Do they even make good amps anymore?

[oldskool79]

Are there any good amps still on the market that don't cost a fortune? I know this question has come up many times on here but I'm new and want some questions answered by some experts. I've always owned good systems, whether in my home or in my vehicles. There's just too many things that have changed since I was in the market. All the equipment I own now have suited my needs for years, not to mention the sound quality is very good. That's the quality I'm looking for. I just don't want to spend a fortune. I have to answer to my "boss" now, if you know what I mean.

I want a system that has about 70W TRUE RMS with no distortion on my front and rear deck 6-1/2" speakers, with 2 12" subs in a sealed enclosure in the trunk that will thump even at low volume. I have a system I bought in '01 that still sounds better than any of the stereos I hear now. It has a 4-channel amp that only pushes 65WPC RMS (Class A) to the front four 6"x8"s, and a 200WPC RMS 2-channel (class A) on 2 12" Xplod subs in a sealed enclosure. I've been around, and I still can't say I've heard any that sound "better" than what I have in my Explorer. It has some serious SPLs. Don't laugh 'cause it's true.

I'm thinking a 4-channel amp to push the front speakers, and a 2-channel (maybe a mono) amp to push the subs, all at 4 ohms. What brands, and what types of amps out there that will come close to what I already have in this vehicle. I've had no luck so far.

Is there anyway to get the SQ I'm looking for without spending a small fortune?

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[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

I'm laughing

 

[big scott]

I'm laughing

that was a good read.... lol thanks op...

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

There are now better amps on the market that don't cost a fortune. You can check classifieds on here.

You need to hear some more stereos too.

 

[James Coyle]

You need to hear some more stereos too.

ye

The (s) was retained for... uh, emphasis. Yeah. Mhm, emphasis.

 

[big scott]

you forgot the ( s) lol ....

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

Lol, yes. We understand though

 

[C1500martin 10+ year member]

here you go man this amp is the SHIZNIT! can power a full setup and get you turning heads from how loud and clear you'll be!

Boss CXX2705 Chaos EXXtreme 2700W 5-Channel Car Amplifier

 

[big scott]

here you go man this amp is the SHIZNIT! can power a full setup and get you turning heads from how loud and clear you'll be!Boss CXX2705 Chaos EXXtreme 2700W 5-Channel Car Amplifier

now thats good lol lol.....

thats the BEST AMP OUT, a must have...

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

here you go man this amp is the SHIZNIT! can power a full setup and get you turning heads from how loud and clear you'll be!Boss CXX2705 Chaos EXXtreme 2700W 5-Channel Car Amplifier

Really under-rated..

 

[oldskool79]

Really?? I was hoping for a little more info. Take my word for it..., I've been listening to stereos (and very good ones) for more years than most of y'all have been alive, lol! Most of the stereos I hear now wouldn't hold a candle to the "cheap" one I have. Even the stereo install experts, and some that have even built competition systems, compliment me when they hear mine. Some are even baffled a little, lol. I would challenge anybody to find a stereo that sounds any "better" than the one I have in my Explorer. Notice I didn't say "louder", just "better". Both the amps are class A amps with THDs of less than .02, and the amps are CEA compliant (pre 2006), an Alpine 4-channel (65 WPC into 4 ohms) & a Sony Xplod (2-channel @ 200 WPC into 4 ohms, before the days of the "junk" I've seen on the market the last few years). I think it says a LOT that these amps are still in use for 14+ years now, and they have NEVER overheated or clipped driving them hard for hours on end.

I do read the specs on everything, but there seems to be no uniformity to them. Some are CEA compliant, some are not. I've read reviews, and afterwards thought "who's paying these people to say what they're saying?" after actually listening to them. I just want honest answers. I may know "nothing" about stereos, but I do know what sounds good to me. Crystal clear sound all the way through the spectrum from 20 Hz to 20 kHz is what I like. Needless to say, they don't exactly make them like they used to.

I know they use different standards today than they used to, and that's why I'm having trouble get the best bang for the buck.

 

[oldskool79]

here you go man this amp is the SHIZNIT! can power a full setup and get you turning heads from how loud and clear you'll be!Boss CXX2705 Chaos EXXtreme 2700W 5-Channel Car Amplifier

The specs on this one sound really good, but has anybody tested it to see if the specs are right? I'm liking the THD spec, and the reviews are all good, but do any of y'all have this particular amp?

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Your drunk. Go home.

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

I've read reviews, and afterwards thought "who's paying these people to say what they're saying?" after actually listening to them. I just want honest answers.

If you've been around other audio enthusiasts as long as you claim to have been listening to "very good" stereos, you know fully well how passionate people can be about their equipment. You seem to be implying that manufacturers and dealers are paying for good reviews. Sometimes there are samples sent around for review, and obviously those create bias, but when many, many reviews say the same praise you have to start believing something is genuine, right?

If the reviews are corrupt, why not look at test bench measurements? They're still done today. PASMag.com posts such measurements with every review, so you can skip over the print and go right to the data if you want.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Also CEA compliant means nothing. The amps you see winning the big awards are not CEA compliant. The ones you see that are are from a brand that may have one amp that passes its weak criteria