Hifonics ZXi8006 or Phoenix Gold R9.0:5

[jhhoffma]

Hello all,

Really like the forum, lots of good info.

I'm going to be redoing my system soon and I'm looking to replace my 3 Crossfire amps with a single unit for my Ford Escape.

As usual, I'm not going to have a lot of money to make the switch (I don't know if I'd call it an upgrade, since I'm giving up a sub). Therefore, I'm looking to choose between a Phoenix Gold R9.0:5 and a Hifonics ZXi8006. Can anyone help me with a recommendation on quality or which would be best for my setup? Any other amps in similar price range (~$200).

My setup is as follows:

Clarion DXZ535

Clarion ProAudio 5.25" component set (front)

Kicker 525i coaxial (rear) - BAD! going to be replaced with another set and/or switched with the fronts

JL Audio W0 12" (2 but one is thrashed and will be given up and a side pod will be build for the other one)

Crossfire 2x35W (front)

Crossfire 2x70W (rear) - this one self-destructed when the Kickers went byebye

Crossfire 2x150W (subs)

I'm hoping to repair the 2x70W and sell all three amps to save some money, but I still am looking to keep the price down as I don't know what I will sell them for. I've also heard some good stuff on Fusion amps, but I've never heard of them before this. I've seen some cheap ones (probably refurbs) on ebay, any thoughts on these?

Thanks in advance for the help.

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[jhhoffma]

bumpity-bump, anyone???

 

[jhhoffma]

One last try? Anyone?

 

[Towncar 10+ year member]

get the pg..

 

[jhhoffma]

Any particular reason why?

 

[Towncar 10+ year member]

Granted we are talking about pgs entry level stuff, atleast it will do its rated power. I cant say the same for any lower hifonics amps.

 

[MiniVanMan 10+ year member]

The Hifonics has one benefit over the PG, the crossovers are great if you're looking to do an active setup in the future.

Other than that, it's a toss up. If you have a brand preference then go with it. I don't think one really outperforms the other. I personally like Hifonics, and PG both, and have had good experience with both, and no bad experiences either.

 

[jhhoffma]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I have an older Crossfire Eq/Crossover with front/rear and sub outputs driving the amps I currently have. It's an old version of the CFQ5X circa 1998.

I don't know if that changes the advice given. I've never and will not likely get a chance to listen to either of these amps (or even the brands) before I make the purchase, so I'm kind of in uncharted territory. My brother and I trade info. I'm the home audio/theater guy, he's the car audio guy. He's done some amazing stuff in the past, and he's (lightly) steering me toward the Hifonics, just because he knows P/G isn't what it used to be.

Ahhh, what happened to the days when you could just buy a brand and know that the amp was super-high quality (like pre-Rubicon Soundstream) without worrying about product lines and cheap models.

 

[MiniVanMan 10+ year member]

I guess I'll jump on the same boat as your brother and lightly steer you toward the Hifonics.

If you shop around, and are willing to buy refurb, you can find a Kicker 700.5 on ebay occasionally for under $200.00. That amp is my first recommendation to pursuers of 5 channels. If you want new, then the Hifonics will be more than adequate. I have a Crossfire 705 that I found on ebay new for $200.00 with shipping. Hard to find, but it was there. That would keep you in Crossfire, if it's a brand you like.

 

[jhhoffma]

MiniVan,

Are you sure you're NOT my bro? He's also recommended the refurb Kicker 700.5 on eBay and the Crossfire which isn't there anymore.

I do love my Crossfire's, but the box and amp rack take up too much room in my Escape. My brother made a very nice box for my JL's that had a slideout amp rack on rails, which saved on space. However, I have no real cargo space with them in and I cannot take the box out easily (I'd still have to leave the amp rack anyway). So, he's going to build a fiberglass sub box molded to the side of the cargo area for one of the JLs (like the MTX Thunderforms) and an amprack on the other side. That should give me back my cargo room, which will help raise the WAF of this project.

I think I will go with the Hifonics, unless for some reason I can find a Kicker that's too good to pass up, as I'd feel more comfortable buying new from a web shop, than refurb off eBay (even though they're usually the same webshops).

I'll probably be buying some Clarion SRS1686 6.5" components for my fronts and moving the old 5.25" ProAudios to the back doors. I can always use some more mid-bass! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

I'll probably be coming back here once we have everything installed to see if anyone knows how do disable the LEDs on the Hifonics (unless somebody does now?) I'm not into that type of thing anymore (never really was), and I don't see any reason to a) send a signal to thieves or b) have a really weird glow coming from the back of the car when I'm trying to see out the back window.

Thanks for the help guys, and if you see anything here that make you cringe with the upcoming setup, let me know!