Help me choose an amp?

[shortylickens]

Good amp?
http://www.klipsch.com/product/list.aspx?line=1261&type=All

 

[jtvang125]

I got a JL Audio 500/5 powering my whole system. 100w / ch for my front focal components, 25w / ch for the boston acoutics in the rear and 250w for the sub. You'll be surprise how much bass 250w can dish out with the right sub.

 

[daveshel]

Last I checked, Phoenix Gold and Orion had the best high-current amps for car audio.

 

[harobikes333]

Originally posted by: torpid
Zapco, JL Audio, etc. are bigger names than infinity and alpine, depending on what you mean by big name. They are extremely well-regarded. They might not be sold everywhere, but I am fairly certain most of your local non-best buy car audio stores will sell them. Also, your local shops might give you better prices than crutchfield on infinity and alpine too. I know my local shop is generally 5-10% cheaper than crutchfield. There are a couple of JL audio dealers in fargo, for example.

I'm on the far west side of ND so minot is the closest big town...>_<

I honestly don't know what brands are bigger than others I'm just looking for a 2ch amp that will power my 6X9s for now I guess.... unless

What do you guys suggest is enough for a sub? One 10in? or more?

 

[harobikes333]

Bump

 

[torpid]

What sort of vehicle? As in, will the sub go in a closed trunk, in a cab of a pickup, or in the trunk of a hatchback? If the sub is not physically seperated from you, a 10 might be fine.

 

[harobikes333]

Ya... I drive a 88 caprice four door sedan

When people see my trunk they're like: Damn you could fit alot of bodies in there!^ ^ So um ya.. the sub would be in the trunk.

Pic of my baby
^ Pic of it in the back of my fireworks store this summer (felt so bad I hadn't washed it for about two weeks!)

So I'm thinking I need about two 12in subs..? I don't want to waste all my trunk space.

 

[harobikes333]

Bump for help

 

[handoverfist]

forum.sounddomain.com

 

[harobikes333]

oo nice I'll try there too I tried over at caraudio but i got I think just a reply about how much crutchfield was overpriced..:\

 

[kt]

Originally posted by: harobikes333
Hmmm What made you get the alpine? O and what size amp did ya buy? speakers its powerin?

EDIT: kt, I've thought about the tri thing but the sub(s) i'm looking at are at 300RMS and most of the tri converter things can't handle that much current

I donno I'm thinking for right now I'll prob get a 2 ch amp? I donno I'm not sure if I'll be adding more speakers in my car besides a sub or not

I think you're confused about what tri-mode bridging in amplifiers is and how it works. When the amp is in tri-mode bridging mode, you are creating 3 speakers outputs with the 2 channels. The third channel is created using the negative terminal from one channel and positive terminal from the other channel. The third channel (mono) will provide you about 4 times the power. So, if each of your 2 channels provide about 100W you're looking at about 400W on the third channel. It's going to be a mono channel, but that's all you need for a subwoofer.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: harobikes333
:? Hmmm I donno lol this is my first time doing this stuff so although the probably are pretty good I think I'm gonna have to go with one of the bigger brands like infinity, alpine, mtx, etc.:\???

O and is kicker that great? They seem to be over hyped

Kicker's SX are GREAT, totally digital. Setting gains and stuff threw analog (nobs) is a pain in the butt. With the new Kickers you can get a digital read out, and get much more precise tuning. People will argue about how much better a JL or Diamond amp will sound over an MTX Thunder, apples to oranges. Using that argument you could get 6x9's that sound a lot better then Kappas. I laugh at anyone who can say a JL amp is going to out push, and sound any better then a Kicker SX 900.4, or a Polk c400.4, which is one of the cleanest sounding amps I've ever heard. It's no longer produced, but you can find it on Ebay.

JL is too expensive
Zapco is too hard to find
Apline's are GREAT the v12's are so sick, anyone who says otherwise is crazy.

word of advice from buying from Mom & Pop stereo shops. I live in So Cal, we have one on every corner. DO YOUR HOMEWORK before you buy from them! Most don't offer any type of return policy, a lot will have up "authorized dealer" stickers for everyone from JL to MB Quarts, but simply aren't. Most don't have price tags on anything, most do bait and switch. And some have been known to sell refurbished products as new. Also a lot don't warentee their install, they might tell you "6 months" or whatever, but if your system messes us, they love to blame you. I buy most of my car audio stuff off ebay, find a good seller with good ratings and you'll be fine.

Got my Polk Momo components for $219 (399 retail)
Panasonic deck for $429 (650 retail)
Good prices even compaired to the cleaper retail stores. I probably saved $1,000 on my whole system easy over ordering off Crutchfield.

 

[torpid]

2 12" subs might not fit in your trunk if you want to be able to access the spare tire. I ended up getting the alpine LAT-7 for this very reason.

 

[harobikes333]

I've looked at some set ups and I think I can find a way to put 2 12s in the trunk and still have some trunk space

I'm about to buy this amp for my 6X9s:

Infinity 7521a

But I just got an offer on a used JL Audio e6450 6 channel amp [ runs at 45w rms x 6 ]

They guy is wanting $170 shipped. What do you guys think?

 

[harobikes333]

bump

 

[spidey07]

for the most part an amp is an amp. It's how it deals with what you present to it.

I'm not a car audio guy, but the amp you listed specs wise is a dog.

Do some research, you're powering 6x9s...sound quality is not something you need to pay attention to. you just need decent power, the amp you listed doesn't posses those qualities.

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: spidey07
for the most part an amp is an amp. It's how it deals with what you present to it.

I'm not a car audio guy, but the amp you listed specs wise is a dog.

Do some research, you're powering 6x9s...sound quality is not something you need to pay attention to. you just need decent power, the amp you listed doesn't posses those qualities.

that is the absolutly crazy, and not true at all. If that was the case he should go buy a 500watt Sherwood. Brand makes all the difference in the world, especially when you're running decent speakers like Kappas. The rule of thumb for car audio is it should cost about a buck a watt for a good amp. Some of the newer Alpines buck that trend and are cheaper. But, a Jl will be around 900 for a 1000 watter. I gaurentee if he pushes the Kappas with that Infinity amp it will sound insanely better then if he used a generic brand, or a lower end brand like Bazooka.
People tend to write off car audio as "a car can't sound that good!" but a car with good speakers, amps, Dynamat, the whole nine can measure up to a lot of home theater systems.

 

[harobikes333]

I'm just wondering if I should get that infinity 2 ch amp or not... because a guy suggested I buy a 4 channel infinity reference amp that runs at 111X4 RMS...? What do you guys think? The 6X9s only can handle 110RMS and 300peak so... I donno it seems like it wouldn't work since they are 2ohm speakers also!:\

 

[torpid]

2 ohm speakers, that infinity would be pushing 140 RMS.

The alpine MRP450 would be closer, at 100 RMS at 2 ohms.

 

[harobikes333]

o ok but do you know where anyone sells that amp... I googled it and didn't get any stores:\

 

[harobikes333]

bumpage? O and I'm going to PM the guy back about the L Audio e6450 6 channel amp [ runs at 45w rms x 6 ] @ $170 shipped. and see how long he's had it etc.

 

[spidey07]

I'd suggest looking at an amp that can "double down"

that is double it's power when impedance is halfed. And then check to make sure the manufacturer isn't just manipulating the specs.

and how are you getting 2 ohms? you should be at 4.

 

[harobikes333]

nope these speakers come factory at 2ohms check it out:

6 by 9s i'm getting
and no I didn't get them from crutchfield lol (kinda alot more there...)

 

[spidey07]

well I've been out of the car arena for quite a while so.....so take my opinion for what it's worth. A serious audiophile that used to install car stereos back in the day (early 90s)

It generally takes a quality amp to drive a low impedance load. Look for the double down. If the amp doesn't specify 2 or 1 hom power ratings, stay far away from it.

 

[harobikes333]

o kk the infinity amps have a rating at 2ohms on their specs..?