What is the best amp to puch one JL 12 W3 for about $150-200 bucks? And maybe another 12 W3 in about 6 months?

 

I would check eBay for that price range. I got an AWESOME Jensen *not the cheap ones* ATS Competition amp for $99.95 on eBay. It is a 300W 2 Channel Bridgeable amp. I bridged it on my RF Punch HE 12" and it POUNDED. I had to go back 2 my 100W RF Punch amp on it because it was too much bass for me. I have it now powering my Polk Audio 6½" component set up front and it's great sounding. But for amps I'd go with Rockford Fosgate... Kicker... Jensen ATS... lots of other good brands

 

I have a Boss 150x4, I dont know if thats RMS or peak. Prolly peak, but I have it running my back speakers and my 2 12's. It's turned way down, and it still thumps quite a bit, so I dont really care that its a ****ty amp. At least for now when I'm broke. Its a model from like 3 years ago, but it still works great. I've seen the same one, just a newer model at some pawn shops for like $150(the pawn shop sells them new).

 

I'll be pushing my 2 jl' w3 witha 500.2, but that more than $200 but check ebay

 

No new $200 amp is going to provide a W3 with anywhere near optimum power. Consider shopping for used stuff.

I'd consider a Kicker ZR240. You can find them new for under $300, and they will completely devistate anything from Jensen, Boss, Profile, Legacy, Urban, and any of the 500 other junk brands. The ZR240 is one of the best bang-for-the-buck amps in the industry.

 

Heres an amp for you for under $200 that would sound great


hereHere


and

One that ends at noon today


Tons of good stuff on ubid for less than 200..all new


Nate

 

Auction prices don't mean anything. Of course it's going to be cheap there. If you're not making comparisons based on actual market values, you're not making a fair comparison. I'm sure i can go buy a B-stock Kicker amp for close to nothing too.

 

if you shop around you can find jbl600.1 amps for close to your price range i'm sure it would do the job.
Jim? You in a bad mood you latest posts suggest you might be a bit irritated

 

actually, yeah. I'm about to go postal at work, but that's beside the point.

I've just had this arguement way too many times, and the outcome is exactly the same every time. This is one of those lessons that everybody learns the hard way. They buy that crap, they like that crap, then they can't understand why their friend's car that's got stuff rated at 1/2 the power makes his ***** quivver when he drives by. I went through it, and every one of you guys will too.

 

Here's my experience: don't buy a "cheap amp" that claims a ton of watts. Get a quality amp that produces true watts. I had a power acoustic amp that was rated at 540 watts. I later bought a rockford fosgate amp that was rated at half that and it blew the old one out of the water. just my two cents.

 

thought so about the attitude. anyway so you think the jbl amp is crap?
i looked for reviews people said it was generally decent i realize you get what you pay for but if a deal is found on the good or at least decent why not. don't get me wrong my pyramid is crap but i know it. but as of now it does the job. it keeps my thirst for bass very happy. In Conclusion and to each his own. But as you said we all learn but you gotta start somewhere.

 

I'm not real familiar with the new JBL stuff. My friend had one a few years ago, and it did ok on coaxials, but didn't have the power to push subs.

 

What do you guys think of the ZR360?

 

The Kicker ZR360 amp that is*

 

I like all of the ZR amps, but I'd say that the 360 is like the red-headed step child of the group. It doesn't really have a place. When driving a 2 ohm bridged load (or 1 ohm stereo), the ZR240 will actually put out as much power as the ZR360 thanks to a more efficient power supply. If you run any impedance higher than that, the ZR360 will be more powerful than the 240.

 

a used alpine from ebay!! mine is great.

 

What are ohm's? And how do I run at different levels?

 

i got two 10's jl w3 and i am using them on a punch bd 500 i got on ebay for $289.00 mobile one wanted $599 for the amp thats why i got it in ebay. so ebay is pretty much your best bet on a good amp for a cheap price.

 

ohms are resistance, most speakers are either 4 or 8 ohms, you can buy 2 and 1 ohm, but if you are asking, you do not need to buy those. To run at a lower level, you need dual voice coil speakers or you must have 2 speakers. If you have two 8 ohm speakers you can run a lower load(less resistance making the amp more efficient) by running them in parallel which is connecting the positive terminals to each other and connecting the positive to the positive terminal of the amp and also connecting the negitive terminals of the speaker together and connecting them to the negative terminal of the amp. This would give you a 4 ohm load. There are many combinations that you can do to get different resistances for amps depending upon your application. You can also raise the resistance by connecting in series, positive terminal of amp to positive terminal of one speaker, that same speakers negative terminal to the second speaker's positive terminal and then the second speakers negative to the amp's negative. If the speakers were 4 ohms each, this would give you an 8 ohm load.

 

About a good amp, I agree completely with Jim, a cheap amp is a cheap amp, stay away from them! Buy a good quality amp, usually stuff from the better names, Kicker, Rockford Fosgate, Alpine, Sony and others, do not buy stuff that Jim has mentioned as poor quality because he is right.

 

Cuno, I was sitting in my friend's car, and he had just bought a knew amp, it was hardly pushing his 2 12s at all, then I remembered what you said about running them in series, and the power doubled at least, it was awesome!

 

Oh, one more thing. I am pretty sure I am going to get a kicker amp, it is just deciding what one to get. I take it that the ZR series is the best, how do the KX and the ZX series compare? Are these good amps? What one is the best and what one is "bottom of the line?"

 

This site has a lot of good info, check it out:

Basic Car Audio Electronics

 

Yeah...check the pawn shops, man...you would be suprised at the stuff people unload there...you can find good amps for cheap...As far as Rhoadster01 and his Rockford, I laughed my *** off, because RF has a history of understating their power ratings...My brother has an older Punch amp, rated at '75' watts (LOL), driving 2 15' Kickers in his Shelby Charger...and it slams.

 

Like i said, my fosgate is rated at 250 watts, but actually is pushing roughly 375 bridge into 1 ohm. Its all in what you want, can afford, and are willing to sacrifice. sound good: drive hard

 

i agree with staying away from the cheap names, but i also wanted something good for cheap, i discovered US Acoustics, i bought a USX2100 Amp off ebay for $100 the amp is rated 100(rms) x 2@4ohm 150(RMS) x 2@2ohm, and 300(RMS) x1@4ohm, when i got it and hoooked it up, it almost blew the VC out of my infinity reference series 10"!

So, my point is go and read reviews about what people think about the amp that you are considering!

 

my buddy had an 800 watt 4 chaannel amp and it was nice, always worked good and had nice power. He had 400 watts going to a 15 mtx thunder 300, and 200 going to each of his rear 6X9's, sounded great Good for the 100 bucks he paid for it

 

In the new Crutchfield... US Acoustic amps are on sale! The $99 one that is like 50W x 2... 160W x 1... is on sale for $79... the 65w x 4.. 160w x 2... was $179 is on sale for $139.95... all the other are on sale too... but those are the 2 I'm looking at buying this summer

 

I recommend a few different amps.

I like the JBL Power series amps. They can be had for under $200 and can come with 600 watts under the $200 range. The 1200 watt model is a little steeper.

Rockfords are nice but they can be pricey so you have to shop around a little. RF makes nice amps but i don't like the little controls they have.

MTX makes nice amps. Period

Kicker is like the *** of amps..... you pay for what you get. I know that US Acoustics are good amps but they don't compare to the Kickers. The ZR240 is a very nice amp. Pricey but it is a great amp to power almost anything except super high power subs. I believe they are 1 ohm stable and they put out a pile of watts when they are bridged.

I am saving for better equipment too. My stuff is all POS and i am getting ready to drop some cash on a big SQ system in my S-10 Blazer. Good Luck

 

well i am selling a 300$ crossfire amp that pushes 400watts for 200$ plus shipping and i will throw in the 8 guage hook up kit with rca cables. it is new from the factory. my email is whitedolemite23@hotmail.com

 

I got a Rockford Fosgate 500@2 for $180