another car audio question....sorry

[Soybomb]

In a few months I'll be moving out of my dads house and into an apartment of my own while I continue college. Currently I can crank up my room's home entertainment system when I feel the urge for some loud tunes, obviously though that won't work well in an apartment so I think I need to beef up my car's audio for those loud music days a bit better.Currently I have a Sony CDX-2180 head unit (17 watts RMS), Infinity Kappa 6x9's in the rear and some decent pioneer 5.25"'s in the front doors.

My first problem is the amp built into the head unit just doesn't cut it, especially on those kappas. Whats my best route for amps here? 2-2 channel amps or 1 4 channel? Give me some brands and prices from places if you're familiar with them too, price will be a definate concern. I want to stay as cheap as possible without buying like Wal-Mart brand amps. I will not be competiting in any loudness competitions etc, I just want something that I can drive at 65mph with the windows down and have a still noticably loud volume

I'm planning on ditching the door speakers and getting some infinity components for there but thats already decided Any help picking the amp is greatly appreciated.
Thanks again!
john

edit: the headunit does have front and rear preamp outs already. If I had to pick now I'd go in search of a rockford fosgate punch unit. Let me know what you think

 

[geno]

I personally went for a 4 channel amp to drive my mids/highs, but I'm running smaller speakers (2-5.25s and 2 5x7s). I don't know if there's any advantage to 2 smaller amps as opposed to 1 big one. 2 Seperate amps would be useful if you're powering two classes of speakers, for instance, if you have 2 6x9s and 2 5.25s, you wouldn't wanna amp all 4 on a strong amp, because you could blow the smaller speakers. At the same time you don't wanna go for too weak of an amp, because the stronger 6x9s wouldn't be working to their potential and you could blow them by blasting them that way. I think it depends on how much wattage your 5.25s can handle. You could always leave the fronts un-amped as well, but I doubt youwanna do that.

 

[Soybomb]

Hmmmmm good point that 100Wx4 that I was looking at might be too much for my fronts, I think they max out at 50w! Okay I'll go with two different amps then, any suggestions as to brands and where to buy for a good price?
Thanks

 

[geno]

Definitly check out Crutchfield, they have some good info and great service if you ever order from them. I'm not sure what you're looking for in terms of price, but look around there and see what fits your budget, I'm sure you'll find something that works well. Keep in mind the only real drawback is that you'll have to pay to insall 2 amps (unless you do it yourself). The extra hardware (distribution block, extra wires and cables) will cost you a little bit too...

 

[Soybomb]

Crutchfield is a nice place to look at, and awesome if you anticipate needing any help. Luckily though I won't be paying anyone to install it or needing to call and ask for help to do so. I trust my wiring Its a very nice place to look at though for detailed specs on all the models! Anyone have any opinions on brands?

 

[Ender510]

One amp would usually do the job.. it also depends on how much space you have. There are usually gains on the amps as well.. so just beause your speakers are in different classes should not limit what type/size of amp you wish to get. Placement also makes a difference as well and how much distortion your speakers can handle...

 

[Soybomb]

Its a hatchback and I don't carry that much so size isn't going to make a whole lot of difference to me. Lets say I'll spend $320 max on the amp, any suggestions on what to get? I found a 100Wx4 RMS RF Punch 800a4 amp on eGay for like $289. That seems like a nice price when crutchffield has it for like $550
edit: I'd like to have at least 75W RMS to feed the kappa's.....100 prefered

 

[Soybomb]

Okay I've narrowed it down to the Rockford Fosgate 600a4 or 800a4
The 600a4 is 75W per chan and the 800 is 100W per channel. I'm not quite sure what I"ll go with in that respect yet. Does anyone have any good places online I can go to get them at a good price?
Thanks!

 

[luckyducky]

Perhaps you can grab a Zapco Studio 100 from Sounddomain. I think they are going for around 150. Its only a 2 channel amp, but zapco makes some very nice high end amps and their competition line are extremely nice. You can also search on e - bay if you like, and find an older soundstream 4 channel amp. Maybe one of the Lil Wonder amps, I also think sounddomain has the soundstream 4 ch. rubicon on sale.

 

[geno]

I've heard lots of bad when it comes to RF amps. I have one myself (250aII) and I've had no problems yet. Be careful if you're definitly looking at one.

 

[Soybomb]

Scaring me there genocide......the crutchfield guy said r/f was the best brand they sold too......3 year warrenty over the 1-2 of most others too.......hmmmmmm any more thought on RF amps?

 

[Soybomb]

*cough*
shame soybump.......

 

[geno]

Well, it depends. LIke I said, I've had no probs whatsoever with mine yet. But everyone I know says the newer RF amps suck hard. Unless you get your hands on an older one. I've never seen proof, but a lot of people swear that it's best to avoid them.

 

[TomC25]

The last RF amp I bought was back in '93 and it was their '92 line, so I cant comment on the newer amps, but I love the one I have - 2 channel Punch 200

I use it for my 15in JL Audio dual voice coil

I would say go with the 100watt one and turn the gain down on the amp for the front speakers

A little too much good clean power is better than too little crappy power

Distortion is your worst enemy for speakers - the heat

You could even work with the fader on your head unit to help out the front speakers

 

[Farbio]

i can't complain about rockford amps personally, i don't have one, but i have installed quite a few into cars, and haven't had any problems with them yet over the past 3 years or so. i am running a r/f 8230 head unit and have had it for about a year - no complaints at all yet, just great sound. i agree that rf is some great stuff, but if you're not that concerned with exceptional quality, y the rockford? i know that i have installed some great midline stuff - something like usacoustics (i think they're in crutchfield) they don't have the great rep that rf does, but they do provide some nice power and their amperage(the ability to produce the wattage they are supposed to) is excellent for their price especially. if u get the rf for a good price, go for it of course though!

check out smile photo and video for some good prices on gear.

and soy, if you're looking to get some of those kappa components, go w/ crutchfield right now - they have a great sale going on - as good if not cheaper than the cheapest places i know of and you get crutchfield's service

 

[Soybomb]

Okay I've been looking and I'd take a us acoustic usx4085 Crutchfield sells them for $250 and thats what the RF 600a4 goes for on egay. Anyone know anyplace that sells us acoustic sutff cheap?
thanks!