RiffRaff00

So...
I have Kicker CS series in front and back. Rated at 75 watts RMS. They are paired with a Alpine 45 watt 4chn amp. The problem is that they start to get distorted at about 2/3rds volume. My answer to this problem is the obvious. Get new/ different speakers. Here's the problem. How many RMS watts are required to handle the 45watts that the amp produces? I'm looking at a set of Alpine speakers that claim 85watts RMS. Is this enough? Do I need 100 watt RMS speakers? I just don't want to buy another set with a higher RMS rating only to find out it isn't enough.
TIA

crankinaway

Good question I would like to know the answer as well.

jdunk54nl

This sounds like a gain problem and not speaker or amp problem. How did you set the gain on the alpine ktp amp?

Your speakers will not distort on 45 rms if everything is set properly.

RiffRaff00

This is the amp in question. I don't think you can set the gain or anything else with it. Basically plug and play, to the best of my knowledge

jdunk54nl

You can and should.
Did you look at the owners manual or at the amp? It has gain ***** for front and rear gain.

page 4
https://pdf.crutchfieldonline.com/Im...500KTP445U.PDF

Bo.

Jdunk is taking you in the right direction. No need to throw more money or product at your symptom.

The 75 watt RMS rating on your speakers really has nothing to do with how loud they will play.

The amplifier and the process of setting it up properly will determine how "loud" the system will be....

There is a lot more to it than this, but in your current situation, I think you will be happy with the outcome by adjusting what jdunk refers to as the gain......

Let us know how it turns out!

One last thing..... do yourself a favor and update your location in your profile. Sometimes it matters.

--Bo

jdunk54nl

You will want around 13 volts on the DMM to get 45 watts on a 4 ohm speaker. This will be done with the HU near max volume. I don't know if you have high or low level setup on your HU but a safe bet is your max unclipped volume out of the head unit is about 3/4 volume. I checked my HU, which is a my ford touch unit and set for low level, with an oscilloscope and it is unclipped all the way to full.

MDXLT

I am noting that the OP has a link to the 'universal' model of this Alpine amp and that their is an 'Alpine' model available as well. The 445U model has the gain controls where the 445A model does not. The Alpine model is geared to be used with a Alpine system and the other for everything else. The Crutchfield link above should have a youtube link about this amp that I recommend you watch.

RiffRaff00

It's the 445 U amp. And I'll watch the link. Thank you

doug97gxe

are you using a DSP? you could also be playing out of the frequency range .. lets say the speakers can't play below a certain hertz properly and you are feeding them that .. it will distort .. are you using a cross over?