I just finished building a sub box to hold my two Kenwood subs. I went ahead and mouted them upside down and dropped it in the well. When I hooked up my amp, nothing happened. I guess I shorted it out before and fried it. I was looking for a temporary solution so I hooked an old 80 watt amp to one of the subs and I can't keep my eyeballs from vibrating. The amp sounds more powerful than the Kenwood 350 watt amp. I wish I still had all the specs, but I sanded um' off when I was polishing the fins. Anybody know why it's more powerfull. The bigger amp couldn't do half of what this one can.

 

Model # would help...

 

It's probably an old Punch 40.

 

thats what i was thinking. old punch amps are bad, probably the loudest system i ever heard was 2 old jl w6 15's (97-99 year) off 2 96 or 97 punch 250.2s in a crx, it shook your soul!!

kenwood amps aren't known for being the best, their old old ones were good, i had a kac401 mono amp back in 00 and it was alright, ran 2 12w3's hard, but even then their quality had dropped a lot. i had used a 35x4 amp that was about 10 years old to run my highs for the last few years, and it was a workhorse.
as for the 80 watt amp, i'm guessing its got a few years on it, you can get surprises with vintage audio. ratings were not the same as they are today in general. any model numbers or brand name on it?

 

I'll check the bottom, but most of the info was on top - and that was all sanded off. I think it is an Alpine though.

 

Hey Jman...sounds like you have "stumbled" on to a beauty. More watts does not always = more sound (or at least quality sound). Alpine has always been known for putting serious innovation and quality into their systems. S/N ratios, THD, type of power supply, efficient cooling, type of conductors, overall gain on inputs, etc will play huge benefits in the long run. Who cares if you have a 500w amp if it plays like crap after pushing out a measley 75? I'd rather have an amp put out 100w of clean juice than 250w of distortion filled crap. Alpine is the only way I go!

Jeff

 

alpine? only way? heard much high end audio gear?

 

Hey I can be partial can't I? LOL.

 

i'm not saying alpine is no good, i used to run a 1000 watt alpine amp to 2 10w3's, and alpine 4x6's in my camaro and never had a problem with them, other than the surround on the 4x6's ripping too easily. the type r subs are very, very nice, although my opinion is that the type x'es are overrated and overpriced.
its certainly a good brand, but you can do better for your money.

 

almost forgot we were talking old school audio here lol.... so i'd better shut up, i dont know much about old school alpine. i put together my old system with the v12 amp and 4x6's in 99 and 2000, im thinking this amp of his is older than that.