i have an eclipse 5440 head unit currently running a punch 100, and an aura 400w 4 channel amp, controlled by a clairion 5 band eq. i was wondering if the eclipse head unit would run my door speakers with out the amp, as i dont think it has a pre amp. my door speakers are 1 set of pioneer 6.5" mids, 1 set of polk 4" drivers, and 1 set of 1" polk tweets. i am just getting tired of having 2 amps. the other amp runs my 10" punch xlc. thanks.

 

Your head unit will run the door speakers but it won't drive them as hard and clear as the bigger amp.

 

would it sound ok though. i know it will sound weaker, but will it be pathetic. i have read some reviews on the unit and everyone agrees it sounds pretty good, but i dont know if they are running an amp. has anyone ever ran an eclipse with out an amp that you know of? thanks.

 

if the unit doesnt have a pre-amp, you cannot run speakers from it. it requires an amp to produce some speaker signal i believe

 

I could swear the 5440 is a cd receiver (has a built in amp, a cd tuner does not have an internal amp) with two preamp outputs for front and rear, so you should be all set.

You said you want only 1 amp, right? Why not keep the 4 channel amp in the car and use two channels to power your fronts, and bridge the rear channels to power the subwoofer. If you really want rear speakers, you can power them off headunit. Just makes sure you run the rcas off the front channels of the deck, use a y cord to split the signal to the front and rear channels of your 4 channel amp and put a level control **** inline with your RCA wires going to your sub channel, since the 5440 has no sub out. you'll want to be able to control the level of the rear "fill" speakers independently of your front stage and your subwoofer.

It will sound so much better keeping the front amplified.

 

dc24me has it right. Run the 4 channel amp to run your front speakers and your sub. Run the rear speakers off your head unit if it has speaker outs. It is easier to blow a speaker using deck power than it is with a amp. The speaker does not have to work as hard to produce more sound when it has more power behind it and you will get better sound.

 

thanks. thats what i wanted to hear. to the audio gurus.