keep_hope_alive Premium Member
Acoustics Engineer
the Pioneer head unit is rated 50Wx4 but that is a MAX power rating, and only attainable for a second with a lot of distortion.
Even the 22W RMS rating is at too high of a distortion level to be listenable.
In reality, you get about 12Wx4 out of a head unit with audible distortion. It's enough to be "loud" but it doesn't sound very good.
a good amp rated 35W RMS x4 @ 4 ohms and 0.05% THD would sound amazing in comparison, and play much louder while sounding good.
when discussing power you must discuss distortion. the internal amp in a head unit is an IC amp, no bigger than a credit card. compare that to an amp the size of a text book and you can figure out that one will be MUCH better than other.
when you evaluate amplifier output you need to consider the following:
* RMS power rating
* Impedance load
* THD at power rating and impedance load
* duration of power test (one second vs one hour)
* damping factor
* amplifier Class (A/B, D, T, etc.)
Even the 22W RMS rating is at too high of a distortion level to be listenable.
In reality, you get about 12Wx4 out of a head unit with audible distortion. It's enough to be "loud" but it doesn't sound very good.
a good amp rated 35W RMS x4 @ 4 ohms and 0.05% THD would sound amazing in comparison, and play much louder while sounding good.
when discussing power you must discuss distortion. the internal amp in a head unit is an IC amp, no bigger than a credit card. compare that to an amp the size of a text book and you can figure out that one will be MUCH better than other.
when you evaluate amplifier output you need to consider the following:
* RMS power rating
* Impedance load
* THD at power rating and impedance load
* duration of power test (one second vs one hour)
* damping factor
* amplifier Class (A/B, D, T, etc.)