Quality Amp Brands?

[mini_mull]

Just wanting some opinions on which brands of amps you guys favor.

I don't need anything competition quality just something that will be reliable, take a little beating, and sound clean.

I'm not sure yet whether I want a four channel to push my PolkAudio componets and 6x9s (both sets are 100W RMS) and use my old JBL amp on the 12" sub or just get a five channel so I'll have one less piece of equipment to mount somewhere, so if you have any opinions on four vs five channel amps let me know. Thanks.

 

[pauly383]

Theres a layer of dust on Rockford Fosgate amp , its bolted right to the floor under my passenger seat . It hasn't failed to turn on in nearly two years

 

[jp0863]

Just wanting some opinions on which brands of amps you guys favor.

I don't need anything competition quality just something that will be reliable, take a little beating, and sound clean.

I'm not sure yet whether I want a four channel to push my PolkAudio componets and 6x9s (both sets are 100W RMS) and use my old JBL amp on the 12" sub or just get a five channel so I'll have one less piece of equipment to mount somewhere, so if you have any opinions on four vs five channel amps let me know. Thanks.

take a look at crutchfield.com , they have some inexpensive amps that work quite well. they used to be sold under the california audio name. keep in mind, most amps are built relatively the same. compare things like harmonic distortion (thd), rms which is normal power rating. dont compare peak watts because thats when they usually sound the worst and if you run any amp at peak for very long, it wont last. i used to be into stereos very heavily when i was younger. the way to tell a good amp from crap hasnt changed and alot of times you are paying for the name.

 

[hunterguy86]

I love my Rockford 1001bd.

 

[chevyin]

For cheap, reliable power, look into Cadence.

I also have no issue buying amps used (presuming good shape). I like old amps, Im currently building a small collection of SoundStream Reference amps for my latest system.

 

[fordeater]

take a look at crutchfield.com , they have some inexpensive amps that work quite well.

IMHO you can find way better deals the crutchfield. They always seem high priced to me.

 

[5280k5]

I've always liked some of the older Precision Power stuff. Much like Chevyin I'm also stockpiling a few for some system builds here in the future
Personally, I have always felt with amps it's a get what you pay for. Some of the better built amps cost a little more up front but if you're planning on keeping it for a long time then it's worth it.
Even something like this would work and is pretty reasonable: http://cgi.ebay.com/INFINITY-REFERENCE-5350A-5-CHANNEL-AMPLIFIER-AMP-NEW_W0QQitemZ280140231171QQihZ018QQcategoryZ39739QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Or even a 6 channel would work, just bridge channel 5&6 to mono for you sub.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Infinity-5761A-6-Channel-Car-Stereo-Amplifier-Amp_W0QQitemZ300140049761QQihZ020QQcategoryZ39739QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/MB-Quart-NAA665-Marine-Boat-Audio-6-Channel-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ290147909943QQihZ019QQcategoryZ39739QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[chevyin]

I've always liked some of the older Precision Power stuff. Much like Chevyin I'm also stockpiling a few for some system builds here in the future
Personally, I have always felt with amps it's a get what you pay for. Some of the better built amps cost a little more up front but if you're planning on keeping it for a long time then it's worth it.
Even something like this would work and is pretty reasonable: http://cgi.ebay.com/INFINITY-REFERENCE-5350A-5-CHANNEL-AMPLIFIER-AMP-NEW_W0QQitemZ280140231171QQihZ018QQcategoryZ39739QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Or even a 6 channel would work, just bridge channel 5&6 to mono for you sub.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Infinity-5761A-6-Channel-Car-Stereo-Amplifier-Amp_W0QQitemZ300140049761QQihZ020QQcategoryZ39739QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/MB-Quart-NAA665-Marine-Boat-Audio-6-Channel-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ290147909943QQihZ019QQcategoryZ39739QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Oooooooooo... I saw an old PPI black art series for sale the other day... for like 250. I damn near bought it myself, except I just dumped some money in some SS amps... and I dont have any other old PPI amps anyway.

It was a sweet deal, looked cherry from the pics... and everybody loves the art series. The Black Art is almost impossible to find these days. If you are interested, let me know, I can try to dig up where I saw it. It was a small 2-channel iirc.

OLD Precision Power rocked da casbah!

 

[5280k5]

Oooooooooo... I saw an old PPI black art series for sale the other day... for like 250. I damn near bought it myself, except I just dumped some money in some SS amps... and I dont have any other old PPI amps anyway.

It was a sweet deal, looked cherry from the pics... and everybody loves the art series. The Black Art is almost impossible to find these days. If you are interested, let me know, I can try to dig up where I saw it. It was a small 2-channel iirc.

OLD Precision Power rocked da casbah!

I've seen quite a few black Art series on Ebay, even a couple that had been custom silk screened in the owner's choice of colors. One guy had a complete black Art series system with like A606's, 302's, couple of 32 band crossovers, phase shift controller, remote level control and everything but was asking quite a bit for it. Like everything else, never have money when you need it

 

[viperrgh2]

woofersect.com is a good website for caraudio. Some Amps I prefer to use are Hifonics, Profile (California series), Alpine, Pioneer, and kicker but there are many more quality amps. check out www.caraudioforums.com wealth of info on there.. also Ive heard some bad things about the infinity amps...

 

[chevyin]

And if you go over to caraudioforum.com talk to that guy audioholic, he's a genius!

(that's me)

 

[trixblazer]

Like the guys above, I like the PPI amps as well. I sold mine back in college to pay for some of the tuition and have been kicking my self every since. I just know I could have come up with the money without having to sell them....I was just desperate.

Right now in the K5 I am using a Phoenix Gold to run the 2 10's (Rockford Fosgate Punches bought in highschool and are still pounding great) and an Eclipse to run the mids. In the Bug I am using 2 Conquest amps (picked them up in highschool 10 years ago and they haven't let me down yet) (1 to run the 2 10's (JL W6's) and one for the mids).

All my amps are older. The Conquests were bought in highschool 10 years ago, before the company was sold off and they went to crap. The Phoenix Gold was picked up about 7 years ago and the Eclipse was probably 5-6 years ago. None of them have let me down except for one of the Conquests when I tried to run 2 10s, 2 12s, and 1 15 at the same time back in the mini truck I had. I was just starting out and didn't really know much about stereo stuff. Alittle bit of love from some spare parts and a soldering gun and it was up and running again. Hasn't failed me since.