Z1A or 4 US Amps MD3D

[JoeSmith502 10+ year member]

Ok, here's the deal. I am going to be running 4 2005 RE XXX 12" D2 in my Cadillac. I currently have a Digital Designs Z1A that does right at 5000rms @ 1 ohm. I was wondering if I would be better off selling the Z1A and getting 4 of the US Amps Merlin MD3Ds that do 2000rms @ 1 ohm each.

The only reason I am considering the change is because I am running everything else US Amps and RE Audio. I have 2 sets of XXX 6.5"s & tweets, a Merlin MD-42 and a Merlin MD-41. I have plenty of power to run them all so what do you all think would be better? The Z1A or the 4 MD3Ds and why? Thanks in advance!

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[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

you'd be better off with the Z1a due to the efficency....

 

[wu501 10+ year member]

whatever give you the most power //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[s12mm4000 10+ year member]

i would go with the 4 merlins that would be a badass install with all the re and us amps

 

[JoeSmith502 10+ year member]

From what I've read the Merlins are pretty efficient in their own right. It would also be cool to be able to control each sub independently of one another. So if I just want to play two of the subs, I can turn two off. The MD3D's combined would be 8000rms and the Z1A is a little above 5000 so the MD3Ds would be more powerful. More opinions??

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

I did the same numbers with a z1a on one Batcap 12v 8400 as from 4 MA HK 4000D's on two 12v Batcap 8400's...The MA's are 3 times the power of a Z1a..efficiency and clean sound is the key....both setups did 154's in my Explorer on 4 DD 10's in the hatch....

 

[JoeSmith502 10+ year member]

Nice.. I guess I'll stick with the Z1A. Thanks alot.

 

[JoeSmith502 10+ year member]

But then again, MA is not US Amps. The MD3D's have an efficiency rating of 76% @ 1 ohm. Whats the rate on the Z1A?

 

[rasta4life 10+ year member]

I would go with the md3d just for the fact more wattage,to get the best from those merlins you need big batteries and high amperage alternators'Each amp has a fuse rating of 240 amp draw 240 X 4=960 amps of draw.The merlins are killer if they get the right juice.

 

[JoeSmith502 10+ year member]

I've got a 300 amp alt with multiple runs of 0/1 cable and three bats. It has no trouble keeping up with the Z1A at full blast.