Trade my Rockford for a Zapco?

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Seriously?.... an a/b amp vs. a class d

the new power amps are not Class D. They are BD and atleast the CP versions has around 60% at 1ohm. JL slash mono amps are D and are in the 50% range

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

I'm not sure if it's clipping or it's just my imagination. Some people say it's the cleanest system they've ever heard but it sounds sloppy to me. Probably because I'm running 1 ohm.

Average person thinks if its loud its clean.

 

[Kingstroker 10+ year member]

Seriously?.... an a/b amp vs. a class d

just because it's a D doesn't make it more efficient, in general yes but you have to compare same build quality amps. High quality A/B amps are getting more efficient every day at the same time cheap built quality amps(all classes) are getting even cheaper and probably less efficient pushing for high power at the cost of clean sound and durability. I have never been a RF or SPL system fan but I just don't think a budget D is as/or more efficient than a high quality A/B. Then again I could be wrong.

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

the new power amps are not Class D. They are BD and atleast the CP versions has around 60% at 1ohm. JL slash mono amps are D and are in the 50% range

Bro , it's the same design that they have always been since the bd series was introduced by RF.

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

just because it's a D doesn't make it more efficient, in general yes but you have to compare same build quality amps. High quality A/B amps are getting more efficient every day at the same time cheap built quality amps(all classes) are getting even cheaper and probably less efficient pushing for high power at the cost of clean sound and durability. I have never been a RF or SPL system fan but I just don't think a budget D is as/or more efficient than a high quality A/B. Then again I could be wrong.

I have owned both amps in the OP, and can tell you that the bd is in fact more efficient than the zapco. Will he notice a difference in sound? doubtful...can most people tell a difference? doubtful....

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Bro , it's the same design that they have always been since the bd series was introduced by RF.

Maybe I'm reading it wrong but that says 63% average... Meaning it drops lower

http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/products/product_details.aspx?itemid=117365

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

not doubting the efficiency you posted. Just saying the bd topology rf uses is the same in the newer prime series as it was in the older bd series.

ps. always take a manufacturers specs with a grain of salt.

 

[budgetkiller 10+ year member]

I have owned both amps in the OP, and can tell you that the bd is in fact more efficient than the zapco. Will he notice a difference in sound? doubtful...can most people tell a difference? doubtful....

Exactly what I'm looking for. Would you trade a mint condition RF for a fair condition zapco? And which amp did you like better? Also how much more efficient? Noticeably? Because my electrical already hates my system

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Exactly what I'm looking for. Would you trade a mint condition RF for a fair condition zapco? And which amp did you like better? Also how much more efficient? Noticeably? Because my electrical already hates my system

Set the 500 up right and it wont hate you. If you dont know how and do the same thing with the Zapco it will be much worse

 

[budgetkiller 10+ year member]

Set the 500 up right and it wont hate you. If you dont know how and do the same thing with the Zapco it will be much worse

Honestly I think it is set up right, but my stock alt is only 60 amps and it's on it's last leg ATM. When I say it clips, I mean I think it could sound better, it's not that my sub is going crazy making horrible distorted bass like 90% of teenagers do. I've read into tuning before but I'm always open to learn more.

I guess what I'm trying to ask, is if I had the 500 tuned optimally in a perfect case scenario, and then switched that out for this zapco and set that up optimally, and played the fanciest trickiest ultimate sq/sql bass tester song, would the zapco take the cake, or would the fosgate be right there with it?

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Honestly I think it is set up right, but my stock alt is only 60 amps and it's on it's last leg ATM. When I say it clips, I mean I think it could sound better, it's not that my sub is going crazy making horrible distorted bass like 90% of teenagers do. I've read into tuning before but I'm always open to learn more.
I guess what I'm trying to ask, is if I had the 500 tuned optimally in a perfect case scenario, and then switched that out for this zapco and set that up optimally, and played the fanciest trickiest ultimate sq/sql bass tester song, would the zapco take the cake, or would the fosgate be right there with it?

May I ask how you set the gain? What volume does your HU go to and where do you listen to it? Are you using any boost? loudness, bass?

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

Exactly what I'm looking for. Would you trade a mint condition RF for a fair condition zapco? And which amp did you like better? Also how much more efficient? Noticeably? Because my electrical already hates my system

No doubt the zapco is the better amp. Condition would be the deciding factor for tradr. in my case was the bd was 5-7% more efficient . noticeable? Maybe on a realllllyyy taxed electrical system. IN my install not really without measuring it.

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

Honestly I think it is set up right, but my stock alt is only 60 amps and it's on it's last leg ATM. When I say it clips, I mean I think it could sound better, it's not that my sub is going crazy making horrible distorted bass like 90% of teenagers do. I've read into tuning before but I'm always open to learn more.
I guess what I'm trying to ask, is if I had the 500 tuned optimally in a perfect case scenario, and then switched that out for this zapco and set that up optimally, and played the fanciest trickiest ultimate sq/sql bass tester song, would the zapco take the cake, or would the fosgate be right there with it?

In your last statement. I would be willing to bet 99.9999999999999999999% of the listeners couldn't actually tell the difference between the two amps in an a/b litening test.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

No doubt the zapco is the better amp. Condition would be the deciding factor for tradr. in my case was the bd was 5-7% more efficient . noticeable? Maybe on a realllllyyy taxed electrical system. IN my install not really without measuring it.

Was the eff difference between the to made up by the power difference?

 

[budgetkiller 10+ year member]

May I ask how you set the gain? What volume does your HU go to and where do you listen to it? Are you using any boost? loudness, bass?

Of course you can ask that. I can tell by the equipment you're running you know much more than I do. I'm running a Kenwood hu. Max volume 35 normal listening is 16-20. System is tuned to Max out somewhere between 25-27 depending on the song. Bass boost is off, EQ is set at +1 on the low band followed by +2 +3 0 and -1 or something very close to that. I do run sub control via the headunit. Usually no more than +9 out of 15. My source is my phone, which I play at 12 out of 15. I play a decent amount of decaf on unaltered quality files. I actually run a four channel as well so the internal amp on fhe head unit is turned off. All six channels are connected to their respective amps. The pre-outs are 4V. My hpf is set at 70hz and my lpf is set at 120 or 150hz. That's to try and combat my midbass drop out. The gain on the RF amp is approximately 3/4 of the way up, subsonic filter is on (15hz) and the punch EQ for bass boost is set at zero. RF amp is running open; no lpf or hpf. I leave that up to the head unit.

Lot of information I'm sorry, I just figured you could better help me that way and not have to ask 400 questions.