Alpine or JL?

[zeruin 10+ year member]

Hey guys, I'm planning on setting up a decent budget SQ build in my truck, and I'm wondering if there are any major differences between jl and alpine amps? I've heard JL was pretty good, but the Alpine PDX amps were pretty good too.. There isn't much of a difference in price, and both seem to have very similar rated powers.

So what do you think would work better?

JL 500/1 and 300/4

or...

Alpine PDX 600/1 and 400/4

It looks like the Alpine might be pushing a little more power.. So I'm kinda learning towards Alpine. I'm sure both are somewhat underrated.

I plan on running some Alpine spx-17ref components in the front, and maybe another set or some decent coaxials in the rear, and 2 JL 10w3v3 subs in an underseat box.

So whatcha think? If you had to choose between the two, which would you prefer? Any different suggestions? I'd like to stick with mainstream brands //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

Click to read more...

 

[plugitin 5,000+ posts]

why mainstream brands...? Just wana be like every other person out there who watches Pimp my Ride?

 

[zeruin 10+ year member]

exactly!

lol.. actually, I don't mind other brands.. I've just heard I couldn't go wrong with either or those, and they seem to have the specs to power my speakers/subs...

It seems hard to find a decent mono to power 2 10w3s.. and I'm not looking to go for overkill and throw 1000w into them. I've seen a lot of people have the JL 500/1 paired with 2 10w3v3 subs, so it seemed like a good idea.. lol

I don't really mind the 4ch amp, but I've also heard good things about both.. like I said, feel free to recommend some other.. both amps are about $350 each new.. so I wouldn't mind spending less as long as they are worth it, and will last me. I guess it wouldn't hurt to match. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/veryhappy.gif.fec4fed33b4a1279cf10bdd45a039dae.gif

I'm open to other brands.. heck I even considered the newer Hifonics line.. I thought they looked pretty cool, but the 1210 and 1610 monos seem to be pushing out just a little bit too much power for the 2 10w3v3. One of the few things good about mainstream brands is nearly everyone buys them.. so you get more word of mouth about their performance.. and I've heard a lot about both JL and Alpine from people running very similar setups.. and only a little about others..

enlighten me.. lol

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I'd rather have the JL amps.

why mainstream brands...?

Why not?

 

[banginout 10+ year member]

JL Amps are 100% true power....they don't use fuses or none of that BS....I watched them do a test between 2 amps at my car audio installer and you can tell the difference! JL all the way!!

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

How are fuses BS? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

 

[Qbenjamin 10+ year member]

why mainstream brands...? Just wana be like every other person out there who watches Pimp my Ride?

I don't ever recall a show that they used JL audio. Both of the choices that you have made are pretty good, just be aware that the PDX amps run at 2 or 4 ohms, while the JL's run from 1.5 to 3 ohms. What will really help out your decision will be whatever sub you determine.

 

[marcotheclepto 10+ year member]

i think it might be sarcasm? idk

 

[gunz4me2 10+ year member]

JL 500/1 and 300/4

This is the combo I would go for. IMHO the Alpine PDX amps sound cold and require equalization to get them to sound right. Another issue with the PDX amplifiers is they are just as noisy as some of those old school relics that I recently sold off. Nothing like a good old sssssssssssssssssss sound on digital silence.

why mainstream brands...? Just wana be like every other person out there who watches Pimp my Ride?

How would you feel if Pimp My Ride was still on and using all the forum boner products that get ca.com in an uproar? Just think if GAS or WCC was installing Sundown, AudioQue, Hifonics, etc. Oh, my bad, Hifonics was used on Pimp My Ride and I have seen PLENTY of installs on this forum using Hifonics amplifiers.

 

[okiedokie 10+ year member]

JL 500/1 is a really solid amp,look around before speanding your money.

http://www.sundownaudio.com/index.php/products/amplifiers/saz-1000d.html

http://www.sundownaudio.com/index.php/products/amplifiers/sax-1252.html

http://www.sundownaudio.com/index.php/products/amplifiers/sax-1004d.html

http://www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/store/categories/Amplifiers/

or

http://www.woofersetc.com/p5452/DC5001--Zapco-1-Ch-Amplifier-with-OnBoard-Digital-Processing.htm

 

[duckymcse 10+ year member]

This should be a no brainer. Since you are planning to using alpine speakers, than get alpine amps (pdx 4.100) to power them. Since you're using JL sub, than get JL 500/1 to power them.

Both Alpine and JL make quality products, you wouldn't go wrong with either of them.

I wouldn't pay full price for them thought, but if it is 40% under retail price(new or used) than YES go for it.

I had the PDX 4.150 to power both my Dynaudio 242 and DLS Nobelium 6.2, the result is stunning //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Hey guys, I'm planning on setting up a decent budget SQ build in my truck, and I'm wondering if there are any major differences between jl and alpine amps? I've heard JL was pretty good, but the Alpine PDX amps were pretty good too.. There isn't much of a difference in price, and both seem to have very similar rated powers.
So what do you think would work better?

JL 500/1 and 300/4

or...

Alpine PDX 600/1 and 400/4

It looks like the Alpine might be pushing a little more power.. So I'm kinda learning towards Alpine. I'm sure both are somewhat underrated.

I plan on running some Alpine spx-17ref components in the front, and maybe another set or some decent coaxials in the rear, and 2 JL 10w3v3 subs in an underseat box.

So whatcha think? If you had to choose between the two, which would you prefer? Any different suggestions? I'd like to stick with mainstream brands //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[nauc 10+ year member]

why not all JL off an Alpine deck?

 

[Alpine4life89 10+ year member]

why not all JL off an Alpine deck?

this.

 

[dappa5 10+ year member]

Jl amps run off a regulator power source

what that means is it give you it's rated power @10-14.4 volts also stable 1.5-4 ohms on 4 channel these two things add up to much truer power in more configurations yes they are mainstream no they wern't on pimp my ride lol(unique whips maybe lol )

but the are much more solid amps than most g/l with choice

 

[Qbenjamin 10+ year member]

This is the combo I would go for. IMHO the Alpine PDX amps sound cold and require equalization to get them to sound right. Another issue with the PDX amplifiers is they are just as noisy as some of those old school relics that I recently sold off. Nothing like a good old sssssssssssssssssss sound on digital silence.


How would you feel if Pimp My Ride was still on and using all the forum boner products that get ca.com in an uproar? Just think if GAS or WCC was installing Sundown, AudioQue, Hifonics, etc. Oh, my bad, Hifonics was used on Pimp My Ride and I have seen PLENTY of installs on this forum using Hifonics amplifiers.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rotflol.gif.b453361716769b8110ddefc85ff03cd2.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif