Will the MTX Thunder4202 power my CDT 61-A components (130 RMS watts, impedance 4 ohms) fine?
Reason I ask this is because I can get the amp for 50 bucks which is a snag. Optimally, this is probably not the best amp to get the SQ out of my comps but would it be fine? I'd hate to pay good money for my comps to have their SQ restricted by my amp or would that not be an issue?
And if I really wanted to take full "noticeable in hearing" advantage from my components, what amp would you recommend instead?
The specs for the amp are
# Tri-way capable (Tri-Way crossover required) # 100 watts x 2 at 2 ohms # 200 watts x 1 in bridged mode
That amps does 85w x 2 at 4 ohms so it is drastically underpowering those speakers........ it can't hurt anything they just won't be as loud as they should be.
can underpowering speakers affect the sound quality though? Or will it simply be a case of 'I now have to turn the volume knob higher' ... I'm thinking it will have noticeable audible problems if I crank the volume high but assuming I keep it midrange or low ... will the sound be same quality if it was from say a 150w x 2 at 4ohms?
It will not change SQ it just will not be as loud.
Be very careful how high you turn that volume knob though, and make sure to set the gain correctly....... it is very easy to blow speakers by clipping (overdriving) the amp trying to get more power out of it than it can produce....... bottom line you really should get a more powerful amp.
actually I'd set the crossover on the amp for CDT-61A comps to about 150Hz, with a 12dB/octave Q. 85 watts will be plenty of power per channel for those. The 130 watt rating on the speakers is just a thermal rating and not an indication of how much they really need to perform well. 85 watts will do great.
Let those comps roll off naturally at 12dB below 150Hz and use a sub at 60Hz, 18dB Q to roll up to meet them. don't set yoour high and low pass XOs at the same frequency. you'll get a warm spot there as they overlap severely, then the mids start to bottom out at higher output.