HELP! amp & sub advice, please
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edster922 Unregistered guest | I have a Pioneer DEH-P3500 (25W rms) head unit on my Nissan extended cab truck, pushing a pair of Polk EX3560 component speakers. Mostly listen to rock, alternative, jazz, classical; more interested in maximum sound quality not sheer power for power's sake---no competition plans, just want clear, clean sound. I have already ordered an Infinity Perfect 10" sub and am trying to decide on an amp to power both the sub and the existing main speakers. Am looking mainly at the Kenwood KAC-7201, I like that it's fan-cooled...but is it TOO much power for my needs? The cheaper subs, like the Pioneer GMX-372, run at less than half the price. My budget for the amp: $80-200. |
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edster922 Unregistered guest | Oh yeah, just to give you an idea of how much volume I really need: my home stereo system puts out 100W RMS, and I'm plenty happy with it, in fact I rarely go over 12 in volume (30 is max). No rap or techno or anything with huge bass beats. So, I'm definitely not out to shake up the neighborhood with this amp...just want real clean sound without paying an arm and a leg. |
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New member Username: Dr_crankensteinPost Number: 5 Registered: 12-2003 | Looks like a good choice to me. It's not too much power although you will want to keep the gain turned down for the component channel. Your sub will be under powered but should give you the little thump you are looking for. |
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edster922 Unregistered guest | Would you recommend going with a multi-channel (4/3/2) amp or just a tri-way capable 2-channel amp? |
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New member Username: Dr_crankensteinPost Number: 11 Registered: 12-2003 | Sorry about that other post, I wasn't fully awake at the time. I just took another look at that kenwood and that's not the one you would want. I recommend getting a multi-channel amp with independant crossovers. |
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Anonymous | whatever you deside, JL all the way! |
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edster922 Unregistered guest | Dr. C, yeah, I'm looking at the Kenwood KAC-8401 right now, 60W RMS x 4. My plan is to run 2 channels to my main speakers, and bridge the remaining 2 to the sub, for 120w RMS. But I spoke to a guy at crutchfield.com, he said that for the Infinity Kappa Perfect 10.1 that I have, its RMS is 75-350w but 120w rms would be UNDERPOWERING it! Instead he recommended a US Accoustics USB-4085 which is 85w RMS x 4. Called back and talked to another guy, who said the Kenwood is just fine. Go figure! What do you think---is 120w RMS sufficient for a sub that goes 75-350w max? As I said, I just want a little extra bass in my music, not looking for earth-shaking thump or anything like that. |
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New member Username: GlasswolfPost Number: 763 Registered: 12-2003 | the sub will work with 12-wRMS, but yes it'll be underpowered, and not performing at it's peak ability. I'd also avoid any crap made by kenwood. go with a better amplifier. you may want to even look at a small monoblock amp like the JBL BP300.1 for the sub (300W x 1 @ 2 Ohms) and a 4 channel amp like the JBL P80.4 (40W x 4 @ 4 Ohms) for the front/rear speakers. total cost with an amp wiring kit should be around $300 for both amps together. |
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New member Username: GlasswolfPost Number: 764 Registered: 12-2003 | er, 120wRMS that is. I just woke up |
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Mad Unregistered guest | I have 2x 10" vibe subs which are 750 watts rms each. Can anyone suggest what amp I should use, I heard that a 600w Alpine MRD M300 would be powerful enough is this true? |
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New member Username: GlasswolfPost Number: 771 Registered: 12-2003 | look at the JBL BP1200.1 runs about $300 US. 1200wRMS x 1 @ 2 Ohms. that'd be 600 watts per sub. the alpine MRD-M300 is 300 watts RMS @ 2 Ohms. nowhere near 800 watts no matter how you look at it. http://iweb.alpine-usa.com:7777/pls/admn/item_info?p_item_name=MRD-M300&p_catego ry=40&p_subcategory=140&p_main=10 |
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edster922 Unregistered guest | GW, where are you getting your JBL prices from? Please post model numbers and a website if possible. Why don't you like Kenwood? I thought they were one of the better non-audiophile quality makes. What do you think about U.S. Accoustics? The Crutchfield.com people seem to be very high on them, recommending them over more expensive makes/models in fact. |
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New member Username: GlasswolfPost Number: 772 Registered: 12-2003 | www.etronics.com JBL BP1200.1 mono amp for subs crutchfield will recommend anything they can talk a person into buying. They aren't what I'd call trustworthy for advise. Hell, they carry Sony and Audiobahn. Taht should tell ya something. Good info on their site for products though. Kenwood's reliability is poor, and their performance is mediocre at best. US Acoustics is okay. |
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edster922 Unregistered guest | GW, So US Acoustics is OK for a non-competitive, non-audiophile user? Would you say it's significantly better than the likes of Kenwood and Sony? I guess it's hard not to like US Acoustics because they seem much more budget-friendly in my case. I can get an 80w x 2 (4 ohms) amp for the main speakers for $90 and a 200w (4 ohms) mono amp for $130 with free shipping from Crutchfield. (Both my sub and speakers are 4 ohms.) The JBL BP300 and the JBL P80.4 are the same price (before $21 shipping) as the US Accoustics but at 4 ohms are 150w x 1 and 40w x 2 in comparison. Are there other technical/audio details besides RMS that I'm not aware of, which still make the JBLs a better buy? |
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New member Username: GlasswolfPost Number: 786 Registered: 12-2003 | actually the P80.4 is 40w x 4 @ 4 Ohms its a four channel amp. if you bridge it to 2 channels it's 80w x 2 @ 4 Ohms  yes USAcoustics is a lot better than kenwood or sony. you should be fine with those, and a good amp wiring kit. |
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edster922 Unregistered guest | GW, what's your opinion of Rockford Fosgate amps? I found this 4x100w one, figure 2x100w for my main speakers and 1x200 for my sub should be enough. I like the space advantage of one amp over two in my tiny extended cab Nissan, but am a little concerned about heat. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3072345893 Amazing price though, considering it comes with the wiring kit. |
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New member Username: Its_bacon12Post Number: 45 Registered: 12-2003 | i wouldnt do that, im not a big bridging fan with 2 or 4 channel amps but if you were to do anything like that, i'd reccomend a 2 channel amp and a mono....and by the way rockford isnt really as good as those JBL amps or kicker's amps or JL audio's |
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New member Username: Its_bacon12Post Number: 46 Registered: 12-2003 | the sub handles 350w rms and something like 1100 max? i would definately reccomend that JBL BP300.1 amp it will run a little more than 300w RMS at 2 ohms and that would be plenty for ya |
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edster922 Unregistered guest | ryan, I'm curious, what do you think are the drawbacks of the R.F. compared to the other makes you listed? The sub's range is 75-350rms, it's a 4-ohm sub which (I think ) means the amp has to be set at 4-ohms too. |
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Mad Unregistered guest | Does anyone know where I can purchase the JBL BP1200.1 amp from the UK. Is there any retailers in the UK that sell this product? Please Help! |
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New member Username: Its_bacon12Post Number: 47 Registered: 12-2003 | hey this is ryan btw if you couldnt tell im just not a big fan of RF, i dont much like their subs amps are decent but JBL makes a more reiliable and effecient amplifier than RF... if your sub is single 4 ohm VC, run it with a JBL BP600.1, but if its dual 4 ohm VCs run a BP300.1 amplifier. both are relatively cheap and extremely effecient and just great amplifiers. i myself own a 1200.1 and its awesome, especially on 2 ohm loads. kicker is just awesome all around, and their amps like the 600.1 and 1200.1 are both really nice amps and JL audios amps are phenominal, with their consistent power output (not sure of name) say the 1000/1, it puts out 1000w rms at 1.5-4 ohms impedance, and 11-16 volts input. its really a great amp i just like these 3 companies alot. MTX also makes really good amps too, check them out if youd like to also |
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New member Username: Zen936Post Number: 28 Registered: 01-2004 | You could give a try on three 5-channel models as what GW listed me. 1. Kicker KX700.5 2. Alpine MRVF450 3. JL Audio JL5005 The numbers doesnt have anything to do with the ranking. Personally, the JL would be the choice. I would, if I had the money. Excuse me while I drool folks! |
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New member Username: HydroPost Number: 71 Registered: 12-2003 | I'd take Alpine off that list for Amplifiers cuz I have had many problems with their new(Digital)stuff shutting off with a 2 ohm load to it. |
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New member Username: Zen936Post Number: 29 Registered: 01-2004 | Well doesn't mean that people loading it with 4 ohms won't have the same problems. Then again, I'm glad I've decided to go for the Kicker. I'm gonna have to wait till Monday coz the audio specialist is on Chinese New Year break! |
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Rocky Unregistered guest | Which is it better to go for the JBL 1200.1 or the Alpine MRD M500. I know that I want to buy one of these but I have heard that the Alpine is better overall although it doesn't have as much power as the JBL 1200.1. Which would you prefer? |
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Otherwise Unregistered guest | Is Profile CA class amplifiers any good. |
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Listenor Unregistered guest | i purchased two kappa perfect 12.1dvc 350 rms my amp is 200x2 4 ohm i want to wire it to 2 ohm in order to get 300w at 2 ohm .is 300 rms enough for the 350 rms speakers if not what will happen to the speakers and the amp. |
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