Rainbow Germs : Zapco amp or JL for sound quality ?

[Ge0 10+ year member]

Judging from my sig you may think I'm a Zapco fan boy. Well, yeah I like them.

However, I've owned both JL slash amps and a complete Zapco setup. You honestly won't hear that much difference between the two. Why did I go Zapco?

DSP's like what are built into the DC series are a must to fine tune a SQ system.

If you already have a head unit that has adequate processing for your needs, and, If buying new I'd sway towards JL. The cost differential is not worth the small increase you may get in performance. However, if buying used, I'd sway towards Zapco. The cost differential is not as high on the used market.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

why would they remove the serial numbers??

Because Zapco keeps records of where each of their amps have gone once they've left their facility. If it comes back without a serial # they consider it stolen property and won't even touch it. Woofersetc isn't authorized to sell Zapco, hence they don't want to be a) caught tampering b) able to sell you Zapco at below dealer prices.

JL has a similar policy, although I believe they offer a serial fee where you can buy "authenticity" if you get a grey market amp, sub, etc from like eBay or buy one of their products from another person.

 

[Jumbo Jet 10+ year member]

Woofersetc is not a wise place to be buying either Zapco or JL products from. Chances are the amps have been tampered with and serial numbers removed.
Plus, you might even get a better price by buying from a Zapco or JL AD. Try that avenue first.

Yeah, thanks.... I wasnt going to buy from Woofers, its just any easy link to post cause it has all the info and brands to browse thru. I plan on getting my Rainbows from 6Speed so if I got a Zapco I'd go with him for that also.

I think I'll go with a JL 300/4v2. A Zapco would be nice but the price of a REF is pretty steep, considering I have to buy my Rainbow's at the same time. Besides that, is it true that if I went with a Zapco I'd have to run all new wires for it..... dont they only accept a SymbiLink input? I really dont want to have to pull out the truck again to run new lines. Does the SymbiLink replace my RCA's ? Sorry for the ignorance, I've never dealt with Zapco before.

By the way, I never mentioned that I'll be running these Germs and JL amps from a Kenwood DNX8120, if that makes any difference. It has crossovers and TA. I know I'll be committing the ultimate sin, but for right now I think I'll be running the Germs passive, but plan to go active sometime, which is why I'm going with the 300/4 and not the 300/2. Unless I can get a serious tutorial on setting it up active, I'll just run passive for now. Its still gonna sound a lot better than what I have now.

 

[rc10mike 10+ year member]

Also keep in mind, Zapcos special cables can be really expensive...

 

[genxx 10+ year member]

With the Zapco the input to the amp is symbilink. The symbilink is a balanced signal vs. RCA. You would have to replace your RCA with symbilink to take full advantage of the symbilink.

You could use the SLDIN-T at the end of your RCA to get the symbilink but it should be used at the HU then symbilink back or you loose the purpose of using symbilink.

No REF is not the lower line iForce is the lower line. However, the iForce are great amps and overlooked IMO. If the REF is a little out of your budget I would consider the iForce line. Still get all the stuff Zapco is known for just in a cheaper package.IMO

As far as sound difference I don't see you hearing a difference between the REF or Slash. I would be suprised if you could hear the difference between any of them even throwing the iForce in the mix.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

Besides that, is it true that if I went with a Zapco I'd have to run all new wires for it..... dont they only accept a SymbiLink input? I really dont want to have to pull out the truck again to run new lines. Does the SymbiLink replace my RCA's ? Sorry for the ignorance, I've never dealt with Zapco before.

No, that's only with the DC Reference and C2K, not the "regular" Reference or IForce.

 

[D_Jack 10+ year member]

i had a 450/4 before and as it aged i noticed it produced a lot of noise.. jl knows that over time the regulater power supply will induce noise into your system.. i say stay away from JL amps all together and i have worked at an authorized JL, Memphis, Sundown dealer

 

[Fiercetimbo17 10+ year member]

I dont think you will hear a difference in the two, i think the zapco is a better product.

Also the simbilink cable is nothing more than a standard ps2 cable.

 

[KOL 10+ year member]

Different league altogether. Zapco is way better.

Different league wtf? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif Both are super clean, both are well made, reliable car audio amplifiers. Do you think you can tell the difference in SQ between the 2?

OP look into getting more power & running with some headroom. The more headroom the cleaner the power the better the SQ.

 

[Jumbo Jet 10+ year member]

What do you mean by "running with some head room" ? When I go with the 300/4v2, I'm going to bridge it to get 150w to my Germs...... I need more than that?

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

either or and even different brands in the same price range would work great.

 

[Ge0 10+ year member]

Also keep in mind, Zapcos special cables can be really expensive...

Nahhh, a standard PS-2 extension cable from ebay ($3.00 shipped) will do the trick just fine. TRUST ME //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Ge0 10+ year member]

No, that's only with the DC Reference and C2K, not the "regular" Reference or IForce.

What you doing here beyotch //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Foxboy is my slave...

 

[Ge0 10+ year member]

What do you mean by "running with some head room" ? When I go with the 300/4v2, I'm going to bridge it to get 150w to my Germs...... I need more than that?

150W is a respectable start. But, 300W or even 600W would be better. That is if you wanted to go balls out on SQ. Mind you, you don't need that much power 99% of the time, but, when those big hits come along every once in a while your system won't run out of poop.

 

[Ge0 10+ year member]

I dont think you will hear a difference in the two, i think the zapco is a better product. Also the simbilink cable is nothing more than a standard ps2 cable.

Ahem... Symbilink also has a ground shield //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif. Plus, they sprinkle magic dust on it that makes it sound better.

Seriously though. A while ago I dropped nearly $3K on amps. You would think they would give me a break on the cables. Yeah, maybe $10 off my order of $100 or more. Fug you very much, but NOT!

Buy the PS-2 Cables...