Amplifier advice needed

[Free Flow]

I got me a pair of JL 8W3 in a factory reflective bass box rated at 150 rms each, and I need some power for it. I'm running 2 pairs of 6-1/2" woofers inside (rated at about 55 -60 rms each), and right now I have an MTX RT4240 (45 rms x 4) to push those.

The current problem is that I need to power my subs....either I replace my MTX and go with a Phoenix Gold 6-ch amp (50 x 4, 150 x2), or keep the MTX and get a ZAPCO competition series 2-ch 150 x 2 for the JLs.

Apart from the obvious that it would be better (current-wise) to run 1 amp than 2, what do you guys think should be the best thing to do?
PS - The ZAPCO amp is about $120 less than the Phoenix Gold.

Please advise!

[frogg]

I've heard good things about Zapco. Their name is a bit misleading though (sounds cheasy and cheap to me)..

Anyways, I would definately go w/ 2 amplifiers. You can do more with a seperate amp for your subs. You are restricted when you use a 6 channel amp for all of your speakers. (Speaker's ohms have to match up also)

[cliffud]

go with the zapco.

[CanadianG]

Originally posted by frogg
I've heard good things about Zapco. Their name is a bit misleading though (sounds cheasy and cheap to me)..

Anyways, I would definately go w/ 2 amplifiers. You can do more with a seperate amp for your subs. You are restricted when you use a 6 channel amp for all of your speakers. (Speaker's ohms have to match up also)

This is the best amp Ive ever owned. Zapco AG650



I dunno what u consider cheasy but I guarantee a Zapco will blow out any other make on the market with the exception of Pheonix Gold and PPI. Any thing besides these 3 companies are @$$!!!!!!!!



One amplifier is a good idea b'cuz mine is realy flexible and it draws less current than two amplifiers.

[Free Flow]

One amplifier is a good idea b'cuz mine is realy flexible and it draws less current than two amplifiers.

I dunno what u consider cheasy but I guarantee a Zapco will blow out any other make on the market with the exception of Pheonix Gold and PPI.

See, that's my problem! I can get a Phoenix Gold 6-ch - cost (and performance) wise, which way to go?

Anyways, I would definately go w/ 2 amplifiers. You can do more with a seperate amp for your subs. You are restricted when you use a 6 channel amp for all of your speakers. (Speaker's ohms have to match up also)

That's not a problem (ohmage), because they are already matched up.

With these new factors considered, is the general consensus still to go with separate amps?

[cliffud]

Originally posted by Free Flow


That's not a problem (ohmage), because they are already matched up.

With these new factors considered, is the general consensus still to go with separate amps?

separate amps will give you more flexibility with your system.

let's say you're sitting with one 6 channel amp-

and then you suddenly want more power for your subs because your buddy just blew your system outta the water with his new 12 speaker combo throwing around 5,000 watts and all this other mumbo jumbo...

with your 6 channel- you'd have to either buy another amp for your subs- and let those two sub channels go to waste on the 6 channel amp. or you can wire in some tweets or whatever...

but if you go with two amps- you can sell your old sub amp- recoup some of your costs and redirect those funds towards the bigger amplifier.

i personally think it would be IDEAL to have a 6 channel and a monoblock sub amp. the 6 channels would be dedicated for the cabin (two speakers in the front doors, two speakers in the rear doors, two speakers in the rear deck). the speakers in the rear doors would help with your staging for rear passengers.

of course- you could just go with two in the doors- two as tweets up high and two in the rear deck...

just a matter of what your tastes are...

but as far as flexibility is concerned, get the two amps now and if you ever want/need to upgrade, you can recoup some of your costs by selling the old amp.



:smoker:

-clifford

[Free Flow]

Hmmm....I see what you're saying. Makes sense.

But what about having that same 6-ch, and if my buddy does put me to shame, just adding a mono and another sub? That way, I keep my original subs and amp, don't have to try to get a sale for the old ones, and at the end of it all, I will have only 2 amps drawing current (if I add more).

I hope I stated that clearly enough.

and then you suddenly want more power for your subs because your buddy just blew your system outta the water with his new 12 speaker combo throwing around 5,000 watts and all this other mumbo jumbo...

I should have mentioned that my subs are rated at 150 rms each - which is exactly what the sub channels on the amp (6-ch) are pushing, so if I want more power for my subs, I'm gonna havta change my subs.

[cliffud]

Originally posted by Free Flow

Hmmm....I see what you're saying. Makes sense.

But what about having that same 6-ch, and if my buddy does put me to shame, just adding a mono and another sub? That way, I keep my original subs and amp, don't have to try to get a sale for the old ones, and at the end of it all, I will have only 2 amps drawing current (if I add more).

I hope I stated that clearly enough.

I should have mentioned that my subs are rated at 150 rms each - which is exactly what the sub channels on the amp (6-ch) are pushing, so if I want more power for my subs, I'm gonna havta change my subs.

then that would be ideal. :smoker:

-clifford

Originally posted by cliffud
i personally think it would be IDEAL to have a 6 channel and a monoblock sub amp. the 6 channels would be dedicated for the cabin (two speakers in the front doors, two speakers in the rear doors, two speakers in the rear deck). the speakers in the rear doors would help with your staging for rear passengers.

[CanadianG]

Plain and simply it comes down two these factors:

Are you in competition with your friends or is your system for your personal satissfacation?
I already know the answer cuz sh!t thats male testosterone!

How much money are you willing to spend on competing?



The simple answer is this if u buy phoenix gold u will get some serious a$$ quality and the name backs it up. Amplifiers are usually rated at 4ohm stereo peak power. What u need to do is find out the mono rms power. This is the cleanest watts that u can suck outta your amp. Then when u want more add a subwoofer and u lower your impedance and drop it down to 2ohms. Im positive that a phoenix gold can handle a two ohm load. When u do that it doubles your power right away! Then if its a real bad a$$ amp like mine, u can add yet another subwoofer onto the sub channel of you 6 channel amp and run a 1ohm load off your amp just crushing the competition like the old ORION amps.

Its all a matter of money in the end. The choice is yours.

Go look up a Zapco AG650 www.zapco.com serious amplifiers
Another bada$$ amp is the Precision power pc650 or pro650 http://www.precisionpower.net/they dont make them anymore but the were sikk amps u want the power series and they were a dark grey u cant buy em new unless ur lucky but if u get a used one I swear to god u will be a happy man

[Free Flow]

Much thanks, guys!
Just out of curiousity, however......
How come no one mentioned any Rockford Punch amps? I always thought they were some good shit. Am I just mislead as to how good they are?

[CanadianG]

"Is dis a fukin' trini??? Ol' u tink u iz rel nice!"
lol

My friend is a huge Rockford fan. I too had rockford amps in my car. The operative word here is 'HAD'. I had a power 800a2(960 watts by 1ch@2ohms w/ bass cube) and a Punch 400a4 that I bought last year when my car was stolen for the stereo(Insurance claim). Anyhow these amps are hella expensive and not too big considering I had the two of them in the back of the G. Anyhoe enough yackin and lemme get down to business. Umm these amps drew soo much power it was unbelievable. My problem was that they were more powerful than accurate. They had the 960 watts but it wasn't 'rms' more like 'peak' power which is sloppy output. Thier sound was not as clear as I expected it to be. Plus I burnt out the power wire input melted like plastic thrown in a fire.

So, If u are asking would I buy rockford again? Nope. Unless its the older stuff. The amps are getting shittier as time goes on

[Free Flow]

Much thanks for the advice.....
By the way, though, who the hell are you? Are you a Trini? I hope so......otherwise I might take offense to them statement!!!
Send me a private message if you are....I gots some friends up there you might know (in Cananda).
:bathroom: :flamer:

[CanadianG]

I'm just mockin the voice. My ex-girl was a trini straigh outta the san vernado area. I'm vincy still! Her mom used love to cuss with her trini accent so wheneva I find someone that's trini u know I gotta say a lil word

hehehe

[Free Flow]

Cool, cool....well, if you ever making a spin down to the triniland, gimme a buzz, and check out my car!!!