Amplifier Suggestions

[highthai]

Hey again, I decided to go with the JL Audio Cleansweep first. I am building my sound system piece by piece, so I've decided to get an Amp next, and possibly a sub or front speakers. I was looking around at amplifiers and really could not tell the differences in quality between competing brands. Could you guys give me some suggestions on which amplifiers to look at? I probably need to decide on what amplifier I need to get, depending on my speakers and sub right? I'm currently looking at the Alpine MRP-F550, but I really don't know for sure what I'm going to get. What does it mean by 4ohms, 2ohms, 1ohm? The MRP-F550, is 500 watts, does that mean I can connect 200 watts to the front speakers and leave 300 watts for a sub? Also what are the differences in amplifier classes?Haha, I bet I sound like a novice.

[RTexasF]

Smart move on the Clean Sweep. Once your system is complete you won't believe how clear it sounds even at monster volume levels.

I would suggest you seek professional advice. Go to some well regarded car audio shops and talk to them. Tell them up front that you have a thousand questions. Go to several shops if necessary. If they are not familar with installing & tuning the Clean Sweep go elswhere.

You'll get as many opinions here as there are brand names concerning amps. I chose to stay with JL Audio but I'm sure any name brand will work just fine. You need to decide how much power you want to deliver to the speakers.

Your speakers are more important (in my opinion) than the amp. Replace all four not just the fronts. The speakers must be rated to handle the power delivered. I had the tweeters in the dash disconnected, just running on the main four and I don't miss them one bit.

The Clean Sweep's volume knob will be the one you use after the install, not the head unit volume so decide where you want to put it. Here's where I put mine -(small silver knob by E brake)

[mdnky]

You'll get as many opinions here as there are brand names concerning amps. I chose to stay with JL Audio but I'm sure any name brand will work just fine. You need to decide how much power you want to deliver to the speakers.

Your speakers are more important (in my opinion) than the amp. Replace all four not just the fronts.

I have to agree, yet disagree with this. The amp is more important in some ways than the speakers themselves. Particularly when brand and quality are figured. There's way too many "brand name" amps out there that are junk. You need to stick with an amp that's built well, matches your setup, and is efficient. It should also be matched to the job at hand. Quite a few manufacturers still rate their amps at impossible levels. They may say 600w to 1000W, but that's at unbearable noise levels. The good amps may only put out 100W or 200w, but its clean power and will sound much better than 1000W models that cost the same. Its all a marketing game really.

A few brand to look for are JL Audio, RF (newer ones), Kicker, Alpine, Memphis, MTX, etc. -- Stay away from Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, Lightning, Lanzar, Audiobahn, US Amps, Bazooka, PPI, Phoenix Gold, US Acoustics, Hifonics, Cadence, Kole, etc.


You'll need to think about your speakers first. What are you putting in there? What are their peak power ratings, RMS rating, response range, etc. That'll help decide what amp you choose, making sure everything matches up nicely. Definitely figure on a setup like this: one 4ch amp to drive the door and deck speakers, one 2ch or mono amp to drive the sub. Using one amp to drive everything is a hassle and not the best solution for sound quality and ease of install.

-----

Not sure if it'll help, but this is how my Accord is most likely being setup:

Stock HU & JL Cleansweep

Front Doors: Boston Acoustic SX60 Components (http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=52000&i=065SX60&c=3&tp=95&avf=N)
power range: 2-65 watts RMS (200 watts peak power)
4-ohm impedance
frequency response 55-20,000 Hz
sensitivity: 90 dB
Rear Deck: Boston Acoustic SX60 Components (http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=52000&i=065SX60&c=3&tp=95&avf=N) (minus tweeters)
power range: 2-65 watts RMS (200 watts peak power)
4-ohm impedance
frequency response 55-20,000 Hz
sensitivity: 90 dB
Trunk: Kicker Comp VR 12" (http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=520&i=2067C12VR2&c=3&tp=111&avf=N) (one sub, coils wired in series for 4-ohm load)
power handling: 50-400 watts RMS (200 watts per coil)
800 watts peak power handling
dual 2-ohm voice coils
frequency response: 25-500 Hz
sensitivity: 86.7 dB
sealed box volume: 1.0-4.6 cu. ft.
Amp 1: Kicker ZX350.4 (http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=120&i=206ZX3504&c=3&tp=115&avf=N) (Front Doors & Rear Deck)
4-channel car amplifier
60 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms
variable high- and low-pass filters (50-200 Hz, 12 dB per octave)
Amp 2: Kicker 400.1 (http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=120&i=206ZX4001&c=3&tp=115&avf=N) (Sub)
Mono subwoofer amplifier - Class D
200 watts RMS x 1 at 4 ohms
variable low-pass filter (50-200 Hz at 24 dB per octave)
variable bass boost (0-18 dB at 40 Hz)
subsonic filter (12 dB at 25 Hz)

[highthai]

You'll need to think about your speakers first. What are you putting in there? What are their peak power ratings, RMS rating, response range, etc. That'll help decide what amp you choose, making sure everything matches up nicely. Definitely figure on a setup like this: one 4ch amp to drive the door and deck speakers, one 2ch or mono amp to drive the sub. Using one amp to drive everything is a hassle and not the best solution for sound quality and ease of install.



I believe that I might go with some infinity speakers, or possibly the alpine type r's they're 100w rms speakers though, so I would definitely have to get some higher output amplifier for them.

[xerais]

I'm currently ordering new parts for an upgrade to my 2005 ex-v6 nav. Found this amp for a steal...

Kicker zx350.4 - 152.35 with FREE shipping. I've ordered from this site before too, very satisfied.

http://www.techronics.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=3918

Just ordered some BostonAcoustics sx60's for the front and sx95's for the rear from the same site, around 140 or so a set.

Found a JL Audio cleansweep for 239.99 and free shipping here:
http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=2858

Also have ordered from this site, no complaints.

As for installation, I'm going to pay a shop to do it, don't have the experience to do it right.

Hope this helps a bit, I got most of these ideas from the last two days browsing these forums.

[RTexasF]

Great buy on the cleansweep! $299 was the going rate for a long time.

[thesteve151]

ya there are so many choices on amps, and subs. I did what RTexasF said, i went around to lots of shops asking questions, and also surfing some audio forums. the ohms have to match up between your speaker, and amps, but deciding what ohms to go with in the first place is difficult. it really matters how you want them to sound, i think a 4ohm sub will be cleaner sounding than a 2omh one, but it requires a more powerful amp, and a 2 ohm sub doesn't sound as good, but will hit harder, and drawl allot less current from the amp. don't quote me on that, but i think thats right.

[RTexasF]

I believe that I might go with some infinity speakers, or possibly the alpine type r's they're 100w rms speakers though, so I would definitely have to get some higher output amplifier for them.


Not really. My rear speakers are rated @ 150 RMS and the fronts @ 90. I'm powering them with a 45 watt X 4 amp and they sound spectacular. Again I'm into clarity not record sound levels but they will indeed play loud. I would think that an amp in the 50-75 watt range would be all you will need especially with the Clean Sweep but that depends on your wants.

I believe that 4 ohm speakers are the norm with the exception of subs. If you get an amp with rated power @ 4ohms and speakers with rated max power @ 4 ohms you'll be fine. Another consideration is how efficient the speakers are. I chose speakers with a very high efficiency number since I initially powered them only with the stock head unit. Now that they are amplified, due to their efficiency, I don't need monster power to push them.

Also most speakers have a variable power rating where they will play correctly like 5-50 watts or 5-150 watts. I prefer to have speakers that are capable of well above the rated power of the amp I intend to use. With my current speakers if I find a steal on an amp rated at 75 X 4 they will handle it without complaint.

[highthai]

Finally, after countless hours of browsing through forums, looking at crutchfield reviews and compatible speakers, I have finally decided on a sound system (speakers and amp) setup. I have already ordered a JL Audio Cleansweep which should be on its way. For my speakers I plan on getting the following:

Front - Polk Momo MMC6500 6.5" Component Speakers
Rear - Polk Momo MMC690 6x9"s
Amplifier - Alpine Pdx-4.100 powering front and rears 4x100w RMS

If any members of this forum have tried the Polk Momo's let me know what you think of them. I'm pretty set on these speakers, they sound like a great buy and I've read nothing but great things about them.

On Crutchfield the rear MMC690's say they don't fit, but I've read some reviews by Accord Owners that they had no problem with these speakers. If anything I think I will have to try and get professional custom installation. A buddy of mine used to work for a professional car audio place and said he'd help me out with the installation. I'll take pictures of my new setup asap :thmsup:. I still don't know where to put the amp, its supposedly really small so I want to try and fit it in the most discrete and efficient place possible because I need to use my trunk for college.

Missing - Mono Amp + Sub (Have no idea what I should get or what will match my soundsystem setup thus far)

[Cups]

If any members of this forum have tried the Polk Momo's let me know what you think of them.

Been using the MMC6500's for the past year. You'll love them!
Installation won't be plug-and-play tho. I had to cut the door panel :D (You can cut the grill and make your own spacers instead)
Crutchfield said they should fit with no modifications.. You think they got mixed up between the 6500 and the 690 seeing as others say they fit? :)

[highthai]

Hey Cups, I noticed that you have a basslink. How is it? I was looking around, but a sub seems to take lots of space and planning. And I really want to conserve as much space as possible, but I still want that thump for my hip hop. Do you think that the basslink will suffice? haha

[Cups]

Hey Cups, I noticed that you have a basslink. How is it? I was looking around, but a sub seems to take lots of space and planning. And I really want to conserve as much space as possible, but I still want that thump for my hip hop. Do you think that the basslink will suffice? haha

Basslink is good. Fills low frequencies nicely and still is louder than the main speakers at normal setting. I don't know how loud you want it but you can always do what Greg does. Will take almost the same space as the basslink and you get to choose the sub you want.

Like if you want a thump to be heard down the road.... maybe the basslink isn't for you :)

[RTexasF]

Different amp mounting locations:

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?t=10850