amps, which would you recommend?
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Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=107631
Printed Date: May 13, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Topic: amps, which would you recommend?
Posted By: carfr3ak
Subject: amps, which would you recommend?
Date Posted: September 22, 2008 at 11:32 PM
I have an 08 Xterra, and I decided to go with a stealthbox from JL. It comes loaded with a 12" W3v3 SVC sub, 500rms @ 4ohms. I have been searching feverishly for an ideal amp, as I have ordered the box and it will be here in a couple days.
I can get my hands on either:
Alpine MRP-M850/M1000 ~ $258
Kicker ZX1000.1 ~ $322
JL 500/1v2 ~ $420
All those amps are 500rms @ 4ohms. Price is somewhat an issue, because the stealthbox is already costing me $590 with tax, installed. Most of the time, I will pay a bit more for quality, because I hate buying cheap crap, and having to replace it down the line. The shop suggested a TMA T2-1000.1(JL's Entry level brand) for $500. So I plan on bringing in my own amp, and paying for install+materials.
What amp would you guys recommend me getting?
Replies:
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: September 22, 2008 at 11:49 PM
If the TMA is 5 notes, then get the actual JL amp, for 80 bux less... The JL amp is CERTAINLY where I would drop my money. Second to the JL, the Alpine, and I wouldn't ever even consider the Kicker.
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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
Posted By: aznboi3644
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 1:13 AM
I've had the 500/1. Probably the BEST amp i've ever owned.
I mean I love my Elemental Designs Nine.1 but the 500/1 is very underrated and the most versatile amp. The 500 watts(actually closer to 750watts)between 1.5-4 ohms is very nice to have.
Posted By: carfr3ak
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 1:24 AM
Also forgot to mention, Alpine also has the PDX-1.600M amp. It's underrated, and puts out 600rms @ 2-4ohms. I am leaning towards this, because it is the smallest amp so far(L- 10", W- 7.5",H- 2.5"), and I plan on putting it under the front passenger seat. I can't think of any other place in my Xterra to put the amp.
Posted By: carfr3ak
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 1:25 AM
The PDX is a marine amp, and that's $381.
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 1:42 AM
Having a full PDX amp compliment in my car, and in LOVE with them, I can strongly recommend that one!
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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
Posted By: carfr3ak
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 2:00 AM
Although I have no problem with shelling out an extra $40 for the JL amp(to coincide with my JL stealthbox), the PDX is very compact, and there isn't much room under the front seats for a long amp. So that's looking like my top choice right now. Thanks for your recommendation haemphyst, it means a lot.
I've heard that the PDX-1.1000M gets hot, but have you heard anything about the PDX-1.600M?
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 7:40 AM
Nothing specific. Yes the 1.1000 does run hot-ish, but even so, I've never had any issues, even on the hottest days. (that's 110+ outside, and in a black Civic!)
I expect a bit of heat from the 600, as well, but it's only going to be 1/3 less than the 1000, so don't think it won't get warm, as it will! Mine is installed RIGHT under my rear deck, a space much like yours will be under your front seat; I think you will be fine!
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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
Posted By: megaman
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 9:30 AM
do not... repeat NOT, buy the TMA amp. I sell them, hook them up all day long, and I'm currently looking for a new "entry" level line of amplifiers. I have been deeply disappointed by the TMA line from JL Audio. BTW, they are NOT designed by JL Audio, but by a couple of past Rockford employees, (who were not even amp technicians so I have no idea their qualifications for designing their own amps). They are sold under the JL umbrella, and after talking to my old rep who was employed by JL Audio as a rep, and was recently replaced by an independant rep firm, he gave me the inside scoop on the TMA line. Bottom line, go with the 500/1 and in light of my testing the PDX amps from Alpine, I am impressed with them. If your price point was a bit higher I'd say go with the JL HD amps, which completely blew me away with their performance.
Posted By: frozenuts
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 11:44 AM
The PDX is the way to go. Clean, loud, small...like a freshly washed baby, you will be asking yourself how some thing that small can put out that much sound.
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all bad things come in moderation. do not shop at fry's. Get your own log in Omar.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 1:50 PM
I agree with the JL Audio or Alpine recommendation. I am currently testing a Pioneer Premier PRS series amp that uses ICEpower technology (same basic Class-D technology as the Alpine PDX series.) Although I am quite impressed by it - and I usually do not like Pioneer products - the Alpine implementation sounds better. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 3:50 PM
DYohn] wrote:
agree with the JL Audio or Alpine recommendation. I am currently testing a Pioneer Premier PRS series amp that uses ICEpower technology (same basic Class-D technology as the Alpine PDX series.) Although I am quite impressed by it - and I usually do not like Pioneer products - the Alpine implementation sounds better.
David, Are you allowed to share your test data on those amps? I'm still curious how well these small ICE amplifiers maintain their rated power over time.
Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 3:57 PM
megaman wrote:
do not... repeat NOT, buy the TMA amp. I sell them, hook them up all day long, and I'm currently looking for a new "entry" level line of amplifiers. I have been deeply disappointed by the TMA line from JL Audio. BTW, they are NOT designed by JL Audio, but by a couple of past Rockford employees, (who were not even amp technicians so I have no idea their qualifications for designing their own amps). They are sold under the JL umbrella, and after talking to my old rep who was employed by JL Audio as a rep, and was recently replaced by an independant rep firm, he gave me the inside scoop on the TMA line. Bottom line, go with the 500/1 and in light of my testing the PDX amps from Alpine, I am impressed with them. If your price point was a bit higher I'd say go with the JL HD amps, which completely blew me away with their performance.
We sell quite a few of the TMA amplifiers and have never had any problems. They seem to be a great bang-for-the-buck amp line. However I do agree that the 500/1 is a better option. It's much more versatile and has much better protection circuitry.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 4:41 PM
Steven Kephart wrote:
David, Are you allowed to share your test data on those amps? I'm still curious how well these small ICE amplifiers maintain their rated power over time.
One anomaly I discovered with the Pioneer is it gets a little flaky at max rated power maintaining the current through it's rated impedance. Meaning, at the rated load of 2-ohms, it starts to have trouble maintaining full rated output and suts down for unkown reasons. I hear some of the Alpines do that too but I didn't see that behavior. Give it three ohms or more and it's fine and stable all day long. In fact, into a 4-ohm resistive load I see about 115% rated power output and almost ruler flat FR with a pink noise signal. Pretty good. It does get hot, though. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: megaman
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 5:52 PM
Steven Kephart wrote:
We sell quite a few of the TMA amplifiers and have never had any problems. They seem to be a great bang-for-the-buck amp line. However I do agree that the 500/1 is a better option. It's much more versatile and has much better protection circuitry.
The TMA mono blocks have been fine for us, however, they sound terrible compared to a Slash, G series, or A series of old. They take forever to start up and we just aren't happy with the overall performance. They are cheap. Watt for dollar we can't beat em'. Taking a step back we haven't had any problems with the mono blocks at all, and we've installed a lot of them. However, we are getting our @#$ handed to us by the other "cheap" mono blocks by Orion Cobalt, JBL CS series and Alpine MRP amps. The 4-channel TMA's we've had nothing but trouble with them. Yesterday I went through three, THREE in a row! All of them had something bad, right out of the box. Two of them as soon as you touched the crossover switches, or controls, the speakers started popping and smacking. The third amp had horrendous engine noise in it. We finally put in a G4500 and it worked flawless. I didn't change out wiring or reroute anything, and no engine noise, whisper quiet. So that's why we are ditching the TMA's. Underpowered, unproven, and let's face it... who has EVER heard of TMA?
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 7:57 PM
Steven Kephart wrote:
DYohn] wrote:
agree with the JL Audio or Alpine recommendation. I am currently testing a Pioneer Premier PRS series amp that uses ICEpower technology (same basic Class-D technology as the Alpine PDX series.) Although I am quite impressed by it - and I usually do not like Pioneer products - the Alpine implementation sounds better.
David,
Are you allowed to share your test data on those amps? I'm still curious how well these small ICE amplifiers maintain their rated power over time.
Dude... You TOTALLY asked me the same question when I got my PDX amps, and I flaked! LOL All I can say is that with the devices I have to measure current, voltage, and frequency response, I was very impressed with the total package of the PDX amplifiers. If memory serves me correctly, there was little to NO sag in output power on the 1.1000, (I was (and still am) running 4 ohms, though), and I noticed about a 5% drop in output power on the 4.150 while running in bridged mode (4 ohm load). Hardly worth mentioning. I am still impressed every time I sit in my car, the power just keeps coming... Smooth delivery, lots of reserve (I did plan it that way...) I have never really noticed anything in the way of "strain". The power supply is very well designed, and seems to be very tightly regulated.
Overall, they will do all that they say they do! The rumors of the 1.1000 running hot are not rumors at all, that thing does get warm. Dissipating over 200 watts of power from a flat aluminum heatsink that is only about 60 square inches... Sure, it's gonna get hot! I keep telling everybody that there has never been an issue though, I've never had it shut down on me, even this summer, where we had over a week of 110 degree days, one of them hit 116! ------------- It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: September 23, 2008 at 9:36 PM
haemphyst wrote:
Dude... You TOTALLY asked me the same question when I got my PDX amps, and I flaked! LOL All I can say is that with the devices I have to measure current, voltage, and frequency response, I was very impressed with the total package of the PDX amplifiers. If memory serves me correctly, there was little to NO sag in output power on the 1.1000, (I was (and still am) running 4 ohms, though), and I noticed about a 5% drop in output power on the 4.150 while running in bridged mode (4 ohm load). Hardly worth mentioning. I am still impressed every time I sit in my car, the power just keeps coming... Smooth delivery, lots of reserve (I did plan it that way...) I have never really noticed anything in the way of "strain". The power supply is very well designed, and seems to be very tightly regulated.
Thanks for the answer Dave's. 
That's good to know. I do understand that even a little bit of sag isn't a big deal. 200 watts of sag on a kilowatt amplifier is still inaudible. Seeing such high power ratings in such a small package had me a little skeptical on whether they would deliver and I'm glad to hear that they do.
haemphyst wrote:
Overall, they will do all that they say they do! The rumors of the 1.1000 running hot are not rumors at all, that thing does get warm. Dissipating over 200 watts of power from a flat aluminum heatsink that is only about 60 square inches... Sure, it's gonna get hot! I keep telling everybody that there has never been an issue though, I've never had it shut down on me, even this summer, where we had over a week of 110 degree days, one of them hit 116!
Bakersfield is definitely a good place to test that. Of course an old man like you probably doesn't run that amp near clipping very often. [enter raspberry smilie]
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: September 24, 2008 at 1:06 AM
Steven Kephart wrote:
Of course an old man like you probably doesn't run that amp near clipping very often. [enter raspberry smilie]
Sure, you're RIGHT, but ow. Very ow. LOL ------------- It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: September 24, 2008 at 1:19 AM
haemphyst wrote:
Steven Kephart wrote:
Of course an old man like you probably doesn't run that amp near clipping very often. [enter raspberry smilie]
Sure, you're RIGHT, but ow. Very ow. LOL
I hope you know I was teasing. If you were insulted then I do apologize as it wasn't intended.
Posted By: carfr3ak
Date Posted: September 24, 2008 at 1:28 AM
haemphyst wrote:
Steven Kephart wrote:
Of course an old man like you probably doesn't run that amp near clipping very often. [enter raspberry smilie]
Sure, you're RIGHT, but ow. Very ow. LOL
No kidding, that was harsh, haha.
But thanks guys, I called the shop I was getting the stealth box for, and he said he can get the PDX-1.600M amp for $40 over the cost of ebay, and I gave him the greenlight to order it.
Hopefully both the box and amp will arrive on time around Weds/Thurs, and my sound system will finally have the missing piece: Sweet, sweet bass.
I appreciate all your input and suggestions. I went from a Alpine MRP-M500/SWR 1242 Alpine Type R (500$ set up) to a JL Stealthbox/PDX-1.600M combo ($1150)
All in the name of trunk space... haha. It's going to hurt, but at least the bass will drown out my pain.
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: September 24, 2008 at 8:19 AM
Steven Kephart wrote:
haemphyst wrote:
Steven Kephart wrote:
Of course an old man like you probably doesn't run that amp near clipping very often. [enter raspberry smilie]
Sure, you're RIGHT, but ow. Very ow. LOL
I hope you know I was teasing. If you were insulted then I do apologize as it wasn't intended.
Of course... Life's too short to get hung up on little things like being 40! (almost 41)   ------------- It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: September 24, 2008 at 1:38 PM
40... almost 41... hahahahaha, so old you fart dust....wait a minute....40 is for me this year...ah crap...
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Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: September 24, 2008 at 2:04 PM
You are all kids.  ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: tcss
Date Posted: September 25, 2008 at 1:46 AM
Buncha youngsters.
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