Amps better than Arc Audio ?

[blue 10+ year member]

Had a buddy ask me to design him a new system today. He kind of stumped me when he told me he didn't want to spend the HUGE bucks for Brax , Tru , ect ... But said he DID want amps better than the Arc Audio XXK series I use ....

I'm not sure just where to tell him to look. After playing with them a lot , I don't feel the new Zapco comps to be even one bit better than the Arcs ....

I'm thinking maybe DLS ..... Any suggestions on amps that are better, but still aren't hyper expensive ?

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[James Bang 5,000+ posts]

slap him for ragging on your amp and tell him you can't get better for the money. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[Pgvietsider 10+ year member]

The Arc Audio SE amps!

 

[takeabao 10+ year member]

Law of diminishing returns comes into effect here.

You're not going to get "better" than Arc XXK at that price point and higher simply because you won't hear an audible difference. Now if you said you had some shitty Hifonics, MA Audio, whatever-the-hell-poor-16-year-olds-use, etc. and he wanted better, then it wouldn't be too difficult answering your question...

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

The Arc Audio SE amps!

x2...

DLS Ultimate A series would also be a great choice... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

nG

 

[blue 10+ year member]

x2...
DLS Ultimate A series would also be a great choice... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

nG

Yeah .... I just thought of the new SE series .... I haven't priced them yet. A couple of the SE-2300s would be nice //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/greedy.gif.5a53e6246569d7ab79867170f3b06629.gif

 

[blue 10+ year member]

Anyone at all heard the Diamond Audio D-9 amps ?

 

[blue 10+ year member]

Law of diminishing returns comes into effect here.
You're not going to get "better" than Arc XXK at that price point and higher simply because you won't hear an audible difference. Now if you said you had some shitty Hifonics, MA Audio, whatever-the-hell-poor-16-year-olds-use, etc. and he wanted better, then it wouldn't be too difficult answering your question...

Agree and disagree ..... there is a definite law of diminishing returns the higher you get in the audio food chain. But if you're using $2000 speakers .... a $1200 head unit .... and awesome wiring with a GREAT install , you will hear EVERY difference in your system. If you can not , you should find another hobby. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif

 

[takeabao 10+ year member]

But if you're using $2000 speakers .... a $1200 head unit .... and awesome wiring with a GREAT install , you will hear EVERY difference in your system. If you can not , you should find another hobby. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif

So then, who will be doing your buddy's install? According to your train of thought, unless it's a 3-time IASCA SQ world champ or somebody along those lines, then I don't think having "better" amps than the XXK series really makes sense, does it? Or perhaps you should convince your buddy to spend even more money on a HU and some speakers?

It's totally besides the point.

 

[blue 10+ year member]

So then, who will be doing your buddy's install? According to your train of thought, unless it's a 3-time IASCA SQ world champ or somebody along those lines, then I don't think having "better" amps than the XXK series really makes sense, does it? Or perhaps you should convince your buddy to spend even more money on a HU and some speakers?
It's totally besides the point.

His install WILL INDEED be done by a former multi time IASCA winner. That's not even an issue. He's going with some Rainbow speakers that are around $2000 and pure silver wiring. He's getting the same DRZ-9255 head unit like i have , so he will be perfectly set up for sound worthy of great amps .....

he feels my amps are incredibly accurate with about the quietest noise floor he's ever heard. He likes the dynamics of my amps also ( I guess so ... 350w to each door and 550w per sub ) , however he feels the XXK has one shortcoming ...... He feels the sound is not quite " open " enough, and thinks there should be a little more sparkle ( can't perfectly say i disagree with this statement ) ..... that's his whole thing.

 

[937DYTBOI 5,000+ posts]

im sure that D9 amp should be superb

 

[blue 10+ year member]

im sure that D9 amp should be superb

I liked their D7 amps a lot. They were VERY revealing , but could have had a lower noise floor IMO .....

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

however he feels the XXK has one shortcoming ...... He feels the sound is not quite " open " enough, and thinks there should be a little more sparkle ( can't perfectly say i disagree with this statement ) ..... that's his whole thing.

you sure its not the speaker that he's talking about which doens't give a "sparkle?" //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif .

what reference does he have to say your amps don't have that "little sparkle." has he heard a system where a car has the same speakers but different amp and it gave that "sparkle" he was looking for. not trying to bash, but thats hard for me to believe.

as for suggestions, DLS Ultimate Amps, Arc Audio SE and Foose (replaced XXK line), Zapco C2K.

 

[blue 10+ year member]

you sure its not the speaker that he's talking about which doens't give a "sparkle?" //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif .
what reference does he have to say your amps don't have that "little sparkle." has he heard a system where a car has the same speakers but different amp and it gave that "sparkle" he was looking for. not trying to bash, but thats hard for me to believe.

as for suggestions, DLS Ultimate Amps, Arc Audio SE and Foose (replaced XXK line), Zapco C2K.

Yeah .... He's heard MY car with different amps and the same exact speakers. I use Rainbow Profi Kicks, and they are insanely good for the price. I don't think it's the speakers he's referring to.

 

[Echo42987 10+ year member]

DLS FTW

thats all that needs to be said here

-Nick-