System Advice

[ADKExplorer]

Ok..I have slowly but surely been building my system. Right now I have a Clarion Pro-Audio CD deck(17wattsx4) and I just installed some Boston Acoustic FX-8's all around. It is time to add an amp for the speakers and a sub. Now I do not want to blow the doors off. I just want good clean sound. I only want a 1-10" sub to save space and since I only want just good base that is all I think I need. I want to run the speakers (30-60 RMS) and the sub off the same amp. What do you guys suggest for a good amp in the 200-350 dollar range that would suit this need? What type of wattage/ channles should I be looking for since I want to power all at the same time. Thanks for your thoughts!!

 

[ADKExplorer]

Anyone...does anyone have a thought on this issue??

 

[Jason94sport]

I also have a Clarion head unit, & 4 new speakers. I was going to go with a 5 channel amp to power everything & mount it under the seats. I have a stealthbox too. That will push about 40 clean watts to each speaker & 150 to the sub. That should be fine for the kinda sound I want.
Another option is to get a 4 channel amp & bridge it to 3 channels. Run just the fronts off the amp & leave the head unit for the rear for some rear fill & use the other 2 channels to power the sub.
For amps, it depends on what you can get. The 5 channel amp's I'm looking at are in the $500 range. A good 4 channel can be had for about $400. You could also get a few smaller 2 channel for about $100-150 each.

 

[ADKExplorer]

Thanks for the reply. I thought about the 5channel amps but I have heard that they are full of distortion. I do not remember what type or the reason why but i was hearing this on the SoundDomain Forums and on another site. This is why I am looking for a good four channel. A local dealer told me that you could run both front and rear speakers by wiring them in paralell and hooking them up to two of the channels and then bridging the other two to run the sub. That would mean that the amp would have to be 2 ohm stable becaus eof the parallel wiring. I am just not sure if that is safe?? I have not heard of that before. Any thoughts on that issue.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

To do what you are trying, you will need a 5 channel amp. You will not find a good quality amp for the price range you are looking. Buy your speakers now and then save up some more money to be able to afford a real good amp. You will be glad you did in the long run. When it comes to stereo equipment, the thing that always comes to mind is,

You Get What You Pay For.... Pay once and be done, not twice and still counting.

 

[ADKExplorer]

So it is not possible to do as the local audio shop has suggested by wiring in parallel to two channels and then bridging the 3rd and 4th channels for the sub. In theory it sounds good but I thought that the guy was a little crazy. I think that I will get a 4 channel amp for the speakers for now and adding in a mono amp for a subwoofer later. So back to one of the original questions.......what is a good 4 channel amp (60 wattx4) with in the 200.00-300.00 dollar range. I was looking at Rockford Fosgate, MTX, Audiobahn, Kenwood, Phoenix Gold any thoughts??

 

[Jason94sport]

Yes you can, It will work, however you are now REALLY pushing that little 4 channel amp by doing that. Some amps are fine with this, some are not. In your price range it would be best to do what you are saying. Get a 4 channel now & wait on the sub. Nothing wrong with 5 channels amps. Don't know about the distortation thing. I never heard of that. If you get a good quailty amp you won't have issues. That's why the ones I'm looking into are $500 & over. For amps any of those will be fine. Just stay away from the ones from JCWhitney, or other questionable brands that claim 500 watts for only $150. (lanzer, pyramid, boss, etc)