Audio experts - village idiot needs help

[grahamkissack]

OK...I have a really stupid problem. I have collector plates on my 1980 SC car and need a period specific radio. So I found and bought a perfect new in the box Blaupunkt Dearborn (circa 1987) which is identical to a Charleston SQR46 with 4 channels out. I hooked it all up and everything worked great but one of my stock door speakers is dead....nada.

It turns out all my car's speakers (Blaupunkts) are 8 ohm but its very hard to buy those today that will fit esp in the door. Also who knows if the 944 this Blaupunkt Dearborn was intended for was 4 or 8 ohm speakers.

So based on some good advice from nineball, I'm going to replace all the speakers with new. Can I just go ahead with 4 ohm speakers? I'm not running an amp...just 4 channels out to each speaker. I am worried that the 4 vs 8 ohm will double the current and heat in the head unit...I've been warned it could fry it??

Thanks!

[village idiot]

My ears were burning................I can't help you, as I have no stereo in my car, but I'm sure someone will chime in soon.

[grahamkissack]

Originally Posted by village idiot

My ears were burning................I can't help you, as I have no stereo in my car, but I'm sure someone will chime in soon.

ha ha too funny...wouldn't dream of stealing your nickname!

[jetstar911]

Ok, so ive been an Car Audio Installer for almost 18+ years and have built many demo cars for high end car audio companys. Some have been in Turbo magazine and Performance Sound and Sec and have done at least a dozen of Porsches this summer alone. So i will give my 2 cents.
Most aftermarket head units will work well with 4ohm speakers. Yes, most car audio speakers are 4ohm. If there is a drop in impedence for what ever reason the deck wil go into protection and then reset. Some speakers (components,mids,tweets) do come in 2ohm and we use them all the time with out an amp, deck only. Replace all four speakers with a good brand name and choose an efficient speaker.( 90db SPL or higher, the better) and your head unit or amp, if you choose to use one will have no problem working all day while staying cool. If time is on your side its always good to run at least new 16ga wire for piece of mind. Think about this.... most new cars have 6-8 speakers in them from new. Does the factory deck cut out? Most of the new radios in new cars are no better than a 15+ year Blaupunkt deck. Pm me if you have any questions. Hope this helps
Kane

[bell]

i wouldn't worry about the 4 ohm load, it's when you go below that (like 2 ohm) that really puts a load on a head unit.

[grahamkissack]

Originally Posted by jetstar911

Ok, so ive been an Car Audio Installer for almost 18+ years and have built many demo cars for high end car audio companys. Some have been in Turbo magazine and Performance Sound and Sec and have done at least a dozen of Porsches this summer alone. So i will give my 2 cents.
Most aftermarket head units will work well with 4ohm speakers. Yes, most car audio speakers are 4ohm. If there is a drop in impedence for what ever reason the deck wil go into protection and then reset. Some speakers (components,mids,tweets) do come in 2ohm and we use them all the time with out an amp, deck only. Replace all four speakers with a good brand name and choose an efficient speaker.( 90db SPL or higher, the better) and your head unit or amp, if you choose to use one will have no problem working all day while staying cool. If time is on your side its always good to run at least new 16ga wire for piece of mind. Think about this.... most new cars have 6-8 speakers in them from new. Does the factory deck cut out? Most of the new radios in new cars are no better than a 15+ year Blaupunkt deck. Pm me if you have any questions. Hope this helps
Kane

Kane, thanks so much for the frank expertise. I've already replaced all the wire to 16 ga and now I'll replace all four 8 ohm speakers with new higher quality 4 ohm units.

Best, Graham

[bell]

keep in mind his radio is from 1987, and probably does not have protection built into it for low impedance loads.....but the 4 ohm load will work fine.
(been in pro car audio for 20+ years and also have built mfg demo cars LOL.....however have switched careers and am now a porsche tech )

[T77911S]

Originally Posted by jetstar911

Think about this.... most new cars have 6-8 speakers in them from new. Does the factory deck cut out? Most of the new radios in new cars are no better than a 15+ year Blaupunkt deck.

not to argue, but car dealers now go to someone like bose or infinity and say we want a 6 or 8 speaker system to fit these spots, and they design it around that so all the impedances are right. they arent just adding speakers and not considering the impedance. dont forget, if they run them in series, the ohms add.

i dont know car audio, but i do kow pro PA audio. if it was me, i would try to find the specs on the radio or one similar to it.

he is right about SPL, for every 3db the speaker is more efficient, it is like doubling your power amp. buying a better speaker is much cheaper than trying to buy power amps.

a friend at work is always talking about clipping his adcomm 200watt power amp with his infinity(?) speakers. i am thinking how can he stand to be the house when i think about my 100watt NAD powering my klipsch speakers, until i looked at his specs. the infinity was like 89 db and my klipsch are 100 db at 1watt/1meter. its like i have an 800 watt amp to his 200watt amp. BTW,i have never clipped my amp, it would be too loud.
he now has 2 adcomm amps, i think he is planning on bridging them.

[T77911S]

wow, nit much info in the car audio industry. i looked at specs on a few radios. they gave power but not at what ohms that power is made. for all i know that could be 1ohm or 16 ohms. i did look at some speakers, all i saw were 4ohm. i guess i would not worry about it
not too good a spec on the speakers, 87db/1watt. i only looked at 2.

[bell]

The industry standard for output rating for aftermarket radios is based at 4ohms and around 13.5volts....
Go with a low rated power coaxial and you'll be fine....but stick with a name brand like pioneer, alpine, etc.....stay away from the off brands as their quality control is usually questionable.....

[mossguy]

I thought this was going to be a political thread.

Sorry,
Tom

[daniel911T]

Just my $.02, but I've installed aftermarket stereos in a few of my past cars, always looking for how to get the highest quality sound for my (usually constrained) money.

On a couple of installs, I've used mid level Infinity speakers. I find they have a wonderful warm tone without sacrificing either the highs or the lows.

A quick bit of background, I'm a pretty serious audiophile, and a former Navy Submarine Sonarman. In a car, especially a Porsche, the engine is the best music of all! The interior noise level tends to be rather high, especially at highway speeds, therefore I strongly recommending getting very efficient speakers so you will be able to achieve a comfortable listening level, even with high ambient noise.

I would suggest:
for the front:
Infinity - Car Audio

for the back:
Infinity - Car Audio

Both of these suggestions should fit in your stock enclosures, with the stock grilles. I think it would sound great, and look exactly like it did when new.

Best of luck!

Dan

[dicklague]

I agree that the interior is noisy. The only radio I have is a police scanner.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by daniel911T

... very efficient speakers...

another adv. is that you can then avoid being forced to use a powerful (hence, HEAVY) amp to drive the speakers

that said, I use Focals

there are things one can do to address ambient noise levels - I'd go after wind noise first, then road noise

[83_Silberpfeil]

Much thanks for your suggestions. The links took me to the Infinity website. It spec'd out the impedence at 2 ohms for fronts and rears. Would that work for new aftermarket head units --- like a typical Blaupunkt say? Do I need to convert to 4 ohms?

Also, the mounting depth is over 2 inches. Are you sure they fit into 911's (83 SC) with no modifications?

Thanks in advance!!!!

Just my $.02, but I've installed aftermarket stereos in a few of my past cars, always looking for how to get the highest quality sound for my (usually constrained) money.



On a couple of installs, I've used mid level Infinity speakers. I find they have a wonderful warm tone without sacrificing either the highs or the lows.



A quick bit of background, I'm a pretty serious audiophile, and a former Navy Submarine Sonarman. In a car, especially a Porsche, the engine is the best music of all! The interior noise level tends to be rather high, especially at highway speeds, therefore I strongly recommending getting very efficient speakers so you will be able to achieve a comfortable listening level, even with high ambient noise.



I would suggest:

for the front:

Infinity - Car Audio



for the back:

Infinity - Car Audio



Both of these suggestions should fit in your stock enclosures, with the stock grilles. I think it would sound great, and look exactly like it did when new.



Best of luck!



Dan

[daniel911T]

Originally Posted by 83_Silberpfeil

Much thanks for your suggestions. The links took me to the Infinity website. It spec'd out the impedence at 2 ohms for fronts and rears. Would that work for new aftermarket head units --- like a typical Blaupunkt say? Do I need to convert to 4 ohms?

Also, the mounting depth is over 2 inches. Are you sure they fit into 911's (83 SC) with no modifications?

Thanks in advance!!!!

This is from the Infinity website:
True Four Ohms— All Reference speakers feature two ohm voice coils. Original factory-installed speaker wiring in many cars is 18-22 gauge. This wire, and heating in the voice coil when power is applied, increase the impedance “seen” by the amplifier or head unit. The impedance of Reference Speakers has been adjusted to compensate for this increase and can be safely driven by any head unit.

And here's a quick link that explains the bare bones basics of power and impedance in a car audio application.
Speaker Impedance vs Power Output

As for the mounting depth, according to Infinity's car database, they'll fit, but you've not nothing to lose by taking a quick measurement. Databases are great and all, but there's no replacement for an actual measurement.

The Infinity's are just a suggestion of a good way to go, many others will work great too. You should be fine going into any 2-4 ohm load. Look for an efficiency above 90db/w, the higher the better. Blaupunkt still makes audio equiptment, you could check to see if they have anything that meets your needs. Personal recommendations: Polk audio, Boston Acoustics, Infinity, Blau. Probably many other great makers, but these sound full and well rounded to my ears.

I look forward to hearing what you come up with!

Dan

[83_Silberpfeil]

Thanks Daniel. I am going to take some measurements and if the Infinity's fit I am going to buy them. Amazon has a good deal on them.

[daniel911T]

Awesome, goood luck!

I loook forward to hearing how you like them.

Dan