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I have two US Acoustics amps. They are relatively inexpensive, but they work great - excellent sound and cool-running. The downside is that they are rather hard to find -- Crutchfield and CarDomain don't seem to carry them any longer.
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NO offense, but this thread is kind of dumb. Everyone is going to root for the amps in their trunk. How many of us have actually had experience with a great number of different amps. Plus, it's all situational and opinion. I don't beleive a thread like this will help Noobies because some amps are either shitty or good depending on your needs. If you had $500 to spend, a HIfonics would be shitty. If you had $150 it might be your best bet. Someone might say Audiobahn is good, I say they are amongst the worst, etc, etc.
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Originally Posted by J187
NO offense, but this thread is kind of dumb. Everyone is going to root for the amps in their trunk. How many of us have actually had experience with a great number of different amps. Plus, it's all situational and opinion. I don't beleive a thread like this will help Noobies because some amps are either shitty or good depending on your needs. If you had $500 to spend, a HIfonics would be shitty. If you had $150 it might be your best bet. Someone might say Audiobahn is good, I say they are amongst the worst, etc, etc.
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Originally Posted by kornsined
some brands have low budget amps others don't so why should money matter?
All Show No Go Sedan
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From: Clifton, VA, Virginia, US
Rep Power: 316 Budget Amps: JBL 1200.1, Lanzar Vibe 1200D, US Acoustics I hear, Directed
Overrated Manufacturers (for the price): MTX, Rockford Fosgate, Audiobahn
Absolute Crap: Sony X-Plod, Profile, Lower End Lightning Audio, basically a lot of the cheap stuff they sell at best buy.
I haven't looked at car audio in a long time, so I can't tell what's really at the top these days, but crap will always be crap.
Overrated Manufacturers (for the price): MTX, Rockford Fosgate, Audiobahn
Absolute Crap: Sony X-Plod, Profile, Lower End Lightning Audio, basically a lot of the cheap stuff they sell at best buy.
I haven't looked at car audio in a long time, so I can't tell what's really at the top these days, but crap will always be crap.
Electric Boogaloo...
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From: Want to play a game?
Rep Power: 328 I've either had one of these amps, or installed one, so I'm speaking from experiances I've had... don't flame and say that I missed something or omitted something, because I'm not posting based on stuff I've "heard" about them or read. I'm just making one big list I'm not seperating it...
HiFonics
JBL
MTX
Rockford Fosgate (I want to order a few of the new Classic line amps)
Kicker
Phoenix Gold
Soundstream
Zapco
PPI
JL Audio
Interfire
Memphis
Tru Technology (just installed my first one last week, it was surprising for something I'd never heard of...)
Alpine (both their regular lines and the F1 status)
MB Quart (Alright IMO, not grand though)
That's about all I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure I left a fwe out...
HiFonics
JBL
MTX
Rockford Fosgate (I want to order a few of the new Classic line amps)
Kicker
Phoenix Gold
Soundstream
Zapco
PPI
JL Audio
Interfire
Memphis
Tru Technology (just installed my first one last week, it was surprising for something I'd never heard of...)
Alpine (both their regular lines and the F1 status)
MB Quart (Alright IMO, not grand though)
That's about all I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure I left a fwe out...
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Originally Posted by J187
Well, everything matters. Money, personal preference, what speakers you are driving, show or stealth, possible heat issues, install location, functionality, etc etc etc. I'm just saying you couldn't create a list of good and bad amps very easily. It's too subjective. It's just better left for a situational topic. Hell, I even install some amps that I don't personal like in customer's cars because the amps might be right for them. I'm not trying to shoot down your thread, please don't take offense. I'm just trying to tell you that I don't think this thread will have much merit and might actually discourage someone (nooB) from using a certain type of amp that might fit their needs perfectly, but someone here listed it as "poo". It's just not so cut and dry - perfect example - There is a custom Acura TL making some noise in the custom world right now. The sound system features a couple sets of Q series quarts. This guy spent all kinds of dough. What amps drive the Q series?? Not Zapco, not Arc, or Tru or Mac, nope. He's rocking a couple punch sereies rockfords. Why? Because they were right for his situation. He Preferred to have an amp with a two tone face design, so he could paint the top half aluminum and Polygenesis the bottoms would wood grain film that matches his dash.
Electric Boogaloo...
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Originally Posted by Aznnp77
P.S., where have Ludlam Theory and MohawkBoom been at? Are they even on these forums anymore?
I'm taking over!
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Whatever you do, just make sure that you do your research. Most brands tend to exaggerate the power of their amps, but there are also some brands that underrate the power of their amps. Rockford is one of those brands and I can back it up. I have blown 2 different 12" rockford punch stage 1s with my rockford amp (rf2002). Both the sub and the amp have a max powerrating of 300 watts, but that amp definitely has more power than that. I'm glad I got a 4 year coverage plan with my sub and amp. The store will replace my sub and my amp with a brand new one every time either of them breaks, free of charge. The first time I swapped my sub, the guy told me that he has seen other rf2002s blow 500 watt subs.
On a side note, I don't know too much about MTX, but lately on crutchfield.com and cardomain.com their amps have been getting huge price drops. I'm considering getting 1 or 2 to add to my existing setup.
On a side note, I don't know too much about MTX, but lately on crutchfield.com and cardomain.com their amps have been getting huge price drops. I'm considering getting 1 or 2 to add to my existing setup.
Last edited by Big Rob; Apr 6, 2005 at 11:31 AM.
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Originally Posted by kornsined
ok i catch your drift. so in my situation i have two jl w0's and i'm only running 200 w rms to them. i wanna upgrade to an amp that pushes 350 - 400w rms @2 ohm, what do you recommend for mono amps?
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Originally Posted by PopcornPlaya
Tru Technology (just installed my first one last week, it was surprising for something I'd never heard of...)
That's about all I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure I left a fwe out...
Originally Posted by J187
NO offense, but this thread is kind of dumb. Everyone is going to root for the amps in their trunk. How many of us have actually had experience with a great number of different amps. Plus, it's all situational and opinion. I don't beleive a thread like this will help Noobies because some amps are either shitty or good depending on your needs. If you had $500 to spend, a HIfonics would be shitty. If you had $150 it might be your best bet. Someone might say Audiobahn is good, I say they are amongst the worst, etc, etc.
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Originally Posted by J187
I think that if you went for a JL 500/1 you'd be surprised at how awesome it is. What's your budget BTW?
at least not now anyway. I know JL recommends on my subs no higher then 400 w rms but i have heard they are under rated. Last edited by kornsined; Apr 6, 2005 at 04:10 PM.
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Originally Posted by dma001
I have two US Acoustics amps. They are relatively inexpensive, but they work great - excellent sound and cool-running. The downside is that they are rather hard to find -- Crutchfield and CarDomain don't seem to carry them any longer.
i have a 2000w USA amp, and i also have a infiniti reference for the interior speakers
Last edited by VtecViXen; Apr 12, 2005 at 02:48 PM.
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Originally Posted by kornsined
well my budget isn't very big at least not know anyway. I know JL recommends on my subs no higher then 400 w rms but i have heard they are under rated.
at least not know anyway. I know JL recommends on my subs no higher then 400 w rms but i have heard they are under rated. Thread Starter
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Originally Posted by J187
Yup, well underrated they are. Check www.Jlaudio.com, you'll find the W0s are rated at only 125w rms. However, I'm not sure feeding them with 400w is a great idea. If you wanna try it the JL E1800D would give em each 400w @2ohm. Just make sure you set the gains carefully and do not crank on it too hard.
