need a good 4channel amp for alpine type r speakers

[senseless228]

Here is my current setup:

Car-computer (as my headunit)

Alpine MRP-F240 4-channel car amplifier

Alpine Type-R 6.5" and 6x9" coaxial speakers

I used to have pioneer 4-way speakers all around the car, and they sounded fine, overtime one of them blew out, so i decided to replace all the speakers with the alpines i listed above...the sound quality was bad to begin with, all the speakers, brand new, so I doubt they were the speakers...

I've troubleshooted everything, and I have concluded that its probably the amp (outputs 40watts RMS, whereas the speakers need around 100watts) which i think could be the culprit since nothing else changed in my setup. Plus the amp is the oldest thing at around 4 years old, so it could just have died out)

the problem is that its very very distorted, at moderate volumes too, the gain is only around 1/3 the way up on both the front and the back speakers, and the sound quality just sucks, sounds totally distorted, and I doubt all 4 brand new speakers sound that bad.

So i was wondering what a good budget 4 channel amp is with a decent output. I need it to be fairly small in physical size since its mounted under the passenger seat.

I found this

Orion CO600.4

for a $100 seems like a pretty good deal with a decent output, but I don't know much about Orion as a brand.

I've invested way too much in this car mostly to replace things that go bad quickly, and its nearing the end of its life, thus the reason I want to go budget.

i'm open to any suggestions for this 4 channel amp. Trying to keep the price under 150 bucks. Used amps is also an option, but new is preferred.

Click to read more...

 

[senseless228]

and, i've tried the gain at all levels to make sure i wasn't "underpowering" the speakers, but it could very well be underpowered completely at any gain since its a weaker amp.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

While a 40w/channel RMS amp isn't going to give you the most performance from 100w RMS speaks, to be sure, it is still enough power to drive them to better than adequate performance provided the speakers in question are in a decent install.

Is it possible you're simply asking more from the speakers than they can give you at their current power level from the amp?

Is it possible that your EQ settings in the deck are off kilter resulting in bad sound?

There are certainly more things to consider than the amp having gone bad. 4 years isn't all that old for a solid-quality amp, by the way. The 4-channel I'm currently using to power my interior speakers is better than 10 yrs old and still going strong.

 

[senseless228]

okay, thats good info, I've tried all the troubleshooting i know how to.

i've used different sound cards, 2 versions of the same sound card, a different pc with a fresh install. I'm debating whether to go to best buy and buy an amp, test it, and return it within 30 days...thats the only thing I haven't done, which would be the most definitive. I've checked and rechecked all the grounds. It was just a drastic change in sound quality by just replacing the speakers, so I'm running out of ideas.

and my previous setup which were weaker/cheaper speakers, ran a lot louder and cleaner.

thanks for the quick response and the good info

 

[senseless228]

assuming the amp is bad...what are your thoughts on the orion amp i listed?

(later this week i'm gonna go to best buy, and buy an amp...test it...and return it)

 

[branham1127 10+ year member]

assuming the amp is bad...what are your thoughts on the orion amp i listed?
(later this week i'm gonna go to best buy, and buy an amp...test it...and return it)

orion makes a hell of an amp whether its their mono amps or their 4 channel amps.. i myself am actually waitin on the 8004 that i ordered on here 2day.. i run type r components myself, id recommend looking in2 the 8004, either way u wont be disappointed with an orion amp