How Good Are Zapco Amps?

[Maglite 10+ year member]

Need an amp to power my Focal 165KF and IDQ 12.

Looking at the Zapco REF1000.4.

Just wondering how good Zapco amps are and what are they comparable with?

Also looking at DLS.

Thanks

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[galacticmonkey 5,000+ posts]

Both are great.

I got a DLS A5 for sale. Will do $325 + shipping.

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

when you get to that level of quality there's really nothing to compare. They're all good.

People into amps of that category are often into the history of the brand, the fact that they make a lot of their equipment domestically, something more intrinsic.

They're both going to sound great. They should both last forever. Hell, get the prettier one.

Personally - in that price range I'm surprised to see spade type terminals on the Zap. For that alone (DLS having set screws) I might go with the DLS (looking at the A4). I also like the chassis mounted rca connections - not sure if the Zap has that feature either. For the price it should. However, the power difference might lean me back to the Zapco.

 

[manny1337 10+ year member]

have you considered other brand of amps? such as sundown or audioque? i know they arent as expensive but they do work great, and will last a long long time.

 

[Maglite 10+ year member]

Thanks for the input.

I know Sundown amps are a solid product but trying to build the best system I can afford.

 

[Maglite 10+ year member]

Both are great.
I got a DLS A5 for sale. Will do $325 + shipping.

Appreciate the offer but I want to buy new.

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

There's the ZED Leviathan that might be worth considering. It's a 6 ch, but it's powerful enough you'd only need to use 4. Not sure what it's going for, but it should be in about the same range as DLS/Zapco.

 

[RAM_Designs 5,000+ posts]

The Leviathan is right around 600-700 and is supposedly a beast of an amp...full range class d though, which I have had mixed results with other amps of that nature. Still, 150x6 at 4ohms is insane power.

 

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

id say the zapco..

ring terminals are perfectly fine, just get good quatitly wiring and hardware..

the zap has much more versital xovers and more power.. you can go active with the zapco giving you much more control..

 

[Maglite 10+ year member]

Can you not go active with the DLS? I was looking at the RA20 (for the front) and RA10 (for the sub).

Thanks

 

[misfit138 5,000+ posts]

Zapco amps are so good that they made my penis grow 3 inches. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

There's the ZED Leviathan that might be worth considering. It's a 6 ch, but it's powerful enough you'd only need to use 4. Not sure what it's going for, but it should be in about the same range as DLS/Zapco.

Beat me to it.

 

[Maglite 10+ year member]

Zapco amps are so good that they made my penis grow 3 inches. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

Just 3???? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

Are ARC Audio KS amps any good?

Can't seem to find much info on them. Apparently they are designed by Robert Jeff if that means anything...

 

[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

Robert Zeff from Arc is the original owner/designer of Zapco.

You cant go wrong with either brand.

 

[Maglite 10+ year member]

Think I'm going to go with the ARC

I'll run a KS 300.2 to the front an a KS 500.1 to the sub.

Did some reading up on Robert Zeff....impressive.