Which amps to use?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 685
Likes: 2
From: Decatur IL
Which amps to use?
Thanks to much reading here and some help from forum members on the side, I am narrowing in on building my system for my first Vette. I am not going top of the line by any means, but also want to get decent quality stuff that is a good value.
Here is what I'm thinking...
HU = An old Kenwood excelon I have laying around or a new Eclipse 8445
Front Speakers = CDT CL-641 (or maybe HD-642), 230w RMS
Rear Speakers = nada
Sub = Image Dynamic IDQ 12d2 or 12d4 depending on the amp choosen and it's power output, 350w RMS
Now the fun... Which amps would you choose and knowing why would also help.
1. Elemental Designs - nine.2x (front, 200w RMS x2 @ 4 ohm) & nine.2 (rear, 400w RMS x1 @ 4 ohm)
2. JBL - e4300 (front, 220w RMS x2 @ 4 ohm bridged) & e1400D (rear, 200w RMS x1 @ 4 ohm or 400w RMS x1 @ 2 ohm)
3. Phoenix Gold - Octane R8.0:4 (front, 250w RMS x2 @ 4 ohm bridged) & R4.0:2 (rear, 250w RMS x1 @ 4 ohm bridged)
4. Memphis Belle - 16-MCH1300 (230w RMS x2 @ 4 ohm bridged + 300w RMS x1 @ 4 ohm)
5. Memphis Belle - 16-MCA3004 (front, 230w RMS x2 @ 4 ohm) & 16-MCD500 (rear, 250w RMS x1 @ 4 ohm)
Thanks for the help everyone....let the voting begin.
Here is what I'm thinking...
HU = An old Kenwood excelon I have laying around or a new Eclipse 8445
Front Speakers = CDT CL-641 (or maybe HD-642), 230w RMS
Rear Speakers = nada
Sub = Image Dynamic IDQ 12d2 or 12d4 depending on the amp choosen and it's power output, 350w RMS
Now the fun... Which amps would you choose and knowing why would also help.
1. Elemental Designs - nine.2x (front, 200w RMS x2 @ 4 ohm) & nine.2 (rear, 400w RMS x1 @ 4 ohm)
2. JBL - e4300 (front, 220w RMS x2 @ 4 ohm bridged) & e1400D (rear, 200w RMS x1 @ 4 ohm or 400w RMS x1 @ 2 ohm)
3. Phoenix Gold - Octane R8.0:4 (front, 250w RMS x2 @ 4 ohm bridged) & R4.0:2 (rear, 250w RMS x1 @ 4 ohm bridged)
4. Memphis Belle - 16-MCH1300 (230w RMS x2 @ 4 ohm bridged + 300w RMS x1 @ 4 ohm)
5. Memphis Belle - 16-MCA3004 (front, 230w RMS x2 @ 4 ohm) & 16-MCD500 (rear, 250w RMS x1 @ 4 ohm)
Thanks for the help everyone....let the voting begin.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles Ca
i'm voting for the ed amps. i've never heard them personally (will soon, one of the car computer geeks just got his installed) but i've heard nothingn but great reviews from them for their price point.
i've been hearing the pg amps have gone downhill since the ti/zx line. (i think they got bought out)
i would definately look into the new cdt amps, heard some great things about there design.
the other amps...i have no opinion on them, havent heard anything about them nor do i have experience with them
i've been hearing the pg amps have gone downhill since the ti/zx line. (i think they got bought out)
i would definately look into the new cdt amps, heard some great things about there design.
the other amps...i have no opinion on them, havent heard anything about them nor do i have experience with them
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I have used everyone of the ED amps either in my own stuff or in buddys cars and I absolutely love them if you are interested I can get u a discount code on most there stuff just PM me or whatever with that u are intersted in
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,137
Likes: 2,984
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
ed manufacturing is just 15 miles away from me. I REALLY need to get my butt down there and check them out. They had major shipping problems in the past, I do not know if that has been solved yet. They did get my sound deadning to me in a timely manner, got it on closeout...$25 
The deadning is sitting unused next to all my other car audio equipment in the house 
As for amps, I running JBL in my Vette (not the e-series). They do quite well. I want to replace them so I can use them in my red Talon TsiAWD rebuild, but money is kind of tight and I'm really do not want to redo most of the amp fiberglass in the Vette. This I will recommend, buy the same brand amps for cosmetic reasons.
The deadning is sitting unused next to all my other car audio equipment in the house As for amps, I running JBL in my Vette (not the e-series). They do quite well. I want to replace them so I can use them in my red Talon TsiAWD rebuild, but money is kind of tight and I'm really do not want to redo most of the amp fiberglass in the Vette. This I will recommend, buy the same brand amps for cosmetic reasons.
Last edited by knewblewkorvette; May 2, 2006 at 08:28 AM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 685
Likes: 2
From: Decatur IL
Knew,
How did that sound deadener look? I thought about getting it from ED if I got their amps. Which kind of deadener did you get (it looks like there are 3 types)?
I plan to keep the same brand of amps if I do a multiple amp setup.
I was looking at the JBL slash stuff (the normal amps people get) but couldn't seem to find anything that put out power right near what the drivers wanted. I am open to suggestions.
How did that sound deadener look? I thought about getting it from ED if I got their amps. Which kind of deadener did you get (it looks like there are 3 types)?
I plan to keep the same brand of amps if I do a multiple amp setup.
I was looking at the JBL slash stuff (the normal amps people get) but couldn't seem to find anything that put out power right near what the drivers wanted. I am open to suggestions.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles Ca
i just put ed's v1se in my car (118 sq/ft) it was pretty easy to work with and cut. They also shipped out my subs really quickly, from what i hear they only have shipping issues when the stuff isnt in stock. check out those cdt amps though! they are supposed to be really good
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,137
Likes: 2,984
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Originally Posted by Duramax Dave
Knew,
How did that sound deadener look? I thought about getting it from ED if I got their amps. Which kind of deadener did you get (it looks like there are 3 types)?
I plan to keep the same brand of amps if I do a multiple amp setup.
I was looking at the JBL slash stuff (the normal amps people get) but couldn't seem to find anything that put out power right near what the drivers wanted. I am open to suggestions.
How did that sound deadener look? I thought about getting it from ED if I got their amps. Which kind of deadener did you get (it looks like there are 3 types)?
I plan to keep the same brand of amps if I do a multiple amp setup.
I was looking at the JBL slash stuff (the normal amps people get) but couldn't seem to find anything that put out power right near what the drivers wanted. I am open to suggestions.
I do not have the JBL slash stuff either, I have the Power series.
Personally, if I was you, I'd be looking for ONE 4-channel amp. Something like a 150 watt per channel model. Bridge the rear two channels for the subs
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,201
Likes: 0
From: DP(oh you know where) IL
St. Jude Donor '06
ive used the liquid sound deadner and while it got rid of some noises, it doesnt get rid of all of them. Different materials are made to bock different frequencies. I would go with a combo. A liquid or mat deadner. then go with a layer of foam on top of that to cancel out the other frequencies that the mats dont cover. All can be found at ed
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 685
Likes: 2
From: Decatur IL
Is liquid deadener a pain to work with on vertical surfaces? I was thinking of just using the mat type deadener.
Thanks for the idea of Butler tube amps...I'll check them out as I have never heard of them.
I am not super familiar with the JBL amps so it may be slash or power series...I know 'em if I see 'em.
I wouldn't mind doing a single amp and bridging the rear channels. The problem I'm finding is enough power for the CDT 3 way fronts using only a single channel of amp power. Those CDT's want 230w RMS to both left and right. That's alot of power to be getting at 4 ohm on a single amp channel.
Suggestions are welcome...thanks for all of them so far.
Thanks for the idea of Butler tube amps...I'll check them out as I have never heard of them.
I am not super familiar with the JBL amps so it may be slash or power series...I know 'em if I see 'em.
I wouldn't mind doing a single amp and bridging the rear channels. The problem I'm finding is enough power for the CDT 3 way fronts using only a single channel of amp power. Those CDT's want 230w RMS to both left and right. That's alot of power to be getting at 4 ohm on a single amp channel.
Suggestions are welcome...thanks for all of them so far.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles Ca
well to put it in perspective...i went from a phoenix gold 475zx to an xtant 603x...nice and noticable improvement in sq. then i went from the xtant to the butler tube amp...WOW. it just was so nice and warm (the newer blue series are supposed to be even better then the set i have). to overcome the power requirments of 3 ways i am going with an active x-over and two amps. one amp for the mid-bass drivers and one amp for the 4" and tweet. then a seperate zapco amp for the subs.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 685
Likes: 2
From: Decatur IL
Thanks for talking about the improvements in SQ just in changing amps. I want to use good knowledge like that in order to get a good amp right from the start that is still in my budget.
I was thinking about doing an active crossover for the crossover adjustability and the fact that I can use seperate amps to control the power to each driver better. Any reccomendations on crossover brands? Looks like it would need to be capable of 4 way unless I did a 3 way crossover plus a LP filter to feed the sub.
I was thinking about doing an active crossover for the crossover adjustability and the fact that I can use seperate amps to control the power to each driver better. Any reccomendations on crossover brands? Looks like it would need to be capable of 4 way unless I did a 3 way crossover plus a LP filter to feed the sub.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles Ca
can't go wrong with audio control for quality. if you look into zapco amps you'll have the added benifit of having a balanced signal. unlike unbalanced signals you'll have higher voltages going into the amp as well as a smarter way to cancel any noise that gets in through the patch cables. If you want learn more about how this works let me know and i'll go into a little more detail. (based on what i learned in college and from my more recent research in the zapco line of products)
to put things into perspective though...i really wasn't unhappy with any of the previous amps until I compared it to the next amp.
to put things into perspective though...i really wasn't unhappy with any of the previous amps until I compared it to the next amp.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 685
Likes: 2
From: Decatur IL
Which series of Zapco amps are you guys running? I saw Competition, DC Reference, Reference, and iForce.
I also looked at the Zapco processors. I liked the SLX-4 which is a four way crossover.
I also looked at the Zapco processors. I liked the SLX-4 which is a four way crossover.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
All depends on how much $$$ you want to spend. And as I have said before you can't go wrong with quality
The ED amps sound pretty nice for the money for sure, Zapco in my mind is a whole other level however, and their amps would certainly work great with one of their crossovers. Active can be VERY fun.
I would put them in order from bottom to top
T4) PG/JBL 3) ED 2) Memphis 1) Zapco
The ED gets the rating based on Penta's comments about working with them. If you are spending the cash, Zapco would be the way I would go, and you could throw in amps like Genesis, DLS, Brax, Tru, Butler tubes etc etc.
Fej
The ED amps sound pretty nice for the money for sure, Zapco in my mind is a whole other level however, and their amps would certainly work great with one of their crossovers. Active can be VERY fun.
I would put them in order from bottom to top
T4) PG/JBL 3) ED 2) Memphis 1) Zapco
The ED gets the rating based on Penta's comments about working with them. If you are spending the cash, Zapco would be the way I would go, and you could throw in amps like Genesis, DLS, Brax, Tru, Butler tubes etc etc.
Fej