Official Old School Collectors Thread

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

There are 2 versions of the VLX-200. There is the 2nd gen case style VLX-200 which is older than the ones we are discussing. Then there is the 3rd gen case style VLX-200. Which is the silver one. There is not a lot of difference. I would say 200 components on the board is different than the VLX-400. Same board, just different values in components. The VLX-400 is rated to put out 400w at 4 ohms, and the VLX-200 is rated to do 200w at 4 ohms. Same case, same board, some different components. This style VLX-200 is one of 2 that I have seen. Have seen a hundred or so of the VLX-400's, but only this and another of the 200's in this case style. Rare find. Got this one for $500 a few years ago. Couldn't pass it up. The best way that I can give an example to how this is done is the 280gx and the 225hcca. Same board, and a few different components. I hooked up both of these side by side. The 400 vlx is much stronger than the 200vlx. But the vlx will go to a lower ohm load than the 400vlx... ...Let me know if you need more info. I think I have the audio buying guide with the specs saved in a pic also...Hope I didn't bore everyone with the novel.

Well shit, then I guess my VLX is a 200....It has a VLX-200 end cap but I thought someone just changed it and it was a 400 because it looks just like a 400......So is this a more rare amp than the regular 200? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

 

[tomtomjr 10+ year member]

Well shit, then I guess my VLX is a 200....It has a VLX-200 end cap but I thought someone just changed it and it was a 400 because it looks just like a 400......So is this a more rare amp than the regular 200? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif

REAL, real, rare. Not many around. If you look at it side by side of a VLX400, you will see the difference. Mainly some tiny caps and resistors. I think there are a few op-amps different too. But it is a different amp. Goes to 1/2 ohm for full power, and I am pretty sure it will do 1/4 ohm for bursts. If you burn it at 1/4 ohm, don't blame me though. The VLX-200 is worth more than a VLX-400 from what I can tell. There was a guy on the RF forum looking for one, and seemed desperate for it... Hell, it's only 200W

 

[tomtomjr 10+ year member]

If you are really into US Amps, this is a neat one.

Here is the 1st gen US Amps 100HC. Possibly a prototype. Has a lot of jumpers, and a lot of cuts in the board where things were re-routed at the time of build. Has the low serial number of #6 ...

 

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

REAL, real, rare. Not many around. If you look at it side by side of a VLX400, you will see the difference. Mainly some tiny caps and resistors. I think there are a few op-amps different too. But it is a different amp. Goes to 1/2 ohm for full power, and I am pretty sure it will do 1/4 ohm for bursts. If you burn it at 1/4 ohm, don't blame me though. The VLX-200 is worth more than a VLX-400 from what I can tell. There was a guy on the RF forum looking for one, and seemed desperate for it... Hell, it's only 200W

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif I thought it was a 400. Oh well at least it's rare. I'm not beating on it, it sits on top of my TV with the rest of the US's I own. Thanks for your help though. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Grinder1989 5,000+ posts]

If you are really into US Amps, this is a neat one.Here is the 1st gen US Amps 100HC. Possibly a prototype. Has a lot of jumpers, and a lot of cuts in the board where things were re-routed at the time of build. Has the low serial number of #6 ...

Now that's awesome.

 

[tomtomjr 10+ year member]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif I thought it was a 400. Oh well at least it's rare. I'm not beating on it, it sits on top of my TV with the rest of the US's I own. Thanks for your help though. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

It is rare, and does the same power as the VLX-400. Just have to drop the ohm load another step. Just like an Orion Red HCCA vs. Orion Black SX/GX

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

Yeah I love the older US Amps myself.....I want to do an oldschool build in my 79 ***** AM....right now its gonna be a tough choice...between my Orions....Kicker's...or US Amps....

 

[tomtomjr 10+ year member]

Yeah I love the older US Amps myself.....I want to do an oldschool build in my 79 ***** AM....right now its gonna be a tough choice...between my Orions....Kicker's...or US Amps....

If you are going with 1st gen older amps, I would recommend the Kicker or US Amps. Or the 2nd gen Orions. 1st gen Orion amps when you find them, the boards are touchy. Great to look at, but I am not sure I would run one. Unless it was a like new one. The old GX and early HCCA's love to burn at the first sign of low voltage. 2nd Gen US Amps are decent too. Most are still going strong. Early kickers too. I know of several people still running the early Kicker 1000's.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

I may do the Kicker setup in it...I have the sink link and all to make it look nice....It would be an XS50...for subs...and a ZR360 for the front stage....If I decide to go active on front stage I have a ZR120

 

[tomtomjr 10+ year member]

Or, If you can't decide between Kicker and US Amps, check this out... The early US Amps were built for Kicker. Check out the early US Amps heatsink. Notice the "K" in the heatsink. Something about they were supposed to be sold as Kicker, and the deal fell through or something along those lines. But the 1st batch of amps were already made up. I saw something awhile back about it from Greg at US Amps.

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

I have two of the only 4 ever production made US Amps 100HC's made before the buyout...they are built on the 2000x boards and are 1/2 ohm stable...so they are very rare also....I would like to run them in something oneday....

 

[DB-Audio 10+ year member]

i have a audio control xs4 cross over and a pioneer eq-4000

 

[Shinju 10+ year member]

Picked this SQ Gem up today. Absolute mint condition was installed but never hooked up then removed and put in a plastic tote wrapped up for years.

Xtant 404m

Also got a Xtant 121m

 

[Shinju 10+ year member]

Local deal of the week.

Phoenix Gold XS2300 mint shape works perfect 1997-2002

 

[edzy 10+ year member]

Picked 3 0f them up last year at a pawn shop for $20 each

. Zapco Z100

Before

After