Quote:
Originally posted by CircuitSky
Nope....it always best to have separate amps for the speakers & the sub. I have the 4-channel Pioneer amp powering the speakers. That's 50x4 on the speakers. Which each side of the component set is wired together with a crossover since the ones in the dash are tweeters. And I have the 2-channel RF amp bridged on the sub.
Some people power their speakers via the head unit but in my opinion that is definitely not enough power. And whatever power rating on the head unit it says it puts out is more than likely not correct. It can be deceiving that's for sure. You can get by with powering the speakers via the head unit but it's definitely not the same as having a separate amp.
If your RF amp is a 2-channel amp and if it has crossovers then you could possibly run the sub on one channel for the lows and power the rear speakers off the other channel for the mid range to highs. And then power the front speakers off the head unit. That would be a way to do it if you're straped for cash. In my previous car, I had a 4-channel with 4 speakers bridged on two channels and my sub bridged on the other two channels and it sounded pretty good. Of course, that was a Camaro so it had a much smaller interior space than the PT. That setup had plenty of power but it was really pushing the amp that's for sure. The system in my PT is definitely ten times better though as far as sound goes. So if cash is not the issue then go with the two amp setup.  There are 5-channel amps out there too but they are fairly large and definitely can't be mounted under the seats so that's the reason I went the two amp route.
Peace
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you can power you sub off of the same amp as your speakers, but not like he says. you can't do it with a 2 channel, but with a four channel, you could run the front off of 2 channels, and bridge the back channel for the sub. don't run a 2 channel with one channel going to the front speakers, and the other channel goig to the sub. if you do this and play something in stereo mode, you might not even hear people singing on the right side if you have the speakers on the left channel. the sub may not get all the tones either.
if you get a decent head unit, it should power the spealers ok at least until you can get an amp for them. most of the newer pioneer hu's put out about 50x4, which is a peak rating, but is actually the same power as his amp is putting out. it is actually about 18 watts rms, or continuios power.