Just purchased a Sanyo FXCD 550 for my '71 Chevelle and need some input. The head unit I bought is an am/fm - casssette - cd head unit with 200 watts total power, 50 watts x 4 channels. Detachable face plate, single din, RCA pre-outs. Dash was cut by PO for a CD head unit so this will do unless I change the dash. Plan is: Pioneer tri-axial 150 watt 6x9's in the rear deck, (holes already cut by PO with a hatchet I think) and 3" round Rockford Fosgate Punch speakers in the front dash. Need some input for a decent reliable amp, I'm thing in the 250-300 watt 4 channel range? I'm not a stereo system buff, just a guy who likes good 60's and 70's rock and oldies and likes to "crank it up, man" on a good tune.

I would just stay with a well known name brand 4-channel amp. Go with like Pioneer or Sony. I had a pioneer amp in my old Grand Am for 5 years. I never had a problem with it. Sony Xplode amps are pretty good as well that are good quality. Don't go too crazy on the watts output. I used a cheap 4-channel 1800 watt amp to power some sub woofers. It was way to much wattage. I practically had the amp watts completely turned down to the lowest wattage output.

I would say a 400 watt 4 channel amp would be perfect to have a good sounding system.

200 watt head unit will be plenty loud. I have a 200 wat (50x4) in my dump truck. At 3/4 volume the guys on a paver can hear it clear as day while i'm backed into the paver.

Also, You do know that an amp. won't multiply your wattage. It will only be whatever the amp. is, So a 250 watt amp won't sound much louder than your head unit does now.
Unless you want to install a couple 500 watters, I'd stick with just the Head unit.

THD = total harmonic distortion,,, the higher the number the better and more clean yer music will be.. and the less power it will take to make it loud!!! I dont know much of the new stuff that is out,,, but back in my day that is why a PPI pro art 25 amplifier a Phoenix Gold or Orion that is only 25 watts will blow away a BOSS/Pyramid/Sony/ cheaper amplifier that is even 500 700 or even 1000 watt ... Audibahn is makin good stuff right now,,, and a class D amp is the way to go for your subs..You CAN use yer head unit on yer components but,, use crossovers for the speakers they will sound better..

I am running A PPI pro art 25 and PPI a 606 , and 10 lanzar speakers in my car and it puts out very loud clean sound,,,, with only 325 watts

here is a video of my trunk



http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z135/abad72/?action=view&current=stereo72chevelle2008_01_01_19_37_51.flv