New stereo setup

[jrolin1]

What is there will probably be fine.

[fiddlebick]

Update on the stereo, I got the Dual head unit installed, and threw out my former choice of the Alpine mrp f300 amplifier on the advice of my local stereo shop. Instead they talked me into an Alpine ktp 445u amp. Gee I hope I got that model number right.... anyway its very small and fits nicely under the console, runs off the existing power of the head unit, and really upgraded the sound of my stereo. I will know more as I get out on the water this summer, and it should sound better when I buy the new speakers. This little amp is worth a look into, and can be had for 112.00 on Amazon...although I bought mine locally for a bit more than that.

[walter]

I don't want to hijack your thread but since your on this stereo subject and maybe my question will interest you.

Last year my stereo shot craps, so I wired my mp3 player directly to my amp, seems to work great and sounds good, I realize you don't have control over fading/balance or other fine tuning of the front/rear/left/right speakers like you would with a stereo. So my question is, what's the purpose of an actual stereo head anymore? Except I guess you really don't get the full "stereo" effect? Does the stereo up the amps or something? Or is it not really needed?

[fiddlebick]

Walter, that is an interesting question, but your asking the wrong man. I have little to offer in the way of an informed opinion on stereo's. The only criteria I used in my purchase of the Dual brand head unit was the recommendations and input from the members here. I bet you would get lots of feedback if you did post that on a separate thread. The owner of the local stereo shop where I purchased my amp was really down on Dual. That didn't surprise me, as he carries mostly higher end stuff. I also noticed that Dual is carried by several auto supply stores such as auto zone. They are not high dollar but then, neither am I.