Ok, I'm ready to buy another amp, or throw the Mac in. Should I:

1) Buy the Eclipse 75x4 for $500, keeping in mind my other amp and head unit are Eclipse
2) Buy a '98 PPI 50x4 for $275 (supposedly factory reconditioned with a new power supply...makes me wonder what else may be wrong or done to it!)
3) Take a chance and throw the MacIntosh in there, which I REALLY don't want to do going to UMass Amherst.

Any thoughts guys??

------------------
Jason E
'89 Camaro RS 2.8
Hypertech chip/K&N filters/Accel 8.8 wires/RapidFires
Eclipse CD and 100x4 amp/Boston plates and 6x9s
Alpine Alarm w/ Keyless entry
IROC tailights/tinted windows

 

sounds like you have a tough decsion to make. in my humble opinion, the eclipse seems to pricey for 300 watts, i like to spend about a dollar per watt. I have limited experience with PPI, but know this:they make some very very high end amplifiers, thus, when something goes wrong, it really goes wrong. (not like one of the terminals falls off or sumthin like that) but if it has been "reconditioned" then try to look for either a receipt from the factory that proves this, or try to get a warranty. are you buying this amp from a dealer or someone else? if it is a dealer then make sure the dealer is an authorized dealer, you can tell by "seals of approval" and such. or if you ask them, they will usually tell the truth. but 275 sounds like a good price for a ppi 50*4, do you know the model # by chance? i have no experience with macintosh except for they make terrbible computers.

good luck

daniel

------------------
86 camaro cpe(dont laugh)has 92z28 body kit with GTS covers, new red paint and a killer stereo. 2 amps, 8 speakers, disc changer, custom install with subs coming by the end of the summer. sawpped (or in the process of) 305lg4 for brand new 350. TES headers, flowmaster cat back, performer manifold, TCI converter, jet chip, kn with dual snorkel cleaner. and she still passed the sniffer!

"Cal Poly SLO is the shi#"

 

LOL....McIntosh amps and Macintosh computers are two completely different things. My McIntosh was a $1500 amp new, rated 200x4. I like it Hence why I don't want it stolen while I'm at school!! I bought it to save it for an IROC, and I paid $600 for it used from a guy who REALLY needed $$.

As for the $ to watt, idea, who knows....I mean, you can get a Sony 75x4 probably for around $300, but when I listened to 1 back to back with the Eclipse, there's a reason why its $200 more. Eclipse's have truly audiophile grade stuff in them...I'm not knocking Sony, just saying I can see why Eclipse charges more for a like-rated-wattage amp. Plus, I have the 2 channel version of this amp running 4 speakers at 2 ohms right now and its awesome...and maybe it would look better maybe having 2 of the same style amp.

As for the PPI question, it indeed is being sold by an authorized PPI dealer, was taken in on trade, comes with a 30 day warranty and a work certificate. I love PPIs...I don't have the model # though.

Well thanks for the feedback Daniel...I still got a helluva choice to make That PPI is calling me though


------------------
Jason E
'89 Camaro RS 2.8
Hypertech chip/K&N filters/Accel 8.8 wires/RapidFires
Eclipse CD and 100x4 amp/Boston plates and 6x9s
Alpine Alarm w/ Keyless entry
IROC tailights/tinted windows

 

30 days is not much of a warranty. This is partly why i dont like refurbished stuff. Secondly, it is used. The PS may be new, but everything else isnt. There is always a but, and here it is. I would not buy it, but since its cheap and there's a high possibility of it being stolen, might as well be a cheap refurb that gets yanked.

------------------
-Justin-
T-Top '86 5.0L LG4 700R4 WS6 Now Bilstein equipped!
T-Top '92 5.0L TBI 700R4
My '86 Firebird Homepage
The F-body Model Kit Pictoral Archive (updated 9/18/00)

There can be only one!!

[This message has been edited by Justins86bird (edited November 11, 2000).]

 

LOL...good point.

Well, I should clarify. Where I park at school, it is fairly "safe." It isn't parked there at night, and I live in a VERY quiet (low crime) neighborhood. In the 2 1/2 years I've had a system, I have never had a problem with theft, and my alarm, while it won't keep away EVERYONE, is nice and loud I have a feeling the reason why I've been so lucky is because I'm not thumping around the neighborhood (no subs yet). I'm LOUD as all hell, but no bass to really attract thieves.

My theft fears with the Mac stem from the "if" factor more than anything. I don't want that in a car until it is garaged and is merely a weekened cruiser, not a daily driver.

I agree with you on the used PPI issue. Anyone else have any insight?