Shopping for a amp

[redhanded]

Hi all, I'm new to the game and shopping for an amp to power my 2x 12 kicker cvrs. This being my first ever system I don't really wanna spend a lot for right now so probably my budget 80-100?. What im told is that kickers are 03 model and 2 ohm if that helps.

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[redhanded]

Would a Crunch PZA 1500.1 be a good match? 90 bucks on amazon.

 

[zako 10+ year member]

As one amplifier engineer once said, the design of amplifiers is well understood these days, so any amplifier from a major brand should work fine even if you buy it cheaply. It's amazing what you can buy even for $150-200. However, at $80-100 I'd start worrying about the issues with the basic build quality of the amplifier. E.g. did they use chewing gum instead of glue? Of course, there are exceptions sometimes, when some vendors is having a blowout of their old stock, etc.

Anyways, there is not enough information in your post. How much power do you need? Any special requirements with respect to installation details, like desired amplifier shape or wire thickness etc? Are those subwoofers dual 2ohm each or single voice coil each? This can be very important. Finally, how much power do you need? Anyways, as far as cheap amps go, if your subwoofers will be wired together for 1ohm or 2ohm, I'd recommend to take a look at MB Quart REF1. These were solid amps, but my understanding no longer made. Sonicelectronix is selling REF1.800 for $110 which is a fair deal. If you will wire subwoofers for final 4ohm load, it's probably better to buy a 2-channel amp and bridge it. I'd suggest the discontinued Boston Acoustics GT-2125 ($110 at sonic right now) or a PPI P600.2 if you need a bit more power than BA-GT amp.

 

[babsuhl81 10+ year member]

Get a vvme amp from ebay. Between 75-100. Guy on here said he loves his. I just ordered the $99 model. Itzs 1800rms. the $75 model is 1000rms I believe

 

[redhanded]

As one amplifier engineer once said, the design of amplifiers is well understood these days, so any amplifier from a major brand should work fine even if you buy it cheaply. It's amazing what you can buy even for $150-200. However, at $80-100 I'd start worrying about the issues with the basic build quality of the amplifier. E.g. did they use chewing gum instead of glue? Of course, there are exceptions sometimes, when some vendors is having a blowout of their old stock, etc.
Anyways, there is not enough information in your post. How much power do you need? Any special requirements with respect to installation details, like desired amplifier shape or wire thickness etc? Are those subwoofers dual 2ohm each or single voice coil each? This can be very important. Finally, how much power do you need? Anyways, as far as cheap amps go, if your subwoofers will be wired together for 1ohm or 2ohm, I'd recommend to take a look at MB Quart REF1. These were solid amps, but my understanding no longer made. Sonicelectronix is selling REF1.800 for $110 which is a fair deal. If you will wire subwoofers for final 4ohm load, it's probably better to buy a 2-channel amp and bridge it. I'd suggest the discontinued Boston Acoustics GT-2125 ($110 at sonic right now) or a PPI P600.2 if you need a bit more power than BA-GT amp.

Thanks for the response. the subs are dual 2ohm and for power (WATTS PEAK/RMS)*800/400, so im guess more than 1000watt? . I have no preference on shape of the amp or wire thickness. I'm just looking for a entry level amp for now that works well with 2 12, and maybe later on ill upgrade.

 

[redhanded]

Get a vvme amp from ebay. Between 75-100. Guy on here said he loves his. I just ordered the $99 model. Itzs 1800rms. the $75 model is 1000rms I believe

hmm, i'll look into those. never hear the brand though

 

[IonRL205 10+ year member]

hmm, i'll look into those. never hear the brand though

Basically rebadged audiopipe with cheaper parts

 

[bumpasauras 10+ year member]

Spend a lil more and get a ppi 1000.1 phantom. They are badd *** for the money (under 190$) does rated power and you could upgrade your subs later if you wanted. If that's too much go with the ppi phantom 600.2 and run it bridged, I can't remember if the cvr's are duel voice coil or single voice coil, if they are single you could run them in 1 ohm and really light them up. I think the ppi 600.3 is like 130-140$ on amazon right now.

Really nice amp. Just remember that you get what you pay for when it comes to amps and spending 50-75$ more can make the difference between having a nice sounding setup that will last years and a muddy sounding boom maker that will self distruct in 6 months.

 

[rugdnit 10+ year member]

Thanks for the response. the subs are dual 2ohm and for power (WATTS PEAK/RMS)*800/400, so im guess more than 1000watt? . I have no preference on shape of the amp or wire thickness. I'm just looking for a entry level amp for now that works well with 2 12, and maybe later on ill upgrade.

Just a wild guess, but I'd be willing to bet that it sounds better with the Boston at 4ohms.

 

[mclerico83 5,000+ posts]

i would second the boston amp as you will need power at 2 ohm which will be hard to find 600-800 rms at 2ohm in an amp the boston will be your best choice.

Boston Acoustics GT-2125 (gt2125) GT Reference 2-Channel Amplifier

it does 600rms at 2 ohm but is a little underrated.

but for your price seriously i would get this amp

Brand New Cadence Z5000 Competition Monoblock Car Amplifier 2ohm 1500 Watt Peak | eBay

korean made amp vs Chinese and 750 watts at 12v's at 2 ohm its an old school classic monster. i would offer him 100 bucks and this would be my choice. if he doesent take the 100 bucks i would spend the extra cash on this over the boston but if you only have 100 get the boston. but first seriously offer him 100 for this

 

[zako 10+ year member]

Thanks for the response. the subs are dual 2ohm and for power (WATTS PEAK/RMS)*800/400, so im guess more than 1000watt? . I have no preference on shape of the amp or wire thickness. I'm just looking for a entry level amp for now that works well with 2 12, and maybe later on ill upgrade.

A dual voice coil 2ohm sub can be wired for either 1 or 4 ohm impedance, but two such subwoofers can be wired together for the final 2ohm impedance (or 8ohm, which is not relevant). So basically you're looking for a standard mono subwoofer amplifier. The REF1.800 I mentioned is rated for 650watt RMS. This should be passable, and a great deal for $110.

 

[zako 10+ year member]

i would second the boston amp as you will need power at 2 ohm which will be hard to find 600-800 rms at 2ohm in an amp the boston will be your best choice.
Boston Acoustics GT-2125 (gt2125) GT Reference 2-Channel Amplifier

it does 600rms at 2 ohm but is a little underrated.

I wouldn't run a 2 channel amplifier bridged with 2ohm impedance, specially Class A/B. The individual channels will be seeing 1ohm impedance. I am also not sure about underrated. 40 amp fuse. That's not a lot. Let's assume than the amplifier efficiency is 70% at 2ohm (or 4ohm bridged). It probably can't get better than that for Class A/B. 40amps times 14.4 volts times 70% efficiency, gives you about 400watts RMS of power, which is exactly the manufacturer rating at 4ohm bridged. Overall though, it's a good amplifier and a bargain at that price.

 

[mclerico83 5,000+ posts]

I wouldn't run a 2 channel amplifier bridged with 2ohm impedance, specially Class A/B. The individual channels will be seeing 1ohm impedance. I am also not sure about underrated. 40 amp fuse. That's not a lot. Let's assume than the amplifier efficiency is 70% at 2ohm (or 4ohm bridged). It probably can't get better than that for Class A/B. 40amps times 14.4 volts times 70% efficiency, gives you about 400watts RMS of power, which is exactly the manufacturer rating at 4ohm bridged. Overall though, it's a good amplifier and a bargain at that price.

we have overally discussed this on this forum but fuse rating are not a tell all sign on power output. ie mmats etc. I have an autotek amp at my house that has 160 amps of fuses but has a max current draw of 269. the gt series of boston amps are designed to run at 2 ohm also and are 1 ohm stable and stay cold. I own a couple. I am running a gt-42 now at 1 ohm on all 4 channels //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif.

I also recomended the cadence amp which is a korean brick over all that has been mentioned exp since its brand new and the guy has had it up and keeps dropping the price so i think he is wanting to sell and would offer 100 bucks and steal it.

 

[zako 10+ year member]

Spend a lil more and get a ppi 1000.1 phantom. They are badd *** for the money (under 190$) does rated power

Actually, according to a former PPI engineer, it does more than rated, but they made a mistake when doing their ratings originally and the literature was already printed/distributed (though, this kind of makes me worried about buying an amplifier from the company that makes such errors ;p). This amplifier is the same amp internally as Soundstream TN1.1200D. The Soundstream is supposedly rated correctly. You can look it up.

 

[mclerico83 5,000+ posts]

yes but the phantom is putting him in the 190 range 200 bucks and it is a great amp but for what he needs i feel the cadence is still a better deal and better amp