Help a newbie choose a amp, please

[NCHornet 10+ year member]

Okay y'all, my place is under the hood, not under the dash!!! I have a 2000 F350 PSD, CC LB DRW 4x4 truck and I want to upgrade the stock soud system. I am keeping the stock head unit. Please don't lecture me on this, I simply don't like the look of any aftermarket HU. I was recommended on the diesel forum to use the Infinity reference speakers, so I have purchased 4 of those and they are on the way. I am not wanting somethimg to vibrate windows, I am not a kid anymore, I just want a clean sounding stereo at low to moderate volume with nice crisp highs and clear solid bass, not this tubby sound the kids call bass today. No offense!!

I never thought choosing a amp would be so hard. The speakers are rated at RWS = 60 watts, so I was thinking a 4x75 or a 4x100, I understand I need a amp with speaker line inputs to hook up to the stock HU, can somebody offer a decent amp for my needs? Don't need top of the line, but don't want a Kraco special either. Do you recommend buying used or new, cost is a factor, as is in all things. Also I am trying to decide on putting some sound deadening material behind and around the speakers, is this really needed? I don't have any rattles or vibrations now. Thanks in advance for all your help.

Kevin

I found this amp:

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=16693

Is this something that would work for me or is it junk?

Thanks

Kevin

Click to read more...

 

[TunedPerfect 10+ year member]

Infinity 7541A and get a Hi-Low Converter. You wont really notice a difference with the deadening material. I would get a new amplifier as they are pretty inexpensive amps nowadays. And the stock Ford units are actually pretty good. I have done a bunch of the the new F250s/F350s and they sounded pretty good with PolkDb5x7s and an old school MTX amp.

And dont waste your money on that amp you linked to.

 

[johnson 10+ year member]

Deadening can make a big difference on certain vehicles. What is the most you wanted to spend on an amp? I have one that does 75 x 4.

If the amp you decide to get doesnt have line level inputs then you would want a 4 channel LOC (line out converter) so you can use your fader controls. The Navone adapters are supposed to be good but my friend bought the Scorche on Crutchfield because it was cheaper and it's working fine for him.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-bJS3H88itrR/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=721&I=142SLC4&search=loc

http://www.autosound2000.com/adaptor_products.htm

 

[NCHornet 10+ year member]

I already bought the Infinity reference speakers, this is what several folks on the PSD forum recommended. I just need to know what would be a decent amp, you say the one I linked to wasn't a good one, Thanks, but what is a good name in amps? For the poster above with a 75x4 for sale. I would be interested in what you have. Please give me some details. Like I said I don't want loud, just clean sound, nice crisp high symbols and a solid hitting bass, not the tubby bass that the kids like.

Thanks for the help.

NCHornet

 

[thehardknoxlife 10+ year member]

I already bought the Infinity reference speakers, this is what several folks on the PSD forum recommended. I just need to know what would be a decent amp, you say the one I linked to wasn't a good one, Thanks, but what is a good name in amps? For the poster above with a 75x4 for sale. I would be interested in what you have. Please give me some details. Like I said I don't want loud, just clean sound, nice crisp high symbols and a solid hitting bass, not the tubby bass that the kids like.Thanks for the help.

NCHornet

I would deaden first. It's cheap especially considering the improved performance it provides. I would put it under the free HP category. It will improve a stock system a great deal...Read This..who knows, you might start to enjoy the bass when everything doesn't vibrate... The LOC's are a great idea. It widens your choice. I think I have a set of them if you decide on those. I'll just have to track them down.....give a budget for the amp and people will hunt down some good deals...

 

[jj4475 10+ year member]

Ill sell u a mtx 6004 125 bucks... this amp would do u great...

Output Power at 14.4V and ≤1% THD+N:

4 x 75W @ 4 ohms

4 x 150W @ 2 ohms

2 x 300W @ 4 ohms bridged

S/N Ratio: 80dBA

THD+N:

Fuse: 3 x 25A

Dimensions: 17.57" x 9.72" x 2.5" (44.6cm x 24.7cm x 6.35cm)

Its heavy and kinda big but its not overrated 4 channel...

 

[NCHornet 10+ year member]

I was hoping to stay around $175 or under, the cheaper the better, but I don't want a low quality product that is going to give me trouble in the future. I have seen amps for $89.99 that sound like they would be great, they claim the regular price is over $200, but I don't know anything about this stuff.

To the above poster, is the MTX a good brand? What does this amp sell for new? Is the $125 a shipped price?

Thanks

Kevin

 

[NCHornet 10+ year member]

I looked up the MTX 6004 and I found this one on Ebay it is a TC6004. Here is a link, can you tell me if it is the same amp as you are selling?

http://cgi.ebay.com/MTX-TC6004-1-800-WATT-TC-6004-4-CH-POWER-CAR-AMP-NEW_W0QQitemZ150117397792QQihZ005QQcategoryZ39739QQcmdZViewItem

If so it looks like what I have been looking for, if the MTX is a decent brand. How long have you had it? Does everything work as it should? I have read a few posts on this site about people buying used amps that end up being trash, so I am a little trigger shy, no offense meant, just can't afford a $125 anchor!!! Thanks for all the help.

Kevin

 

[NCHornet 10+ year member]

Thanks for the info on the Line Out Converters as I did not know this and I want my fader controls to work. Do I need one for each speaker, or one for the front set and one for the rears, or does one do all four speakers?

It doesn't look like this MTX speaker has these, depending on how many I need I might ought to look for a amp that has them built in.

For the member who said he may have an extra set for sale, yes I would be interested. Any advice y'all can give me on this MTX amp the member is selling or if you can recommend a decent amp under $200 or so I would be very grateful.

Thanks

Kevin

Update, I just went a read op on the LOC you linked to. I am definitely buying a amp with speaker level inputs, the way it reads is that I only need the LOC device is if the amp doesn't have the speaker level inputs. The way I understand it is that the higher end HU's have RCA outputs, but my stock hu just has speaker wire, so the LOC device allows the speaker wire to plug in on one side and then on the other RCA outputs to the amp. Do I understand this correctly?

 

[NCHornet 10+ year member]

I emailed this place on Ebay called Audiosavings and they recommended this Sony Xplod amp, here is a link to it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SONY-XM-4060GTX-600w-4-CHANNEL-CAR-STEREO-AMP-AMPLIFIER_W0QQitemZ270115674131QQihZ017QQcategoryZ39739QQcmdZViewItem

Here is link to the wiring kit he suggested.

http://cgi.ebay.com/TSUNAMI-8-GAUGE-20-AMP-INSTALLATION-WIRE-KIT-RCA-CABLE_W0QQitemZ270116787692QQihZ017QQcategoryZ71529QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

The prices seem to be very reasonable, what do y'all think about what he told me.

Thanks

Kevin

 

[Racerx250 10+ year member]

Hey I've got a Infinity 7541a. I've even got a set of 6.5 infinity ref. comp's if your interested. PM me for details. So you know the amp does 111x4 @ 4. Looks brand new.

 

[Racerx250 10+ year member]

O. and that sony amp you linked to.. Do a search or 2 on sony itself and you'll see if that amp is any good. The older sony is pretty good, I think it was the ES series. A while back but the new xplod sucks. The wiring kit would probably fit your needs.

 

[NCHornet 10+ year member]

Thanks for your help and honest info. I already bought my reference speakers but I am interested in your amp if you think it will fit my needs. I am sending you a PM.

Kevin

 

[jj4475 10+ year member]

the mtx is perfect never saw protect never blew fuse... i had it for over a year its great 4 channel... as far as mtx being good brand i dont know i think they got good amps and nice higher line woofers ask around... this is mxa6004 same power as the tc thats the new ones

http://ampguts.realmofexcursion.com/MTX_MXA6004/

 

[bloodhound50 10+ year member]

http://sonicelectronix.com/item_6534_Alpine+MRP-F450.html

this is rated at 70W rms i think that will do since u wont eb palying at full volume all the time anyways. its 230... thats the downfall but it has many great features. ill look into some more amps around 175 dollars. i just dont want you to get a crappy amp with that power rating.