Amp suggestions please
 

Looking for suggestions for an Amp to power my two Boston Acoustics G5 10-44 subs. Would like to stay under $300 for the amp.

Sub Specs:
- power range: 100-450 watts RMS (225 per voice coil)
- frequency response: 24-350 Hz
- sensitivity: 92 dB

I have two of the subs, but based on everything I've read I'm guessing one will be more than enough to suit my needs if properly powered. So I'm looking for amp suggestions that would provide enough clean power to give at least 450W RMS.

Am leaning toward a Kenwood KAC-9104D

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Am also open to suggestions for an amp to power my component speakers - Infinity Kappa Perfect 6s. I already have an old Kenwood 250W 2 channel (45w RMS) that should do the trick just fine, but open to suggestions. Limit $200.

Will probably skip this and try the existing Kenwood Amp first - would rather put the money toward a better headunit.

Thanks for helping an audio newbie :)

You could find some Alpine PDX amps within that price range on ebay brand new. Those amps will give you the biggest bang for the buck and they are really small and efficient. You could do a 600.1 for the subs and the 100.2 for the fronts.

What he said

I have to third the alpine's great bang for the buck. If you had a bigger budget I would say look at audison or focal. Just another tip sub amps do not have to be the best in the world they just have to have control and clean power. You could go with a kicker or Rockford fosgate for the sub.

you might want to check out Pioneer........great bang for the buck!


Pioneer USA - PRS Series

There amps are not that good for sending clean power. As I said alpine focal or audison. I mean yes pioneer can be good for subs but there is just cleaner stuff like kicker that can do it just as good for half the price.

With Pioneer Amps, there is no sacrifice between quality and quanity in building the ulimate system.


Pioneer USA - Amplifiers

CNET Editors' Choice Awards 2009 Winners

What do you guys think of Orion amps? I've been talking to some guys locally who have built some pretty decent systems and they both recommended Orion, Soundstream or JL.

I've found these online within or barely over my price range, so doable:
Orion XTR10001 (XTR 10001) - 1000W x 1 Chan. @ 1 Ohm
JL Audio J2 1000.1 (J21000.1) - 1000W x 1 Chan. @ 1 Ohm
Boston Acoustics GTA-800M - 500 watts @ 4 ohms

Since I can wire the DVC subs down to 1 Ohm maybe going the Orion or JL route would be a good option. Or I could just keep it all consistent and get the BA amp...

One thing I'm wondering, If the subs are rated at 100-450 watts RMS (225 per voice coil) would I be seriously overpowering them by wiring them for 1 Ohm and using the Orion or JL amp? Or would I just need to keep the gain down and not have to worry about frying the amp or overdoing the subs?

So many decisions, but a good problem to have :) Thanks for the input

Orion amps are not bad at all. The thing you have to keep in mind is that even if the amp can put out 1000 watts does not mean you are going to put all that to your sub. When you install your system you have to set all your gains after everything is installed. That means that you will go to your amp and set your gain for your speakers and your sub so when you turn your volume up there is no distortion. So your amp will probably never push all that wattage to your sub. Also another thing is I think 1000 watts in a Z for a sub is a little extreme, but if that is what you want than that is what you can get. Just make sure if you are running 2 subs or one that the ending load will end up to be 2 ohms or if the amp can handle is 1 ohms. Here is a link to how subs can be wired up.

Subwoofer Wiring Diagrams

Thanks Big A - The subs are Dual Voice Coil 4 Ohms so I know I can only wire for 4 or 1 Ohm. One thing I heard/read was that if you wire them for 1 Ohm you can push more power, but it also increases distortion. Is this true?

So if you were gonna pick between the Orion and the Boston Acoustics, with good clean sound over SPL being the main goal which route would you go? BA amp is $20 more than Orion so not a big deal.

Actually a DVC 4 ohm sub can only be wired as 8 ohms or 2 ohms a DVC 2 ohms can be wired as 4 ohms or 1 ohms. That is if you are only running one sub it changes if you are running 2. Yes and no about the distortion that is why a lot of people recommend using an oscilloscope but guessing that you do not have one, you can still tune it by ear. You just have to be careful with how much you go up and make sure not to use bass boost or loud mode.

Man Matt, you are a plethora of knowledge!

LOL thanks togo!

I used to have a pair of the OLD school HCCA Orion amps and they are insane! They were like 25Watts rms X2 but you could wire them down to 1/2 ohm but they were terribly inefficent and they got wicked hot! They are very clean and dynamic amps. Old soundstream is the same way but thier new stuff I am not sure about, they have changed hands and are a completely different design now. JL amps are awesome but they are pricey and the good ones I would suggest are way outside the price range you gave us to work with.

I dont recommend running amps below 2 ohms. They get hot and distortion goes way up and damping factor drops. Excessive heat is indicative of wasted power. I would stick to new class D technology that Alpine and JL have embraced. My 900 watt JL HD amp barely gets warm and its tiny!

I know someone recommended Pioneer but I would not recommend Pioneer. Their amps and speakers are less than stellar! Pioneer like Sony is a mainstream brand and are average at best. Most reputable car audio shop would encourage you to a better product. Like Big-A, I have had nothing but prosblems with thier head units too.

Pioneer and the ultimate car audio system all in the same sentence? LOL, I think NOT! :roflpuke2: