Running smaller speakers

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=23823
Printed Date: July 07, 2025 at 10:24 PM

Topic: Running smaller speakers

Posted By: pintofbestbitte
Subject: Running smaller speakers
Date Posted: January 03, 2004 at 6:42 AM

Hi,

I'm setting up my car with a simple system (head unit and 4 speakers) but I've run into a small problem. I've got a 4x50-ish watt sony head unit and a pair of 200 watt 6x9s, and now i've run out of money (i'm a student). I've got some little speakers for the front off my mate, but i think they're about 15 watts and i'm worried that if i turn the volume up too much I'll fry the head unit because its driving such small speakers. Would it be ok to put a low-value resistor so that I don't get distortion etc? Or should I just save up?

Cheers

Replies:

Posted By: Durwood
Date Posted: January 03, 2004 at 7:31 AM

I wouldn't worry about it. The only thing you'll likely damage would be the speakers, and that's only if you continously played them so loud that they sounded like hell. Be reasonable with the volume knob, and the front speakers you have should last until you can replace them.

Scott

Posted By: pintofbestbitte
Date Posted: January 03, 2004 at 9:28 AM

Right thanks for that Scott.

One more question - I'm putting speakers into a parcel shelf (in a vauxhall nova - all the stereotypes there then) and i'm a bit concerned about sound quality. I'm intending to adhere a sheet up 5-10mm MDF/HDF to the main part of it so that it has better acoustic properties. (moves less and better sound insulation). Is there anything else I should do that's simple to get good sound quality?

Thanks again

John