Kinetik HC vs Optima Yellow Top

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

My Kinetik 1400 is 8 years old and it has been the primary (starting) battery of my truck since I put it in 8 years ago. Still works and tests fine. Key point with any battery in an audio system is keeping it charged. All AGM batteries are lead acid ALL lead acid batteries sulfate when they discharge and as sulfation ages it becomes harder to recharge especially for an alternator. Leave a battery in a low state (yes even though it can still start your car) you can lose large portions of performance rather quickly (days weeks months) due to engine heat and what it does to sulfated lead. Ever see a corroded battery under the hood of a car that doesn't even have a system? That is a by product of trying to allow a low or sulfated battery to be charged with an alternator rather than a good charger. Low and sulfated batteries charge does not come up fast enough for an alternator to charge correctly without getting the battery hot and if it is already under the hood it could already be a hot battery to begin with.

 

[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

Deka Blems is where its at for cost/reliability. My whole crew is running them with zero issues.

 

[CHRIS 323 10+ year member]

kinetik bro

 

[sobe3yourself. 10+ year member]

I had a deka intimidator that I used. My voltage stayed up and they are cheap. I'm sure there is at least one on here for sale.

 

[KDunn808]

Look into companies that have stuck with quality. Yellow top batteries were better before they got well known and now are on the decline. Personally I've been through 5 yellow tops and just as many alternators. The longest one lasted about three months and then the cells went dead. Granted it was my fault,12 cvr 10s running off 3500 watts plus another 1000 watts running my highs....well, my poor electrical system just can't handle. Big three helped but the SPX alternator from Nations starter & alternator is on its way to get my blazer on the road again. So to the point, yellow tops or any other batteries out there are nothing unless you've got the alternator(s) for it. A standard system up to around 1000-1500 just about anything will do,any higher and you'll need to invest in bigger alternators and batteries to match. Caps really and truly don't help out on big systems no matter how many chime in that they do,smaller systems yes,they add more punch and your electrical doesn't bottom out but again for the big system your better off taking that $300 or more for a 12 farad cap and dropping it on another battery(a mistake I'll never do again). I've done many installs,6-12s in a jetta...6-12s in a neon,12-10s in a 2000 s10 blazer,all with different components-just make sure everything matches up and you'll be fine.