PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - help understanding sensitivity, power rating, etc. for upgrade

JHZR2 · #1 02-09-2004, 11:22 PM

Hi,

I havbe an 83 300D with the becker europa head unit. Everything is stock, and I think the sound is quite good. A few friends of mine have also been impressed with the clarity and quality of the sound from my RF CD changer running through that old radio and through the 20 year old speakers.

But I am thinking that at least the front speakers should be replaced. I can tell once in a while, with certain sounds in certain music that the fronts are getting a bit scratchy. The sound still is really good, but the time might be near.

I heard from someone once that when using an unamplified, stock setup, that I really need to watch the sensitivity and power ratings of speakers.

I assume that a speaker with higher sensitivity (lower dB number) will do more in terms of output, and good sounding output at that than one with a lesser sensitivity, which would need something driving it.

SImilarly, for power rating, I suppose that for an unamplified stock system, a speaker set with a lower power rating would be better, as they can do more with the 'weaker' signals that are coming from the headunit, as compared to an amplifier.

Am I more or less correct in saying these things?

If so, then for speaker upgrades, I would be looking for speakers with the best sensitivity and lowest power rating. Something with specs of 85dB and 2-20W would be preferable to something with specs of 90dB and 10-50W, right?

Any help and clarification would be really great.

Thanks,

JMH