What AMPS do you recommend?

HiJackZX1 · 04-25-2009, 02:36 PM

I currently have five AMPS. Four 150 WATT motorcycle AMPS, and one 650W motorcycle AMP. I want to consolidate to 3 AMPS, but have nice power AMPS. I need something that is small, that can go in my compartment, but powerful. Two 4 channel AMPS would be for Front, Middle, Rear, Center, Phone Speaker. A 2 Channel AMP would be for the SUB, which will be a single 10' or 12'. I do have dogs, so they have to be able to go in the back without the AMPS bothering them. When I had my SUB box that had two 12's in it, my dogs hated it and cried constantly.

What is a good RMS for the door speakers?

I see amps that are like 1800 WATTS, but then it will say only RMS 4x100.... That means 100watts per speaker? Where does the rest of the Wattage go?

Im thinking maybe 150 - 200 watts per speaker would be fine, or is that too much?

Yota · 04-25-2009, 03:03 PM

Look at the RMS power of both the speakers and the amps, typically max power is overrated and doesn't mean crap. RMS is the constant power. Also, I wouldn't be looking at the power capabilities of speakers, look at the SQ and other parameters, those play more of a part than power handling.
With that said, make sure the amp doesn't put out more than the speaker can handle. Look at some of the non-mainstream brands like Elemental Designs or RE Audio. All of their components are top notch, provide great SQ and power output, and don't kill you will the price. Most mainstream companies you are paying more for the name than anything, they boast bloated power ratings to compete with the next mainstream company who bloated their ratings.

HiJackZX1 · 04-25-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Yota

Look at the RMS power of both the speakers and the amps, typically max power is overrated and doesn't mean crap. RMS is the constant power. Also, I wouldn't be looking at the power capabilities of speakers, look at the SQ and other parameters, those play more of a part than power handling.
With that said, make sure the amp doesn't put out more than the speaker can handle. Look at some of the non-mainstream brands like Elemental Designs or RE Audio. All of their components are top notch, provide great SQ and power output, and don't kill you will the price. Most mainstream companies you are paying more for the name than anything, they boast bloated power ratings to compete with the next mainstream company who bloated their ratings.

LMFAO, I hear you on the bloating...... So what is a good range RMS speaker? Looks like most stop at 110 - 150 RMS. What does SQ do? Also I keep seeing 2-way, 3-way, 4-way.... I have to assume the more the better?

Yota · 04-25-2009, 03:44 PM

Im running Phoenix Gold RSd6.5CS components in the front, don't be fooled by the low price. These are some great speakers. Read some reviews on them, I figured I would give them a shot since they were relatively inexpensive, but man they impressed me. I have Phoenix Gold RSd690 in the rear. Go 3-way if you want a good all around speaker, but I would run a component system since you will be using an amp. You will get better separation of sound d/t the crossovers, plus you can locate the tweeter wherever you want to. Where are you trying to put these amps?

Squadfer · 04-25-2009, 04:55 PM

the two-way, three-way, four-way stuff is just the number of drivers that one speaker has. Personally I don't see the point in anything over a two-way speaker. With most door speakers you will have the cone and a tweeter (two-way). A three-way just adds one more tweeter and well a four way just adds another tweeter on top of the three-way.... My reason for sticking with two-way speakers is because of this. You don't see many live sound setups that have 4034983409 tweeters per speaker box... Instead you see stuff like 1X12 with 1 tweeter or 2X12 with 1 tweeter and then there subs are typically 15-18inchers. Also with the amount of work going in your car, I would go with component speakers. They sound better and you can put the tweeters where you want them.

As far as the max power an amp can go...that is mostly BS stick with RMS and make sure you are reading the correct RMS with the OHMS you will be showing the amp. I have JBL speakers in my doors (I forget the model) but they are 75watts at 2 ohm. My amp is a Alpine 4 channel amp rated at 50watts at 4 ohms per channel (the number they put on the box since most door speakers are 4 ohms). However that same amp is 70watts at 2 ohms per channel.

Also with my 70watts per speaker I cant really be in the car for very long with my speakers at full volume because my ears will start to bleed after an hour or so.....I usually listen to my music at 70% and even then I cant hear stuff going on outside the car. Like for instance, an ambulance passed me with its lights and siren going. I had no clue that it was coming until it was 5 feet away from me...even at that close I could barely hear the siren over my speakers. This is all with just 4X6.5 speakers.... Once I add my 12in sub I'm sure I will have to turn down the volume a lot more

bratnetwork · 04-25-2009, 05:00 PM

For a small but powerful amp check out an Alpine PDX series digital amp. Also they dont require much airflow so they can go just about anywhere.

HiJackZX1 · 04-25-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Squadfer

the two-way, three-way, four-way stuff is just the number of drivers that one speaker has. Personally I don't see the point in anything over a two-way speaker. With most door speakers you will have the cone and a tweeter (two-way). A three-way just adds one more tweeter and well a four way just adds another tweeter on top of the three-way.... My reason for sticking with two-way speakers is because of this. You don't see many live sound setups that have 4034983409 tweeters per speaker box... Instead you see stuff like 1X12 with 1 tweeter or 2X12 with 1 tweeter and then there subs are typically 15-18inchers. Also with the amount of work going in your car, I would go with component speakers. They sound better and you can put the tweeters where you want them.

As far as the max power an amp can go...that is mostly BS stick with RMS and make sure you are reading the correct RMS with the OHMS you will be showing the amp. I have JBL speakers in my doors (I forget the model) but they are 75watts at 2 ohm. My amp is a Alpine 4 channel amp rated at 50watts at 4 ohms per channel (the number they put on the box since most door speakers are 4 ohms). However that same amp is 70watts at 2 ohms per channel.

Also with my 70watts per speaker I cant really be in the car for very long with my speakers at full volume because my ears will start to bleed after an hour or so.....I usually listen to my music at 70% and even then I cant hear stuff going on outside the car. Like for instance, an ambulance passed me with its lights and siren going. I had no clue that it was coming until it was 5 feet away from me...even at that close I could barely hear the siren over my speakers. This is all with just 4X6.5 speakers.... Once I add my 12in sub I'm sure I will have to turn down the volume a lot more

Now you have given me a target. So what if I get speakers that are rated for 125 RMS. But the AMP only puts out 100 - 110 RMS. When I turn it full blast, will it sound distorted? How do I know if the rating on the AMP is true? Who can I trust when it comes to that.

Quote: Originally Posted by bratnetwork

For a small but powerful amp check out an Alpine PDX series digital amp. Also they dont require much airflow so they can go just about anywhere.

A digital AMP? Im going to check that out!

HiJackZX1 · 04-25-2009, 08:55 PM

Is BOSS a good brand? I see it all over the place.

Squadfer · 04-25-2009, 09:06 PM

I personally believe Alpine underrates the wattage's on there amps.

A 125 watt speaker will not sound distorted if you throw 100watts at it. That is actually what you want to do, get a speaker that can handle a little more watts that what your amp is giving them.

I havent used boss before...its a little expensive for my tastes...

HiJackZX1 · 04-25-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Squadfer

I personally believe Alpine underrates the wattage's on there amps.

A 125 watt speaker will not sound distorted if you throw 100watts at it. That is actually what you want to do, get a speaker that can handle a little more watts that what your amp is giving them.

I havent used boss before...its a little expensive for my tastes...

So that explains why my speakers now sound all distorted when I turn them up. I must be sending to much at them. Well the BOSS are cheap for a pair its like $14.99 on Ebay and they are rated for 150 RMS per speaker. I remember back in the day BOSS was cool, but at some point I stopped hearing about them.

nalav · 04-25-2009, 11:59 PM

I've never heard anything good about BOSS amps. I've never heard them myself though. The cheapness turned me away. Not only do they look cheap, but the price is real cheap too, leading me to believe they are as cheaply built as they look. I have a feeling they don't put out the power they say either. Also about the power, you have to consider the ohms. Door speakers are usually 4 ohms, so make sure the amp is rated to match the speaker at that ohm level. Another thing is volts. Often amps are rated at 14 volts so they appear to make more power, unless you're actually running 14 volts in your car you'll be getting a little less power than that. Three and four way components tend to have more woofers, so don't get them unless you have places for those woofers. I don't usually see much need to do anything more than 2 way components though. Don't worry about max watts, match the amp to the speaker's RMS watts. It doesn't have to be a perfect match, just somewhere close. Putting a 100W or 150W RMS amp on a 125W RMS speaker is quite acceptable.

HiJackZX1 · 04-26-2009, 01:31 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by nalav

I've never heard anything good about BOSS amps. I've never heard them myself though. The cheapness turned me away. Not only do they look cheap, but the price is real cheap too, leading me to believe they are as cheaply built as they look. I have a feeling they don't put out the power they say either. Also about the power, you have to consider the ohms. Door speakers are usually 4 ohms, so make sure the amp is rated to match the speaker at that ohm level. Another thing is volts. Often amps are rated at 14 volts so they appear to make more power, unless you're actually running 14 volts in your car you'll be getting a little less power than that. Three and four way components tend to have more woofers, so don't get them unless you have places for those woofers. I don't usually see much need to do anything more than 2 way components though. Don't worry about max watts, match the amp to the speaker's RMS watts. It doesn't have to be a perfect match, just somewhere close. Putting a 100W or 150W RMS amp on a 125W RMS speaker is quite acceptable.

I actually like their speakers though, their amps arent impressive. I decided to take Squadfer's advice and go with component speakers and tweeters. It took me a bit to figure out the difference even though it was told to me, lol. I also notice that most component speakers can handle alot more RMS then 2 way. So I am going with component. I'm still trying to find AMPS though.

skeet2331 · 04-26-2009, 01:39 AM

MTX probabably still makes the best amps. The always underrate there amps. I have owned probably 8 mtx amps only 1 has every died on me. I bought it used and lasted me 5 years.

nalav · 04-26-2009, 08:31 AM

I've seen very little from MTX that can be called the best.

What speakers did you end up choosing?

HiJackZX1 · 04-26-2009, 10:01 AM

Don't bash me, lol. I decided to go with BOSS. I wasnt impressed with their AMPS at all, but I was impressed with their speakers. Im going with a component speaker so I can have the tweeter were I want it for each speaker. AMPS though, Im still looking. Reason I went with BOSS is because I also like their 4x6 speakers. When I designed my truck, the 2 front speakers where sized to be 4x6 because they fit. When I bought them though they sound cr@ppy. Like really cr@ppy. They were cheap though. I like the way BOSS's look.

So far Ive been reading reviews (very little reviews) and they seem to get getting good ones. I cant say the same for their AMPS though.

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