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Help me select a new amp for my 2 10"s

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mrsteve

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City, State
Silver Spring, Maryland
Year, Model & Trim Level
'98 XLT
Okay I have 2 10" RF punch subs and I am currently only powering them with a RF 150a2 amp (37.5 watts x2 RMS 60 watts x2 peak) These subs are ratted to handle 50-100 watts RMS a piece. So I am looking for an amp that has at least 50x2 RMS and no more than 80x2 RMS. The price has to be below $300 (high school student salary). I am looking through a TMS electronics catalog and have picked a few I am interested in. All prices are from TMS:

Clarion APAx200.2 ($145, 50watts x2)

Clarion APA2104 ($145, 50watts x2)

Infinity ka52a ($135, 50watts x2)

Memphis Competition CA150 ($160, 75watts x2)Anyone heard of this brand?

MTX Thunder 302 ($265, 75watts x2)

MTX Thunder 204 ($265,4 channel ,bridged 100watts x2)

Pioneer GM-X542 ($150, 50watts x2)

Pioneer GM-X334 ($180,4 channel amp, bridged 70watts x2 RMS)

RF 250a2 ($230,62watts x2)

Sony XM-552hx ($140,55watt x2)

Thanks for you help. When I first began to build up my audio system I said I would not spend more than $1500 on it. So far I have spent $900, that leaves $600. I hope to get pics up as soon as I get my scanner working again.
 



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I would personally recommend either Sound Stream or Crossfire amps. Both are good, low-to-mid price amps. I personally run a Crossfire 220x2 in mine and I paid only $200 for it. While where on subs what would everyone recommend? I have my new Mac Daddy 10" that I need to drive. I'm running a 220x2 at 4 ohms and the sub is rated for 500-1000 at 8 ohms. Think I'm pushing it? If so, what would you use to replace it. I'm looking to spend about $500 to $600. Lightning, Alpine, PPI???
 






Which Soundstream amp?? I see TMS has a soundstream A4 25watts x4 or 100watts x2 for $210. Sounds pretty good to me. Or the Soundsream Angina 100watts x1 or 200watts x1 @2ohms for $140! Anyone else have an opinion
 






I know Memphis Amps are good, they've won championships and most all those amps are good, but I am diehard Alpine!
Pete
 






I would do the 200x2, gotta look at the ohm loads man. If your running 2 subs you'll have to series em on the 200x1 @ 2ohms will kill ya there. Just bridge the am and you should be ok.
 






Can you help me?

I just got a new JVC stereo/cd player that has 45 watts X 4 speaker output. That is the extent of my knowledge about technical data. Someone gave me a speaker box with 2 10" subwoofers in it and tweeters on top. I would like to buy an amp to hook them all up together, but was wondering what I should buy to sufficiently run sound to all 4 of my stock speakers AND the box??? Or is that just not a good idea? Maybe I should not run the back speakers and hook up the box instead? I would like to have the whole set up, but I don't know much about this stuff...and feedback appreciated! :)
 






The ideal setup is 3 amps. One for the fronts. One for the rears. And another one for the sub box. I have gone with only 2 amps. A 4 Channel for the fronts and a second amp for the sub. I would advise the route I chose if cost is a concern.
 






Out of your list I would say either MTX Thunder 204 ($265,4 channel ,bridged 100watts x2) or the Pioneer one. But I have an 800a2 running 3 HX2's and I think that the Punch amps are some of the best ones on the market. I would say get a higher power Punch amp, Punch amps were designed to run Punch subs so you will have compatibility (not really sure if that matters but I like to keep annd the stuff the same).
 






I can see where you are coming from on that aspect. I really like the MTX stuff though. They rate all their amps at like 12.5 volts instead of the usual 14.4 volts and include a sheet in each amp box that tells you exactly how much power your amp is putting out. Their power ratings are extremely under-rated. I have seen MTX amps that say they put out 50watts x2 RMS @ 4ohm put out 75watts x2 RMS at 4ohm. I am thinking about the MTX. The only problem is it's the most expensive of all my picks
 






Man i would look on the net. Its a lot cheaper. Thats where i got all my stuff from. You must have the punches huh. Well you could get a 360a2. Its under $300 at Matrixcaraudio.com
 






You pay for what you get, or something like that, you all know the saying. If you buy a cheaper amp then you may not be happy with it, when you could have taken that money and bought the better one. Also, check out local shops, TMS has good prices but you can find it cheaper around you, also some shops will beat the price if you tell them it is from another shop.
 






Goto Matrixcaraudio.com and look at their PPI amps those amps are really good and they have one you would need for under 300 bucks I think 259 or something. PPI would be a good bet because if you upgrade subs and get a bigger amp it will work great powering compnents. PPI makes one of the best amps around these days. Rockford has kinda lost touch with what they where known for. Other amps I would reccomend would be a JBL BP300.1 I think you can get those from Carmedia1.com but remember to call them and make your order and see how long it will take. It seems like the stuff you are looking at is pretty decent, but if you can a PPI amp would be your best bet of them all, A 360a2 would be good also though. Also as far as speakers and a amp in the back, I wouldn't worry about them, Because in car audio your goal is to get as most sound ESPECAILY Highs from the front. Plus that is a good way to free up money for other stuff.
 






I already have rear speakers in the back but they are only for rear fill. I really considering a sound stream amp. I hear they are awesome. But again this is all about a month away unless I get a job at Circuit city or Best Buy. If I get a job at CC I may end up getting a MTX or Alpine amp just cause that's what they sell. If it's Best Buy I will have to go with RF cause that's about all they sell.
 






Save your Money buy some stock or bonds , and buy a Power Acustik, i know no one agrees but they are defiently better then every amp u listed except for PPI, RF or MTX, and well look 100 times nicer and HIT just as hard
 






I really don't care how they look cause they are mounted behind my rear panel
 






Really, I can't agree with Explorer93xlt on the Power Acustik...I'm not a fan of them and I've read reports that they're nothing all that special...I'd personally save a bit more and get a really kick a$$ amp. Most people tend to want to get bigger and better with their audio. It happened to me....I kept slowly upgrading until I got to some of the best and I'm not close to complete...Just my two cents...Pete
Oh yea, I don't remember if anyone mentioned it but another place on-line to check is http://www.sounddomain.com
 






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