-=Jeff=-

Currently I have a iLX-207 headunit and I am using 2 KS 300.4 Arc Audio Amps

I want to down size and hide the amps. I should have done this 3 years ago with some Kenwood amps that were sub $100 and decent power..

I have a front stage and rear woofers. I still do not have a DSP installed and might get around to that some day, but I am leaning towards the K.I.S.S method for the time being.

Just looking to down size the foot print of the amps.. I realize I will need to downsize power and I would be okay with that as well

Coyote58

I just finished my install and am using a JL Audio MX600/3 amplifier installed in the factory Bose amp location in my C6 Vert. It puts out 400 watts into 2 ohms to the subwoofer channel. I am very pleased with this set up. If you want a 4 channel amp, I am also installing a Rockford T400x4 in my Jeep and it seems to be a nice amp also.

daverulz

Jeff, do you have a budget? There are a lot more options out there these days than there were in the past. Most brands now have a "powersports" line that consists of mirco Class D amps. If you actually want to hide them in a C4, that's what you'll need. The sound quality might not be on par with what you've got with your Arc Audio units though.

I have some older Precision Power Amps - they got a bad rap online, but I've been happy with them considering 95% of the time the top is off the car, so SQ was clearly not the primary goal. 90x 4 and 250x2 bridged. Tiny current draw, and they are 100% stealth because they are behind the passenger side knee bolster. Never mind the messy wiring

-=Jeff=-

Budget will be that the sale of the KS 300.4 will cover the newer replacements. I was looking at SoundStream Stealth series. Also looked for the popular Kenwood from a few years ago, they they are more expensive now. I also tried looking for the PPI like you mentioned but did not find anything

daverulz

Yeah the MC300.4 has gone up about 50% in price since then. The stealth series is I think the same board as the Ions I have in my car. They are rated the same, have the same features, and the same parent company. Like I said, not the best - but they get the job done. Many people will turn their noses up at them because of the brand.

Looking at sold items on ebay you could theoretically have a $350 budget. The KS amps really retain their value - so maybe that opens up some other options for you. Are you planning to stuff them up front, or in the storage bin, or somewhere else?

-=Jeff=-

Have not even thought of a spot yet, but either up front or a storage bin

daverulz

The storage bin gives you more options - you won't need THE SMALLEST amps to fit in there. Something like this would work in that location:

https://www.ebay.com/p/Kenwood-Excel...d=303018912150

-=Jeff=-

Funny,

I have that auction saved.. I was also looking at Massive Audio BLX series.. those any good?

My my last thought is to redo my amp rack, I think it is rattling/creaking a bit. Plus it needs to be cleaned up.

Pb82 Ronin

JL XD series amps are TINY. So are the VXi's and they have integrated DSP in them. I have BOTH in my system now. I don't know how many channels you need, so I'm just linking their popular 4/5 channel guys.
http://www.jlaudio.com/xd400-4v2-car...plifiers-98602
http://www.jlaudio.com/vx700-5i-car-...plifiers-98640 (This is literally the last amp you'd EVER need to buy)

Coupe89

Ive done 2 Soundstream Nano PN4.1000 back to back in a place that has very little ventilation on my C6. They been rock solid.
I would do theses amp on the my 90 ZR-1. Dave is making me want to mount some new amps in the same place.

-=Jeff=-

Those look nice.. I could see using 2 of those.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far.. working on a couple things and this will be hopefully soon

daverulz

The funny thing is that Jeff is the one who inspired me to mount my amps in that location. He had pictures up of some gear installed there and I was like "I can fit micro amps there!"

-=Jeff=-

Dave,

what are the dimensions of those amps you are using? Most I fine are long and narrow.

Leaning to the SoundStream PN4.520D and PN1.650D

or 2 of the PN4.520D

read a bit on the 520 and seems positive

daverulz

The atoms are tiny. 5"x5" I specifically sought them out at the time because of that. The soundstreams and other clones were all too long/skinny to make work with the aluminum knee bolster. Your car is pre-airbag, so you don't have that aluminum piece so you can probably fit the long skinny ones. The Picasso Nanos should be fine. Basically the same as the power acoustik razor and PPI Ion series amps.

-=Jeff=-

Yeah, it could, however I have a Ignition Module sitting there right now. I have been thinking about relocating the Ignition module to the glovebox ( so I have access to the status LEDs and USB connection).

I was also looking at the PN5.640D as well as the PN2.320D as the 5 would work well and and PN2 would be added if needed.. however a couple of the PN2.320Ds would work out well by themselves. The only limiting factor is the Crossovers.. ( Yes I know DSP, however, I had not gotten around to really installing the MiniDSP I had and sold it for about what I paid for it. So I could look at that route again. but right now I am more focused on changing the amps, selling the ARCs and then deciding what to add

daverulz

DSP prices keep dropping

https://www.parts-express.com/dayton...audio--230-500

I've seen these turn up on DIYMA for really cheap. If you're going through the trouble of swapping the amps, I would definitely include a DSP even if it is just to do the crossovers. All of these mini amps will be lacking in that department.

Here's what I'd do: the DSP-408 and two PN5.640D
4x60 for highs and midrange
2x160 for midbass
2x200/350 for subwoofers (forgot the impedance of your subs)

I've contemplated this exact set up for my car many times. It's a lot of power for not much money.

-=Jeff=-

Yeah that is a lot of power. I was going to ask why two 5 channels amps but I see how you are configuring it.
in an effort to keep the radio working while I make changes.. I would probably do one PN5 to start then work from there. I want to have something working while I try to sell my amps

privethip68

I had an Alpine PDX-5 in another vehicle. was rated at about 600w and wasn't much bigger than a large paperback book. Plus being 5 channel it separates the sub(s) out from the main channels. Its a little pricey at ~$900 but you can power an entire car off it if you want to,

daverulz

Jeff, I forget how you're running your front 3 ways - is it just off 2 channels of the ARC amp and the other two channels drive the subs?

-=Jeff=-

3 way on one Arc 300.4 bridged

rears on another 300.4 bridged


#ways got changed a bit.. I am using mx1000 crossovers with ES-02 is a mid/wideband speaker.. and I have DRT24s as my tweeter..

I am wondering if a 2-way would work better with the ES-02 and 6.5" woofer, however front placement sucks