I see a lot of people on here bashing an amplifier because of it's price. Believe it or not, there are some reasons that amps like these exist.
1st: You get what you pay for... example: You buy a McIntosh MC4000M 6ch 1KW amplifer...it costs you roughly 5000 (1996 prices). When you have an issue, you send it back in and the warranty will replace the amp. not try and fix it, that is what R and D is for at the factory. Just like if you pay 100K for a new Mercedes, and something goes wrong with it...they will outfit you with a loaner car of equal value, and treat you like a king while you are there.
2nd: you buy a lightning Audio amp ( which a few on here will tell you it sounds identical as the McIntosh), it blows, do you think that Walmart will just give you a new one? Doubtful...you will have to wait for it to be fixed.
People will always lust after what they can't have. Whether it be women, men, cars, boats, hi-end audio (car or home), aircraft or real estate.
These exquisite, hand made, limited production pieces are for the rich or the connoisseur of fine things. Some may save for months or years to purchase them, yet they are still acceptable in today's society.
So stop running over someone who says that they love their Sinfoni, Brax, Tru, Genesis, McIntosh or other hi-end amplifier. They either can afford it, or they saved up for it...and they are happy.
Thanks for listening....
2007 Audi A4 2.0t Quattro
North America Team PHD Coordinator
Team 'Nutz
I see a lot of people on here bashing an amplifier because of it's price.
I only bash those overpriced amplifiers that don't perform in accordance with their price tag! A DPSQ50 that routinely goes for $750 on eBay yet has a squealing transformer is a prime example of a product that doesn't live up to the price it commands.
2012 Subaru WRX - JL Audio C5-650s run active off a Lunar L450; Digital Designs 1508 powered by a Lunar L1500; Pioneer DEH-80PRS as the source unit.
Hey chris, you either have the music too low or the amp right next to the driver seat in order to hear anything coming out of the amplifier, lol. Otherwise you probably would of never notice it if it was in the trunk or have had the music loud. JK.
Hey chris, you either have the music too low or the amp right next to the driver seat in order to hear anything coming out of the amplifier, lol. Otherwise you probably would of never notice it if it was in the trunk or have had the music loud. JK.
I can't believe my DPSQ50 sold for that much on eBay over a year ago, especially since I only paid $150 for it.
2012 Subaru WRX - JL Audio C5-650s run active off a Lunar L450; Digital Designs 1508 powered by a Lunar L1500; Pioneer DEH-80PRS as the source unit.
Yeah, someone else told me they bought a DPSQ50 for 87.00 bucks. Who ever sold those Q50's to you guys must of not known what they had.
Just the connectors and heatsink lets you know this is no cheaply made amp. Unlike other amps that have cheap connectors and a wacky heatsink with plated chrome go for more just because of the cheaply look.
Let me run into a Q50 for around that price, I'll buy it in a heartbeat.
A porsche and a kia will both drive you down the highway at 65 mph but I'd still pick the porsche everytime
I have run a ton of different amps back in the day of the legends . Soundstream,zapco,linear power,hifonics,alpine,pioneer,rockford fosgate ,ppi,blade,phoenix gold,etc... And later tru and audison .
I had my car set up to easily swap out amps while keeping the rest of the system the same.
My last system used a tru 4.150 and I swapped nothing but the amp out to a pair of audison LRX's . I will swear by the audisons !! They are more like a ferreri vs the big block chevy that the tru was. Of course they had completely different power ratings but I was not a tru fan and wouldnt buy another one.
I believe for the most part the biggest difference your going to hear is that one amp will have more power then the other.
Given identical power and gain settings I doubt you could tell the difference.
With that said, I will never buy junk amps ! I love the good stuff and will gladly pay for it.
True they may sound the same but that doesnt account for longevity ,build quality ,visual stimulation
So, to answer the OP question, my personal favorites are Audisons and alpines for SQ.
I did have a big Mcintosh come through my hands not too long ago and really should have kept it but had no system to use it in. Theres always next time.
For any two relatively decent amps without built in EQ and that aren't clipping they should sound the same... When setup using the same source, same speakers, level matched, etc. like in the Richard Clark contest
Now, it gets different if you get into serious audiophile stuff. For example, if you have a source unit that is capable of processing 24 bit 192 kHz studio quality music, and one amplifier with a built in 24 bit 192 KHz ADC and one with a 16 bit 48 KHz ADC there actually should be a noticeable difference between two amplifiers. This is because if you have CD quality audio (16 bits, 44.1 kHz) or got forbid iPod quality audio (0 bits, 0 Hz ) the signal already suffers distortion from the source which is greater than the distortion from your amplifier, causing the amplifier's distortion to be negligible. However, if you have studio quality audio, the distortion and such from the amplifier is greater than the distortion from the source. The result is the distortion should now be noticeable between the two amplifiers. But once you add in the noise floor from driving it shouldn't be very noticeable anymore.
2nd: you buy a lightning Audio amp ( which a few on here will tell you it sounds identical as the McIntosh), it blows, do you think that Walmart will just give you a new one? Doubtful...you will have to wait for it to be fixed.
I work for a company that handles wal mart returns... Among other things that people have received refunds for have been toys run over by cars, appliances (tv, microwaves, etc) that have been scribbled on all over the place by little kids before apparently getting dropped down a flight of stairs, lots of items where the customer removed parts from a set and returned the remains ($200+ toys which customers stole batteries/chargers from, and which specifically say on the box NOT to return to retailer), and all manners of stupid crap, batteries which have been intentionally damaged so as to get replaced while still under warranty (black marks on terminals from intentional short circuits and overcharging)
Basically with a Wal Mart amplifier, you can run it at a quarter ohm until it releases magic blue smoke, open it up to check what went wrong, dump a can of mountain dew in there, then tie it to the back of your car and drag it behind you all the way back to wal mart, and still get a replacement OR in many cases a refund.
I have tried a few.
Brax- very neutral amplifier -hard to pair up with right speakers. Probably one of the best if your goal is to hear the source-with out any bias.
Genesis miniblocks -very nice amplifier and I guess I am all about monoblocks for now. Nice amplifier has a 'sweet' sound -great for mids if you ask me. Love them and thanks to Kansas Jayhawk and Moole -I was able to regain these amps that were stolen and then sold on ebay and then sent back by the aforementioned awesome dudes !
Poweramper PA 150- same -can't beat them for the price-using them as monoblocks (bridged). See Brian Smith's review on carsound. Very hard to beat the quality of this amp imo.
McIntosh mcc302- had the 444's and other models- never heard the big ones -602/5000 etc. Nice amps very reliable, last forever-love the clipping safeguard. A bit shrill on the high end that takes a bit of getting used to. Nice amps but don't seem to have the 'it'.
Phoenix Gold ZPA .3 -one of my all time favorities have two- great great amp. It is probably very under-rated now- and if you are spending 400 or so with the balanced cables - just do it. A lot of people use these for midbasses -and I can see why. Still one of the best amps I have ever had.
ARC- always thought they were over-rated and over-priced from back in the day. Had the 2500 mainly. Nice amp-stoopid ass design with the fan on the bottom of the amp?!! WTF ? Ok amplifier imo-prefer the ones I have. So if your looking for a 2500 -let me know Sale/trade whatever.
I only bash those overpriced amplifiers that don't perform in accordance with their price tag! A DPSQ50 that routinely goes for $750 on eBay yet has a squealing transformer is a prime example of a product that doesn't live up to the price it commands.
That's odd. I have owned two and neither made any noise other than exquisite sound.
I never understood why they sell for so much either. I believe it's a combination of the rarity matched with it's versatility. It is the only LP with a built in 3 way crossover.
That's odd. I have owned two and neither made any noise other than exquisite sound.
I never understood why they sell for so much either. I believe it's a combination of the rarity matched with it's versatility. It is the only LP with a built in 3 way crossover.
I'm starting to think I was just snake bit when it came to using old school gear due to the fact that it was very hit or miss, with emphasis on the miss part. That was a miscalculation on my part due to the fact that I didn't know what kind of lives the amplifiers lived prior to making their way over to me and I should have expected minor maintenance on something that was 10 to 20 years old.
On a positive note, my LP150 was rock solid and I know that Tricky Ricky was pleased with the blue 5002 that he purchased from me.
2012 Subaru WRX - JL Audio C5-650s run active off a Lunar L450; Digital Designs 1508 powered by a Lunar L1500; Pioneer DEH-80PRS as the source unit.
Go pick up a maxxsonic's owned Hifonics 4 channel and then go pick up a ARC SE4100 and tell me if you can here a difference? The thing is about car audio gear is there is a whole lot of junk out there. Distortion isn't the only thing that can change the way an amp can sound. You think a lightning audio will be flat and under 1% distortion 20-20khz as most list, i don't think so. Most company's list there measured distortion figures at 1khz not throughout there entire range.
I agree on the taking stuff back to Walmart thing, a guy can pretty much take anything back and even without a receipt they will give you in store credit.
Thinking about picking me up a nice 2 way Roadmaster set up from there soon
No love for old school a/d/s or Blade Se's? Along with Sinfoni, those 2 are my favorites that I've heard...and I've heard some old school goodness! Pioneer ODR, Sony XES, Mcintosh, Genesis, Arc, Adcom, Zed built Naks, a boatload of PPI's and PG's...the 3 at the top are my favs.
Eclipse CD8454--Scan-Speak 10F's--a/d/s PX Concept Series 2's--Critical Mass MB-82's--JL Audio 18W6's--Memphis 16-MC3004/300/1500Dx2--Lightning Audio--Monster Cable--Odyssey PC1750--SoundDeadenerShowdown
I voted Genesis Series III. I have (3) Series III Dual Mono's and a Series II Dual Mono myself and used to own a Series II Four Channel and (2) Series II Stereo 100's...
The reason for that: They are known to be one of the most neutral, pure and simple amps out there without costing a really ridiculously amount of money (over here).
The looks are also matching with the internals: Simple and balanced with attention to detail to form a simply beautiful looking/sounding amp with very little unnecessary frills and gadgets.
Brax, Celestra, Audison and Sinfoni make great amps too, but they have a warm sound to them, and I don't like an amp that colors the sound more than what's necessary to do the job.
TRU and McIntosh are nice, but overpriced (over here).
I don't have any experience with the DLS Ultimates (I know they share their past with Genesis, but I also know they've gone they've split up quite a while ago, so you can't probably compare them with eachother anymore), and the Zapco and since I've learned to shut my mouth about things I don't know about, I have nothing to say about those.
Isabelle
Car-audio history since 2004:
- 2000 Renault Clio: cancelled... - 1992 Volvo 940: cancelled...
- 1990 Saab 900: cancelled....... - 1994 Citroën Jumper: cancelled...
- 1989 Volvo 740: cancelled...... - 1993 Saab 900: cancelled... I really should start building faster than the car breaks down!
A DPSQ50 that routinely goes for $750 on eBay yet has a squealing transformer is a prime example of a product that doesn't live up to the price it commands.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisB
I'm starting to think I was just snake bit when it came to using old school gear due to the fact that it was very hit or miss, with emphasis on the miss part. That was a miscalculation on my part due to the fact that I didn't know what kind of lives the amplifiers lived prior to making their way over to me and I should have expected minor maintenance on something that was 10 to 20 years old.
Never had any noise out of the 5 Q50's I've owned. Still have 2 running in systems with no issues. You are right about buying used old school equipment, it can be hit or miss.
Got Ear Candy?
A pair of 87 Grand National's - 1 street machine and 1 TSM race car wanna be
I voted Genesis Series III. I have (3) Series III Dual Mono's and a Series II Dual Mono myself and used to own a Series II Four Channel and (2) Series II Stereo 100's...
The reason for that: They are known to be one of the most neutral, pure and simple amps out there without costing a really ridiculously amount of money (over here).
The looks are also matching with the internals: Simple and balanced with attention to detail to form a simply beautiful looking/sounding amp with very little unnecessary frills and gadgets.
Brax, Celestra, Audison and Sinfoni make great amps too, but they have a warm sound to them, and I don't like an amp that colors the sound more than what's necessary to do the job.
TRU and McIntosh are nice, but overpriced (over here).
I don't have any experience with the DLS Ultimates (I know they share their past with Genesis, but I also know they've gone they've split up quite a while ago, so you can't probably compare them with eachother anymore), and the Zapco and since I've learned to shut my mouth about things I don't know about, I have nothing to say about those.
Isabelle
nicely said & couldn't agree more!been using few amps before this & TRU was one of em' but i got myself stuck with Genesis at this moment...thanks to Gordon for his marvelous passion & works on the series III..they sounded superbly fine!
You might need a lot of power but it might be worth it. Linear power seem to have come back from the dead (in the car audio show, competitions). They competed in the USACI World Finals and did pretty good. Keep in mind that others in the competition use new equipment thats probably way more expensive than Linear Power is.
John Neal - World Champion for Mod Q
Richard Nye - Region 6 overall and World SQ Point Champion
Randal Johnson - Region 2 SQ Point Champion
Herman Smith - World Champion for Intro SQ+
TJ Lacharite - Third place in Super Mod SQ+ and third place in Open SPL
These are 15-20 year old amps they were using. And the new line of the so "debated" Blues Car Audio speakers/drivers. So just by seeing the results I know they will come back to the marketing (as of next year).
Thank you for the kind words for our team here ...
My personal favorite SQ amp would be the Linear Power 2.2hv. Very strong, clear sounding amplifier. thanks, Randal ...
Just a young buck in this industry, I have not installed any of these premier brand amps quoted in this thread. But I have heard a lot of junk. I'm kind of partial to 5 channel / 6 channel multichannel amps for installs.
So the top three multichannel / hybrid amps I have worked with for SQ are:
Arc Audio KS900.6
US Amps AX5600
Memphis Belle MCH1300
By and large my fav is the the Memphis Belle. It may not stack up to the elite gear posted here, but it is my favorite SQ amp. Clean, powerful and reliable amp. Love it. It was one of those installs where you secretly wished the owner would have "problems" with it so he would come back every now and then so I can play with it again. But 6 years strong its still rocking in a lovely BMW
As for specialized amp, I was fortunate to work on a car with old school MB Quart Q Series amps and components (pre-Maxxsonix era). These rocked too.
Just a young buck in this industry, I have not installed any of these premier brand amps quoted in this thread. But I have heard a lot of junk. I'm kind of partial to 5 channel / 6 channel multichannel amps for installs.
So the top three multichannel / hybrid amps I have worked with for SQ are:
Arc Audio KS900.6
US Amps AX5600 Memphis Belle MCH1300
By and large my fav is the the Memphis Belle. It may not stack up to the elite gear posted here, but it is my favorite SQ amp. Clean, powerful and reliable amp. Love it. It was one of those installs where you secretly wished the owner would have "problems" with it so he would come back every now and then so I can play with it again. But 6 years strong its still rocking in a lovely BMW
As for specialized amp, I was fortunate to work on a car with old school MB Quart Q Series amps and components (pre-Maxxsonix era). These rocked too.
I had the old school Memphis belle chrome amp and it is by far the best sounding amp i've heard. Nice to see i'm not the only one who thinks memphis amps sound good. I haven't heard DLS, Genesis, Zapco, Poweramper so my opinion might change.
I had the old school Memphis belle chrome amp and it is by far the best sounding amp i've heard. Nice to see i'm not the only one who thinks memphis amps sound good. I haven't heard DLS, Genesis, Zapco, Poweramper so my opinion might change.
I'm running a o/s black chrome Memphis Belle right now and replacing it will be three same style Memphis amps. I like the way they sound and they are underrated.
Eclipse CD8454--Scan-Speak 10F's--a/d/s PX Concept Series 2's--Critical Mass MB-82's--JL Audio 18W6's--Memphis 16-MC3004/300/1500Dx2--Lightning Audio--Monster Cable--Odyssey PC1750--SoundDeadenerShowdown
Re: Most Preffered SQ amps
but had no system to use it in. Theres always next time.
) the 
Linear Mode
