4-Channel Amp Power Game

[DJWaffles 10+ year member]

Hi

I'm rebuilding my system after someone broke into my car. Normally getting your shit jacked isn't a happy experience, but thanks to good insurance it means I get to do an upgrade on their dime! *Joy*

The stupid *** thieves got everything except they managed to over look my Focal Utopia 165Ws and my Focal Polyglass 165 CVXs. Little did they know what they were missing! Anyways I was running all four of these off a Zapco Reference 360.4 which is now gone. So I'm wondering what people think I should replace it with.

The 360.4 was a little on low side when it comes to power (50x4 @ 4Ohms). Ideally these speakers should get:

Utopias - 100W rms

Polyglass - 70W rms

I want to run another 4 channel amp (space concerns). I want to be as close to 100x4 @ 4Ohms as possible. Even though this is a little hot for the polyglass I think that's probably the best way to go. I'd like to stick in the $500 range (+/- $100 or so) of the previous Zapco amp. I'd prefer to go New since I've had my fair share of bad experiences with Used (aka Abused). I really want to put in something that is going to do these speakers justice, but my wallet is dictating my price range rather than my taste.

It seems that 100x4 @ 4ohms isn't a common animal. I'm wondering if I might be better off going with something like 75x4@4?

I'm open to suggestions. Thanks for the help!

Click to read more...

 

[DJWaffles 10+ year member]

This forum seems to have its fair share of Sundown fans.

Could I get a solid recommendation on the SAX-100.4 for this set up? I don't have a lot of experience with Sundown, especially outside powering a sub. The price is right, but the price seems a little "too" right and it's making me a little iffy on build quality, and very iffy on sound quality.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif discuss!

 

[DJWaffles 10+ year member]

I suppose, push come to shove, I would be willing to consider a 2 Amplifier setup, but I don't see much reason to go that route unless someone has a convincing reason. The only reason I can see it being worth while is because of the power difference between the Utopia and the Polyglass, but really that seems like pretty much a non-issue.

Anyone have some input?

 

[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

With the high quality of your comps I would look at a high quality amp to run them.

You should post the price range you're planning on spending so you can get more opinions.

 

[DJWaffles 10+ year member]

With the high quality of your comps I would look at a high quality amp to run them.
You should post the price range you're planning on spending so you can get more opinions.

I'd prefer to stay in the $400 - $600 range. I'm somewhat flexible on this, and I'm pretty good at hunting down a good bargain. Like I said. I'd perfer to avoid used, unless someone can make me an offer I can't refuse.

 

[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

Heres a couple of choices-

Nakamichi PA-4100 New 4 Ch

$349

http://cgi.ebay.com/Nakamichi-PA-4100-New-4-Ch-800-Watt-Sound-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ120334244496QQihZ002QQcategoryZ18795QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

NEW 2008 DLS A4 ULTIMATE SERIES 4-channel amplifier

$580

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-2008-DLS-A4-ULTIMATE-SERIES-4-channel-amplifier_W0QQitemZ360107188861QQihZ023QQcategoryZ18795QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[DJWaffles 10+ year member]

Heres a couple of choices-Nakamichi PA-4100 New 4 Ch]

Ooh! There's a name I haven't thought about in awhile. I used to be a big fan of Nakamichi, I just haven't heard anything about them in a long time.

The last thing I was seriously considering was an Alpine PDX-4.100. The only thing I was curious about was that I thought it was a bad idea to use Class-D on anything other than subs. I guess maybe the technology has improved and maybe that isn't the case anymore? maybe?

 

[Saint211 10+ year member]

Sundown products are solid. But the 100.4 puts out more power than you're looking for. Itll do over 100 @ 4 ohms.

 

[DJWaffles 10+ year member]

Sundown products are solid. But the 100.4 puts out more power than you're looking for. Itll do over 100 @ 4 ohms.

I know that's going to be more than enough for Polyglass, but I'm not really worried about giving them too much power. I can exercise a little bit of gain control to keep them in the safe zone.

I'm more concerned about how much power I'm giving to the Utopias. For awhile I was bridging my Zapco 360.4 and giving them 150W each and it sounded amazing. I don't want to leave them underpowered at 100W or less if they will gladly eat up a little more.

I think I'm warming up to the Sundown 100.4 especially since I found this deal.

http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_11&products_id=5

Updated product and a cut in price? Too good to be true? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wow.gif.23d729408e9177caa2a0ed6a2ba6588e.gif

 

[joshualittle]

Arc audio ks 300.4, 90 x 4 rms. Great amp, great sq. Woofersetc.com has them for $389 but I'm gettin mine for $299 with warranty from a guy in this forum. Pm me if your interested and I'll refer you.

 

[DJWaffles 10+ year member]

Ok... I'm going to throw another Amp into the ring and hope I get some feed back...

Right now the contenders are starting with the least expensive:

Alpine PDX-4.100 $245.00

Sundown 100.4 $325.00

Nakamichi PA-4100 $350.00

And the next one I'm considering

JL Audio 450/4v2 - This one is interesting because it has 150 x 2 @ 4ohms AND 75 x 2 @4ohms which is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. 100+ for the Utopias and ~75 for the Polyglass. It is however the most expensive, coming in at $414 on ebay...this one is tempting because it seems like such a good fit, and that price while the most expensive is a pretty **** good deal since the MSRP is $899.99

Anyone have some good advice I can take to help narrow down this list?

 

[mcsoul 10+ year member]

you got good choices. Sounds like you want the JL,

there is no reason you should not have the one you want.

I'd take the Sundown (newest version) or

the Nak.

1 reason, bridge-ability. I could take the nak or sundown and put them on a

set of low power subs or even a set of mlk's if I ever got a bug up my...

 

[joshualittle]

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=6862. From the same designer/engineer of the zapco amps

 

[joshualittle]

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=6858. And then there's this bad boy. .005 percent transiet distortion and a s/n ratio of 105db's. A step up from the ks series. Like I said pm me if your interested I know someone who can get them at almost cost with warranty.

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

Ok... I'm going to throw another Amp into the ring and hope I get some feed back...
Right now the contenders are starting with the least expensive:

Alpine PDX-4.100 $245.00

Sundown 100.4 $325.00

Nakamichi PA-4100 $350.00

And the next one I'm considering

JL Audio 450/4v2 - This one is interesting because it has 150 x 2 @ 4ohms AND 75 x 2 @4ohms which is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. 100+ for the Utopias and ~75 for the Polyglass. It is however the most expensive, coming in at $414 on ebay...this one is tempting because it seems like such a good fit, and that price while the most expensive is a pretty **** good deal since the MSRP is $899.99

Anyone have some good advice I can take to help narrow down this list?

I ran the Alpine PDX 4.150 for almost 2 months. I had no problems at all with it. Very solid amp. In your price range. If you were giving them 150 watts each at one time, this is the amp for you. I only switched it out because I wanted the option of rear fill. My current setup is fronts active, optional rear fill. The Alpine amp does not have preouts, just inputs. I switched it out for an Eclipse XA4000. I really like that amp more. It's a little bigger, but I like it better than the Alpine. I bought mine new off ebay 3 months back and I just got another one last week. They don't really pop up as often on there.

If not for the Eclipse, I would try the Sundown. I can speak on the Alpine being that I own one. Not so much the Nak as I dont know anyone running one.