so who makes decent gear now?

It has been a LONG time since I have bought anything new and even longer since I have poked in here. Just got out of the game for a few years (since 2004/2005?). Short story is that I am trying to build a new system for a Jeep TJ thats stays garaged. I will be doing Alpine R-type. Coaxials that I already had plus a couple JBL GTO 8's that I already had.

My question is regarding amps. I want to go 5-channel to make the install clean and easy. However, it looks like some of the names I used to know and love have been bought out. MB Quart is now Maxxsonics? PPI was bought by Directed? is any of the stuff from either brand any good now?

So...who still makes decent gear? Rockford Fosgate, Alpine, JL, Kenwood, Pioneer, Memphis, Polk, MTX?

Also, I see that Class D amps are being used for all channels now, not just big monoblock sub amps? How are those working out? Seems like the bag/buck ratio is pretty high, plus I imagine they would run pretty cool.

PPI is coming back now that they arent with DEI anymore but MB quart is lost IMO as is any other brand that has been bought by maxxsonics.

memphis and alpine are still really nice, i use an alpine PDX-F4 on my front components and couldnt be happier with how it sounds.

polk is alright but not as good as it used to be as is rockford too. pioneer and kenwood amps are a joke.

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The new Class D amps are pretty good, but as has ALWAYS been the case, the more you pay, the better you get. Alpine PDX amps are really good, but they're expensive. Zapco would be my ONLY choice in the way of Class A/B amplification anymore. I've NEVER liked Rockford, but I also see that Linear Power is making a comeback. YEA!!! I always loved Linear, both for highs and for bass... Anybody remember the Linear 5002? Ahhhh.... THOSE were the days. Before the almighty dollar destroyed the integrity of the good companies...

Anyway... Linear, Alpine, Zapco. Good gear, overall, but I've been out for a while, too. I cannot speak to much other stuff out there. I do remember there were names I would always stay away from, though. Rockford was one of them. Quart was ALWAYS overpriced. If you can find old-school McIntosh, A/D/S, or Nakamichi stuff, GET IT.

I might just be rambling now...

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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."

Very true about the older days. early/mid 90s gear was bulletproof. I had an old HiFonics Zeus. You know the white (or grey) one that weighed about 30lb and had the 8Ga cable attached directly to the board. I ran (4) of the first Kicker Solobaric 10s (the round ones). In the hatch of a Camaro Z28. That thing CRUSHED. Never could kill it. It would get hot enough to fry an egg.

Then the aluminum Eclipse subs. I had an almost 100% Eclipse system in my Accord around 2003. That was the best my stuff ever was.

Jeez....howabout the old yellow Cewin Vega Strokers. Kid in high school had one in a ford escort. Crazy loud.

I think one of the Alpine amps will be my best bet. Like I said, it is in a Jeep TJ that stays garaged with the top off and doors off. I am not looking for SQ. I just need it louder than the wind and road.

As a side not...do either of you know if they will run 4ohm loads to the mains and then a mono 2ohm load to the subs? I know it is 2ohm stable all around, just did not know if it would do both or if there was some sort of protection/compensation built it to keep the ohm loads constant. Crazy, but you never know with this new all-digital stuff.

most 4 channel amps they are 2 ohm stable per channel need to be ran in 4 ohms for mono/bridged output. im not sure about the alpines because they are made to give the same power at any ohm load down to 2 ohms.

if you arent very concerned with sound quality then it doesnt make sense for you to buy a $400 300 watt amp, honestly most of the major brands you remember have alright amps as far as durability is concerned, just not very clean like and alpine or JL or Zapco. just stay away from off brands and lower line products.

the first brand that comes to mind is soundstream, they have decent amps and i havent had many problems with them at all. they make some small sized amps that would be easier to hide in your jeep.(i just replaced a windshield in one of those jeeps so i know what kind of spaces your are dealing with).

a lot of companies are starting to make mini amps too though. i carry crossfire as a brand and their C3 500 is about as big as a typical bible, although their 4 channel is a little bigger. ive only had one amp die on me so far.

companies to stay away from would be: orion, kicker, directed(anything directed really), autotek, jensen, pyle, lanzar, bazooka, cheap MTX, hifonics, audiobahn, crunch, kole, etc. honestly too many to keep naming. its a jungle out there so happy amp hunting.



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You know, I read this earlier this morning. The more I think about it, the less i want to spend. There are quite a few options for $300 +- a few bucks. I suppose that will be my target and I'll just buy whatever I can find in that range that is at least CEA compliant so I know the wattage is fairly accurate. I think some of the Alpine (non-PDX) are in that range. I'll just stay away afrom the garbage brands. Sure it will not be clean, but, that is not what I am looking for. Plus, everything in a Jeep is dirty,

Speaking of Soundstream...how are those amps these days? Like the Rubicon series. They look just like the early 90s amps.

everything these days is CEA rated, its a joke just like energy star on an appliance. manufactures pay to put that stamp on their product so people will think its good. CEA says nothing about quality or durability.

honestly ive never dealt with the soundstream rubicon amps, ive used the stealth, tarantula, tower, and picasso series and they all have their ups and downs. rubicon is their bottom level so i would be cautious of its quality.

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Another thing that has changed. Back when it first came out, CEA was fantastic. Another meaningless spec now, I suppose. Oh well. THanks for your input and information.

i am installing a new system and am useing a old school soundstream 500sx reference for my front stage running off old school eclipe h/u w/ a 2301 dsp and wow is it clean sounding. out of this world imageing. the sub is going to be powered also oldschool kicker 160ss mono bridged. have not picked out my sub yet , any suggestions anybody?

What size sub? Sundown gets a lot of props on here. I am experimenting with 2 of their E8V3s right now.