Need Help On Choosing An Amp
 

I have two Infinity 9602i 6" x 9" speakers in my car right now. They are rated at 100w RMS and 300w MAX. I'm looking for a good amp that will power those two speakers close to their full potential. I don't want to bridge the amp, i'd like to maintain the stereo sound.

I want to hear opinion's on which deal/amp you would go for, and why. This is in US currency too by the way.

I can get a $278 Rockford Fosgate Punch 301S amp for $200. Out of all the amps, this is the most expensive, but it also advertises the highest RMS rating (75w X 2 @ 4 ohms). I've heard that Rockford amps aren't very efficient, and that they "put a huge drain on the alternator."

A $192 Kenwood KAC-6201 for $154 was another deal I got today. This amp advertises a 60w X 2 @4 ohms RMS power rating.

At Future Shop, some guy is almost begging me to buy one of his MTX amps. MTX Thunder 202 is the amp, its rated at only 50w X 2 @ 4 ohms though. He's gonna sell it to me for $223. I smell a bit of a rip-off.

Finally, theres a Pioneer GM-X372 amp for $123 that I can get for $84. It too, is rated at only 50w x 2 @ 4ohms. It's also the least expensive out of the whole bunch.

For what i'm planning to run, which would be the best amp?? I don't want to go run out and buy the most expenisive amp only to find out that I could have gotten an even better one for a lot cheaper:( If theres any other information that is needed, feel free to ask. I really need expert advice. I guess I should include a poll as well, that way I might get a better idea. Thanks in advance:)

Re: Need Help On Choosing An Amp
 

RF amps arent the most efficient amps in the world but that amp wont at all be a drain to your alt

i would have to say out of those amps listed the RF would be your best bet. If you were able to buy online you would have a much larger spectrum to choose from and you could find a better deal

You shouldent have to worry about and amp of that size putting a strain on your alternator. I dont know much about RF amps but i know for sure that they are not the most efficient amps in the world, there are much better quality amps on the market than RF makes

I was having the same delima, decided to buy online as It gave me many more options. I chose to go with the JBL 180.2 I got it Brand new shipped for $85 off Ebay. It does 90x2 @ 4ohms it lets my CDT's play loud and clear!
:hail:

I'm sorry but i'm not interested in buying stuff online. I really just need an expert's opinion on the choices I have available. So far it seems that the Rockford amp is choice. I still need some more feedback:help:

id have to say pioneer

ya sorry ill go for the pioneer aswell...i originally voted for the RF but the price of the pioneer is so much less its a lot more worthwhile

lol, he is trying to RAPE you on that MTX, hell,i could sell it to you, and ship it to you for 150.

it is a decent little amp, honestly, you should check into the eclipse EA2212. i can sell that one to you for 150.


adam

I f-ed up the poll, lol sorry. I should have put the Pioneer for $84 instead of $123. I was leaning toward the Pioneer myself...as i'd be getting one damn good deal, and Pioneer doesn't sound like a bad name at all. I wouldn't mind the Rockford, it'd be putting out the most power...but there goes half of my paycheck lol. Does anyone have anything good or bad to say about Pioneer amps?

yeah, they put out hardly any power.

they recalled all of the premier amps from our shelves due to manufacturing problems.


adam

pioneer is fine the recall was some time ago.

:mad: haha just kidding. So are you saying I should maybe hold out on the Pioneer and buy the RF? If I do get the RF...i'll have no money for the next 2 weeks because i've already spent half my paycheck on tinting my windows:(.

Does anyone here think i'll be disappointed and regret my decision if I go with the Pioneer?

From what I've seen the Pioneer has the lowest THD 0.008% at 4 ohms. from the amps I've been looking at.. how do those other onces compair.

pioneers dont make HALF the power they claim at that THD level.

they pretty much flat Lie, i have seen back to back before and afters with a pioneer amp, and an mtx. pioneer/xtant etc, in the same wattage range, and the pioneers just constantly suck.


adam

I think I might just try chiseling the RF salesguy down a little bit more lol. I don't think I could go wrong if I had that amp:burnout:

did you check into that eclipse amp? it should do exactly what you want, and it is higher quality that the MTX or the RF.



adam

Don't forget, companies like MTX will under-rate their power so they can "mysteriously" win competitions. Pioneer rates at 13.8 volts, not 12- if both amps say 50x2 rms, the MTX will wind up being more RMS. I've heard Pioneer amps, always liked them. My MECP buddy's installed Pioneer amps and Pioneer Premier (high line) amps, and hasn't had problems either (aside from that recall).

Here's one angle I'm going to give, though. I'd say get the Pioneer, and spend the extra cash on a 10" sub in a sealed box. You won't get amazing sound out of those 6x9's unless you're going for mid-range/high frequencies. Those 6x9 locations suck for any bass.

I'm guessing that you're driving the 6x9's off of your radio right now? The Pioneer has the least power output, and that's a good thing right now, because it means that it won't overpower your current system by driving a subwoofer. Say you bought a more powerful amp and tried to drive a sub with it- you'd wind up with so much "boom" that the system would sound dull. You'd have to compensate by turning the amp's power way down- and that means wasted $$ on buying a more powerful amp.

I'd just hate to see you wire up the Rockford amp to your two 6x9's and not get the sound you were looking for. Unless of course you already have a subwoofer or two, but you didn't mention it.

Oh and <i>don't forget wires!!!</i> You could spend $10,000 US on an amp and subs and speakers, but if you buy the $15 set of RCA wires you'll have the worst system in town. Spend at Least $30-$40 per set of RCA patch cables. You don't want noise in a system.

have to disagree on the wires, Thats the thing people get ripped off on. Their is no need to go spend a huge amount of $$ of wires. I didnt, and i have no noise. Also, pioneer amps are fine also. Some people forget that not everyone is into dishing out the money for super high end amps.

Well, I wouldn't tell him to spend $150 on super-gamma-x-anti-radiation neon electric orange wires, but he shouldn't buy a cheap no-name patch. :) You won't believe how many systems I've heard that had great components but sounded like crap just because they cheesed out on the wires.

Try it; if you've got cheap patch cords now, borrow a set off a friend (or spend $15 at Ebay instead) and plug 'em in. I'd almost bet your system would sound better, with clearer high notes and deeper base!

I chinsed out once when I re-did my system... I guess it was the second time around? Yeah, it was. :D I could only afford two good patch cables, so I re-used one of my original cheapies. I put the cheap one on the subs. A while later, all I did was replace the cheap preamp wire with a quality one (lightning audio, $30, a funky purple color), and my system suddenly sounded much better- even the high's! My guess is that the cheap cable was throwing out so much RF interference that it was mucking up the front/rear signals.

Hey, here's a hot deal, although it's a bit long: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=32809 Crutchfield sells it for $50.

Woah, a $70 cable for 6 cents? Guess this guys' hoping that people bid high! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2454878021

Another one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=32809

What you probably don't want to use! ;) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=32809

Better than an ultra cheap cable... I still wouldn't call it a good candidate: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=32809

The $30 amp wiring kit that "comes with free patch cable" will probably have this piece of garbage in it: http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...=0&cc=01&avf=N

Plus, another benefit of buying good RCA interconnects is that you never have to buy them again. I'm still on that set of 3 patch cords! The original two are from 1997. The purple one is from 1998. Been thru a few amps already, but always the same patch cords.

yeah thats true.

What about "Stinger" brand amp wiring kits? I seen some kits at Future Shop go for anywhere around $69 to $119. They didn't look too bad to me. Can't wait to see the look on my dad's face when he sees I spend about $100 on wires and RCA's LOL.:idiot:

you can save money on amp kits by buying welding cable and making your own rcas

i didnt notice any difference between my rcas and some phoenix golds that came with one of my cars othe than the bought ones were prettier

i would buy niether
 

Like everyone has been saying....these should not be your only four choices.

what are you in such a hurry for? you should never go broke for stereo equipment......kids these days. :rolleyes:


I do second the welding cable and self made rca's. you could get away with a twisted pair and two RCA tips if you know how to solder.

Ground loops cause noise, not cheap RCA's of course cheap rca's have poor copper and rotten connectors.

A two channel is a poor investment, why not get a four channel with variable front and rear gain and HP? that would get results!

I saw someone mention JBL.......exellent choice!

Re: i would buy niether
 

Where do you get off worrying about my money? :huh: I've got some good news for you though...I didn't spend any money yet. Now you should be able to sleep better at night knowing my money is still safe with me :goodjob: :)

This setup isn't even going into an f-body. It's going into my winter car, which is probably going up for sale in the spring. I appreciate you giving me advice, I will take what you said into consideration when I get serious about the sound system in my camaro. You obviously know what you are talking about. The reason why the original question was asked, was because I just wanted to know what would help my 6x9's pound the best out of those 4 amps. If I did buy a JBL amp, or that eclipse amp that onebadwagon offered, i'd probably have a hard time parting with it.

I thought i'd make things easy if I narrowed it down to 4 amps that I know would have done the job. I wanted to know which was recommended. Sorry for any confusion.

Thanks again for everyone's feedback, greatly appreciated.

If you want quality sounds go with the rocky. no contest.

JAmes

Re: i would buy niether
 

Actually, I agree with that one. You could run your rear 6x9's off the amp's "front" outputs, then run a single sub by bridging the amp's "rear" outputs. Keep the front speakers running off the head unit, and you'd have a great single-amp system.

Back to wires :) you might wind up better on cost if you bought an amp wiring kit for the power cables, and bought a separate rca patch cord. Example, say an 8 gauge amp kit goes for $20 and comes with a cheap patch cord. So you go and buy a $30 patch cord, and you've spent $60.

But separately, 16 feet of 8 gauge, a fuse holder, a fuse, some ring terminals, and 5 feet of 8 gauge ground wire might go for $30.

By buying the $20 amp wiring kit and throwing away the cheap patch cord, you save $10. And maybe you could sell that patch cord on ebay for $10, or give it to someone you don't like for Their system- that way yours will always sound better. :D Some amp kits do come with quality patch cords... but those are also the expensive amp kits. Then again I love haggling for low prices...

Or you can go to homedepot and get 4 ga wire for like $5! Thats how much mine was, (12 feet) And make your own rca's. And save a ton of money. And no i have no noise.;)

How thin are the strands in the 4ga?

I dont know exacly Tom, i know when i went they had like 4 differnt kinds of 4 ga wire.From solid core to thick strands to really thin, i got the 4 ga wire with the thinnest strands because it is easier to bend and easier to cut. So running it was easier too. (that seat belt bracket sucks!, the one on the floor. )

LOL! What seat belt bracket? ;) If you go about an inch further down, there's a loom down there that the factory used for wires; you can get around the seat belt bracket no problem, because you'll be going under it! (Took me until my 3rd system re-do to figure that one out, with 4ga wire.)