12 volts not doing the trick?

Always assume that you will have a 12 volt supply. This is due to the demands that the vehicle places on the electrical system when it is in use.... a rainy night in the summer means, headlights, ac, wipers, parklights.... and your stereo. You will always get the bare minimums that these amps claim and even more as they do not just magically stop making power at 12 volts, upon testing, most amps exceed their 12 volt rating by a good amount (for a reliable amp like an Alpine). If your vehicle is delivering more voltage than 12 volts, that is great, you will gain even more power. In this case it is not about the amplifier, it is about the charging system and the demand it is placed on it that will determine the real output of your amplifer. Make sure that you have a good ground, read my grounding sticky as this will aid the situation and help you get the most you can from your investment.

Most people are pressed very very hard (especially males and the older we get as well) to hear a difference of 1 db. In a controlled environment like a hearing test, sure I will agree, but in a vehicle with background noise and non-linear output levels, 1 db for most people is not noticeable. For those with bionic hearing (definitely not me), I concede that there are those people that can hear this difference. So I guess we are both right.

FYI, I just had my hearing tested and it shows a 18db loss in my right ear and 19db in my left ear. Not from car audio either but from ear infections when I was young. I still suffer ear infections to this day...sometimes it's worth it thoug...I can't hear the other half bitchin' me out for some crises she is having.