One Eyed Jack

Brands that overrate their power output on amps: Pyramid, Boss, Pyle, American Pro, Legacy, Power Acoustik, Lanzar, Crunch, Fusion, Profile, Mobile Authority, Jensen.

Out of that list, Mobile Authority and Lanzar are the "best of the worst".

Brands that underrate the power output on amps: Rockford Fosgate, Orion, Kicker, etc.

- Spend at least 50 cents per watt you are getting from an amp, if its new.
- Don't settle for a crap brand (listed above) when you could get the same real-world power output from something better for the same price. Just because Pyramid says 1600 watts doesnt mean thats what it will push. Lets do some math:

Pyramid Power 1600w 2channel amp $250 new: 1600 Pyramid watts into 2 channels = 800 real-world watts, MAX, into 2 channels = 400 watts RMS into 2 channels = 200 watts RMS per channel at 4 ohms

Rockford Fosgate 360a2 $175 new: 360 RF watts into 2 channels at 2 ohms = 544 real-world watts, RMS, into 2 channels (according to birthsheet) = 272 watts per channel at 2 ohms RMS = 136 watts RMS per channel at 4 ohms

Whats the better deal there? 200 watts RMS of STATIC and you get laughed at by Audiophiles, or a decent price for a small car audio system at $175 of RF quality?

Rockford Fosgate, made in the USA.

For more info see www.caraudioforum.com

------------------
1992 Pontiac Firebird (stock)
- 5.0L V8 TBI / Automatic Trans / Every option, excluding leather
- Killer car audio system:

• Aiwa CDC-MP3 head unit
• Rockford Fosgate 360a2 amp
• pair of 12" MTX Thunder 5000s in a custom box
• Pioneer 3-way 6x9s, soon to add more more more!

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

Where in the hell are you getting a 360a2 for $175??????? That's below dealer cost. That amp has a $400 retail.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

One Eyed Jack

Yeah, on Crutchfield. Its such a ripoff. try ANYWHERE else, and its cheaper. I got mine somewhere, brand new in the box for $175 + S/H. Also check ebay. Great deals there.

sounddomain.com
thezeb.com
carstereo.com
woofersetc.com
soundhabit.com
mmxpress.com
wholesalesounds.com
onlinecarstereo.com
ubid.com

shop around. Crutchfield is for the uninformed, and will take every last dollar of yours.

------------------
1992 Pontiac Firebird (stock)
- 5.0L V8 TBI / Automatic Trans / Every option, excluding leather
- Killer car audio system:

• Aiwa CDC-MP3 head unit
• Rockford Fosgate 360a2 amp
• pair of 12" MTX Thunder 5000s in a custom box
• Pioneer 3-way 6x9s, soon to add more more more!

[This message has been edited by One Eyed Jack (edited May 30, 2001).]

One Eyed Jack

Compare and Save: Rockford Fosgate 360a2

Online Car Stereo $200
Crutchfield $320


Note: you can find it for cheaper, I just wanted to prove my point.

------------------
1992 Pontiac Firebird (stock)
- 5.0L V8 TBI / Automatic Trans / Every option, excluding leather
- Killer car audio system:

• Aiwa CDC-MP3 head unit
• Rockford Fosgate 360a2 amp
• pair of 12" MTX Thunder 5000s in a custom box
• Pioneer 3-way 6x9s, soon to add more more more!

[This message has been edited by One Eyed Jack (edited May 30, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by One Eyed Jack (edited May 30, 2001).]

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

Reason? Crutchfield is an authorized dealer, the other places aren't. Hope and pray that you never need warranty work.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

Ken88GTA

Hey One Eye,

I just tried that link to Online Car Stereo you posted and yeah, the amp is $199.00.... for the RF250A2! The RF360A2 is $349.00, $30.00 dollars more than Crutchfield!!!

AJ_92RS

You're right about power outputs. My friend has a Profile something, I dunno what model, and I have a Punch 100. Mine is about 10 yrs old. It doesn't even have the x-over. I got an Alpine x-over on it. But it hits. Anyway, his Profile is rated at 500 watts max. Mine of course is 100 rms. His rms is supposed to be 150x2ch. bridged@4ohms. It's a 4 or 2 chnl. Well that's at .8%THD. Mine's at .05%THD. That's a big diff. I got 2-12" MTX 3000 Thunder Series (their cheapest) mounted isobaric on a wood plate in the rear storage well. He's got 2 Sony Xplod 10" in a sealed box in his 96 Avenger w/ that Profile running it. Mine kicks his a-s-s. His is as loud, but it don't hit at all. That and my main amp is a 4ch.x 35 watt.RMS Alpine. Again about 8-10 yrs old. He's got a Jensen 50x2 on his fronts. Again, I got highs, he's got "treble" You get what you pay for. Both mine have lasted 8-10yrs and are dated (old). His are new technology and sound like SH*T!!

EDIT- Just wanted to make sure that everyone new that the Rockford amp is 100 rms total power, not 100x2 rms. It's only 50x2 RMS
------------------
92 RS w/t-tops 305 TBI Auto.
170K miles and don't burn a drop o'oil
-K&N Truck filter #1500 w, open ele.
air cleaner
-Dynomax 2 1/2" cat-back
-B&M TransPak
-Jet Stage2 Chip
-180* T-Stat w/ 185* Fan Switch
-JVC CD--Alpine speakers & 4ch. amp
Rockford 2ch. to 2 MTX 12" subs

[This message has been edited by AJ_92RS (edited June 01, 2001).]

One Eyed Jack

I will only buy Rockford, MTX, Orion, and Kicker amps. Don't waste money on a BS product from Pyramid. You'll end up kicking yourself for it.

------------------
1992 Pontiac Firebird (stock)
- 5.0L V8 TBI / Automatic Trans / Every option, excluding leather
- Killer car audio system:

• Aiwa CDC-MP3 head unit
• Rockford Fosgate 360a2 amp
• pair of 12" MTX Thunder 5000s in a custom box
• Pioneer 3-way 6x9s, soon to add more more more!

Gen X Maro

MTX???!!!? i'm at a total loss for words

------------------
1992 RS 25th anniversary..305 tpi conversion,slp headers,jet chip,3 inch flow master exhaust,3:73 richmond gears,big block style hood,80 degree tint,black outs,b&m megashifter,high rise spoiler,and much more.

Stereoioneer 8000R with organic screen,2 memphis 1000d amps(1100rms each) 4 memphis shp 12's 2 capasitors,audiobahn line driver,memphis crossover,stinger dry cell battery.

92fire-audio

Hate to bust your bubble, but you can't get a rockford 360a2 for $175 if you want a warranty.. Buying an amp from an unauthorized dealer is risky, you never can tell if it's B class or if it is in bad shape.

Gen X Maro

Lets compare Aprox. $700 amps from Rockford, MTX, Orion, Kicker and Memphis....

<c>Rockford Fosgate Power 1000a2</c>

RMS Power Output (Watts x Channels) 250 x 2
Frequency Response 20-20kHz
THD at Rated RMS Power 0.05%
Signal to Noise Ratio 100dB
Peak Power Output (Watts x Channels) 450 x 2
Power at 2 Ohms (Watts x Channels) 500 x 2
Bridged Power (Watts x Channels) 1000 x 1


<c>Kicker ZR Series ZR600</c>

RMS Power Output (Watts x Channels) 150 x 2
Frequency Response 10-28kHz
THD at Rated RMS Power 0.02%
Signal to Noise Ratio 100dB
Peak Power Output (Watts x Channels) ---
Power at 2 Ohms (Watts x Channels) 300 x 2
Bridged Power (Watts x Channels) 600 x 1


<c>Orion HCCA250G4 Competition Amplifier</c>

50 x 2 @ 4ohm
100 x 2 @ 2ohm
200 x 2 @ 1ohm
400 x 2 @ 0.5ohm
200 x 1 @ 4ohm
400 x 1 @ 2ohm
800 x 1 @ 1ohm

no THD figures..cant be a good sign...

<c>MTX Thunder81000D</c>

RMS Power Output (Watts x Channels) 500 x 1
Frequency Response
THD at Rated RMS Power ---
Signal to Noise Ratio ---
Input Voltage 12.5v
Peak Power Output (Watts x Channels) ---
Power at 2 Ohms (Watts x Channels) 1000 x 1

<c>[b]Memphis 16-ST1300D

RMS Power 4 ohm (Watts) - 300 x 1
RMS Power 2 ohm (Watts) - 600 x 1
1 Ohm Power - 1100 x 1
THD 4 ohm - 0.03%
Frequency Response +/- 1 dB - 10Hz-50Khz / 10Hz-650Hz

Now come on..who's givin us more bang for the buck? Memphis...and only kicker had a better THD rating by .01 and they lack 300 watts in power in comparison...As i always say..there will always be a better amp out there...but i cant beleive you would have a list that included MTX!!!!!! and not at least US amp....i mean most people never heard a memphis so thats a good enough excuse...but a USA-1000 will push 1000 watts and a THD of .006!!! how can u leave them out?MTX...i swear






------------------
1992 RS 25th anniversary..305 tpi conversion,slp headers,jet chip,3 inch flow master exhaust,3:73 richmond gears,big block style hood,80 degree tint,black outs,b&m megashifter,high rise spoiler,and much more.

Stereoioneer 8000R with organic screen,2 memphis 1000d amps(1100rms each) 4 memphis shp 12's 2 capasitors,audiobahn line driver,memphis crossover,stinger dry cell battery.

BahamutRS

It's so true what Jack said about amps. For a while I was running a Power Acoustik amp that advertised 500wx1 bridged. It was hard hitting in the Camaro, yeah...and it looked nice. But I heard Kicker was an excellent brand..and so I invested in a ZR360, which is 360wx1...but it hits WAY HARDER, and the amp comes with a kind of "birth certificate" and it says it pumped out waaaay higher than 360 watts bridged when tested...I think it was like 502 or something. =D

------------------
1992 Camaro RS 5.0L
-
Performance mods
120 HP NOS kit
Flowmaster cat-back exhaust
Hedman street headers
SLP cold air kit
MSD 6A ignition

Audio
Sony Xplod CDX-M610 head unit
Pioneer 2-way 4x6 front speakers
Pioneer 3-way 6x9 rear speakers
12 inch Pioneer VCCS PRO subwoofer
QLogic sealed box
Kicker ZR360 amplifier

Bluebird

Well my car consist of MTX stuff and it
sounds great.
your information on the 81000D was not
fully filled out there.. the 81000D has on my Q.A. test sheet from the factory 762 watts rms into 4ohms or 1232watts into 2ohms @ less than .05% dist.
peak power rms wattage is in excess of 1762 watts!! its a sharp amp all chromed out with the MTX emblem on the top and a red LED in the center.
I picked this puppy up for 366 bucks with 10 years performance gurantee @ American, (with my discount cuz I work there... ) and I have two 12" 4ohm 8000 series speakers.. these hit very hard!
MTX also now makes the new 12" sub that cost 1000 bucks each, weighs 56 pounds and handles 4000 watts peak, 2000 watts rms!
the speaker comes in a crate, and has a voice coil that is bolted in and comes with a seperate voice coil that can be easily replaced.
I'd say they are a pretty good company.. alot of my friends dissed MTX, but I have over 4400 dollars worth of MTX stuff in my 91 firebird.. two 8302 amps, one drives 2 pioneer 3 way 300 watt 6x9's 1 drives a set of 6 1/2 mtx 6000 series component speakers, the 81000d drives my 2 12" 8000 series subs, all running off of a kenwood KDC815 head unit with 4.5 volt pre outs built in KEX crossover from the head unit! and tons of bells and whistles!

AJ_92RS

To add to your post Bluebird, that sub also comes with a replacement cone. My question is, "Who the heck is gonna blow the thing?" It would take some doing!! No doubt.