JL Slash to ARC KAR worth swap?

[got-one-eight 10+ year member]

I keep hearing how great the ARC amps are and that even the KAR line are better then the JL Slash V2 that I have. Would it be worth ditching the 450/4 for a 300/4 ARC amp? I run my setup active and like the way JL puts more to my mids but maybe I am missing out on better SQ?

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[supermaxx123 10+ year member]

no

 

[supermaxx123 10+ year member]

the JL is a good amp.

 

[ascitiesburn69 10+ year member]

This^

However if you could get a vast majority of the money needed for a 300/4 by selling your JL amp then I would consider it.

 

[Bumpin' Goalie 10+ year member]

I'd keep the JL.

Arc is good, too.

But JL SLash series amps have always kept me happy.

 

[CougarGuy 10+ year member]

woofersetc for some reason has awesome deals on ARC amps...i saw this last night....i had to get my equipment from a real store 4-5 years ago just to get them, one store for every state! i have heard great JL amped set-ups and only my own arc amped set-up...but i'v never heard my arc amp above 50x4 either, this time will be my first attempt at deleting a rear stage and bridging the amp...but 50x4 sounds better than about anything else i'v ever heard musicality wise besides my Denon inside with the Audessey mic...

 

[gunz4me2 10+ year member]

Woofers Etc. is NOT an authorized dealer of Arc Audio, which is fine if you don't have a problem. Unfortunately, every time I dealt with Woofer's, I HAD a problem.

EDIT: To the OP. I don't think you will notice much by switching from the JL Audio amplifier to the Arc Audio amplifiers. I would only recommend it if you were doubling your RMS power. Other than that, you would just be switching out one perfectly functioning amplifier for another that more than likely BOTH measure within 1 dB of each other in their frequency response plots. If you are looking to change something in your sound, I suggest looking to the drivers themselves versus looking to replace the amplifiers.

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

Arc Audio > JL

 

[gunz4me2 10+ year member]

Arc Audio > JL

No offense, but I wouldn't take a KS 300.4 over a JL Audio 450/4 Slash V2.

OTOH, I WOULD take a SE4200 over the JL Audio 450/4. I would also take a pair of SE2300s over the single SE4200.

Edit: In case you didn't notice, the SE series of Arc Audio is my favorite series. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[Brian_smith06 10+ year member]

No offense, but I wouldn't take a KS 300.4 over a JL Audio 450/4 Slash V2.
OTOH, I WOULD take a SE4200 over the JL Audio 450/4. I would also take a pair of SE2300s over the single SE4200.

Edit: In case you didn't notice, the SE series of Arc Audio is my favorite series. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/respekt.gif.b162d148236010609fe523122efe3729.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/boink.gif.91933e72f927f2cefc79aff02573090c.gif

 

[got-one-eight 10+ year member]

I agree, if i had the funds I would run the SE amps hands down over my JL. I wasn't sure how the KAR compared but if its not worth the swap then I wont do it. Thx for all the advice. I will stick with what I got.

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

No offense, but I wouldn't take a KS 300.4 over a JL Audio 450/4 Slash V2.
OTOH, I WOULD take a SE4200 over the JL Audio 450/4. I would also take a pair of SE2300s over the single SE4200.

Edit: In case you didn't notice, the SE series of Arc Audio is my favorite series. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Doesnt matter what you would take. My sentence still holds true even if you like JL more. Arc makes some of the best sound amps out there right there with Audison, Adcom, and TRU.

 

[t1n0m3n 10+ year member]

"JL Slash to ARC KAR worth swap?" In my case, most definitely. In your case, maybe not...

I swapped my JL 300/4v2 for an Arc 300.4 and the difference was night and day. the JL sounded great until I got above 3/4 volume. After that it would start sounding "compressed" the louder it got. The Arc just keeps getting louder and as it gets louder, the sound remains neutral. However, I used both amps bridged to 2 channels. The Arc is 350x2 bridged, the JL is 150x2 bridged.

Where the KS300.4 really shines is running a bridged 4 ohm per channel load. The Arc is an absolute monster running bridged. If you don't plan on bridging it, I would advise you to not make the swap.

 

[CougarGuy 10+ year member]

^ i'm really excited to bridge mine...i never even thought about it until the interior was stripped out for my new build //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[Shinju 10+ year member]

I like both and I have owned both brands if you already have the JL keep it.