Amps-Kicker, Kenwood, Soundstream or Alp?

I just received my Kenwood X979 H.U, and my Xr61P (180W-Peak) Front components (6.5").

I have an existing Alpine Typr-R 12", and Infinity Reference rear 6x9's. All this is running off of a 4 y/o Kicker Impulse IX 405d (40x5).

Now the Amp is the next thing, and I have a little time before I replace it. If the new components are rated 180W Peak Power, what amp should I get? It's a 2002 Xterra, so I have the cabin to fill.

A - Should I go for a 5 channel amp, or is there an advantage to getting a 4-channel, and a separate mono amp?

B - I'm confident this is an outstanding H.U., it'll be hooked up to a Music Keg down the line. The advantage in going with a Kenwood Excelon Amp is that I'll have unprecedented controll over the gains, levels and everything inbetween right from the H.U. But I'm more concerned with clarity and quality, so unless the Kenwood amps aren't taken seriously among enthusiasts, I'll be willing to look toward others.

C - Kicker's high-end digital amp line-up for 2004 looks really sharp, American made, and seems to take a very Blue-collar approach to performance, at least that's the marketing message.

D - But I hear many people rave about the Alpine lineup.
I'm buying this stuff thru e-Bay, so price is not necessarily an issue. Business is good these days.

E - I'll most likely be throwing a small E.Q. in the glovebox for greater level control (at the fingertips), probably a 1/2 din Kenwood or the tinier one. Will this bring down the quality, or enhance it?

That's it! I assume I'll be running anything at 4 ohms, I don't know why, that seems to be the most common setting, and I believe these speakers demand it.

If anyone wants to throw in 2¢, or even more, I'd really dig it.

Thank you---
-matt

A. I would recommend 2 seperate amps, most 5 channel amps are a little weak in the sub end for me.

B. Bull on the control part, you can turn the bass up if compatible. Nothing wrong with the kenwood amps.

C. No comment.

D. Alpine highend stuff is good, would never own low end apline amps or head units, I have personally had problems with low end alpine.

E. Don't bother with the EQ, they are a pain in the ass and don't really help. Besides most things the EQ can do can now be done through most decks.


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Certified Security Specialist
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Thanks, that's instant results!

Does the C.-answer have a negative conotation to it?

And on B., you mean that the amp-bass can be controlled thru the HU with non-KW amps?

Thank you much...

C is just no comment postive or negative. Kenwood decks and amps can only communicate if they are excelon and the only things that you can really do is adjust the base a little more.

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Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
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I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

I really like the new kicker amps, I looked at them at one of my competitors and installed the 650.1 a couple days ago. It sounded really nice pushing on of my new MTX superwoofers. Now as for the EQ, I love EQ's but you MUST know how to use one and MUST have a good quality one for it to work. My comment on Alpine is I am not a big fan of it, have tried both high end and lowend head units and werent at all satisfied but I have never tried any of the higher end amps so I dont know what they are like. I would definatly do two seperate amps because as auex said, most have a week sub channel and even if they dont, the less you have shoved into one box the better. In one of my previous cars I had no fewer than 8 2 channel amps, one for each one of my 4 subs and one for each 6 1/2 inch component speaker and one for each 5 1/4 coax. Sounded great but drew power like a mother. As for the kenwood amp question, you can get better, they arent bad but you can get better. I wouldnt let the extra control on the head unit dictate your purchase. The kicker amps are IMO a pretty big step up from kenwood.

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double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

Hey Raven,

When you say 'you must know how to use one', I take it you mean those non-dash flat types, right? The little Kenwood that goes in the glove box with little controls and levels are pretty much a no-brainer, right? Like the EQ's on the iTunes interface. Been 'round for home stereos for years.

Here's the link to the Kicker site's SX series. Really beautiful in design, but something tells me these go beyond looks. Kinda like a Harley.

https://www.kicker.com/ShowPage.cfm?filename=sxamps.htm&menu=SXAMPS

Thanks again guys, I'll continue with my research.

If you have say an indash, 7 or 9 band EQ you could easily cause more damage than good by messing around witht he eq. I mean you arent gonna damage anything it just is gonna mess up the sound. And lIke I said the kicker amps are alright by me

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double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

Thanks all, and when this is all in, I'll post an update.

-matt

Why are you comparing sony to kenwood?

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Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

If your not apposed to JL, you should look into their 5 channel amp, the specs on it look dam good, and i hear it sounds great.

I have first hand experience with the Alpine MRV-F450 5 channel amp, right now in our show car we have it running 2 pairs of type-r 6.5" components, and 2 R-15's bridged at 2 ohm, , it says 4 ohm max, but 2 ohm is possible for a good 15 min burst.  It absolutly slams the 15's!

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2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.

Ya but a 15 minute burst isnt very practicle for a daily driver. I still suggest seperate amps for the subs and for the speakers.

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double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

Well, I gather from everything I've heard here and thru friends is this assessment I've made:

I'm better off now with my 5-channel, 4 y/o Kicker Impulse. It's 4o watts, and that's not too shabby even for my Xterra's cabin.

I'll live with this amp, and put my money into the Music Keg. Then, the next major upgrade will be the amps, might as well wait a bit.

Sounds like although I may find a 5-channel that will do all, the overall sound quality will be maintained by dedicating a separate mono amp for the sub.

I'm not out to win awards, but I do cherish the cleanliness of my sound above all. Frank Zappa taught me that one, thru his relentless perfection of audio quality. I highly recommend picking something up of his material.

And it would appear that to have more power than you need is beneficial not just for decible issues, but mainly to keep that cleanliness.

It's STORMING in Chicago, with lightning 1/2 a second away, so I think I'll unplug my Mac now.

G'night!