5 channel amp debate

[enorfrog 10+ year member]

Greetings,

I am getting ready to purchase a new amp for my car.

I am not building a competition system but am after some really good and loud sound.

I have a 94 Saab 9000 (hatchback, not trunk).

I use Boston Acoustic Pro Components up front and a set of Boston Acoustic coax in the rear.

I will use either an ED or RE 12 woofer (most likely sealed to keep small box).

I was going to get a Soundstream 5 channel, but that deal fell through.

Now, I am looking for another 5 channel amp to run the system.

Here are the amps I am considering:

• HiFonics ZX 8000 Zeus
  
• Alpine MRV-F450
  
• Phoenix Gold Octane-R 9.0:5
  

These all appear to be good amps, but I am not sure which one I would probably be the happiest with. How do we choose which one to get?

I am kinda leaning towards the HiFonics although I have always wanted an Alpine (always loved the head units), but the Phoenix can't be all bad....

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/idea.gif.5acb6a39a9b92425414c316dda202bad.gif uhhhh, help????????

Click to read more...

 

[jdrumstik]

from my magic list of bad, questionable, good, and highly recomemeded manufactures, from a stereo shops experince. The hifonics is quesitionable, the alpine is good, and the penoix gold is good but only on certain models. I'd have to hit up the alpine, but I don't even have a system yet so don't listen to me.

 

[enorfrog 10+ year member]

silly drumstick....tricks are for kids.

if you don't want me to listen, why post?

>> strange people...

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

I have seen a few VIper 5 channels chea p ebay, along with a few Memphis ones

 

[Mark_ab 5,000+ posts]

Plenty of options out there. Look into Kicker and MTX as well, more confusing options to help you out. I've used PPI 5-Channels in installs in the past and never had any problems. Anything in this range is of roughly the same quality, so it boils down the aesthetics and output at varying impedances.

 

[RSS 10+ year member]

Hi I highly recomend you the Memphis Belle they have two choices one w/ a 400 watts rms and another one w/ a 1000 watts rms on the 5th chanel

 

[DARKHART 10+ year member]

Greetings,
I am getting ready to purchase a new amp for my car.

I am not building a competition system but am after some really good and loud sound.

I have a 94 Saab 9000 (hatchback, not trunk).

I use Boston Acoustic Pro Components up front and a set of Boston Acoustic coax in the rear.

I will use either an ED or RE 12 woofer (most likely sealed to keep small box).

I was going to get a Soundstream 5 channel, but that deal fell through.

Now, I am looking for another 5 channel amp to run the system.

Here are the amps I am considering:

• HiFonics ZX 8000 Zeus
  
• Alpine MRV-F450
  
• Phoenix Gold Octane-R 9.0:5
  

These all appear to be good amps, but I am not sure which one I would probably be the happiest with. How do we choose which one to get?

I am kinda leaning towards the HiFonics although I have always wanted an Alpine (always loved the head units), but the Phoenix can't be all bad....

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/idea.gif.5acb6a39a9b92425414c316dda202bad.gif uhhhh, help????????

Judging from your signature I'd invest in a quality alarm install first..... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif Any of the amps you named will work just fine and it really all boils down to your budget, will it do what you need it too, and Mark_Abs reply....... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Polecat 5,000+ posts]

Kicker KX700.5...I have the smaller three channel, KX550.3 and runs my whole system awesome.

 

[LostCause 10+ year member]

Hi I highly recomend you the Memphis Belle they have two choices one w/ a 400 watts rms and another one w/ a 1000 watts rms on the 5th chanel

I agree! :thumbsup

- Lost Cause

 

[Rockman 10+ year member]

If your amp dies your out of tunes period. At least with multiple amps you'll still have some music to get you by. Just something to think about..

That is all.

 

[enorfrog 10+ year member]

If your amp dies your out of tunes period. At least with multiple amps you'll still have some music to get you by. Just something to think about..

This is why I had a small Alpine amp in my storage shed.....which came in handy when i lost a channel on one of my amps. But, the stinkin thieves also cleared out my thousands of dollars of stereo equipment I had stored.

Thanks for the suggestion and I agree with your thought.

I will still be looking for a 5 channel

In order to keep the system as secure as possible, I need a small footprint and the 5 channel amp can help me do that.

The new system design will take a thief hours to ge the amp out...so it will be better for them to take the car cause if I catch them, they better know some kind of special kung-fu or something to defend themselves!

 

[enorfrog 10+ year member]

ok....the water is definitely getting muddy.

I know I made my comments at the beginning with my choices for amplifiers but I am finding that what I want and what I need could be 2 different things.

I chose the amps above for power and size reasons. I was hoping to go with a vertical install with the amp (have 21inch x 16inch) to work in. If I change the amp location to the floor behind the seat, then it opens up the dimensions to about 36inch x 20inch. In this case, I could use the memphis belle mc600D.

Whatever 5 channel amp I choose, it needs to have adequate power for the woofer. I like the class D for the woofer channel concept. For the woofer, I have pretty much decided to go with the new EDk 12 inch.

Now, where can I find a good used or bargain basement price for a good quality 5 channel?

thanks for the info!

 

[limitkid7 5,000+ posts]

i had alpine, had road noise...

my theory on that...

its all in the amp..

switched to a pioneer amp, same everything - no more road noise... switched to hifonics still no road noise.... switched to jbl road noise again.