alpine pdx amps all the way

 

I used to run my own car audio shop years ago, so i am a little out of the loop but my personal favorites are below

Head Unit: Kenwood or Alpine
Full range speakers: JBL, Infinity (reference series), Diamond Audio
Subs: JBL, Rockford, Diamond Audio, Kicker
Amps: Rockford, JBL (their power series that Crown developed kick ***)

as others have said stick with a reputable company and you will get better results. the reason that you had so many problems with your gain adjustment is because cheapo amp manufacturers rate their amps max output at a high THD (distortion). So technically they can produce that amount of power, it will just sound like crap. On the other hand Good manufacturers like JBL and Rockford acutally test each individual amp, and provide a certified test report that states the actual power (which is typically higher than advertised) at a THD much lower than others. JBL tests at 0.5% THD, Rockford at 1%... no name companies 10%+

nateroach

 

Most High end competition amps are A/B and are at .03% THD or even lower.Some as low as .001% like McIntosh..A/D/S...etc.. Big Bucks $$$$
My Class D JBL monoblock for my subs is .5%
My JL 450/4 for my highs is .03%
A little bit higher distortion for a sub amplifier is to be expected and shouldn't hurt them nor should you hear it, but getting up over 1% THD is bad. That is rated just for the amp and doesn't include the THD that is fed by the stock radio. Amplifiers Boost bad signals which could make that 1% THD into 15% with the gain turned up all the way.

Regardless of what amplifier you have you should NEVER turn it up more than 3/4. I have a line driver and BOTH my amps are at their min. gain.
Line drivers can be good and bad, but should only be used in a system that is properly set-up and has no noises because the line driver just like an amplifier will boost those levels of noise directly into your speakers.

HERE is a fantastic site to look up amplifier specs. While they don't have all amplifiers specs available, they have enough for me to bookmark it!

 

+1 on the Alpine PDX amps. I can't wait until I have the money to drop on a couple of them.

Seeing as I am very old school, here is my list of favorites:

Subs: JL Audio
Amps: Orion HCCA series (225, 250 2nd gen)
Mid/Hi: MB Quart
Signal Processing: Audio Control
Head-Unit: Alpine

I have shopped for new amps for almost a month and the only thing I see worth picking up is the PDX stuff right now or something much older. Most newer stuff is junk IMO. Newer music also has way too much noise and unneeded filtering that thrashes speakers, add in bad amplification and you will blow any speaker with ease.

 

god... i wish i knew the shop that did your set up ...admitting you did it on a public fourm. you are a dumb a$$. I would turn you in quicker than you could say crap!! people like you need to be shot in the head. MAN up and take responsibalty for your actions .

 

Watch out people are going to start yelling at you for not being polite to someone who just stole

 

Just remember the old saying " You get what you pay for". At retail price, my system is $3500-4000 and guess what, it sounds like a $4000 system. Sure there is more expensive stuff but paying $500 for a whole system your only going to get the cheapest stuff.

 

wouldnt be the first time hoss!

 

personalyy, if the shop that he got the subs from built that rinky box.. f' them i would let anyone with the same subs get a new pair on me

 

you are also a idiot !! if he came to me with the cash he had thats what ya get... dont blam the guy that built the 50 dollar box thats all ther op could pay so thats what he gets.