need help picking amp...

[Matt_2k3 10+ year member]

hey, i have 2 audiobahn 300 RMS subs. i need a amp, but i'm stuck between 2. i can get a Rockford fosgate 700S (350 W X 2 @ 2 Ohms RMS, 700 W X 1 @ 4 Ohms Bridged RMS) for $310. its about the right amount of watts, but then i could get a audiobahn A4125HCQ amp (125 W X 4 @ 4 ohms, 1000 x 2 @ 1) alot more power, for $390 ($1000 amp) i was told i should use a bigger amp, so that its not working so hard and the SQ is better...but with that RF there is still more than required, plus i would be saving $90...whats your opinion, what should i get?

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[JaJay721 10+ year member]

Go with a less powerful Audiobahn. http://www.thezeb.com has some 2002 models for great prices.

 

[hihoslva 10+ year member]

I'd check out the Lanzar Vibe amps also.

You can get plenty of power for a lot cheaper.

Vibe 269 - 2x500 watts RMS @ 4 ohms. $169 at ikesound.com.

Even if it doesn't put out *all* 500 x 2, you're still getting a lot of amp for the money.

I run two of these amps (the 428 - 125 watts x 4, and the 248 - 300 watts x 2) and I'm very happy with them.

They are at least on par with Rockford for quality - I know, I had Rockford before the Lanzars.

~HH

 

[Woodmister 10+ year member]

First all you need is a 600 or less watt amp, not no 1000Watt amp. So take a look at the JBL's @ http://www.ikesound.com US Acoustics @ http://www.thezeb.com

What subs do you have? And what are the ohms of the subs? Like dual 4ohms, 4ohms, 2ohms, dual 4ohms??

 

[hihoslva 10+ year member]

There's nothing wrong with having more watts than your speakers are rated for. Set up properly, it's a good thing.

Keep the gains low, and don't beat the subs up and it's fine. It's called headroom - it's better overall to have more watts on tap that do not get used than to push a lesser amp to its limits.

Maybe the Lanzar 258 would be better suited, however - 400 x 2.

~HH

 

[swimfreak26 10+ year member]

I'll second the lanzar vibe258....that the amp I am running right now, and again it may not put out 400 x 2 really, but it is probably putting out over 300 x2 and that is all that your subs call for. The amp is built solidly, I have never had any problems with it, and it always stays cool.

 

[Woodmister 10+ year member]

Yea, but why spend more then you need and get less qualtity for your money?

 

[Matt_2k3 10+ year member]

i'm getting it from some guy...these are the best he has. he only has 1 audiobahn amp, so its either that one or the RF. their brand new though...i think i'm going with the RF

 

[hihoslva 10+ year member]

Originally posted by Woodmister Yea, but why spend more then you need and get less qualtity for your money?

Where's the "less quality"? I can tell you that not too many amps out there these days are underrated the way they *used* to be. And I feel the Lanzar puts down very close to rated power, even if it doesn't hit it on the button.

And at less than $150 shipped for a brand new amplifier, how is that spending more than you need?

I spent $130 each for my Lanzars shipped to my door. The Rockfords I had before were well over twice the price, and there's no difference in the quality. My previous RF's were 90 watts x 2 and 250 x 2. The Lanzars are definitely more powerful (my ears can tell), and are rated at 125 x 4 and 300 x 2. With 600 to the subs and 125 to the front stage (just some midbass in rear fill for the other 2 channels), the difference is definitely noticeable.

These are solid amps, and I don't know if there's a better dollar-to-actual-watt ratio out there.

~HH