1990's Amps vs Todays

speedfreak28 · 11-09-2010, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2fast4thelaw

I feel the old-school amps are superior in dynamics and clarity than most of the new stuff but the old school amps are really hard on your electrical system. They were not designed with efficency in mind so the power supplies being high current have efficiencies of 50% or less where now power supplies are 80% or better but at a sacrafice of dynamics.

Unless a class D amp has a massive power supply, it isnt going compete with the old-school amps. Technology advances have reduced the size of amps which opens a whole new world of installation possibilities so there are other advantages. Also crossover and equalization has come along way improving and shaping sound easier and more convieniently.

Pretty much once amps started getting made over seas, quality went down hill in favor of mass production. Many of the great companies have been bought out and prostituted to the main stream market mainly to stay alive in this economy. I also feel surface mount technology has reduced relaibility in circuit boards so audio equipment just isnt as bullet proof as it use to be.

Good amps still can be had, but you have to pay big money to get them.

Great post! amplifier technology has come a long way and to the average listener the new amps are tough to beat but for clean undistorted power you just cant beat the old school AB power. Todays high end SQ amps still use AB power supplies but as 2fast said The sound processing has come a long way.

optiontrader · 11-09-2010, 02:14 PM

McIntosh amps would be outstanding, if impractical in a car.

Remember when Adcom made a couple of nice car amps back when?

optiontrader · 11-09-2010, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by antennahead

That is not too far off from the system I had in the '90 300ZX. ads 325is speakers, soundstream amps, a custom made fiberglass sub box with two 8" Boston Acoustic subs driven by the D200, system rocked!

SS amps back in the day were outstanding. I should have parted that system out when I sold the Sentra.

And I sold it before I got the tuning bug - that SR20DET engine would have been FUN to play around with. Kickin' myself...

2fast4thelaw · 11-09-2010, 08:45 PM

My favorite Old School amp was my Soundstream Pure Class A amp. It was hands down the best sounding amp I have ever owned. I was stupid and sold it!

My second favorite were Orion HCCA amps. Those things are beasts! but man they get hot! They didnt have any crossovers and no terminals, just pure 100% amplification. they were rated extreamkly conservatively at 25 watts X 2 rms but they would destroy a mainstream brand amp running 100 or more watts X 2 amp. Those amps were no joke! I powered (4)12" Shiva subs at 1 ohm. I have no idea what the final output but it was a hell of a lot because the output was insane!!

Phoenix Gold used to make the sweetest amps! They truely had the bling going on. I had one had a freaking 24K gold plated circuit board! Triple Darlington output array, Massive capacitor banks, ect. The plexiglass covers made a very impressive looking piece of audio equipment. They always had gobs of dynamic power and super clean output. Now they are nothing like what they were.

New Technology; I am very much impressed with the new JL Audio 900/5 amp. Its a marvel of engineering to put out 900 watts of super clean power in 5 channels and in a package the size of a ream of paper. My days of using more than one amp in a system are over! I can crank this amp and it barely gets warm. Very very efficient! I like the multi-channel flexability. I run mine on 3 channel mode and the amp gets it done!

Unclemeaty · 11-12-2010, 07:34 AM

While I'm still trying to fix a Soundstream MC140x (4 x 35w) I needed to put something back into my car for listening pleasure. I pulled the Precision Power PC275 out for a moment and tried a Rockford Fosgate Punch 60x2 DSM series (Its 30w x 2). DSM was the last great series from rockford. I've gotta say they had it going on back then. The Punch 60 is better than the PPI PC275 (Which is 75w x 2 rms) and almost as good as the SS MC140.

I really hope in getting this MC140 amp working. Its of Class B design and/but it sounds so freaking awsome. I hear these little amps were about $500 back in the day.

I would love to poke a few sticks at some Phoenix Gold products. They just havnt come to my possesion yet.

If you have an old/broken amp, I'll buy and or fix it for you!

optiontrader · 11-12-2010, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2fast4thelaw

My favorite Old School amp was my Soundstream Pure Class A amp. It was hands down the best sounding amp I have ever owned. I was stupid and sold it!

OMG - I completely forgot about those babies. +1 rep for you in reminding of SS of yore!

Remember their SS10/SS12 Reference subs?

ludeakris7 · 01-14-2011, 01:51 PM

Still rocking my Orion 2150 XTR..love that amp!!!

Baer383 · 01-14-2011, 04:55 PM

I have a Rockford punch 150hd,I forgot I had this for the last 18-20years these amps are great 300watts bridged out of this little amp.

11-09-2010, 02:14 PM	#17 (permalink)
optiontrader Track Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Smog Hell, SoCal Posts: 595 Drives: 40th Rep Power: 16	McIntosh amps would be outstanding, if impractical in a car. Remember when Adcom made a couple of nice car amps back when? __________________ 40th Anniversary Z - 3M Paint Protection Film, CA Legal Tint! (70/40)

11-09-2010, 08:45 PM	#19 (permalink)
2fast4thelaw Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Denver Co Age: 50 Posts: 403 Drives: 09 370Z Sport/MT6 Rep Power: 16	My favorite Old School amp was my Soundstream Pure Class A amp. It was hands down the best sounding amp I have ever owned. I was stupid and sold it! My second favorite were Orion HCCA amps. Those things are beasts! but man they get hot! They didnt have any crossovers and no terminals, just pure 100% amplification. they were rated extreamkly conservatively at 25 watts X 2 rms but they would destroy a mainstream brand amp running 100 or more watts X 2 amp. Those amps were no joke! I powered (4)12" Shiva subs at 1 ohm. I have no idea what the final output but it was a hell of a lot because the output was insane!! Phoenix Gold used to make the sweetest amps! They truely had the bling going on. I had one had a freaking 24K gold plated circuit board! Triple Darlington output array, Massive capacitor banks, ect. The plexiglass covers made a very impressive looking piece of audio equipment. They always had gobs of dynamic power and super clean output. Now they are nothing like what they were. New Technology; I am very much impressed with the new JL Audio 900/5 amp. Its a marvel of engineering to put out 900 watts of super clean power in 5 channels and in a package the size of a ream of paper. My days of using more than one amp in a system are over! I can crank this amp and it barely gets warm. Very very efficient! I like the multi-channel flexability. I run mine on 3 channel mode and the amp gets it done! __________________ To the optimist, the glass is half full. To the pessimist, the glass is half empty. To the engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

11-12-2010, 07:34 AM	#20 (permalink)
Unclemeaty Base Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Atlanta Posts: 203 Drives: 150cc Scooter Rep Power: 15	While I'm still trying to fix a Soundstream MC140x (4 x 35w) I needed to put something back into my car for listening pleasure. I pulled the Precision Power PC275 out for a moment and tried a Rockford Fosgate Punch 60x2 DSM series (Its 30w x 2). DSM was the last great series from rockford. I've gotta say they had it going on back then. The Punch 60 is better than the PPI PC275 (Which is 75w x 2 rms) and almost as good as the SS MC140. I really hope in getting this MC140 amp working. Its of Class B design and/but it sounds so freaking awsome. I hear these little amps were about $500 back in the day. I would love to poke a few sticks at some Phoenix Gold products. They just havnt come to my possesion yet. If you have an old/broken amp, I'll buy and or fix it for you! Last edited by Unclemeaty; 11-13-2010 at 08:53 PM.

01-14-2011, 04:55 PM	#23 (permalink)
Baer383 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lawrenceville,Ga Posts: 4,293 Drives: My foot up your azz Rep Power: 30	I have a Rockford punch 150hd,I forgot I had this for the last 18-20years these amps are great 300watts bridged out of this little amp. __________________ 2013 ZL1 754 rwhp 747 rwtq

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01-14-2011, 01:51 PM	#22 (permalink)
ludeakris7 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 27 Drives: 2001 Honda Prelude Rep Power: 16	Still rocking my Orion 2150 XTR..love that amp!!!