Best Car High End Amps You Have Tried

[finbar]

I have used,
Carver
Soundstream
US Amps
Mcintosh
Phoenix gold
Zuki is my preferred

[seankane]

I have used alot of amps through out the years but I prefer the older Rockford Fosgate and the brand new power series Rockford Fosgate.

I had a few Zapco, Carver, KLW, Concord, Phoenix Gold, US amps, Kicker, Jl Audio, MTX, Hifonics,Sound stream, PPI, Orion, Xtant, etc etc..................

I always go back to Rockford. Well built, very efficient, very clean, very powerful, compact size, parts are readily available for repairs, they always provide schematics, all around very solid choice.

[amc32]

You guys might want to refrain from using earthquake and zed audioo in the same thread. Things could get a little too touchy for Steve "zed audio"

I wouldn't put the memphis belle in the same league with some of the amps listed. It convenient to install, but the stereo seperation specs are horrible not to mention the classd modulation being tranfered into the class ab section via osmosis.

[camusmuse]

Which BTS amps dont you like? Are they particular models or generations(white, grey, silver)?

I personally like just about anything Zed, or at least made in the USA. Problem with some of the older amps is they need to be "rebuilt", especially considering how hard they were driven.

IMO...its still all about the install. Digital time alignment is nifty and can overcome alot of the shortcomings of "lessor" amps. Also the choice of vehicle is just as important. Some cars are just alot better environments for "high end" audio reproduction. (Sorry if this is redundant, I will finish reading this thread now)

Originally Posted by tsmith1315

My experience is 10 years out of date. At that time, the Zapco System 151/200A was the cleanest, quietest, most natural sounding amp I had heard. And it should have been at $4 per watt.

Other notable models were Linear Power 2002, Soundstream D200II and ClassA 50, and a couple of the Autotek 7xxx BTS amps.
A very notable exception was Alphasonik's (yep) PMA 2100. Not the best of the best, but sounded so nice your install would likely mask the difference between it and other that would cost 2-3x the price. I used one myself for a couple of years that *sounded* better than RF's legendary Power 650's and Power 300's that a couple other guys in the same shop used. Their installations just didn't showcase SQ.

Which brings up an ambiguous point...

It's difficult to compare amps without swapping one for another in a given installation. Speaker installation has a profound affect on a car system. System/gain/crossover tuning has a very profound effect on a car system. You really can't A/B anything very well in a sound room, and you can't do it at all from one car to another without knowing a lot about how the systems are set up and adjusted.

It's also difficult to compare brands, as performance changes from one model to another within any given line. Performance can change from one year to the next within a given model with evolution of design. The really top-notch companies do tend to be more consistent with top-notch products, but often a single model really stands out.

The only way to figure out which models stand out is to install lots of amplifiers on a regular basis, and use consistent methods to install, tune, and judge them.

And of course, this post is bordering on off-topic because I haven't used any of what's made now.

Tim

[TheBaronGroog]

The Audison stuff is excellent, I briefly ran the LRX4.300 and compared to my old DEI 5ch it was much more detailed and lively, people were even impressed with my stock Mondeo 6x8s when running off it( I wasn't, but was more impressed than with the DEI amp)

After Audison I got a bit of a Genesis fetish, I now have 4 fitted in my car, two dual monos (one for tweeters and one for sub) and two SM50 (one for each midbass) though these are just a loan while I get one of my Stereo60s repaired. I also have the 5ch, just in case! The Genesis are often described as "clinical" or "cold" I find them accurate and detailed, with little colouration-the SM50 does offer a warmer presentaion.

Apart from the quality of the sound and build (the faluty stereo60 I have was bought 2nd hand for peanuts and only has a fault with one ch) the main reasons I bought Genesis are:

Built in the UK, nice to actually support our dwindling industry
Service, Gordon is the king of customer service, I bought my 5ch 2nd hand and needed a few cosmetic things sorting and some new terminal screws. I mailed Genesis on a saturday and got a reply within minutes-stating he'd send the bits FOC for a small donation to Sports Relief or could have it in for a service. I sent the amp off and got it fully serviced and cosmetically treated and now have a new 12month warranty on it-so the amp can have warranty extended as long as you own it

A friend with a collection of Genesis (loaned me the SM50s) Denon, Mac, SONY ES and more that I've forgotten. He swears his favourite sounding amp is the Denon DCA 800, he has a £4000 Mac that still doesn't rate as highly with him. He runs Kenwood KAC-1078 (IIRC) for most of his system-though he has many! Ghetto Garage Setup - Page 2 - DIYMA.com - Scientific Car Audio - Truth in Sound Quality

[ANADIGIT]

Hi, guy
Now I try to re-engineer Gamut D200I in car !
But too hard for 12 to +/-70V SMPS on typical technology, I try to design a new poweer supply which use Resonant Converter Technique (ZCS, ZVS)

Have you ever heard GamutD200I ? Let's see this link >>> 6moons audio reviews: Gamut D3i & D200i

I think my idea is quite too hard but if it posible it will be number 1 of Car Amplifier !

Thanks
Anadigit

[permo]

The best car audio amplifier I have ever used is a Classic Rockford Power Series 50X2. I loved that amp.

I recently parted ways with a 15 year old Orion 2150sx that was quite the powerhouse as well.

I would also like to give a shot out to the classic boston acoustics pro series components!

[rok-n-rol]

My first was the best both in home and car. In 1976 I bought a $650 car amp with eq and crossover!! Can't remember for sure but ADS rings a bell as to who made it. It was the first serious car audio ever made and I ran a Nakamichi 350 cassette deck with B&O speakers in the back seat-17yr old. Speaking of speakers there was an electrostatic speaker made for clipping onto a sunshade, I know I saw the ad back then, had to sound like **** But. Home amp was the Acoustat Monitor 4 electrostats w/DD 5000v amps, bought those in 79 at 1/2 price for $1500.