Ampere Audio Amps

[TRaGiK 10+ year member]

I've heard mixed reviews of DC customer service either. Hopefully you're buying through a well established re-seller who will give you fast service if you have any issues.

I'm a huge fan of DC already.

I talked to Rusty (DC owner) the other day. He called me to give me info on a amp that's been discontinued for 4 years, and answered all questions I had about it. He talked to me like we've been buddy's for 10 years.

 

[Chris McNeeley]

I've ran 75% of amperes product line, each item gave me headaches, I now run none and need to update my Sig. Andrews a nice guy but I won't run them again.

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

The dc 10k are not great amps.

They flat out cannot be wired low. They protect below 1ohm reactive pretty easily. They also do not make the most power. Few local guys, one guy clamped like 4800, another guy 5500.

Guy that clamped 4800 swapped to Vital 7k. The vital **** all over it. Clamped 8200

Other guy swapped to SD 12k and clamps like 8500

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

I'm a huge fan of DC already.
I talked to Rusty (DC owner) the other day. He called me to give me info on a amp that's been discontinued for 4 years, and answered all questions I had about it. He talked to me like we've been buddy's for 10 years.

Cool. That goes a long way in my book. "Bad" stories I've heard is limited to very slow build time on recones. Those big amps IIRC were geared towards 18V electrical but there were a few versions. I'm sure Rusty will help you get into what you need. Anyway DC is another that charges high enough prices and is well enough established that you know they'll still be around in half a year if something goes wrong.

 

[Boominburban 10+ year member]

"The dc 10k are not great amps.

They flat out cannot be wired low. They protect below 1ohm reactive pretty easily. They also do not make the most power. Few local guys, one guy clamped like 4800, another guy 5500.

Guy that clamped 4800 swapped to Vital 7k. The vital **** all over it. Clamped 8200

Other guy swapped to SD 12k and clamps like 8500"

^^^ THIS^^^ my teammate was not happy nor impressed with his DC10k. Similar clamped power numbers, dismal. He went with two of the new dc5K's, and is happy as heck, and making over twice the clamped power.

 

[TRaGiK 10+ year member]

Cool. That goes a long way in my book. "Bad" stories I've heard is limited to very slow build time on recones. Those big amps IIRC were geared towards 18V electrical but there were a few versions. I'm sure Rusty will help you get into what you need. Anyway DC is another that charges high enough prices and is well enough established that you know they'll still be around in half a year if something goes wrong.

The 10k is a 12v amp. Their 9k IS indeed a high voltage amp. Their 3.5k, 5k, and 7.5k will also work on 18v setups.

I've bought probably half a dozen recones from them over the last 12 months. I started competing a year ago, and have been running DC subs the whole time (and two DC 2.0k amps in my last build). Recones typically take 8 to 10 business days to get to me, with 3 or 4 of those days being in shipping. ONCE it took 3 weeks to get, but I don't think that was DC's fault. Nor was it an issue at the time.

 

[TRaGiK 10+ year member]

Guy that clamped 4800 swapped to Vital 7k. The vital **** all over it. Clamped 8200

Any idea what they were rising to?

 

[TRaGiK 10+ year member]

^^^ THIS^^^ my teammate was not happy nor impressed with his DC10k. Similar clamped power numbers, dismal. He went with two of the new dc5K's, and is happy as heck, and making over twice the clamped power.

I'd do two 5k's if my wiring options were good for it. But with 2, I can only wire to 1 ohm per amp or 1/4 ohm per amp. Neither of those are ideal to me. And I'm not keen on reconing what's essentially brand new subs.

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

David started at 0.5 and rising to 2.1 got 4800w. With rock solid voltage. Wouldnt drop below 14.4 from about 14.8

When he tried 0.25, it protected instantly. Other users confirmed, it will protect around 1 reactive. So nominal really should be 0.5 or even 0.66+

The vital at 0.25 rising to about 1 made 8200w. Even at 0.5 rising to that same 2.1 ish he was getting about 6600w

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

I heard, but cannot confirm, that the 10k was designed for old street a,b,c classes. The way in which it draws and creates power. Idk the details. But ive heard it was designed for rusty to use in crx in old Drag street formats

 

[TRaGiK 10+ year member]

...

 

[TRaGiK 10+ year member]

That was me. I believe we're friends on FB.

David started at 0.5 and rising to 2.1 got 4800w. With rock solid voltage. Wouldnt drop below 14.4 from about 14.8
When he tried 0.25, it protected instantly. Other users confirmed, it will protect around 1 reactive. So nominal really should be 0.5 or even 0.66+

The vital at 0.25 rising to about 1 made 8200w. Even at 0.5 rising to that same 2.1 ish he was getting about 6600w

In your opinion, would the 9k or even 7.5k be any better?

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

The 9k is pretty strong, really comes alive on higher voltage tho. We have clamped 15,200 on pair rising to 3.1, so 1.55 each. Making 7600 per

The 7.5 is actually the same board as the vital i think. Somehow the vital makes quite a bit more.

But based on what ive seen, id 100% do the 9k over 10k. The 9k runs 0.35 daily no problem

 

[kr15 5,000+ posts]

Vital top, 7.5 bottom

 

[TRaGiK 10+ year member]

The 9k is pretty strong, really comes alive on higher voltage tho. We have clamped 15,200 on pair rising to 3.1, so 1.55 each. Making 7600 per

I'm on a 12v setup and wired at .5, rising to 1.9. you'd go with the 9k in that situation?

I'm fairly adamant about staying with DC amps at this time. I know there's other options that are better, but I have my own reasons for wanting to stick with DC.

At the moment, I can get a very good deal on a used 9.0k, and a pretty good deal on two 5.0k's...and can afford a new 7.5k.