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Urban Audio Works amp... any good?

Old 05-30-2003, 08:59 AM
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Urban Audio Works amp... any good?

I got (another) parts Camaro yesterday, and found this amp under the driver's seat wired to all 4 interior speakers... is it any good?


Urban Audio Works
Hexfet Super Bass 4CH 400 watts
Two way Electronic X-Over
UAW-4400


It has 4 speaker outputs, 4 RCA jack inputs, a crossover and level control for each pair of speakers, a switch that says 2CH-3CH-4CH and is........ purple!


I've never heard of the brand... and the net didn't come up with much other than dealers. Any help would be much appreciated!
Old 05-30-2003, 09:47 AM
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garbage.
Old 05-30-2003, 10:07 AM
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... any more info than that? Why is it garbage? Is it really about a 40 watt, is it unclear, etc.?
Old 05-30-2003, 03:03 PM
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Originally posted by Jim85IROC
garbage.
Rubbish!
I think if its a 40 watt, thats peak, not rms.
Old 05-30-2003, 07:12 PM
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Originally posted by aaron7
... any more info than that? Why is it garbage? Is it really about a 40 watt, is it unclear, etc.?
I'd pick specifics, but EVERYTHING about it is crap. It sounds like sh*t, it makes no power, it isn't reliable, it uses the cheapest components money can buy and isn't well engineered. I think I covered it all. Oh yeah, it's ugly too.
Old 05-30-2003, 07:22 PM
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so jim, have you used just about every audio component everyone has listed? Do you work at an audio shop or somethin coz you know alot about this stuff?

Last edited by 2 dope; 05-30-2003 at 07:40 PM.
Old 05-30-2003, 11:44 PM
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Yeah, I worked in a couple audio shops.

I also learned about crap audio the hard way. My first system consisted of 4 Urban 12s and a boss amp powering them. I had a profile amp powering a pair of no name coaxes in the dash.

Then I installed a single 10" sub & Punch 40 in a friends car for him. He spent less, had WAY less equipment, and not only did it sound better, but it got just as loud. That's the day I learned about quality audio.

Then I became an electrical engineer, so when I open up one of those amps and can't tell it apart from a portable phone carcass on my table, I know real fast that it's not a quality product.
Old 05-31-2003, 01:44 AM
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LOL, i guess most of us learn the hard way eh.
Old 06-02-2003, 12:36 AM
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You just need to look at the watts and the pricetag to determine if it's a cheap amp. A cheap amp advertises large wattage for a super-cheap price ("600 powerful watts for only $39.95!"). A quality amp advertises small wattage for a higher cost ("100 watts for $200"). Any cheap amp is crap. Might sound okay, but if you buy a quality amp, you'll never go back to the cheap crap.

Sort of like buying four aluminum colored hubcaps for $20, when four polished aluminum wheels cost $600.

Or like buying a Walmart 300 piece "Chrome finish" socket set for $30, or a Craftsman 55 piece socket set for $60.

Sort of like buying a Beta VCR instead of buying a DVD player.

Beta? Woah. Time for me to go to bed.
Old 06-02-2003, 02:31 PM
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All hail the beta player! :hail: :hail: They were good while they lasted.....
Old 06-03-2003, 11:17 AM
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If it cost more than it must be better!!!!:nono:


This is what people think when they know nothing about a product. Marketing wants everyone to think this way. In a lot a instances it is true, but in my opinion it isn't true as often as you think. If you spend a lot on equipment just because it cost more then shame on you. Learn about what you are buying and why. There is some very good equipment out there that is at a reasonabl price.

Using part of the example above. When VHS came out, it was more expensive than a Beta. So, VHS must be better than Beta, right. Wrong. Beta was actually better quality than VHS but VHS took over because of marketing.

Just my 2 pennies.
Old 06-03-2003, 11:55 AM
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There are definately bargains to be had. It just happens not to always be the lowest priced product out there. There are a bunch of audio companies out there right now that don't **** millions into advertising, and as a result, they remain very small, but produce fantastic products at very good prices. Adire, Elemental Designs, Resonant Engineering, and plenty of others. A few of these companies are beginning to offer low priced class D amps that perform well.
Old 06-09-2003, 10:51 AM
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Ok you guys were right (I kinda figured by looking at the amp)! When I hooked it up to 2 10" Alpine Type-S 's, well, lets just say my interior speakers hav way more bass than them! Oh well, that's ok, I'll have to live with my 2 Kenwood Excelon 1200w amps...
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