Where is the amp located in the sport? Would it be possible to replace the factory 2oo watt unit with say an aftermarket 400 watt unit?

 

not at the same spot, haven't got the dash apart yet but usually they are somewhere in the dash (or else under seat, but i dun see anything)...

 

The amp is with the radio. Only the really good systems have a set up where the deck only has pre-outs to a seperate amp (Infiniti, JBL, etc). The CD deck has a 4 channel amp built in, just like any other aftermarket radio.

You can however buy a speaker->line out converter in order to add extra amps or speakers to the factory system. You can run into problems however because the signal you put into the amp is amplified by the deck already. It is the easiest way to add a sub for decent performance.

 

200W = a head unit with a built in 50W x 4 amp (ie. most aftermarket head units). The RMS of a 50W x 4 headunit is about 15W x 4. Pretty much any external amp will provide more power.

Given that the petrol tank is under the front seats its not a great place to put an amp. Boots a bit safer.

 

Yeah, 200 watts measured how? I have a 25w amp in my house that has 3 times the power of the "160" watt stereo in my Fit.

I'll assume all car audio is measured into 4 Ohms?

 

It is 4 ohm. The 160 watt might get around 15 watts rms while the 200 watt gets about 23-25 watts rms. I never said it was a lot of power just that the amps were built in and the easiest thing would be to add one with high level input.

 

For a entry car the stock radio is decent.

 

I can tell you that factually, the 160 watt radio is about 9 watts rms with acceptible distortion, full bandwith. The 200 watt radio is about 10. A 35X4 rms 20-20khz rated amp is like day and night. Line level adapters would work acceptably well with the factory radio. The one feature that factory radios have that the aftermarket has not duplicated in quality is the speed variable volume control. I really like the feature. Within 12 months we'll see dash kits from Metra out for aftermarket radios.

Former Circuit City Roadshop Manager
(car stereo)

 

I don't know why car stereo's can get away with such inflated power numbers - but they all do it. As stated above, divide the power by the number of channels to get 50 watts per channel, then take into account low distortion and full bandwidth and there is not too much left. Still 10 Watts can be very loud. Remember that you need 10 times the power to double the volume.

 

Big numbers sell products. Good products don't need big numbers to sell them. The high end stuff has more realistic figures. The more fair dinkum companies rate their gear at 12.5V NOT 14.4V, 4OHM and less than 0.02% THD.

Real amplification is not about volume but control. Control = sound quality.

If 99c paper cup speakers which sound like a sock has been stuffed in them and matching made in mainland China head unit which only has enough power to drive those paper cups with magnets that require a microscope to find provide you with adequate sound then you'll enjoy one shocker of a stocker.

Best kits (a Stinger company) lists the head unit adapter for the Fit @ US$250. Don't see it on the website though.