----Amplifier Sound Quality-----

[Lil Poot 5,000+ posts]

I've come to the dramatic realization that changing individual drivers has a far greater impact than changing most amplifiers. When it comes to the amplifier that reproduces most of the musical content, i.e. the mids and highs, I look for the following:1. High signal to noise ratio

2. 20 Hz to 20 kHz with +/- 1 db response across the whole spectrum

3. a reputable company

4. Class ab with certain exceptions

Also, any amplifier that does something more than amplifying the signal is a royal POS!

my class g/h amp sounds better than any of my ABs ever did //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

i'm selling my old zed built us acoustics USA series amps if you're interested. 225 shipped for the 200x2 and 125 shipped for the 50x4. underrated as hell //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[mgoblue 10+ year member]

Largely, spec sheets are meaningless. They're sales tools. Witness THD that says nothing. If you want to find a good amplifier, you have to listen to it, and I don't mean on a soundboard. This does pose some difficulty, as car audio shops don't lend out gear. In my case, I bought a bunch of amplifiers over time, listened to them, and chose what worked for my needs.

I see in your sig you run zapco amps and been through alot of different amps. I have been thinking about upgrading from a pdx 150.4 to a zapco 1000.4. do you think there is a night and day difference between the two and far as sq. or can you tell me in your opinion what you like most out out of your zapco amp compared to others.

 

[mrogowski 5,000+ posts]

Look into a tube amp. Once you hear that everything else will sound harsh and stringent.

 

[Brian_smith06 10+ year member]

Look into a tube amp. Once you hear that everything else will sound harsh and stringent.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif i dream of owning a few dls ta2 amps

 

[RetroAudioinc 5,000+ posts]

Want SQ and loud buy one of my tru to3.150.4 amps the only amp you need.. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[FJF 10+ year member]

I see in your sig you run zapco amps and been through alot of different amps. I have been thinking about upgrading from a pdx 150.4 to a zapco 1000.4. do you think there is a night and day difference between the two and far as sq. or can you tell me in your opinion what you like most out out of your zapco amp compared to others.

I've found several amps that I liked a lot, including the Zapcos. JimJ, earlier in the thread, mentioned that most car audio amps sound alike and I agree with that. The Zapcos, and a few others, differ by offering greater clarity, definition, a lack of grain and noise, soundstage stability, and dynamics.

I can't say that changing the amps would make for a night and day difference. The effect is generally more subtle. This isn't to say that it's not significant, but the degree of magnitude hinges on one's individual expectations. FWIW, I felt that the SRs and Zapco made made for a synergistic combination.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

The Zapcos, and a few others, differ by offering greater clarity, definition, a lack of grain and noise, soundstage stability, and dynamics.

Zeff is one of those designers, like Nelson Pass, that just knows how to design a **** fine amplifier //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Big fan of the Arc SEs, too...

 

[ciaonzo 5,000+ posts]

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 4 (3 members and 1 guests)

ciaonzo , FJF , JimJ

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[gunz4me2 10+ year member]

my class g/h amp sounds better than any of my ABs ever did //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

I did say with certain exceptions.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif The Clarion DPX and Arc class GH units are GREAT sounding amplifiers. Also, I finally had a chance to hear a JL Audio HD amplifier and I was impressed with the way it sounded for full range class D.

Alpine PDX on the other hand, just doesn't sound right to me. I don't know how to explain it, but it just seems like something is "missing" on the full range PDX amplifiers.

 

[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

A little secret.

Look at name brand amps that do the wattage you want, then look to see which are rated for the most watts at 2 ohms (even if you arent going to run 2 ohms).

The secret to better sound is quality of parts (thats where the name brand comes into play) and a power supply that provides enough current that it wont get stressed during demanding music passages (why the 2 ohm rating is important).

 

[bass_lover1 10+ year member]

I've heard the mythical SQ dust amplifiers, and I've heard the semi "cookie cutter" amps. By cookie cutter I mean the design is used by 3-4 different companies.

The mythical Sq dust amplifiers, other than netting me a profit on the sales, didn't sound any better or worse than the cookie cutter amps.

 

[gunz4me2 10+ year member]

I've heard the mythical SQ dust amplifiers, and I've heard the semi "cookie cutter" amps. By cookie cutter I mean the design is used by 3-4 different companies.
The mythical Sq dust amplifiers, other than netting me a profit on the sales, didn't sound any better or worse than the cookie cutter amps.

I learned the hard way that those fairy tale amplifiers from the 90s just can't hang with decent amplifiers produced today. I also learned that spending $$ to "modify" that relic from the past WILL NOT bring it "up to date", contrary to what the tool who runs the service center would have one believe.

Unlike you, I lost a whopping $26 over all 10 amplifiers that I sold.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif At least I learned a very valuable lesson... Some memories are best left in the past!

 

[bass_lover1 10+ year member]

I did however, gain the ridicule of the Ell Pee nut huggers.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

I learned the hard way that those fairy tale amplifiers from the 90s just can't hang with decent amplifiers produced today. I also learned that spending $$ to "modify" that relic from the past WILL NOT bring it "up to date", contrary to what the tool who runs the service center would have one believe.

Heck of a generalization to make //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[gunz4me2 10+ year member]

I did however, gain the ridicule of the Ell Pee nut huggers.

Not as bad as me. I think I pissed a bunch of Ell Pee jock riders off when I posted the modified versus unmodified Ell Pee 1502IQ on DIYMA.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eek.gif.771b7a90cf45cabdc554ff1121c21c4a.gif