4 or 5 channel amp for the boat??

[timhof13 10+ year member]

Get a Jl xd 5 channel you wont regret it. Don't get the marine version. Tiny amp and great sound, runs cool. Not quite as nice as my hd but a solid amp for sure. You could also find a 6 channel Jl audio marine, that's what I run on my boat , same polks too.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Welp, in terms of impedance, I can wire the sub to present a 2ohm load by wiring the coils in parallel, or I can present a 8ohm load by wiring in series, right? They are dual 4ohm coils. Same with my mains (Polk MM651UM's x4). I have them wired in parallel 2ohm load for each channel. Channel A runs two MM651UM's (right) and Channel B runs two MM651UM's (left). I bridged channels C and D for the sub (2ohm). The system ran GREAT for two years; loud, tight, sounded fantastic... but I'm pretty sure the amp failed due to heat. It ran pretty hot, and was in a locker (Closet) below decks.
My feeling is if I had five channels, it would run cooler. On the other hand, I'm running a 1ohm load on a Polk monoblock in my truck and it runs cool and absolutely kicks *** with 2x1040DVC in a sealed Thunderform enclosure.

"Boutique" feels like another word for "never heard of it ...for a reason", though that PPI amp sounds like it would do everything I need for $200, which would be awesome. Makes me think of the old days with amps like "Targa" and "Urban Audio". I was planning around the $300 mark. $200 made my wife smile (trust me, audio stuff is easily the cheapest set of systems on the boat).

Boutique is what you see in sanctioned car audio shows. The reason you never heard of it is simple. They are not made in the trillions on a Chinese assembly line. They are what rockford, kicker, orion ect use to be before they sold out

 

[JeffCooper]

I think I'm resigned to getting a 5ch amp. I'm just not convinced that I put way too much stress on that Clarion and that's why it took a powder. Better to have more muscle than I need and support more traditional loads.

I get the "boutique" thing - I was listening to Metallica and Megadeth when they were still cool... and now stuck on that last of the hold-olds: Dream Theater. So which "Boutique" makes a reasonably priced 5ch amp??

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

SKAR has two. One AB one AB with D on the sub channel.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

T-60.4-200.1AB - Skar Audio 5-Channel Class A/B Amplifier with Bass Boost Knob https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GGXNURU/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_i2mMub074B3K5

T-60.4AB-500.1D - Skar Audio 5-Channel Class A/B T-Series Amplifier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GGXYYBQ/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_12mMub13QTP9E

 

[timhof13 10+ year member]

Those skars would be good, footprint is large though

 

[JeffCooper]

Agree - the SKAR's look cool, but would take up some valuable real-estate. In looking at the JL XD700/5, the thing is tiny! I found a refurbished JL for $350...more than I'd planned to spend, but around here (Florida), JL is on every boat from little fish, ski and runabouts to big-assed motoryachts... if it's not JL then it's apt to be Clarion (eww)...and even more lately, Fusion (dbl-eww). Kenwood has a line, but I'm pissed of at them for my trucks head unit, and I don't think they have much market share.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

That's JLs home turf.

 

[JeffCooper]

That's JLs home turf.

I would have to agree. Always thought JL was out of my price range, but $350 for an XD700/5 seems like a good priced (even refurbished)... actually, I'm in the computer business. Refurbished computers are WAY better than ones that come off an automated assembly line, because a HUMAN has gone through them. I'm assuming the same holds true for a stereo amp. Anyway, if there are better deals out there, I'm not seeing them. Thoughts? Help?? ...or should I just pull the trigger???

 

[JeffCooper]

I pulled the trigger and bought the JL Audio 700/5. I'll report back on how it sounds. I can't imagine it WON'T sound great with my rig, but I noticed there was no report in the PowerAmp section for this one, so I will provide. Thank you all for your input and help!!

PS - You guys should come over to my boat forum/blog and ask which is better, MAN, CAT or Volvo Diesel propulsion. Of if diesel fuel additives are worth the money. Talk about holy wars.

 

[timhof13 10+ year member]

Good luck Jeff, you will not be disappointed.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

I pulled the trigger and bought the JL Audio 700/5. I'll report back on how it sounds. I can't imagine it WON'T sound great with my rig, but I noticed there was no report in the PowerAmp section for this one, so I will provide. Thank you all for your input and help!!
PS - You guys should come over to my boat forum/blog and ask which is better, MAN, CAT or Volvo Diesel propulsion. Of if diesel fuel additives are worth the money. Talk about holy wars.

With car audio it's more simple once you learn to think for yourself and see past the BS.

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

Doesn't this look a lot like the PPI? They are the same company so I think they are. Power Acoustik RZ5-2500D 5 Channel Razor Series 2500 Watt Power Car Amplifier - PAK13-RZ5-2500D

No. PA doesn't have a Phantom equivalent that I've seen.

The RZ's are similar to the Ion's.

Face the reality PPI is dead, sound stream is dead.

I disagree.

Not what they once were, sure.

Dead? No.

I bridged channels C and D for the sub (2ohm). The system ran GREAT for two years; loud, tight, sounded fantastic... but I'm pretty sure the amp failed due to heat. It ran pretty hot, and was in a locker (Closet) below decks.

2 ohms bridged -- not good for a standard multi-channel amplifier.

They are intended to operate at no less than 2 ohms per channel (stereo), not 2 ohms bridged.

Long-term - it probably was heat more than anything that damaged the amp, but had it not been running at 2 ohms mono there's a good chance it would still be working.

Regarding "botique" brands -- They do not have the marketing budget or distribution capabilities of RF/Kicker etc. and don't build products by the millions (as NoLoud pointed out) so you will not find them at every store out there (Walmart, Best Buy etc) They build good equipment and get the word out largely on the forums. In many cases the owners/founders will be active on the forums and respond to questions/concerns directly.

Good equipment and good customer support is how they survive. W/o those two things (Skar?) they have a tendency to go away fast.