Amp for Boston speakers?

[JBH]

I am having trouble with picking an amplifier to power a pair of Boston Acoustic speakers.

My current setup is:

Kenwood Excelon X990 headunit

MB Quart Reference 6.5 components front and rear

MTX 3404 amplifier, birth cert says 62x4

I have a pair of Z6's and a pair of Pro60's that I was going to use to replace the Quarts.

After finding this site and reading for days on end I have come to realize I don't have enough amp to properly power either set of speakers.

I am now planning on keeping a pair of Quarts in the rear and using the MTX 3404for them and bridge the other 2 channels to power a small single sub.

I would like some recommendations for powering either the Z6's or Pro's. My problem is the amps footprint can be no bigger than 16-3/4" x 11" x 2-1/2".

I had first planned on using a 4 channel and bi amping to get the most power but I have read enough to talk myself out of it. I then was going to bridge a 4 channel but after reading about SQ issues and if I understand correctly it would put the amp in a 1.5 ohm stereo load, which may have issues.

I am now looking for a solid 2 channel with enough power to properly power the Bostons at 3 ohm. From the amp space I have to work with it looks like I will probably have to keep the Pro's and do something else with the Z's

All that I have found to consider are:

JL 300/2

Alpine PDX 2.150

RF Punch 75, 450.2, 550.2

Pioneer Premier PRS D200T

Kenwood Excelon KAC-X522

Boston Acoustics GT-22

I would appreciate your thoughts on which one of these amps might work the best or maybe some others to consider. The Punch 75 looks like a great bang for the buck but the last RF I had was back in the late 80's and I have read they aren't built the same anymore.

Sorry to be so long winded but I wanted to try and give you all the info in one post.

Click to read more...

 

[angrytrucker78 10+ year member]

I am having trouble with picking an amplifier to power a pair of Boston Acoustic speakers.
My current setup is:

Kenwood Excelon X990 headunit

MB Quart Reference 6.5 components front and rear

MTX 3404 amplifier, birth cert says 62x4

I have a pair of Z6's and a pair of Pro60's that I was going to use to replace the Quarts.

After finding this site and reading for days on end I have come to realize I don't have enough amp to properly power either set of speakers.

I am now planning on keeping a pair of Quarts in the rear and using the MTX 3404for them and bridge the other 2 channels to power a small single sub.

I would like some recommendations for powering either the Z6's or Pro's. My problem is the amps footprint can be no bigger than 16-3/4" x 11" x 2-1/2".

I had first planned on using a 4 channel and bi amping to get the most power but I have read enough to talk myself out of it. I then was going to bridge a 4 channel but after reading about SQ issues and if I understand correctly it would put the amp in a 1.5 ohm stereo load, which may have issues.

I am now looking for a solid 2 channel with enough power to properly power the Bostons at 3 ohm. From the amp space I have to work with it looks like I will probably have to keep the Pro's and do something else with the Z's

All that I have found to consider are:

JL 300/2

Alpine PDX 2.150

RF Punch 75, 450.2, 550.2

Pioneer Premier PRS D200T

Kenwood Excelon KAC-X522

Boston Acoustics GT-22

I would appreciate your thoughts on which one of these amps might work the best or maybe some others to consider. The Punch 75 looks like a great bang for the buck but the last RF I had was back in the late 80's and I have read they aren't built the same anymore.

Sorry to be so long winded but I wanted to try and give you all the info in one post.

I have a GT24 powering my Type ARRH components, and they are a far cry from your z6's. So I think that would be a good one for you.

 

[Bake 10+ year member]

If I were in the market for new amps, being a fan of the old Rockford amps, I would look at the 25 to Life limited edition Rockfords on sale at Sound Domain. I don't know how they compare in price to the ones you listed but the sale prices look pretty good for what you are buying. I think they are some of the sexiest amps out there but thats just my opinion. From your list the next ones I would pick would be the JL and Boston amps.

 

[JBH]

I checked out the specs on the GT-24. Power wise it seems perfect but it is too large to fit. Boston site says it is 18" wide.

 

[JBH]

If I were in the market for new amps, being a fan of the old Rockford amps, I would look at the 25 to Life limited edition Rockfords on sale at Sound Domain. I don't know how they compare in price to the ones you listed but the sale prices look pretty good for what you are buying. I think they are some of the sexiest amps out there but thats just my opinion. From your list the next ones I would pick would be the JL and Boston amps.

The 25 to Life Punch 75 looks pretty strong. Even though they say 37.5x2, I am reading that they are more like 200x2. I wonder how they are SQ wise. I can't find alot about the BA amps but if they are anything like the speakers they should be fantastic SQ amps. Problem is, from what I have read here, the one that fits isn't powerful enough to run the Pro's much less the Z6's.

 

[HCCA 10+ year member]

JBH, the Boston GT-22 is a little over 12" long, and will conform to your required dimensions. The output is somewhat underrated. The output of this unregulated amp is more like 135 watts x 2 @ 3 ohm stereo (13 volts). Perfect for the Pro 60's. The Z6's need a great deal more than that, to work at their best, but for the Pro60's, you should be perfect.