to upgrade to components and fancy something OEM, then why not try to upgraded speakers from the Skoda Accessories brochure, that way you should get better quality and it should work with the standard/aftermarket HU.

BTW, I'm also an audiophile freak. I have an Arcam Alpha 7 with the Alpha 9 DAC in it, B&W Monitor speakers, interconnects that cost more than my car (well,

Des, a remap you say :rubchin:

Does the DEH-P77MP make a big difference? I know it's highely regarded' date=' but again, is there a noticable difference?

[/quote']

Its difficult for me to tell completely how much better it is, but overall I'd hazard a guess and say that yes it is definitely quite a big difference, although some of that is the sub IMO.I used to listen with the bass and treble ramped up on the stock unit, no need at all for that on the P77MP. The sound is detailed, clear and realistic, the bass is tight and punchy and it has a lot more headroom in the volume department. I'd say go for it

This is just my opinion:-

Any decent HU with decent amplification will be sufficent in a car. Road noise' date=' engine noise & other external influences are going upset the "pure" sound quality.

If I want to listen to good, quality sounding music, I listen to it at home.[/quote']

Same here, I'm at home more than I am in the car and I prefer my NAD amp, Bang & Olufson cd/tuner and Mordaunt-Short speakers

I still prefer my amp and speakers at home for outright quality it has to be said, but theres just something about driving and listening to music that just cant be beaten IMO

The person who said about a smaller amp but better quality over a cheap, high watt amp is correct. My Alpine V12 is fantastic, only 500watt max (55x4 RMS) but it gives me the capability to run a small sub as well as the components.

I've not fitted it yet and will prob do the sound deadening first. They put my components in, then see.

Thats why a lot of the more musical amps are less powerful. Look at Naim and Valve amps for example. It seems easier to achieve a musical sound with less power, dont ask me why though...

Look at Naim and Valve amps for example. It seems easier to achieve a musical sound with less power, dont ask me why though...

In the case of Naim, it's because they put a lot of effort into testing the quality of the components and the circuit design, rather than making then making big figures to write on paper...I guess they know their target customer will go to a store and listen to the product rather than buy it mail order on the strength of the stats...

Rob.

I work on the premise of - If it sounds good to MY ears, then I'm happy.

As everyone has different hearing, wot sounds good to you, may not sound good to someone else, and listening to thier setup, may not sound any better to you that your own setup.

Its all down to personal prefs.

Steve

I wouldn't bother with an amp' date=' but I would upgrade the speakers.

Cheers

Lee[/quote']

Lee, have you heard the OEM speakers in a fabia vrs? They're quite different to those of an octy and really aren't too bad to be honest. Not wanting to sound contraversial, but I still believe you're more likely to damage the speakers (whether OEM or not) with an underrated head unit than with a proper amp. Having said that, the 77MP is a pretty decent unit and has definately more power than the Symphony on tap. I'm very happy with mine (althoug the output is seperately amped via my nice sinfoni )

As far as my install goes, I still prefer the sound in my previous furby even though the kit is the same - sound deadening does have an effect

Also, now (and even more so with the previous furby), I can still drown out all the road noise at motorway speeds without any difficulties whatsoever, something you'll have difficulty in doing with just the power of the HU. Whether you want / need that or not is up to you

I toyed with the idea of upgrading the sound system in the vRS, so off to the local ICE installers/suppliers...

they recommended that the standard speakers would be the last thing to change..... they said that adding a 4 channel amp and an 8 (yes) 8 inch sub would give me the quality sound without being heard before being seen.

2 channels for the speakers, 2 for the sub i presume.

The next step then would be to change the head unit as the speaker distortion would only come from the head unit running out of puff causing the distortion.

then and only then would they recommend changing the speakers....

I know, it made my eyebrows raise somewhat as well!!!

no doubt that this will cause a backlash from the technically blessed amongst us, but from a complete novice (which i am) that is what a man who earns his living doing told me would be the way to go.... anyone got any proof that the company i spoke to are just loons, then please enlighten me before i spend a not-substantial amount of money following his advise!!!!!

Andy

anyone got any proof that the company i spoke to are just loons' date=' then please enlighten me before i spend a not-substantial amount of money following his advise!!!!!

[/quote']

FWIW I think he's pretty much right.

The one thing I'd question is why he'd add an amp and then change the head unit - if the amp was being used to power the speakers, then changing the head unit wouldn't do anything, as the external amp would be providing the amplification.

Though if the head unit was being used to power some of the speakers, then it would make sense to change it.

Though personally, if it were me, I'd change the head unit first, then add a sub/amp if you thought the sound still wasn't good enough, and then change the speakers last.

Rob.

i love decent sound in the car, i currently have some MB Quart components in the front, standard in the rear, 2xrockford 10" in the boot, 2 channel amp for front, 2 channel for rear and mono for subs, cap for mono and nice little alpine H/U, clarion satnav/tv setup waiting for a screen(thieving sods!)

You don't need an amp to drive your speakers. Take it from me as a man in the business. The head unit will do the job just fine.

You'll need an amp to drive the sub though, and usually a professional store will supply a crossover with that so that you can select the low-pass cut off frequency.

Personally, I find that after market head units don't do a great job with the quality of EQing in the car. The Symphony from Skoda is just great. It shelves the highs and lows just fine, and as far as aftermarket products are concerned, I only fitted to Earthquakes in the rear that have a good bass response...and because of the acoustics of the car, there's so much air/bass comin' out...it sounds awesome.