Good quality budget amp to run a component set?

[Bass Face84]

I have decided I am open to buying used. I want something nice though. My budget I will push up to about $250 for a 2 channel amp. Should I post in the classifieds?

 

[Bass Face84]

I have upped my budget and now I'm thinking about going with the soundqubed 2 channel ( 220x2rms ) and pair it with the PHD 6.1PRO KIT. Would this be a good setup?

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

I dont get the hype with PHD, they fell so cheap in your hands. Here is your amp. C2c | DD Audio

 

[calebkhill 10+ year member]

I have upped my budget and now I'm thinking about going with the soundqubed 2 channel ( 220x2rms ) and pair it with the PHD 6.1PRO KIT. Would this be a good setup?

Perfect setup.

I run the PRO KIT, sounds amazing.

And the 220x2 is going to give you plenty of headroom to make those mids sound great.

The hype? They've won championships in Europe, and sound fantastic?

 

[basswiigee]

I have upped my budget and now I'm thinking about going with the soundqubed 2 channel ( 220x2rms ) and pair it with the PHD 6.1PRO KIT. Would this be a good setup?

the soundqubed amp is great so is that DD he (DDtc ) posted. both awesome amps, i've never ran phd so i can't speak on it personally but have heard good thing about them...

 

[neo_styles 10+ year member]

I can echo towards the quality of PHD's drivers, but what he was getting at was they don't feel as solid in the hand and I can give him that. My FB mids feel like nothing amazing in the hand and don't have the pizzazz of some other drivers, but I think the proof is in the pudding. These FB mids put my JBL MS mids to shame once you go below 100Hz. Running these on a dual mono setup with gains set conservatively for testing, I got them to play sub-bass frequencies with authority down to around 45Hz. They're very well designed, just not flashy, and I think that's the angle that PHD was going for. Kinda the same thing that HAT does with theirs. I've heard all too many times people complaining about a $300 component set that literally looked like an OEM speaker. And then their minds were immediately changed once they were set up.

OP, I think you're getting on the right track. A 2-channel with headroom is going to do you much better off than one that does what you want right at rated power. You may also want to consider a 4-channel amp like the PPI P900.4 for $200 that will do 160W+ per channel or you can bridge two pairs of channels and get significantly more.

But at least you have options.

 

[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

New....

this

Soundstream REF2.370 2 Channel Amplifiers at Onlinecarstereo.com

With in your budget and these do sound very good, IMO better than anything on your list.

Used

Old School Rockford Fosgate 240x4 4 Channels Mint | eBay

Bad azz amp

Pair of Old School Zapco Studio Z50C2 The Driving Force 1 Ohm Amps Amplifiers | eBay

I know a tad out of your budget but WELL worth the extra. Hell, you could sell one and keep one.

And do not be fooled by the power ratings....Old school power at its finest!

 

[mclerico83 5,000+ posts]

GT 22 Boston Acoustics 2 CH Amp 1000W Max Sub Speakers Amplifier Open Box 932675723451 | eBay

made in italy top quality

Boston Acoustics GT-2200 2 Channel Amplifiers at Onlinecarstereo.com

a steal of an amp, get a matching one to run a sub //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif 1 ohm stable

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_18558_Boston-Acoustics-GT-2200.html

look at the reviews

 

[basswiigee]

I can echo towards the quality of PHD's drivers, but what he was getting at was they don't feel as solid in the hand and I can give him that. My FB mids feel like nothing amazing in the hand and don't have the pizzazz of some other drivers, but I think the proof is in the pudding. These FB mids put my JBL MS mids to shame once you go below 100Hz. Running these on a dual mono setup with gains set conservatively for testing, I got them to play sub-bass frequencies with authority down to around 45Hz. They're very well designed, just not flashy, and I think that's the angle that PHD was going for. Kinda the same thing that HAT does with theirs. I've heard all too many times people complaining about a $300 component set that literally looked like an OEM speaker. And then their minds were immediately changed once they were set up.
OP, I think you're getting on the right track. A 2-channel with headroom is going to do you much better off than one that does what you want right at rated power. You may also want to consider a 4-channel amp like the PPI P900.4 for $200 that will do 160W+ per channel or you can bridge two pairs of channels and get significantly more.

But at least you have options.

I totally agree with neo, and especially the 4ch aspect

 

[mclerico83 5,000+ posts]

Ct Sounds 125 2 Amp Amplifier 125W RMS 250W Max Class A B 2 Channel 2 Ohm | eBay

 

[calebkhill 10+ year member]

New....this

Soundstream REF2.370 2 Channel Amplifiers at

Onlinecarstereo.com

With in your budget and these do sound very

good, IMO better than anything on your list.

Used

Old School Rockford Fosgate 240x4 4 Channels

Mint | eBay

Bad azz amp

Pair of Old School Zapco Studio Z50C2 The

Driving Force 1 Ohm Amps Amplifiers | eBay

I know a tad out of your budget but WELL worth

the extra. Hell, you could sell one and keep one.

And do not be fooled by the power ratings....Old

school power at its finest!

No. No disrespect.

GT 22 Boston Acoustics 2 CH Amp 1000W MaxSub Speakers Amplifier Open Box 932675723451 |

eBay

made in italy top quality

Boston Acoustics GT-2200 2 Channel Amplifiers

at Onlinecarstereo.com

a steal of an amp, get a matching one to run a

sub 1 ohm stable

Don't know the specs fur the gt22, but the gt2200 would be a great amp.

BA can't go wrong.

And like neo said, the looks aren't special, but the performance is.

As for bridging a 4 channel, make sure it's bridges in stereo mode.......

 

[neo_styles 10+ year member]

Don't know the specs fur the gt22, but the gt2200 would be a great amp.BA can't go wrong.

Essentially the same amp except one is made in Malaysia while the other in the same Italian buildhouse they make Steg amps. You can't go wrong with either and this GT2125 I'm running now has balls for days. The 2200 is just a little bigger, but the jump in power warrants it. A 2300 is probably going to be too big for the OP to handle. In terms of size, the GT24 would actually be right in line with the GT2125, so the GT22 does take a slight bump down. Doesn't really matter, though, they're small and can throw out far more power than they're rated for.

 

[thevic24 5,000+ posts]

Sorry but those Zapco's will run circles around the BA amps...hands down and sound 100x better.

Not even close. MUCH better build quality.

Now new, yes The BA's are better vs the Soundstream's.

 

[neo_styles 10+ year member]

Sorry but those Zapco's will run circles around the BA amps...hands down and sound 100x better.Not even close. MUCH better build quality.

Now new, yes The BA's are better vs the Soundstream's.

I will disagree and have run both. The Bostons are extremely transparent amps. So are the Zapco. But in terms of dynamics, the differences are minimal unless you're running a significantly better source than what the average consumer cares to buy. Please don't bring a Zeff is God argument into this thread, the OP isn't ready for it yet.

 

[neo_styles 10+ year member]

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/amplifier-classifieds/591185-massive-audio-nx4-small-4-channel-100w-x-4-a.html

Here's some food for thought, OP. Good price and well-taken care of by the original owner. Those NX amps are baffingly small for a Class A/B and what they're capable of putting out. Think 400W per channel bridged will be enough for you, OP?

Granted, they're not on the same plane as the Boston or Zapco, but they're a great starter option for you.