Just remember to match the speakers’ capacity to the output of the head unit (or amplifier), which means that if it’s delivering 50 watts RMS, each of your speakers should be rated as such. They come in all shapes and sizes, and they can even match the factory mounts of your OEM speakers. Today, speakers are plug-and-play devices. That ensures balanced audio power delivery no matter the number of channels each of your speakers have. If the head unit and speakers are mismatched, it can destroy one (or the other) or produce low-quality sound.Īlso, try and get the head unit that delivers the advertised wattage (in RMS) per channel. Hence, pair it with speakers rated at around 88-93 dB.ĭisobey this simple pairing rule at your own risk. But remember, the higher the head unit output, the lower the speaker sensitivity. If you prefer to get a fancier head unit, pick one with at least 16 watts RMS. Find SPL (sound pressure level) in the specs. If you are willing to change it, get a speaker with a high sensitivity rating (anything over 93 dB should be ok).
New OEM head units typically have 10 watts RMS (sends 10 watts to each speaker). If you have the latter and it comes with Bluetooth, keep that and splurge on better speakers.
#Rms output factory head unit upgrade
It would be best to upgrade to a new head unit if you’re still using a two-din or a non-touchscreen system. If you want the audio to really pop, there’s no law against going for 100 or even 2,000+ watts RMS. But for larger vehicles, 77 watts RMS will be better.
#Rms output factory head unit full
Fifty watts RMS is better because it means your ears get full power continuously and consistently.įifty watts RMS should sound good in an average compact sedan like the Vios or Altis. That information may be in the fine print, so bring your glasses.įifty watts of peak power does not mean much because that power is only available in short spurts any longer and your speaker is in danger of blowing up. Check to make sure it refers to RMS and not peak power. Some say stuff like 50 watts or even higher. Digital signal processor (DSP), in simple terms, is a device that improves tonal balance, signal timing, and accuracy, so it feels like the song is playing in front of you rather than from a CD or Spotify.Īll of these may be a lot to remember in one go but try because it will definitely make you sound like you know what you’re talking about when you go to Banawe, or your favorite auto accessories shop, to buy the things you need.ĭo not get fooled by high wattage numbers on the front side of speaker boxes. Sensitivity rating refers to the speaker’s power requirement for optimum sound delivery. Peak power (also known as peak watts) refers to the maximum power level your speaker can handle or your amplifier can put out in short spurts without distortion or destruction. RMS or root mean square is how much continuous and consistent wattage a speaker can handle or an amplifier can deliver. For amplifiers, it is the maximum amount of power it can put out. For speakers, it is the maximum amount of power it can handle.
A subwoofer is also a focused speaker dedicated to reproducing low-frequency bass sounds.
Woofers are speaker components that reproduce low range frequencies Mids, as the name implies, take care of the middle range frequencies. Tweeters are a type of specialized speaker that only handle high-frequency sounds from 2,000 to 20,000 Hz. An amp or amplifier boosts the audio signal from the head unit, so the speakers get more power, increased volume, and better clarity. It can be a simple 2-din device or a large touchscreen display with controls for the volume and media type, among many others. Head unit is the interface between the user and the audio system. To get your baseline, ask yourself this question, what do you want out of your vehicle’s audio system? Once this is determined, we can move forward incrementally until your audio demands are satisfied.īefore we start, here are a few terms you need to familiarize yourself with: