Comparing ARC amps..?

[tukn18s 10+ year member]

I know that the SE is just in a league of its own. What I would like to know more about however are the XXK compared to the FD. Are the FD series just more money because they are "foose design" or are that more advanced in audio technology when compared to the XXK. personally I like the XXK, but, if the FD is better, Ill be going with them.

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[Cmonster 10+ year member]

The FD is the upgraded version of the XXK. I had the same question and called Matt at ARc Audio. He said the FD was a better all round unit. Better fan and upgraded circutry and components if I remember right. Basically the new version of the XXK. I end up getting three FD's rather than spending a bit less on XXK's after I talked to him. For what its worth, he said he would go with the FD's given the choice of the two.

 

[GeeTEye 10+ year member]

Well of course the guys at Arc are going to tell you they are better. I was told they were pretty much the same amps just in a "flashier oufit." Even the wattage is identical. The SE series is a new amp from the ground up and by no means the "value" of the xxk. If you have the money get what you want, but as far as wattage per dollar I don't think you will be disappointed with the xxk's. There is probably very little difference (audible) between the xxk and the SE and even less between the xxk's and the FD.

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

Well XXKs retailed for more than the FD's. So they've managed to make the FD's not only better, but at a better retail point. The FD's also use Sanken bipolar output devices whereas the XXK do not.

Copied from a Fred Lynch post on ECA..

"ok,

I guess its time to touch on this once again..... The FD series is the replacement for the XXK line since it is being discontinued and phased out as we speak.

The FD series is a superior design in the following areas-

1) Heatsink and Chassis design (Thermally) This unit uses much more physical mass and units of material per sq mm with a much high level of thermal control and heat regulation within the rail sections of the amplifier

2) New assembly and qc procedures have now allowed us to re-allocate production costs to the selection of much higher quality, much tighter tolerance, and even private labeled parts to be installed onto the amplifier

3) The boards have been completley redesigned and relayed vs. the XXK sereis with shortened and much more direct path lengths between the output devices and the speaker terminals

4) Certain circuit protection systems learned from the SE line has been integrated into all of our new lines to extended the life and reliability of the amplifier and protect it from things like short circuits and other unforseen external issues

5) The FD series amplifiers are testing in at lower THD specs with up to 9% more power in most cases over XXK which XXK was still average 11% more than factory rated specifications.

These are just a few.....

Listening.... The are both great amplifiers and unless you have the ears of some very resilliant animals you will most likely not hear the difference watt for watt but with the fd you do get a bit more juice.

I run the FD series in my daily driver (FD1200.1 and FD4150) and both are mounted in the worse possible application possible (Spare tire well in a sealed compartment) and even with the intense heat of this last summer they never shut down, they never lost tonal or dynamic performance, and never left me hanging or dissapointed on my purchase....

Personal opinion on the cosmetics.....

I like the cosmetics over the XXK.... very smooth and flexiable design. the colors match with most any color of interior of vehicle and has flexiable styling that works with everything from a hotrod, to a import, to a high end luxary car.

The amplifier comes with multiple logo plates which are all CNC'D aluminum which gives you the option of to use or not to use the end caps depending on your installation which gives it a lot of flexibility on looking good for any installation...

Drawbacks (IMO) -

The amplifier is 10" wide which does not make it sutable for a some under the seat installations and some stacking installations in some vehicles....

also the block terminals use phillips screws which I personally prefer Allen screws which allows better contact between the driver and the screw with the aboloty to get more torque and pressure on the screw.

This is my $.02 and im sticking to it...."

 

[blue 10+ year member]

I've installed probably 20 FD amps , and have never heard a difference over the XXKs in any way at all. The better cooling on the FD series is important however , because I have personally witnessed several XXKs go into protect mode due to getting hot.

Lastly , When I first saw photos of the FD amps , I did not like the way they looked , but after actually getting my hands on some , they are simply BEAUTIFUL. Very clean looking when the end caps are installed !

 

[eatank 10+ year member]

I have had the XXK's and loved them, but I just received my FD's and actually love them also. At first I was unsure of the new design, but they look great and sound great. I was going to get the SE, but my rep talked me out of them, which I was suprised. I am glad he did. Just my 2 cents.

 

[tukn18s 10+ year member]

alright they, time to save a little extra dough lol

 

[Lizardking 10+ year member]

I would bet you wouldn't hear the difference between the XXK's FD's or the SE's......

 

[matthew14]

im running two xxk and i can tell you from switching out and putting in fd seris amps, the fd just dont have the same power. i am running 2 2500 xxk and a 4150 arc audios

pushin 2 12w7's and the fd's just couldnt hang

sorry that was my experiance.

matt