Stereo Expertise Needed Options

[Rusty]

I'm going to install a new stereo in the Aubergine car. No stealth job like the 914/6. I have speakers, and found a receiver I like... now I need advice on selecting an amplifier. The speakers I already own have about several times the capacity of wattage compared to the output of the receiver I'm looking at.

I've browsed receivers, and regardless of price, I like this one, because it plays MP3 files and it doesn't look like it belongs on the Starship Enterprise:

(IMG:http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2004/023/h023MONTECA-f.jpeg)

I already have Morphenspectra's coolio speakerpods, that are 150 watts per speaker. These are the only two speakers in the car (I don't have the sub):

(IMG:http://i12.ebayimg.com/01/i/00/f4/f5/c7_1.JPG)

Suggestions for an amp, oh great stereo experts?

-Rusty (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smoke.gif)

[xsboost90]

now i havent been into stereo's in a couple of years, but i always loved pioneer stuff. Never had a problem. The best ive ever owned was an xtant amp and sub combo, but would prob be overkill for you.

[jwalters]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) In all seriousness, any amp costing more than 200 dollars from places such as best buy will last and last and give great fidelity.

My partiality is to rockford Fosgate amps.

I have two of them, circa 1997, in my 2002 dodge truck. They are only 55 and 75 per channel. The bigger amp is briged into my 10 inch sub and it will put out 345 watts into my 2 ohm load.

Point is I have had them for an eternity as far as the average audiophile consumer goes. I will replace them, when they burn out, and I am very hard on them, but they keep pounding out the tunes as we speak.

Fosgate is real good about sending the actual factory test done on them prior to them leaving the factory. For a particular load you know exactly the wattage produced and the amps used.

I will go and take a pic to back up my claim , be back soon.

[mattillac]

it's always nice to have matching components. get an amp that either matches your stereo or your speakers. i'm partial to alpine stuff. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

[jwalters]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) ok I am back--here are my amps and my homemade speaker enclosures--whump! whump!

I have on only 5 occasions since the amps were new that I was rocking soooo hard the amp shut down for overheat, only to cool and come back online--

Mind you I rock insanely hard, and yet still have my hearing... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/unsure.gif) and I have only been able to shut the sub one down before, my 6X9 one has never shut down, ever.

Lets see, 9 years old and still thumping--my only fear is that one will finally bite it on a long road trip, and I will be forced to seek out the nearest dealer and do a parking lot install..... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif)

[jwalters]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[jwalters]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[jwalters]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[jwalters]

QUOTE (mattillac @ Apr 23 2005, 05:32 PM)

it's always nice to have matching components. get an amp that either matches your stereo or your speakers. i'm partial to alpine stuff. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif) When I got this system, well , what I have left of it ( amps ) my head unit was an alpine--it bit it 6 years ago. I also am very partial to alpine, they rock, while they last, until they bite it. I am sure there are some out there that have stood the test of time. My problem was the cd suspension gave out. Would not longer play a cd unless parked and motionless. The warranty ran out before I could take it back. So now I am on a rice diet---hate to say it, but Sony is petty good, for me at least.


My all time favorite and bestest headunit ever was a JVC----God that thing rocked! But it was analog.. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)

I have been looking into geting a JVC again---man that thing rocked! but the one I really want is 1200 beans... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)

[mattillac]

QUOTE (jwalters @ Apr 23 2005, 02:45 PM)

I have been looking into geting a JVC again---man that thing rocked! but the one I really want is 1200 beans... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)

damn. 1200 bucks (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wacko.gif) that must be a popout dvd screen thingy or something with a touch screen.

[djsinister702]

hi,
No sub???? where are you gonna get the bass from?
gotta have bass!!!! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/monkeydance.gif) ..so the monkey can dance.

i am installing a system as we speak..still not done putting everything back together yet...but i did hook it up and it sound great....got the center console sub from Mo.

system include 4 speakers 2 tweeters 1 sub and 1 sony xpod amp.

[Tom Perso]

I have an Eclispe Headunit in my Dakota.

(IMG:http://www.qtm.net/~persoj/graphics/eclipse.jpg)

That runs to an Eclipse 3640 4-channel amp that runs my front MB Quart 6.5 Seperates. That way, I can tune the tweets and the mids.

(IMG:http://www.qtm.net/~persoj/graphics/3640.jpg)

O have a Punch 60 running 2 ohm bridged for a set of MTX Road Thunder 5000's, 10" in a Thunderform enclosure under the rear seat.

(IMG:http://www.qtm.net/~persoj/graphics/Punch.JPG)

(IMG:http://www.qtm.net/~persoj/graphics/thunder_form.jpg)

Yes, it does thump, and does sound good.

So, I like Rockford amps. You can get them at Worst Buy and Circuit shitty, or find them on Evil-bay. I do like my Eclipse amp since it's quite tunable, it's a great amp for driving tweets and midranges.

I'd have a hard time spending money on something less.

Of course, I have a cheap POS Aiwa in the 914 that got scabbed to go in my Supra. 180 peaks watts of thumping power going to 4 stock 4" speakers. Barf.

Oh well...

Later,
Tom

[ninefourteener]

In my Acura..... I've got a Sony Xplode 600W 4-channel amp powering four Pioneer 6.5 inch, 3-way component speakers.

And a Sony Xplode 1200W 2-channel amp powering two MTX 10 inch subs in the back.

And a Pioneer P-8300M head unit.

My system is SUPER clear, and will literally shake the snot out of your nose at high levels.

I bought refurbished amps off ebay for around $100 a piece, with a warrantee.

No regrets, at all.

[nyum96]

Infinity Kappa 5 Channel class D amp (1000W RMS) (AWESOME) $300

2 Bazooka tubes (10" DVC @ 2 ohms) 400 RMS each - $150 each

6.5 Compnent speakers - Infinity Reference

1 kenwood mono amp (ran out of money for infinity) for one tube $130

1 farad Capacitor $40

Sony headunit (sucks and so does Blaupunkt)Both only worked for 1.5 years each. $200 each

External DVD players (looks like a cd changer) are also cheap. You can get a Sony MV-1 for around $150

2 - TFT 7.2 inch screens $100 each - (great in Atlanta traffic)

All of the above was stuffed in a New Beetle

Its mixed but mixed well. All my XM radio and video stuff is Sony. Speakers and subs Infinity... Subs Bazooka.

I can turn it up all the way and hear crystal clear highs and big lows. Mixing is not bad.. You just have to mix then with good quality stuff.

As for a head unit, look for something with front and rear rca plugs AND a mono sub RCA plugs. Makes life easier. I just installed a pioneer in the wifes car. So far so good.

Amp, go with a 5 channel. It looks good and is simple. Infinity provides plenty of thump.

In the 914 I have a basic Kenwood and cd changer mixed with XM radio. Nothing big, yet since I leave the top off most of the time. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

BB

[slivel]

I have two Blaus and one Eclipse in my three vehicles. Both of the Blaus get tracking errors when the road gets rough. Never had any tracking errors when playing CD's with the Eclipse.

[tat2dphreak]

you cannot go wrong with RF amps, they have always been the reason to buy Fosgate... they give a nice sound and a ton of power, I always used one for powering subs!

however, I have always liked Alpine amps too. alpine amps are very nice for an application like this where you need clean power more than you need that nice "punch" I used an alpine amp to power my mids, fulls, and tweeters... and it sounded great!

there is no substitute for top-quality sound components!

now, I've never particuarly liked blau heads... but that may just be me, I haven't used them extensively... I have used eclipse, alpine, and pioneer and loved them all... I put a sony head in an ex's car, it was ok too, for the $.