Do I really need an amplifier?

I have a sony CDX M850MP, head unit, it is rated at 23.2w x 4 rms and 52w x 4 max

I have two 4x6 gxr polk audio speakers in the dash

and two 4 inch gxr speakers in my sound bar

both sets are rated at 35w rms and 88w max.

fyi. i have a single 12 inch polk audio ex12 sub being pushed by an mtx 202 amp.

now my question is, will i notice a differance if i purchase an mtx 404 amp to drive my 4 smaller polk speakers or is the sony head unit enough to "not warrant spending the money" on the mtx? mind you i do not mind spending the cash but will it be worth it?

fyi the amp i am considering http://www.mtx.com/caraudio/products/amplifiers/thunder404.cfm

thanks for the input

-kirk

Hey Kirk, it's always worth spending the extra money on an amplifier for front speakers. Never under power the front speaker & you will be if you try powering them with deck power. I would suggest getting the MTX amp and you will not be sorry and the SQ will definitly be ALOT better.

There are so many variables and everyone's tastes are different.  I think it depends on how loud you intend to listen to the stereo as well as what kind of vehicle you have.  Some vehicles are so noisy to begin with that it's gonna be really hard for you to hear the difference that an external amp might give you.  Those Polk speakers are really nice but the amp that's built in to the Sony deck is not all that bad either.  Also, if you only listen to the system at low to moderate volumes I really don't think you'll hear much of a difference at all.

But like I said everyone's tastes are different, and with that in mind I'll ask you: how pleased are you with the way the system sounds right now?  Does it distort often?  Do you find yourself constantly having to turn down the bass and/or treble controls to prevent distortion?  Do you feel like you're missing a lot of the music/frequencies when you listen to it in the car as opposed to on a home stereo?

Admittedly though I am one who doesn't like to listen to stuff that's loud enough to make my ears hurt (bass or just loud volume overall).  Also, I'm always looking to save money and get the best bang for my buck.  That's also something that will affect your decision and unfortunately only you can decide exactly what's best for you.

If possible you could try doing a temporary install of the amp (i.e. don't bother hiding the wires behind panels and stuff).  And see if u can tell a big difference in the sound, especially while you're driving around.  If not, you can always return the amp for a refund if you're really unhappy with it.  But if you do like it then you can go ahead and permanently install it.