Audible difference between Profile and Kicker

[hondarider 10+ year member]

My maximum budget is $400 shipped for front components and an amp to power them. Would there be a noticeable difference in sound quality with a profile amp compared to a more expensive brand like kicker or phoenix gold? Millionbuy.com has some pretty good prices on there profile amps like this one http://www.millionbuy.com/prfap1000.html If i got a cheaper amp like that then i would have more money for the front components but i don't want to get a cheap amp if its gonna affect sound quality. So will there be an audible difference between a profile amp and like a equally powered kicker amp?

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[Macklessdaddy 10+ year member]

My maximum budget is $400 shipped for front components and an amp to power them. Would there be a noticeable difference in sound quality with a profile amp compared to a more expensive brand like kicker or phoenix gold? Millionbuy.com has some pretty good prices on there profile amps like this one http://www.millionbuy.com/prfap1000.html If i got a cheaper amp like that then i would have more money for the front components but i don't want to get a cheap amp if its gonna affect sound quality. So will there be an audible difference between a profile amp and like a equally powered kicker amp?

not at all,profile makes very good budget amps,you will not notice a difference

 

[laser1984 10+ year member]

I just goy my Profile AP1000 today and it kicks A$$

Got it from

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280071441243&ru=http://search.ebay.com:80/280071441243_W0QQfromZR40QQfviZ1

New in box for 80.00 plus shipping and got it in 3 days

 

[hondarider 10+ year member]

I just goy my Profile AP1000 today and it kicks A$$
Got it from

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280071441243&ru=http://search.ebay.com:80/280071441243_W0QQfromZR40QQfviZ1

New in box for 80.00 plus shipping and got it in 3 days

What speakers are you powering with it?

 

[saj21187 10+ year member]

The MAIN difference will be the build quality and the power rating. More than likely the kickers will last longer and will probably be underrated a decent amount. I would imagine with a cheaper amp it will be somewhat overrated and wont take as much abuse as the kicker would. If your not terribly picky about sq, you more than likely wont notice a huge difference in the actual sound quality. Your speakers will be more important in that aspect

 

[laser1984 10+ year member]

I got it bridged to a 10 inch Cerwin Vega VMAX Sub

 

[evan 10+ year member]

If you're going to go with Profile (not necessarily a bad thing) you might as well get a little headroom to make sure you get the job done. For an extra $4 you could get the AP1040 and bridge it for 2x225watts.

 

[thunder9500 10+ year member]

You guys have to be kidding?

wow. I've seen it all now.

 

[evan 10+ year member]

You guys have to be kidding?
wow. I've seen it all now.

I'm sure the OP appreciates this suggestion...

He asked for opinions, so if you've got one feel free to share.

 

[hondarider 10+ year member]

If you're going to go with Profile (not necessarily a bad thing) you might as well get a little headroom to make sure you get the job done. For an extra $4 you could get the AP1040 and bridge it for 2x225watts.

I thought when you bridged a 4 channel down to 2 channels you would get more distortion or a less clean signal? Would this be noticeable? And i think 160 x2 would be more than enough since most other amps that i looked at like the kicker 350.2 is only rated at 110 x 2.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I thought when you bridged a 4 channel down to 2 channels you would get more distortion or a less clean signal?

Not an audible difference, so it doesn't matter.

Would this be noticeable?

Audibly; No.

And i think 160 x2 would be more than enough since most other amps that i looked at like the kicker 350.2 is only rated at 110 x 2.

Meh...for $4, go ahead and get the larger amp. More power/headroom, as was mentioned (even if you don't "use" it now, it's more potential for future upgrades). And, likewise, it's 2 extra channels that you might be able to use for flexibility in future upgrades.

For $4.....there's really no good reason not to do it.

 

[kizzo 10+ year member]

I think profile amps are great. I got a profile CA600 for 65$ +shipping and its running a pair of 100w rms 200w max cadence components nicely. Ive had it for about a year and it doesnt have any problems at all.

I was actually in a similar situation when i bought my profile. I was gonna spend 50 more dollars and get a kicker kx500.2. Both put out similar power but the size of the kicker was almost double and cost a lot more so i went with profile. couldnt be happier.

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

I would choose Kicker personally.

 

[evan 10+ year member]

I think if the budget is limited, the returns you would receive from buying nicer speakers would outweigh the possible returns from buying nicer amps. (As long as the amps you choose have enough power to run whatever speakers you choose.)