no name amps -- rant
mikeyb420
11-01-2004, 05:53 PM
I'm new to the forum and new to owning a Civic, but not new to car audio. I've had a sub in my car since '94 when I bought a Radio Shack dual voice coil sub.
Is it just me or does the claimed output of cheaper brands bother others?
For a long time, and still today cheaper amps were advertised by peak output.
Now they've gotten a little slicker and started publishing RMS figures.
BUT!
1: The THD, if even listed, is not connected to the power rating (i.e. 200 watts RMS @ <1% THD)
2: There is no frequency range for the RMS output.
To me that means that they have picked a single frequency the amp is most efficient at and driven the amp to near destruction to achieve that RMS rating. At this level the output may be so distortedt it's useless. Like everyone else I started small and cheap. Only later did I learn that an MTX amp (for example) rated for 100 Watts RMS puts out wayyyyy more power than a cheaper 300W RMS (advertised amp).
It's true we all have to start out somewhere, and not everyone can afford good gear. It took me a long time to save for mine. All in all though, you get what you pay for.
Thanks for letting me rant a bit!
MikeyB
Is it just me or does the claimed output of cheaper brands bother others?
For a long time, and still today cheaper amps were advertised by peak output.
Now they've gotten a little slicker and started publishing RMS figures.
BUT!
1: The THD, if even listed, is not connected to the power rating (i.e. 200 watts RMS @ <1% THD)
2: There is no frequency range for the RMS output.
To me that means that they have picked a single frequency the amp is most efficient at and driven the amp to near destruction to achieve that RMS rating. At this level the output may be so distortedt it's useless. Like everyone else I started small and cheap. Only later did I learn that an MTX amp (for example) rated for 100 Watts RMS puts out wayyyyy more power than a cheaper 300W RMS (advertised amp).
It's true we all have to start out somewhere, and not everyone can afford good gear. It took me a long time to save for mine. All in all though, you get what you pay for.
Thanks for letting me rant a bit!
MikeyB
AudioGuy93DelSol
11-02-2004, 05:22 PM
Yea i know what you mean. Ive seen amps at liquidation expos and the manual for the damn thing only says its got 24 million watts no ohm loads, no THD nuthin. Have you ever taken one of those apart and compared it to a amp from a legitimate company, they are slapped together it looks like in five minutes and theres shit like cardboard seperating components from the case. all i acn say is you get what you pay for, and dont try to tell me your pushin 1200w from that 150$ amp you got at some discount site.
Geeko
11-02-2004, 09:58 PM
There's a new group, or standard, that (at least) crutchfield is going with now... you get the amp tested, and it gets this certification sticker that says that the wattage listed is actually correct.
Of course, if they are talking about tube watts, it's a whole different ball game. I don't think I'd want a tube amp in my car, though.
Well, maybe in the winter time. mmm, warm.
Of course, if they are talking about tube watts, it's a whole different ball game. I don't think I'd want a tube amp in my car, though.
Well, maybe in the winter time. mmm, warm.
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