Car audio amp question

[Pont]

I'm in the market for a good quality amp. I'm not concerned about big power such as 1000 watt or larger, but I'm really concerned about good quality and clean (and I do mean clean) power. Back in my day, the big names were Kenwood, Sony, Orion, Punch, etc. Is there something new on the market I should consider or be looking for? Again, not looking for big power, just something with exceptionally clean power and good qualty (something a manufacturer would stand behind, no fly by night companies). A 2 or 4 channel amp would be fine and something around 100-200 watts per channel would be fine. More power would be ok but I'm not in the market to buy lots of power.

Thanks for your help ................

Rob

[RAT-AT-TACH]

i think most of the quality amps you have listed already,what you gotta do is spend the money on gold plated wiring.

[jef5150]

kenwood,pioneer,alpine,,,,,,theyve all been around for years,like (new1) said,get some thing with gold plated "RCA jacks",,,,imo,alot of the newer stuff,has to many flashing lights,, bells&whistles ,neon face plates...mostly intended for yonger crowd,,,jeff

[miket]

Those are good ones along with MTX/ADS/PPI....make sure you use quality RCAS and keep them away from any other wires.

whats the set up? Subs too?

[Pont]

Miket, the setup is nothing fancy or high-end. The deck is a Sony CDX-M750 CD player. The door speakers are Infinity Kappa 3-way 6.5" mounted low in the doors and Infinity Kappa 1" dome tweets in the door panels. The sub is an Infinity Basslink. Built in 200w D class amp with a 10" driver and 10" passive radiator. The deck and 6.5's are installed and running. Just waiting to get an amp before I install the sub and tweets. Hopefully, it will sound alright for my dailer driver. I'm also getting to that age where I don't play it as loud as I used to. I'm just shooting for a good, clean sound out of this setup. Wish me luck!

[dinnut]

that sounds like what i want my system to be like except better maybe

[DanoDMano]

Its too bad that we cant fit a stereo like MikeT has in his Caprice!!! But then again, there has to be somewhere to sit!!!

Hey PONT, where are you putting the Basslink??

[Pont]

Dano, it's going behind the seat, just as soon as I remove the stock tank and install my blazer tank under the bed. Damn, I really need to get busy and get to work on my truck. Too many projects, not enough time.

[miket]

Pont,

I think that will sound good...you will probably need 250-400 watts for your sub...as a guess. I really need to do something in my truck too but I can't swing it right now.

[DanoDMano]

Yeah I have been checking those Basslinks on ebay for awhile.
I went as far as to make the measurements, but it wont fit until the tank goes.

When are you going to move the tank??

[bigvinnie]

Why are you worried about "exceptionally clean power"...?? If this is for your truck, with a big block, tire noise, and wind noise, buying an amp that's rated under .01% THD would be a waste of money, unless you're parked with the motor off most of the time....??? any of the mid range amps listed previously would be fine...

The key is gonna be getting speakers with high effiency (sensitivity rating) that will make the best use of the power, since you're not looking to buy lots of power...

Match the speakers to the amp in terms of RMS power handling, and get speakers with the highest sensitivity rating you can, and you'll get lotsa quality sound out of your amp...

[Pont]

Well, I hope I don't need anymore than 200w for my sub because the amp for the sub is built into one unit. The new amp I am looking to buy is just to power my 6.5's and tweeters. The 50w/channel that the deck puts out is not enough for my front speakers. Please don't tell me that the amp built-in to the Basslink sub is not enough power. If it won't work, or sounds like crap, I guess I'll be selling this new sub unit and trying something else. Here's a pic of the sub set-up.

[DanoDMano]

I dont think you will need anymore power than that. I hear that they sound great!!

I have a two channel Kenwood in my truck under the seat driving my 6.5" polk seperates !!!

[Pont]

Dano, I'll probably move the tank as soon as I buy an amp for my front speakers. I haven't been motivated to do it until I actually need that space back there. Once I buy the new amp, I'm sure it will get me in the mood to get it intalled and relocate the tank. On the other hand, I never have passengers in my truck so I always could throw that Basslink on the passenger side floor (just to try it out and see how it sounds). I've never heard one of these Basslink subs but I have heard good about them. If you happen to snag one off of Ebay (that's where I bought mine about 2 years ago) and get it installed before I do, please let me know how it sounds.

bigvinnie, it has been my experience over the years that the number one killer of speakers (I used to work in a stereo store, many years ago) is dirty power. You can take a cheap set of speakers (which mine are not) and drive them with a clean amp, and you'll be hard pressed to blow them unless you strictly out-power them. On the other hand, I have seen nice speakers blow with dirty power. Clean power (less than .05% THD) is ultimately what I am after. I would rather spend a couple hundred dollars on a clean amp that puts out 200w of power versus a dirty amp that puts out 1000w of power. Pyramid is a fine example. They have a resonably priced amp (under $100 that puts out 1000w but at 1.04% THD. Defintely not clean enough for me. Also, with a clean amp, it won't take as much power to get the same volume (results) that the cheaper amps produce. Just my opinion, since you asked.

[miket]

Pont...I think you are on the right track there....

[70c10]

Pont, you have a PM.

[Hooter]

those infinity bass links pound!!, if you are looking for a good amp, dont buy this years Pioneer amps, they have all been recalled, my personal favourites have still have to be the tantrum series PG amps and the JBL 80.4 is what I am running in my FOrd and it twists. Another surprising good amp is ts the JVC KX-6300, it puts out 5 watts by 4 rms and it is pure class A so it sounds awsome. If you are lcky try find an older Precision Power art series amplifier, those amps kick ass!