Switched from the Kicker 550.2 to a MB Quart QAA4250

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

I had the 550.2 running my rear fill and front components (about 130W to each) and just switched it tonight to the four channel MB Quart QAA4250. When the guys inside heard of what I was switching to you would have thought I hit the lottery with the way they flew out to the car to see it. What is so special about this piece? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif I know they knew about it but have never seen one //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif After the excitement was over and the install done I think I need more time with it to give an opinion on it. Having no birth sheet I have no idea how accurate the 250x4 @ 4 Ohm rating is but we suspect it is off some. We have the gains turned up pretty good which according to the installer didn't seem right for that amp. I don't really understand it and what it did to my system but it for sure sounds different where I was hoping to get louder with it. See if this sums it up and if anyone can relate or help explain it:

- Overall the tweets and front stage picked up big over the 550.2 (brighter).

- The rear fill seems to have also picked up but not as noticeable over the 550.2.

- Without a doubt fronts and rears are cleaner sounding. Even according to the installer over the 550.2.

- Don't know what it was about the 550.2 when it was in there but we both agreed the mids maybe sounded better if that makes any sense over the QAA4250.

- I believe with the 4250 in there I have better balance where the fronts woke up but now the sub lacks a little behind (that according to my Daughter's tuned ear).

I need to play it some more to really give an opinion but it seems to have more power but may be a SQ upgrade only.

I don't know if I did the right thing or not but now I can slap the 550.2 in the truck //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Click to read more...

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

Anyone care to comment on any of this? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif

 

[DiamondFanatic 10+ year member]

Wait, are you running your speakers active? It doesn't appear you are..

An equalizer might help you tune out some of the things you are lacking or excessive brightness. That would be my next buy.

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

Not active. What kind of equalizer?

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

If I'm reading this right I'd have to say good job on going with a 4ch amp to run fronts and backs rather than a 2ch doing the same job (which completely eliminates all possibility of fadar funtionality and with it all hopes of proper staging)

Plus the QAA-series MBQ amps are pretty sexy in my humble opinion //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

mb quart are some awesome amps. gobs and gobs of power. good pickup and i guess im glad you liked it.

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

Only played it like 30 minutes last night and didn't have it tuned to my liking. I have errands to run today so I will have more seat time with it. Thanks for suggesting it! I don't think I went wrong at all. Just different is all and I need to get my system tuned right. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

oh shiet. i forgot that i suggested that amp. hmmm well i hope you tune it. did you buy it off of ikesound? any pops so far? also when you say the rating is off by some do you overrated or underrated? also not quite sure on the rating of the kicker, but if you doubled the power, theoretically its only a 3db gain. so maybe you might have been expecting to much from the amp.

hey if you dont like that amp, give me a nice discount and i'll take it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif.

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

Double power is only 3 dB? That may explain it then. I was expecting a huge gain out of it. I like it much better than the two channel Kicker it replaced. My system sounded real good tonight //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif I thought maybe it was overrated as 250x4 but maybe it is actually at that level if 3 dB is all it will increase SPL.

I'm keeping it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

^^^ boo!! haha, thought i'd try.

yea theoretically if you double the power its only an incrase in SPL by +3db. Well i guess since you tuned your setup i'm glad you like the amp. You owe me a cookie! lol.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

Having no birth sheet I have no idea how accurate the 250x4 @ 4 Ohm rating is but we suspect it is off some. We have the gains turned up pretty good which according to the installer didn't seem right for that amp.

What do you have the sensitivity switch set at?

I posted the specs when CA&E tested in another thread recently.

I was not very impressed by the sound either of that amp to tell you the truth. I felt like the stage was narrower and the instrumentation was less life-like overall. Plenty of power though, I had my mids HP @ 63 before and had to bump it up to 100 for heavy bass songs.

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

No problem!

How do you like those Seas? Are they mid or upper end?

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

No problem!
How do you like those Seas? Are they mid or upper end?

Me? if so, i absolutely love them. Great midrange, much better than my rainbows imo. good snappy midbass. As of right i'd like to get a bit more juice to them since i only have roughly 42.5 watts to them but i am quite satisfied as of right now.

As for the status of the Seas CA18RLY, dunno really. the mids cost me a $107 shipped through Madisound.com. It's actually made to be in a home and hence the 8 ohms. Seas Lotus is their dedicated car audio line. I'm guessing middle end if had to guess.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

Here you go: http://www.caraudio.com/vb/showthread.php?t=137981&page=2&highlight=mb+quart+qaa4250

Post #21

You're welcome //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[Intercooler 10+ year member]

Here you go: http://www.caraudio.com/vb/showthread.php?t=137981&page=2&highlight=mb+quart+qaa4250
Post #21

You're welcome //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

Interesting... Thanks! 1100 Watts. Even at 12.5V it was cranking. It does sound better and a little louder.