60w into 120w components too little?

[Shigshwa]

I want to buy a Rockford Fosgate T400-4 and upgrade my speakers. I'm noticing most of the mid-high end component systems are all around 100-130w RMS, and the amp does 60w at 4 ohms. Would this cause my speakers to be too quiet? Or would 60w still be reasonably loud? I'd like a nice sounding set of front and rear speakers to compliment my SP4. My JBL upgraded system does a fine job at it, but the SQ sucks. I don't know how many watts the JBL amp pushes, nor do I know how many watts the speakers push. Should I go with the lower end component speakers that run at a wattage closer to what the amp produces so it would be at least as loud as my JBL speakers? Because I don't need extreme sound quality.

[Karkov]

My opinion is, too little? no, they would still be decent but not their full potential. If it was me I would shoot for closer to 100 watts personally if that's what they are rated at. Try not to exceed the 100 watts though unless you REALLY know what you are doing though.

You going active or passive?

Also, the Power Rockford amps do more than rated so keep that in mind as well.

you may send 60w to them all day and love the way they sound though so I don't want to discourage you from that but if you haven't bought the equipment yet just get the appropriate amp IMO.

[mmets]

As Karkov said try to get closer to the RMS wattage. There is no reason to get a nice set of mids/highs and then not even power them to get their potential. They will sound good but would sound better and clearer with more power. I have a set of focals that are rated at 100 rms and have put 150 to them for two years and they still run just fine. Of course the amp was set up right and I back the gain off just a little bit. But don't get a high end speaker set up and then not power them that much. You'll be missing out, just my opinion though.

[CleanSierra]

My T400-4 does 75X4@ 4 ohms. It also puts out good power at 2 ohms. If I remember correctly it was like 120X4@ 2 ohms.

When you say JBL upgraded system, I'm assuming you mean factory JBL? If that is what you mean, then it will be NIGHT and day difference with a Fosgate amp and aftermarket components.

[bcbrassard]

My T400-4s birthsheet rated the amp at 75 rms @ 4 ohms continuous. I am running T2s active and they are louder than when they where passive. More dynamic headroom would have been nice but the jump in cost to a T600-4 couldnt be justified at the time but wish i had the $ to have done so. Be really its never enough is it? LOL and considering i had 2 sets of T2 comps and 2 T400-4 plus all other RF equipment i tried to keep some costs down. As always i would do things differently now after learning what i have.

I say more power on great components, you can always turn your gains down. Good luck.

[Shigshwa]

Hm.. loud is such a subjective term too, I mean, in terms of volume, I'm more than happy with the maximum volume my factory upgraded system puts out, any more and it'd be ridiculously deafening for a car with just one sub. If even lower end components will be better/louder than my factory, may as well go with those then. Wish the lower end Rockfords came with crossovers too

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_60498_Rockford-Fosgate-T1675-S.html

[Shigshwa]

What is the advantage of a separate crossover vs a built in one? I don't see a difference if they're both passive. If that's the case, I may as well go with Rockford's Punch line.

[Soccerballzs]

RE Audio XXX Components are 2 ohm rated and sound beautiful. Good power rating also.

[Skullz]

I personally like to run no less than 150w per speaker, headroom is godmode and stresses the speakers and system much less than an under powered set trying to play full tilt full of distortion.

[bcbrassard]

All higher end comps come with seperate crossovers for better sound qaulity by building with better hardware. Its all in what you want out of your system and your budget will allow. If you have the audio bug like most of us do, you continually upgrade and want more power and better sound while getting louder. No matter what age you are. My car, living room and bedroom are all sound and visually focused apon. Always have been and always will be.