How do you guys like the 'waffle amps'?

[chipper]

I want to get your guys opinion on the older rockford fosgate 'waffle' style amps i believe they are the DSM's 1993 - 1996? I had a Punch 40x2 that had a blown channel and fixed it maybe about a year ago all i remember is that it pushed my two 12's really good not to the fullest but nice enough to give a good boom! It only played with it a couple days and sold it. I wanted to buy a DSM or waffle amp again but a larger one like a Punch 100x2 or 100ix, etc. I also remember a neighbor who had one i'm not sure which one he had but it was a Rockford amp the waffle style with a pair of power hx2 12's he gave me a demo on his sounds and it sounded like he had a much larger amp on those subs! I was blown away! So can you guys tell me what you think of them? Are underrated?, etc, etc.

Any experience with them would be great! I wanted to buy a Punch 800a2 or a 700S but not sure if i can find a good deal on one of those. Also are these amps rare?? Thanks alot DIY guys!

[Perry Babin]

Virtually all of the amps that came after they did away with the vertical driver and preamp boards are decent amps. The earlier ones are OK but can be much more difficult to repair unless you have access to the original driver/preamp boards.

[AKHeathen]

many rockford amps have always been way underrated, and some, especially recent, have just barely done rated. for example, a guy i know poped open his little newer 1000 and the circuitry only looked to support 300watts rms, but it did do more than 300. yet, my t5001bd (500x1@1ohm) births at ~1160wrms x1 @1ohm if i remember correctly. not sure if that was 14.4v rating, but i have seen voltages that suggest higher on the meter, though it may not, since i lost the clamp meter somewhere. so, by "waffle", do you mean just the big bulky thick finned heatsink? looks like the newer punch 25tolife line? well, many of them are underrated monsters, as were several in the late 80's, 90's, and early 2k. labeled as "cheaters" because you could drag the load down, and get more than doubling as you drop impedance... there are a lot of ratings, though not a full list, on ampguts. as for the amps you mentioned, i pretty much have always seen at least one for sale at a given time in the last 4 months. the 800a2, and the 800s (i believe it was) are the same amp, just different year. they average around $200 pricetag, though, sometimes better. if ever in question on a rf amp, do some quick research, and you may find some honest ratings on it. most likely underrated if not newer, but double check to be sure.

[joesch1999]

I just sold a 700s that I fixed for 200, very nice amp, actually it's virtually the same as the 800a2 which usually sells for much more, I have fixed both amp types, they areb both about the same with the exception of the case difference, so the 700s is much cheaper to pick up than the 800a2

[chipper]

Originally Posted by joesch1999

I just sold a 700s that I fixed for 200, very nice amp, actually it's virtually the same as the 800a2 which usually sells for much more, I have fixed both amp types, they areb both about the same with the exception of the case difference, so the 700s is much cheaper to pick up than the 800a2

How about the DSM RF amps? I have some money and looking for a RF amp. But then i've always had an obsession with the 'a' series rockford amps. I dunno why. And the older DSM 'waffle' style Rockfords. Everywhere i go they wan't a ton for them and it seems like they are getting harder and harder to come by now these days or you really have to pay to get it . I have 150 on hand that i saved working with my pops and been wanting a 700S or 800a2, 801S, etc but woooooooooooow those bad boys are expensive! Are these becoming collectors items?

[joesch1999]

yeah somewhat collectors items I would say but I think more they are just good amps I have a 100 x 2 sana-ana lol I have the board and the bottom cover amp is still fixable but I think it wont bring much because there is no case, sold the heatsink part of the amp to a guy for 100 bucks lol more than i could get for the amp working on ebay

[joesch1999]

By the way it's much better for a manufacturer to underrate the amps they produce than to overrate and get a bad name thats why they do it and it makes good business sense

[chipper]

Originally Posted by joesch1999

yeah somewhat collectors items I would say but I think more they are just good amps I have a 100 x 2 sana-ana lol I have the board and the bottom cover amp is still fixable but I think it wont bring much because there is no case, sold the heatsink part of the amp to a guy for 100 bucks lol more than i could get for the amp working on ebay

How much would you sell that stuff for? I have a punch 125.2 heat synch here that board may fit into.? Plus i have a small stock of N-channel IRF fets in my junk box.

[joesch1999]

40 + shipping needs 3 330uf 63v caps and four 50n06's thats about it once you get it powered up you can go from there, that should get it powered up

[joesch1999]

I think i have a couple 50n06 I could send along with it if you don't have them but I will have to make sure