Looking for car amp
 

Now that I'm getting older, I don't feel the need to be lugging around all the car audio gear that I have now. Currently, I have a PPI PC2600 (2x150wrms) bridged to a Alpine Type-R 12" 4 ohm sub in a sub box I built a LOOONG time ago, and a PPI PC2100 (2x100wrms) going to a set of Diamond Audio seperates in the front and paralleled with -2db attenuation to rear Polk Audio full ranges.

These things have been in my car for around 8 years now (ever since I moved to Iowa), but are kinda heavy. The sub box/sub alone weighs almost 80lbs, not to mention the amp rack I made. I find myself removing the sub box and just running the fronts/rears full range (can adjust xover settings from the deck).

So, I'm thinking about downgrading to a 4 channel amp. 2 channels to power the fronts and rears (rears still paralleled to the front with a -2db attenuation), then get a small 10" sub in a lighter box. I also want more of my trunk space.

I've been looking around and it seems that they don't make amps like they used to. I remember when you double the power when you halve the impedance. Not so with most of today's stuff. I'd like to have around 50w for each of the mids/highs, and at least 200w @ 4 ohms for the sub.

Any ideas?

I haven't been into the big stereo systems for a few years but check out crutchfield.com Chances are they'll have what your looking for or their techs can tell you that you can't get it. Once upon a time I had a 2400 Watt Orion amp pushing 2 12" Pioneer Premier subs. The amp was mounted to the box as was a 1 farad cap, combined with the subs that weighed about 65Lbs each the whole setup weighed about 200Lbs!!! Hit a high of 141.2 db in competition, took 3rd in Bass Boxing averaging 136.1db over 30 seconds. Wish you luck finding what you need. If you decide to go with 2 amps I have a 2ch 360W Rockford amp laying around

I've had good luck with www.hookedontronics.com, very good prices and better name stuff, if you wanna go el cheapo, www.caraudiodeals.com has decent stuff.

Don't forget about the newer style truck subs which need only a very small enclosure, it may be possible to do an under-seat or other interior mount.

I had a nice system in my truck untill the truck got wrecked. But i got the system out & it's sitting in my apartment. I had the following a mtx 304 4ch amp & a mtx 500d sub amp. I also had 2 mb quartz componet systems . Thats 4 midrange speakers & 4 tweeters & 4 crossovers . I also has 3 jl audio 8w3d4 8in subs , a stinger cap, wire, blocks , a pioneer deck & neon lighting . . Plus i made custom fiberglass kick panels& door panels . All this was in a 95 nissian pickup .

Back in June I ordered this amp for myself:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_489AP74...40.html?tp=115
Ideally I was going to run a total of 4 ~55watt RMS speakers through it, but I got lazy and am still running the speakers off the head unit. The reviews for this amp are excellent, and I know some day (perhaps over winter break) I will install it.

BTW, if you want decent bass with a much smaller/lighter package at a low price, check out this 8" sub:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_109GTO8...04.html?tp=111
Before I was using an older 12" Kicker CV-R DVC in 2-ohm mode, but that sub couldn't handle the sharp/quick double bass drums of the music I listen to. Quite frankly, that sub made the music sound kinda crappy. But this cheap JBL sub has brought new life into my music. It's MUCH more precise, and still has plenty of kick. Both subs are in custom sealed boxes made from 3/4" MDF.

Hmm, I don't mind paying for quality. Remember, I'm an electronics nerd, so I know what's good just by looking at the internals. Some brands are "all show-no go" with pretty lights and large heatsink, but nothing of substance inside. No offense, but I remember the Profile brand and they weren't known for their quality - published specs were inflated at best. If anyone knows about "old school" PPI amps, you know they are built extremely well, and do well beyond their published specs. I'd keep mine, but they are just too big/bulky/heavy/powerful for my needs now. I still want clear sound with no mid/high harshness and no muddy bass.

Also, space is a premium, which is why I'm looking for a 4-channel. Ideally, an amp that is long but not wide would be perfect...

I've checked out Crutchfield and so far nothing catches my eye. They are just large square aluminum blocks. I guess the search goes on...

ppi made some amazing stuff, my friends that put 5 G's into their custom stereos bought ppi equipment

lutach has a couple 4000wrms amps for sale. go big or go home

i just sent in an old crossfire 1000d 1000w amp for repair. this is old school class d technology, I ran this beast at 1/2 ohm pushing 4 kicker L7 12's in an s-10 it was sweet. now it pushes 4 infinity 12's in sealed boxes in my van

my buddy just bought a jl audio 1000/1 v2 from a pawn shop fo $300 This is a $700 amp. check your local pawnshop they usually have nice power tools too

why not look into a 5 channel amp. http://cgi.ebay.com/KICKER-ZX700-5-7...QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-JBL-GTO-5355...QQcmdZViewItem
just some for you to look at.

Brian,I was in the same boat looking for an amp for my truck.Good luck with your quest,I never could find what I wanted in the new school technology.I went with a old school Sony XM-4045 .It's the good gold series,when they were still actually made by Sony.I had 1 when I was doing stereo competitions,so I thought it was cool for me.BTW I had it paired with 4 SPL 12's,2 5.0 amps,good for 150.7 db in an Eagle Talon.The best thing was the little 45 watt amp pushed all my mids and highs and actually kept up with the bass.

I'm trying to downgrade my setup, not increase it! :smile: Do you realize a true 4000w amp will draw 533A @ 12.5v (assuming 60% amp eff)?!?! Talk about a clear example of the benefits of higher voltage...

Jl audio amps are a little low on the damping factor IIRC. They may work ok for mids/highs, but subs are a little more power hungry. But, I assume that is class D. Despite the high efficiency, I don't like the sound of class D amps, even on subs. I don't know what it is but I can hear the difference. Class AB for me baby!



I really don't need 4 m/h channels. I do have 4 speakers, but the rears are paralleled off the front, -2db, just for some rear fill. I like to keep my sound stage up front. No, a 4-channel is fine. 2 ch for the front, and 2 channel bridged for the sub.

My current setup 1x12" on 600w was measured at 140.1db, but wasn't really set up for SPL - just wanted to see what it would do. This in my current setup:

Trunk with cooling grate:

http://scriptasylum.com/forumpics/trunk1.jpg

Same pic with false floor removed. You can also see where I stow my tire changing tools. :smile:

http://scriptasylum.com/forumpics/trunk2.jpg

This is the small area out near the back (in pic 1 and 2). This is where all the connections are made. I can simply unhook everything within 20 seconds and pull the whole thing out if I want. Even with everything in, I can still get to my spare tire.

http://scriptasylum.com/forumpics/trunk3.jpg

So far, hippie has an 4x50 MTX amp that sounds like it will work. Just sorting out the details. If that falls through, then this is probably something I'll be looking at. I'd like to find something here from a fellow member, because I do have a few tradeable items. :smile:

I have allways used Rockford Fosgate power amps....super clean and very very efficient

try the punch series...this 4 channel amp is excellant price.....channels are bridgable also...... run two of the channels bridged for base and the other two for mids and highs in stereo

http://www.amazon.com/Rockford-Fosga.../dp/B001AO4NUI

or this

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...mpaign=froogle

Thats a nice clean looking setup.I'm not sure I could take it out and have to redo it all. That MTX has a little higher distortion rate then I like.Especially since it's gonna be at 2ohms for mids and highs.But I'm kinda funny about that stuff.

I'm actually looking at either the RF T600-4 or the MTX TC6004. Both seem about what I want. I originally was looking at the RF T400-4 and the MTX TC4004, but I'd rather have a little extra power headroom.

I had a bunch of RF amps back in the old days where they were a black grille. The Punch200ix dsm was my fav...