DLS vs. Arc multichannel amps

innsanes
10+ year member

CarAudio.com Elite
Looking for a 4 channel amp that will have the lowest distortion when playing at high volumes. dls A4 or Arc 4150 xxk Also i want smooth warm sound. Did a search but nothing realy answered my questions. Sundown is anotther option im looking at.

 
Looking for a 4 channel amp that will have the lowest distortion when playing at high volumes. dls A4 or Arc 4150 xxk Also i want smooth warm sound. Did a search but nothing realy answered my questions. Sundown is anotther option im looking at.

If you want low distortion at high volumes go with the amplifier that has the highest power output within your budget that has the features you want, build quality, warranty and customer service levels you desire and is aesthetically pleasing to you. It's about that simple.

An amplifier isn't going to give you a "smooth warm sound".

 
If you want low distortion at high volumes go with the amplifier that has the highest power output within your budget that has the features you want, build quality, warranty and customer service levels you desire and is aesthetically pleasing to you. It's about that simple.
An amplifier isn't going to give you a "smooth warm sound".
Sometimes highest power comes with high distortion, amp are rated diffrent and some have better crossovers/ damping then others so this is why i ask people that has some hand on experience with any of the above.

 
its like comparing a ferrari to a corvette or a mustang, powerwise they can both be in the same power range of 300-400 hp but one is actually more efficent doing so and with higher quilty. So no its not that simple. Not everything is black and white

 
OK, then rock on with yo bad self.

I do believe he meant "within" the companies you named. I highly doubt he would agree that you get a craig 1000 watt 4 ch amp versus DLS 200 watt 4 ch amp. You gave specific names and his response was formulated with that information you provided. Within those companies and many other notables it does boil down to which has the features and power you want for "your" budget. It is as simple as that. Any difference (if there was any) between them will NEVER be distinguished by the human ear. Neither one of the companies named will provide more "smooth warm sound" than the other if that was even possible.

If you want to just dismiss honest, truthful and **** accurate answers, then don't ask the question.

 
OK, then rock on with yo bad self.

I do believe he meant "within" the companies you named. I highly doubt he would agree that you get a craig 1000 watt 4 ch amp versus DLS 200 watt 4 ch amp. You gave specific names and his response was formulated with that information you provided. Within those companies and many other notables it does boil down to which has the features and power you want for "your" budget. It is as simple as that. Any difference (if there was any) between them will NEVER be distinguished by the human ear. Neither one of the companies named will provide more "smooth warm sound" than the other if that was even possible.

If you want to just dismiss honest, truthful and **** accurate answers, then don't ask the question.
DLS does have a tube amp, So your telling me that theres no diffrent in sound there? I'm sure if you know anything about tube amp it can sound smooth

 
DLS does have a tube amp, So your telling me that theres no diffrent in sound there? I'm sure if you know anything about tube amp it can sound smooth
No one mentioned tube amps ya nitwit. You also still totally missed the friggin point!

If you are gonna start to compare toobs to SS amps then you might as well start throwing some bananas in there to compare everything to as well. However if you want MY oppinion on toobs, yes they have a slightly different sound. I personally don't care for it. The sound it adds isn't in the recording, so to me it is noise. Some prefer this introduced noise and think it adds character in the same way Vinyl does, but it isn't for me. These car audio tube amps aren't true tube amps either. The signal is handled with them, but that is as far as it goes. I also don't think DLS makes a 4 channel tube amp. Please stick with the original info you asked for. More specifically you said A4. We are answering your question based on criteria YOU posted. This is starting to look more like a trolling thread then a serious want of help or advice.

My discussions are over with you because it is obvious you know it all. Which begs the question as to why you would ask this question if you already know all the answers? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

 
Sometimes highest power comes with high distortion, amp are rated diffrent
At the quality level of amplifiers you are looking at, none of them will be overrated or rate their power at more than 1% THD, which is inaudible. None of them are horrendously underrated either.....if you were looking at something like the RF Power or 25-Life series this would be a different story as they output well over rated power (not that underrating is "superior", just a factor that needs considered).

and some have better crossovers/
Which is precisely why I mentioned "features" in my post.....the crossover is a "feature".

Shouldn't be an audible difference in damping between the amplifiers. About the only time this becomes an issue is when we are dealing with true tube amplifiers (with tubes actually on the outputs and not just in the preamp).

its like comparing a ferrari to a corvette or a mustang, powerwise they can both be in the same power range of 300-400 hp but one is actually more efficent doing so
Efficiency I considered within the scope of "features", which is again why I explicitly stated to look for an amplifier that also had the "features" (efficiency, processing, connection layout [all on one side vs opposite ends], physical size, etc) you desired.

and with higher quilty.
I wouldn't consider either of the options you mentioned (or much within their price range) to really be of superior or inferior quality to each other.

So no its not that simple. Not everything is black and white
Yeah, it really is that simple.

The problem is people try to make it more difficult than it really is.

DLS does have a tube amp, So your telling me that theres no diffrent in sound there? I'm sure if you know anything about tube amp it can sound smooth
I do believe the tubes are only in the preamp stage.....it's not a true tube amplifier. It has a standard solid state output section....and majority of a "tubes sound" comes from them being in the output section of the amplifier where they have a greater effect on distortion performance and damping factor.

 
ARC

12db variable x-over 55hz-5.5khz

80 x 4 @ 4ohms

DLS

Not sure if the x-over's are 6-12-18-24 db cannot find specific info. I would guess 12db the standard usually on built in amp x-overs.

Filters channel A & B LP: 50-125 Hz. HP: 20-200 Hz / 60-600 Hz

Filters channel C & D LP: 45-200 Hz / 90-400 Hz. HP: 20-200 Hz

85 x 4 @ 4ohms

Looking at going active looks like a bit of a problem if you plan to use the x-over on the DLS to x-over your highs. Unless I am missing something on the info provided by DLS. If there was a 10x multiplier then I would say no problem.

If I am missing something here someone please correct me.

 
Activity
No one is currently typing a reply...
Old Thread: Please note, there have been no replies in this thread for over 3 years!
Content in this thread may no longer be relevant.
Perhaps it would be better to start a new thread instead.

About this thread

innsanes

10+ year member
CarAudio.com Elite
Thread starter
innsanes
Joined
Location
HB Cali
Start date
Participants
Who Replied
Replies
17
Views
2,330
Last reply date
Last reply from
innsanes
IMG_20260515_202650612_HDR.jpg

sherbanater

    May 15, 2026
  • 0
  • 0
IMG_20260515_202732887_HDR.jpg

sherbanater

    May 15, 2026
  • 0
  • 0

New threads

Top