Alpine PDX 4.100 or 4.150 How much Difference?

[mattldm 10+ year member]

How much real world difference would there be between these amps? There is only a 50 watt difference on paper, but I have seen birthsheets for the 4.100 that show 125+ watts.

Would you really be able to tell a difference in 50 watts in the vehicle?

In my case this would be powering a set of DLS UP6i components in front and DLS 257 coaxials for rear fill. I would be upgrading from a ED Nine.4 (about 65-75 watts per channel) Its the Alpine worth the upgrade cost!?

Click to read more...

 

[elborabom 10+ year member]

Hi, Nice to meet you...

My way of thinking is like this:

I had an 4 chanel 40RMS amp, so I think that 50 RMS is a huge diference, and more, if you have more RMS on the system you´ll also have less distorcion, so your sopeakers will be healthier and safer with more power...

Other thing youll note is that more power brings you more pression precision and control of the speakers, also including more dynamic response from them, but beware to install it the best way as possible, caus amps and speakers are 50% of any sound system, the other 50% is instalation!!!

C u!!!

Regards!

Rodrigo.

 

[Alpine50 10+ year member]

Hell yeah ! The PDX is a good purchase in my opinion.I own both the 1000.1 and the 4 x150.The 4x100 is fine . I'm using the 4x150 ,the reason being--4 Alpne type "R" 6.5 co-ax's and the 'R' components.Those speakers all have a 100 to 110 rms each--6--6.5's and tweeters [all that in a 2002 Nissan Altima].The birthsheet on the 1000.1 is 1207 rms.A little extra is better than being a little short. Alpine50.............

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

get the one you can afford. If money is no object get the 4.150 or that JL HD series amp.

And like the guy above me said, A little extra is better than a little short.

 

[mattldm 10+ year member]

get the one you can afford. If money is no object get the 4.150 or that JL HD series amp.
And like the guy above me said, A little extra is better than a little short.

Well thats the primary reason for the thread...

if money were no object, I would just get the 150. However, since the 4.100 is about $100 less than the 4.150 I'm just trying to find out if the extra 50 watts is worth the extra $100 bucks!

 

[its_bacon12 10+ year member]

How much real world difference would there be between these amps?

Theoretically, 1.5 dB under perfect conditions.

Reality, less than that given inefficiencies like impedance rise, poor damping, and anything that effects a speaker's response, like a passive crossover if used, etc.

Anyone who argues it will make a difference is right, but it's pennies on a dollar. You will rarely use more than 10-20% of that power anyways.

 

[dcole18 5,000+ posts]

yes its worth it IMO... its always good to have headroom

 

[its_bacon12 10+ year member]

Well thats the primary reason for the thread...
if money were no object, I would just get the 150. However, since the 4.100 is about $100 less than the 4.150 I'm just trying to find out if the extra 50 watts is worth the extra $100 bucks!

You also posted something with agreement with my post above.

You would have somewhere between 300-400 watts for the sub and I dont think you would be able to tell the difference between that and 500 watts with a single sub

 

[jluv 10+ year member]

It would be worth it to me.

 

[its_bacon12 10+ year member]

Spend that extra $100 on dampening or an EQ or active crossover to help with the speaker in another way. You do remember that install is much more directly related to a speakers performance and output than power.

 

[mattldm 10+ year member]

You also posted something with agreement with my post above.

Yeah, I did didnt I! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

I guess I'm over thinking the whole thing... I just dont want to look back and say "If I only would have spent that extra $100"

 

[its_bacon12 10+ year member]

I saw the thread at DIYMA same thing. I agree with whoever it was saying fix your install before you go spend a few hundred on something that might not even make the problem go away.

 

[mattldm 10+ year member]

Spend that extra $100 on dampening or an EQ or active crossover to help with the speaker in another way. You do remember that install is much more directly related to a speakers performance and output than power.

Yup... And I still have a little bit more to do in the install dept.

I have a few rattles at higher volume that I need to address, I just havent had the time to pull the door panels and re-deaden.

 

[mattldm 10+ year member]

I saw the thread at DIYMA same thing. I agree with whoever it was saying fix your install before you go spend a few hundred on something that might not even make the problem go away.

Well, yes but... I am not buying the amp to make the problem go away. I do understand that the problems still need to be addressed, and I plan to do it.

The basic premise of my original question still stands - is 50 additional watts worth $100 additional dollars?

Its starting to seem like it isnt.

 

[TurdFergueson2 5,000+ posts]

Where do you plan to buy? And how much are the ones you are buying?

And what Bacon said is true as well. we assume you will deaden your doors and all of that right? The money you don't spend on the 4.150 could be used on that.

Is size and the fact that they are class D 4 channel amps the seller for you on picking between these 2 amps? There are other amps that put out more power, but some are twice the size.