"Cracking" distortion noise

Hi, this is my first post :D

Just got a question about my audio setup. I've got 2 pairs of 6.5" speakers (45wRMS, 220wMax) running off my head unit at the moment. The problem comes when I turn it up to around 2/3 volume. It makes a nasty electricy "cracking" distortion noise. This only happens on some songs - one song will go full volume no problem and still sound good, but others can only go half volume.

I've been told that the problem is my head unit is not putting enough power out to the speakers and that I need an amp to power them properly. Just wanted to double check really, so could that be the answer?

Thanks,

Tom

Yup, it's the answer :) Was the same situation with mine when I first put my splits in - I ended up getting an amp and once installed, all was good. I got a 4x50WRMS unit, got the splits running off channels 1+2 and a sub bridged off channels 3+4. Works wonders :)

You don't have to spend the earth on an amp, but do your research and keep in mind what you might want to hook up to the system later on if you decide you want a sub or more powerful splits or something.

---dens

Thanks for the reply :)

Originally I wanted this Blaupunkt, but the max power is rated lower than my speakers. Is that a problem?
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/blaupunkt-gta460-p-6460.html?cadid=0uskar95kqm36d5di3m4n2gu91

The other option is this FLI 900s. It's plenty on the RMS side, and max should be OK too. Also leaves me the option to switch my rear 6.5"s for 6x9s in the future. Oh and I've already got a FLI Trap 12 active sub ;) but obviously that's amped up already so theres no problems there.
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/audio-loaded-900s-p-6725.html?cadid=0uskar95kqm36d5di3m4n2gu91

Tom

forget max power its bullshit

its better for your amp to be more powerful than your speakers, as an amplifier thats underpowering the speakers will heat them up by sending square waves (clipping the signal) and burning out the coils

it will also eventually melt your amp

buy a good 4 channel amp, minimum 50watts RMS per channel (Which will probly get you anywhere from 150-300 watts in bridged mode)

i've got a 4x100WRMS amp and it does a great job, will run a 10 or 12" inch sub all day long and hardly get warm

Weirdly enough, I think I've fixed the problem without adding an amp. I was just re-wiring the rear speakers to make things easier, and now for some reason any song will go up full volume without a problem! I think it must have been because when I chopped the plug off the standard Nissan rear wiring, I connected both negative and both positive wires together and put them through a connector box, then split them again to go to each speaker.

I am still looking to get an amp, but it's nice knowing I don't necessarily need one right now.

Tom