Good quality budget amp to run a component set?

[copene]

Get the ppi 900.4 and call it a day. I've got one and the thing is a beast. It's small, has power for days and it's basically silent.

 

[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

Not going to bring anyone into this...lol

I guess we will agree to disagree. I have owned both and still have the Zapco's.

And I do run much better source's than the average Joe.....So I guess you answered that question your self.

They are just a plain better amp no matter how you cut it.

 

[neo_styles 10+ year member]

Not going to bring anyone into this...lol
I guess we will agree to disagree. I have owned both and still have the Zapco's.

And I do run much better source's than the average Joe.....So I guess you answered that question your self.

They are just a plain better amp no matter how you cut it.

I'm not disagreeing. There's a reason Zapco's been around since the 70s with virtually no advertising budget and even their new non-Zeff Z and ZX series are just pure monsters. But that was the point I'm trying to convey is that he's not going to be able to perceive a difference between the Zapco and Boston, so I'm just trying to save him a few bucks...and hopefully make a few more from my other sales to pick up those Zapcos myself //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/greedy.gif.5a53e6246569d7ab79867170f3b06629.gif

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

I heard the PHDs and they did sound good but they sound a lot like the JL C5s. Very bland, if you tried to EQ life into them they got raspy. Don't talk about the titles, JL and DD hold a ton of titles and they are always getting hated on. Don't forget a stock beamer system won SQ when they added a MS-8

 

[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

I'm not disagreeing. There's a reason Zapco's been around since the 70s with virtually no advertising budget and even their new non-Zeff Z and ZX series are just pure monsters. But that was the point I'm trying to convey is that he's not going to be able to perceive a difference between the Zapco and Boston, so I'm just trying to save him a few bucks...and hopefully make a few more from my other sales to pick up those Zapcos myself //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/greedy.gif.5a53e6246569d7ab79867170f3b06629.gif

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/toast.gif.bc0657bf54b9ee653b6438524461341e.gif

Good point at the OP will most likely not be able to tell the difference.....

Well.....I could always use a 4th.....so IF you do get them....I will take 1:greedy:

The wife refuses to give mt the credit card......other wise....

 

[neo_styles 10+ year member]

I heard the PHDs and they did sound good but they sound a lot like the JL C5s. Very bland, if you tried to EQ life into them they got raspy. Don't talk about the titles, JL and DD hold a ton of titles and they are always getting hated on. Don't forget a stock beamer system won SQ when they added a MS-8

Lol good point, but I have tons of life and vibrance in my midrange and midbass. Can't attest to the tweets since I'm running off a pair of JBL MS tweets instead, but I don't detect any raspiness there. Also, any EQ tweaks I have to make are minimal (talking maybe 1 or 2 dB in either direction) to get them to really pop. A simple +2dB boost in 80Hz provided more than enough impact, even without a sub stage. a +4dB boost on 80Hz was overwhelming. They're just temperamental, I guess, but very few drivers aren't.

 

[neo_styles 10+ year member]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/toast.gif.bc0657bf54b9ee653b6438524461341e.gifGood point at the OP will most likely not be able to tell the difference.....

Well.....I could always use a 4th.....so IF you do get them....I will take 1:greedy:

The wife refuses to give mt the credit card......other wise....

Gotta sell off my Sony Mobile ES 2-channels first and a new HU is first up on the upgrade path. I'll also be getting a Zed Minotaur next month from our buddy Vertex. But, trust me, I'd love to.

In related news, a buddy of mine had a NOS Z600.2CL that he just couldn't find a use for. I didn't have the funds at the time to snatch it up, but really kick myself for not having done so.

 

[Bass Face84]

Wow, thanks for all the input guys. I really don't know which amp to get now lol. I like the BA Gt2200, the PPI 900.4 has fantastic reviews and tons of head room. The DD amp looks really nice. I think It's between the Soundquebed 220.2 and the BA gt2200. As for the PHD I am not for sure on them just yet. I am not looking into HAT, CDT, and raw drivers from PE/MADISOUND. HMMM, So many choices out there, what to do, WHAT TO DO LOL.

 

[Bass Face84]

One thing now is I am totally on board with going with a much bigger amp to get head room. I now want at least 150 x 2 rms. The PPI 900.4 would really give me some options for upgrading my system later. I could go active or send a **** ton of power to a comp set lol

But, I really like that BA gt2200. 200X2 rms and is under $200. I am thinking about pulling the trigger on that right now and deciding on my comp set later...

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

Wow, ****, what an example of totally overwhelming a guy with suggestions muddled with opinions and chest pounding. Bass Face84, whatever amp you decide to run should be perfectly fine. The amp plays a small role in your overall sound as long as it's a good design. As for deciding on how much power to buy, you want to consider your music preferences. If you mostly listen to current pop music with no dynamic range that "headroom" is going to go to waste.

 

[Bass Face84]

Wow, ****, what an example of totally overwhelming a guy with suggestions muddled with opinions and chest pounding. Bass Face84, whatever amp you decide to run should be perfectly fine. The amp plays a small role in your overall sound as long as it's a good design. As for deciding on how much power to buy, you want to consider your music preferences. If you mostly listen to current pop music with no dynamic range that "headroom" is going to go to waste.

I listen to Classic rock, Metal, Hip-hop,Dubstep and a little bit of everything except country.

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

I listen to Classic rock, Metal, Hip-hop,Dubstep and a little bit of everything except country.

What do you listen most of the time? Most people think they listen to a bit of everything when they actually go to a small variety of music over and over. For me that's metal and rock.

How amplifier power relates to dynamic range in music is every time the music gets louder by 3 dB it requires twice as much power to recreate that music without any clipping. A 10 dB transient requires 10 times the power. A 20 dB transient requires 100 times the power. Most of the time we're running our amplifiers at roughly 5-10% of clean power, even when it's loud enough to block out someone speaking at conversational level in the passenger seat. So let's say our favorite music is playing at a comfortably loud level with 10W average power and we get a 10 dB peak. Suddenly the amplifier needs to put out 100W. What if the amplifier is only rated for 80W? That means the amplifier is now clipping. This isn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be. We can listen to some clipping from our amplifier and it may sound just as good as no clipping, if it's only clipping the transients.

Modern rock and metal music has very little dynamic range. The same goes for dubstep. It's loud, loud, loud. Classic rock, well, it depends on the recording. Remastered albums often have less dynamic range. Now, if our favorite music, the music we listen to 9 times out of 10, has few big transients, then that hugely powerful amplifier is sitting idly. Queue the people who argue this is necessary, usually claiming that amplifier distortion must be kept to a bare minimum because we all have golden ears and at some time we all listen to symphonies while parked in the garage. This is overlooking the fact that our speakers are by far the largest source of distortion, by several orders of magnitude.

How do you shop for a speaker amplifier? Find out what fits in the space you've allotted in your vehicle, decide on a brand that makes you feel good, and buy the most power you can afford in the space you've allotted. The class matters little(A/B, D, etc.) as long as it sounds good.

 

[Bass Face84]

What do you listen most of the time? Most people think they listen to a bit of everything when they actually go to a small variety of music over and over. For me that's metal and rock.
How amplifier power relates to dynamic range in music is every time the music gets louder by 3 dB it requires twice as much power to recreate that music without any clipping. A 10 dB transient requires 10 times the power. A 20 dB transient requires 100 times the power. Most of the time we're running our amplifiers at roughly 5-10% of clean power, even when it's loud enough to block out someone speaking at conversational level in the passenger seat. So let's say our favorite music is playing at a comfortably loud level with 10W average power and we get a 10 dB peak. Suddenly the amplifier needs to put out 100W. What if the amplifier is only rated for 80W? That means the amplifier is now clipping. This isn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be. We can listen to some clipping from our amplifier and it may sound just as good as no clipping, if it's only clipping the transients.

Modern rock and metal music has very little dynamic range. The same goes for dubstep. It's loud, loud, loud. Classic rock, well, it depends on the recording. Remastered albums often have less dynamic range. Now, if our favorite music, the music we listen to 9 times out of 10, has few big transients, then that hugely powerful amplifier is sitting idly. Queue the people who argue this is necessary, usually claiming that amplifier distortion must be kept to a bare minimum because we all have golden ears and at some time we all listen to symphonies while parked in the garage. This is overlooking the fact that our speakers are by far the largest source of distortion, by several orders of magnitude.

How do you shop for a speaker amplifier? Find out what fits in the space you've allotted in your vehicle, decide on a brand that makes you feel good, and buy the most power you can afford in the space you've allotted. The class matters little(A/B, D, etc.) as long as it sounds good.

Well my favorite bands are Tool and Pink Floyd. Listen to alot of both classic and more modern rock some may call it metal but to me it's not really metal. It's stuff like Gojira, between the buried and me, The Acacia Strain etc... I do listen to alot of dubstep lately though especially once I get my subwoofers. I also like old school hip-hop and sometimes I like to listen to pure moods stuff like Enya and Enigma. I would say mostly rock from classic to metal then dubstep . I do want a loud comp setup but want no distortion and to be very clear and have that sparkle to it. To me the best set of speakers I ever heard were the Focal Polykevlars. They sounded AMAZING to me but are WAY out of my price range.

Oh and as far as what I'm looking for in a amp well first off room is no issue. I have a SUV and don't need all that space. I would like to get some good power maybe 150+ x 2 rms. Since I will be using my HU xo the amp xo is not important to me. Just needs to have the full range option which most all amps do. Basically I want an amp that puts out true clean power and I'm willing to spend up to $250ish

 

[SounDrive Pro Seller]

One thing now is I am totally on board with going with a much bigger amp to get head room. I now want at least 150 x 2 rms. The PPI 900.4 would really give me some options for upgrading my system later. I could go active or send a **** ton of power to a comp set lol
But, I really like that BA gt2200. 200X2 rms and is under $200. I am thinking about pulling the trigger on that right now and deciding on my comp set later...

I can't speak for the others, but the PPI 900.4 is a great little amp. It really surprised me with how well it sounds and how much power it puts out. I actually had to turn the gain down because it was overpowering my door speakers.

 

[Bass Face84]

All right guys, I am about to order the Boston Acoustics GT-2200. I have been researching it for an hour straight and found nothing but great things. It's $190 shipped. Does 200 x 2 rms, 100 db signal to noise ratio, built in fan cooling etc. The only knock on it I guess would be it's a really big amp and weighs 13 lbs but that is no issue for me. I have all the room in the world. Now I need help choosing a 6.5" comp set! I have a budget of about $300 but I'll take this to the speakers forum. Thanks guys, hope I made a good decision.