Stacks wrote:Won't having a single channel to each door land me in a bit of trouble later on though
No. Unless you are planning on going active setup you won't require multiple channels to each door. A single channel will be sufficient as that single channel will go to a passive crossover which will split it into 2/3 channels to the speakers individual frequency response characteristics.
Stacks wrote:if i want to put some additional power through the speakers will this not likely damage the tweeters
As long as clean power is applied, everything should be fine.
Stacks wrote:If the additional channels are going to be more "future-mod-proof" the extra expense might be worth it (read: new speakers). If not, why would the shop suggest the 8ch over the 5 when the price really isn't that different?
The additional channels will not benefit you in any way unless you decide to go active. And even if you choose to go active, you'll require a audiphile quality HU (Pioneer P99RS) or processor (Alpine PXA-H800, Audison BitOne, BitTen etc) which will allow you to set the crossover points high enough and precise enough to obtain the best results from the speakers.
Stacks wrote:If you drive off the headunit, doesn't that make it tricky to adjust your sound levels to even them out through the car? I was of the understanding that these amps rely on all your speakers being connected to the one unit which you can then monitor the speakers to optimise power/timing to suit the drivers position? Or is this just marketing wank that have no appreciable effect in the real world?
I don't quite understand what you're trying to say here?
The HU or processor will control timing etc. Regardless of where the signal is output. The amp doesn't add any form of processing or time delay to a signal, it simply takes what it receives and amplifies it (can also apply a high/low pass filter).
Also, I wouldn't even worry about rear speakers. As the driver, the sound predominantly comes from the front. Rear speakers are mainly for the passengers, by turning them up, you drag the sound stage towards the rear of the car and it affects the overall sound experience for the driver.
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