Need Help Choosing an Amp

[XLT]

Hello. I am in the process of installing a subwoofer. I got a great deal on a used MTX thunderform sub box with 10" MTX subwoofer. I am pretty clueless though when it comes to picking out an amp. I should add that my truck still is using the stock amp that is located in the rear sidewall of my truck. About the extent of my audio experience is simply replacing the stock hu and speakers.

Currently i have a
Sony Xplod HU # CDX-GT530ui
Sony Xplod Speakers f/r #XS-GT5727A

Im not running anything special so a fancy amp is not needed. Im looking for a decent amp at a fair price. Nothing dirt cheap or super expensive. So can anyone make a recommandation or two for me please?

 

[toypaseo]

What is the RMS range, and the peak power, of the sub?

 

[Maniak]

The thunderforms came with a mtx 5000 10" sub. At least ours did years ago.

Im actually in the market to replace the mtx 5000 now. Its had a noisy voice coil for years and recenty I put an inpact wrench through the cone. It doesn't work well now.

~Mark

 

[XLT]

Yes i suppose a wrench through it would do that!

Lets see the specs i found on the sub are
200w
4 ohm

The speakers if it matters
190W Max Power (35W Rated)

 

[XLT]

Well basically after some research am i looking for a amp that is rated for 200 watts RMS x 1 at 4 ohms? I was looking at mono amps. Then i would just wire my speakers directly to the hu. Or does it pay to get a 4 channel amp as to power my speakers as well?

 

[Maniak]

Personally, I'd pick up 200-250 watt x 1 @ 4 ohm amp for the sub.

Then, if I still had enough money I'd pick up a 4 channel amp to run the other speakers. You can run the other 4 speakers off the head unit but head units don't have much power and most people will turn up the head unit into distortion.

You don't need a big amp for the door speakers. We are running a Sonly Xplod 4 channel x 75 watt and it is way more than we really need..

By using the 4 channel amp and the single channel amp you can use the gain control on the amps to get the levels set right. You can then still use the receiver to control how loud each speaker gets (to an extent) to fine tune it.

~Mark

 

[interscope8]

Well basically after some research am i looking for a amp that is rated for 200 watts RMS x 1 at 4 ohms? I was looking at mono amps. Then i would just wire my speakers directly to the hu. Or does it pay to get a 4 channel amp as to power my speakers as well?

Pioneer makes a decent little 350w amp that'd power your sub just fine. Sonic's is have like 4 different sales now and amp are dirt cheap!

I personally wouldnt wire your speakers to another amp, I have Hifonics 3 way speakers that are powered right now and love em, but those Xplods do not handle very much power. Wire them to the factory power wires and call it good. You'll notice plenty of improvement.

 

[toypaseo]

What is your budget?

Boston Acoustics GTA-802 - 2 channel amp, bridged is 260x1 RMS - $119.99 ($101.99 open box) shipped
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_065GTA802/Boston-Acoustics-GTA-802.html?tp=35757

not sure if I would rely on this amp, but it is cheap...

Blaupunkt GTA-270 SF - 2 channel amp, bridged is 200x1 RMS - $59.99 shipped
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_023GTA270S/Blaupunkt-GTA-270-SF.html?tp=35757

 

[toypaseo]

Maybe dig on Craigslist...?

buy these, and sell the sub for $75... haha...

http://wausau.craigslist.org/ele/3429214672.html

That amp is $149.99 new on Crutchfield... which is still a decent price.

 

[XLT]

Alright. Thank you all for the information! My budget is about $150 or so. I am giving the Boston amp some serious consideration. I might look at a second amp for the speakers down the road. I have been poking around on crutchfield the last day and getting a bit more informed about audio systems based on there help articles.

 

[interscope8]

Alright. Thank you all for the information! My budget is about $150 or so. I am giving the Boston amp some serious consideration. I might look at a second amp for the speakers down the road. I have been poking around on crutchfield the last day and getting a bit more informed about audio systems based on there help articles.

seriously man... check out sonicelectronix.com... they are always way lower than crutchfield and they are having some ridiculous sales right now.

 

[interscope8]

Here was digging on their sales lists... both are well under your budget and will power your sub just fine.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_61436_FLI-Audio-FA400.2-F1.html

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_8603_Sony-XM-1S.html

 

[XLT]

Alright i will give the sonicelectronix website a look as well.

My only other question is what size speaker wire should i use between the amp and subwoofer?

 

[Maniak]

Alright i will give the sonicelectronix website a look as well.

My only other question is what size speaker wire should i use between the amp and subwoofer?

Your not dealing with that much power. 12 gauge is more than enough..

I haven't dealt with sonicelectronix before so I can't say how they are but I can say that although Crutchfield isn't the cheapest they send the most accessories for free and their customer service is only beat by amazon.

~Mark

 

[toypaseo]

Regardless of where you buy from, make sure the seller is an authorized dealer of the brand you are looking at.

Crutchfield is an authorized dealer of the brands they sell.

It looks like Sonicelectronix is also an authorized dealer of many brands they sell.

I have bought some electronics from non-authorized dealers, and it was great fun trying to jump through hoops to try to get something repaired due to it failing. In one instance, I had to get a product repaired numerous times. Gotta love subpar products.

My current sub amp in my Paseo, a Kicker DX350, was purchased on eBay, from an authorized Kicker dealer, who gave me a receipt showing that they installed it, so I got a three-year warranty instead of the usual one-year warranty. That amp stopped working within the warranty period, so I took it to a local Kicker dealer. He looked at my receipt, and said he could send it in for service, or he could take a look at it himself. I let him look at it, and he repaired it on spot. No hassles.

 

[interscope8]

Your not dealing with that much power. 12 gauge is more than enough..

I haven't dealt with sonicelectronix before so I can't say how they are but I can say that although Crutchfield isn't the cheapest they send the most accessories for free and their customer service is only beat by amazon.

~Mark

If it means anything, my roommate just had me hook up subs and a new headunit to his mustang. Sonics worked with us and paid for return shipping on a headunit return because we ordered the wrong one and they gave us a dash kit and harness for free. If you call they will give you everything Crutchfield would.