5-channel Amp Recommendation
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=27215
Printed Date: May 10, 2024 at 8:15 AM
Topic: 5-channel Amp Recommendation
Posted By: Spaceman Spiff
Subject: 5-channel Amp Recommendation
Date Posted: February 25, 2004 at 1:11 PM
I have an explorer sport trac so off the bat space is limited. I am looking for a 5 channel amp to run a 9 speaker system. 4-mids, 4-tweets and 1-10" sub. Not looking to wake the neighborhood but would like the ability to crank it up and get some good hard hitting bass when I desire. Sub box is sealed and about .6 cub. feet, running an old Soundstream USA10. Upgrading the woofer is a possibility but I'm not there yet. I have looked at the kicker KX700.5 but haven't found any info on it, and the same can be said about most other 5-channels.
Any suggestions.
Replies:
Posted By: customsuburb
Date Posted: February 25, 2004 at 1:25 PM
Try the Alpine MRV-F450. Its the same price as the Kicker but I think its better then the Kicker amp. Its got a better power rating also. Alpine MRV-F450 Kicker KX700.5
Posted By: dyno
Date Posted: February 25, 2004 at 1:36 PM
Although I haven't used it, the Memphis Belle 5-channel amps came highly recommended to me by a friend who owned a car audio shop for 15 years and dealed Memphis, Alpine, Kicker, and Kenwood. He said that the only 5-channel amp he'd ever buy for himself would be the Memphis. Supposedly with amps like the Alpine and Kicker, when your subwoofer is hitting hard, your mids will suffer in power and clarity. Not the case with the Memphis. That's what he said anyway. -dyno
Posted By: ksin291
Date Posted: February 25, 2004 at 1:39 PM
The Memphis Belle will not makes the mid's suffer because it is basically two seperate amps in one chasis, it has a class a/b for mids and hights and a seperate class d for subs. It is really a good amp and I have played with it in one of my old system setups, Memphis makes some good stuff. -------------
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: February 25, 2004 at 1:41 PM
The sub that you have is a wolf in sheep's clothing. It wails in a ported box and plays pretty respectable in a sealed box. As it is a dvc sub it does limit some of the amplifier suggestions. The basic Eclipse ea3532 is not a good amp for this purpose but the pa5532 is a good choice. It is also a US built amplifer. Another really good amp is the Crossfire VR705D. This is an outstanding 5 channel amplifier. A class D design for the subs, 300w rms @ 2 ohm mono, so it will drive your dvc sub properly with more than enough power and a rock solid class AB section to drive the front / rear speakers. This amp is underestimated by most people, we used to sell a pile of them, never had reliability issues either. We do not sell them any more as we do not have a local distributor, too bad.
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: ksin291
Date Posted: February 25, 2004 at 2:03 PM
In my first setup I had an eclipse amp, the 3650 I think, that sounded damn good. I was running kicker K75's in the front and infinity Kappa 6x9's in the rear and a 12w0 in a ported box for bass. Let me tell you for a relatively inexpensive system it put out some pretty damn good sound, surprisingly the bass hit pretty good and the amp played those mid's and highs extremely clearly. I definitely have respect for eclipse amps, the 3650 is an older model and I'm not sure what it got replaced with but I'm pretty sure forbidden could tell you.
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Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: February 25, 2004 at 4:47 PM
The Eclipse 3650 replacement is now the Eclipse ea3532 that is only 4 ohm mono capable on the sub channel, thus is not a good choice for his application. The Eclipse pa5532 is a 2 0hm stable sub channel amplifier that will work fine with his sub.
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: February 25, 2004 at 5:13 PM
I will ditto the Memphis Belle recomendation. A fantastic piece of equipment.
Posted By: kwalton
Date Posted: February 25, 2004 at 8:42 PM
what about Phoenix Gold Octane series. they have a 5 channel amp rated at 125x4 + 400x1. anybody heard anything about this amp. i am looking into buying one.
Posted By: HeathMac
Date Posted: February 26, 2004 at 4:25 AM
look into the us amps= usa-5600x ive got one in my wifes car and it sounds great
Posted By: Spaceman Spiff
Date Posted: February 26, 2004 at 10:26 AM
Any opinions on the MTX Thunder895? The numbers look good and finding the Memphis Belle and/or the eclipse hasn't gone too well. Found a belle on ebay but it is somewhat refurbed and the guy want $400. Makes be just a wee bit nervous to buy.
Posted By: Spaceman Spiff
Date Posted: February 26, 2004 at 10:33 AM
Any opinions on the MTX Thunder895. Finding either the eclipse or the Memphis has been somewhat unsuccessful. I did find a belle on ebay but it's being sold buy an individual, for $400+ship. and it's sorta a refurb. Just too many flags.
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: February 26, 2004 at 12:48 PM
E-bay = bad news, look at the post from 00neon about his cap purchase. The Kleenex Gold amp had better have amonster fuse for that kind of power, seems like a stretch to me. Have a look also at this amp, the mighty Planet Audio AP800, that is made in the US and backed up with a 5 year warranty. (rather than the Kleenex Gold and others that are made in singakoreachinatiawanapore)
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: customsuburb
Date Posted: February 26, 2004 at 12:54 PM
Planet Audio is a good choice.
Posted By: Ravendarat
Date Posted: February 27, 2004 at 1:34 AM
We have a planet audio dealer in town and all I have heard from their customers is how dissapionted they are with the equipment. I had a friend buy an amp and it smoked in less than a week. I mean it physically started to smoke in the cab of his truck. They installed it. He came to me and I replaed it with an mtx amp, now I have another satisfied customer. Just an opinion
Posted By: astro88
Date Posted: February 27, 2004 at 7:39 PM
No one even mentioned soundstream???? Ive got a rubi 355 and it sounds awsome, I bought it used i have no idea when it was made. Anyone know?
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: February 27, 2004 at 7:42 PM
Soundsteam is awesome, thanks for shaking the dust out of my melon, I can't believe I didn't remember them, I used them myself for years, the last one was a Rubicon 555 in my MR2.
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: ksin291
Date Posted: February 27, 2004 at 8:29 PM
I have to agree with forbidden and astro88. I had a reference 404 and a rubicon 701 and they where excellent amps, I had the 701 pushing a couple of 12w3's and they absolutely pounded. I used the 404 to push a couple of eclipse components upfront and they where crystal clear, I haven't used any of their new amps but the old school ones where definitely awesome! -------------
Posted By: ridnlow
Date Posted: February 28, 2004 at 5:58 PM
Anyone delt with the directed audio 1200/5. A couple of my friend around here have them and they work well.. I think im going to get one to put on my Infity's and my 2 jl 12w3's
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: February 28, 2004 at 6:39 PM
I just found another favorite amp in the deep dark depths of the stock room, the Crossfire VR705D.
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: Spaceman Spiff
Date Posted: March 02, 2004 at 2:45 PM
Thans to all for the suggestions. Now to make a decision.
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