Best small amp for my needs?

[9Nails 10+ year member]

Hello,

I'm looking to add a single 8" or 10" sub woofer to my stock stereo system. I have the premium Bose stereo that comes with my '05 Nissan Maxima. Which, it sounds really good for my needs. I know that brings up a whole 'nother argument about SQ, lets just not go there. But the stock 6x9 subs get lost in little bit of road noise when I'm at freeway speeds. Around town it sounds real nice, but could hit a little harder and play a little deeper. Since I listen to a lot of Rap and hard rock, bass is important to me. I would also like to improve the low end without dedicating too much trunk space to components. I'm looking for good SQ rather than high SPLs. And I don't have any plans at all to add any more speakers or use the amp in a DVC configuration or 2ohm load. Pretty much, 1 channel at 4 ohms would make me happy for life. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif (Sad huh?)

My considerations are:

Small physical size (8x6x2 would be nice.)

Class-D Mono Sub Amp (I heard class-d are good for a sub, opinions?)

About 100 to 150 watts RMS at 4 ohms

High-level inputs

Variable lowpass crossover built-in

I'm looking at an MTX Road Thunder 251D, and would really appreciate your opinions on that amp or perhaps a slight step up from it. I'm not focused specifically on the MTX brand name but more on the sepc's,. I'll take recomendations for any quality amp brand that you can think of. Price isn't an issue up to about $400, then the amp better be something special!

Thanks!

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[stones 10+ year member]

That MTX would be pretty much perfect for your needs.

 

[9Nails 10+ year member]

That MTX would be pretty much perfect for your needs.

Cool, thanks! So there's no problems with that amp? Should last a few years, and drive a single 8 or 10 without any worries?

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

Cool, thanks! So there's no problems with that amp? Should last a few years, and drive a single 8 or 10 without any worries?

Yes and yes to the first two bits.

Assuming the 8" or 10" you get is a fairly efficient driver it ought to be fine. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[djman37 5,000+ posts]

http://cgi.ebay.com/BLAUPUNKT-PA2150-400-WATT-2-1-CHANNEL-AMP-68_W0QQitemZ5863864955QQcategoryZ18796QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

SMALL...can be taken out of plastic housing. ULTRA efficient. High-level inputs, remote gain.

 

[takeabao 10+ year member]

Here:

Phoenix Gold Tantrum 250.2 for about ~$100

http://cgi.ebay.com/PHOENIX-GOLD-TANTRUM-T250-2-AMPLIFIER-2-CHANNEL-AMP-NEW_W0QQitemZ5864071603QQcategoryZ79820QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

2 channel. Bridge it to produce a 250x1 @ 4 ohm load. VERY underrated amplifier. The PG is a Class AB amp. Class D are only "good for a sub" in the sense that efficient is 70% or greater. It may just be me on this forum, but I can in fact hear an audible difference between a Class D and Class AB amplifier on a subwoofer.

A little bigger than your requirement. It has higher-level inputs as well as a built-in LP.

 

[-Sin- 10+ year member]

Hello,
I'm looking to add a single 8" or 10" sub woofer to my stock stereo system. I have the premium Bose stereo that comes with my '05 Nissan Maxima. Which, it sounds really good for my needs. I know that brings up a whole 'nother argument about SQ, lets just not go there. But the stock 6x9 subs get lost in little bit of road noise when I'm at freeway speeds. Around town it sounds real nice, but could hit a little harder and play a little deeper. Since I listen to a lot of Rap and hard rock, bass is important to me. I would also like to improve the low end without dedicating too much trunk space to components. I'm looking for good SQ rather than high SPLs. And I don't have any plans at all to add any more speakers or use the amp in a DVC configuration or 2ohm load. Pretty much, 1 channel at 4 ohms would make me happy for life. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif (Sad huh?)

Are you sure it's a Bose system, I have a 05 Max too with non bose. The subs are 2 6x9 2ohm speakers. If you have a bose it should be two eight inchers back there. If that's the case then replace the two eight inchers with better ones and a new amp of course...

 

[9Nails 10+ year member]

Are you sure it's a Bose system, I have a 05 Max too with non bose. The subs are 2 6x9 2ohm speakers. If you have a bose it should be two eight inchers back there. If that's the case then replace the two eight inchers with better ones and a new amp of course...

I'm positive it's Bose. The invoice shows Bose speakers. But now you have me guessing on the speaker size. The grill's on the rear deck have the perforations for a 6x9 speaker and that is what I was going from. I might have to pull the panel off underneath and check. It sure would be convenient if they were indeed 8", then I could replace them with a better free air woofer. Rework the crossovers and maybe throw in some amplification if it's needed.

 

[-Sin- 10+ year member]

I'm positive it's Bose. The invoice shows 10 Bose speakers. I counted 8 locations, so something must be a coaxial! (I'm guessing the rear door.) But now you have me guessing on the speaker size. The grill's on the rear deck have the perforations for a 6x9 speaker and that is what I was going from. I might have to pull the panel off underneath and check. It sure would be convenient if they were indeed 8", then I could replace them with a better free air woofer. Rework the crossovers and maybe throw in some amplification if it's needed.

If you replace the the subs you will definitly need a new amp and there is no crossover under there, hence the amp will have to have one. the grills do not reflect whats under them remember beauty is skin deep but ugly is down to the bone (had to get that in there)//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

 

[9Nails 10+ year member]

If you replace the the subs you will definitly need a new amp and there is no crossover under there, hence the amp will have to have one. the grills do not reflect whats under them remember beauty is skin deep but ugly is down to the bone (had to get that in there)//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

Thanks -Sin-! Good advice. That's what I came here for! This forum is awesome!

 

[9Nails 10+ year member]

Check this out -Sin-... I have the Permium Bose speaker set, but I have 6x9's in the rear deck. WTH?!

Paper says "Premium Audio Package"



And speakers say "6x9 Speaker set"



Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting

 

[9Nails 10+ year member]

http://cgi.ebay.com/BLAUPUNKT-PA2150-400-WATT-2-1-CHANNEL-AMP-68_W0QQitemZ5863864955QQcategoryZ18796QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
SMALL...can be taken out of plastic housing. ULTRA efficient. High-level inputs, remote gain.

Looks like a really nice little amp! But eBay price is real low compared to others on the 'net. Makes me wonder if it's too good to be true, know what I mean? But I think I like this amp a little better than the MTX for the volume knob and continously adjustable x-over.

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

what kinda car is that again?

 

[9Nails 10+ year member]

what kinda car is that again?

2005 Nissan Maxima SE

 

[-Sin- 10+ year member]

OK they changed this it's supposed to be 8's, however all is not lost. If you have the nerve you can cut some (very little)of the sheet metal and use an MDF ring bolted to the four empty holes, or screw the cutting and just make the ring. You can still mount an eight under there. This is what I am planning on doing, that's how nissan added a 8in using an adapter. the 6x9 cut out does not hinder that much of the open space.