SAE 1000 vs PDX 1000

[cubdenno 0]

Hey guys,

Just for the record I do own, use and love a SAZ1500D. This was asked by my son's friend after seeing my amp, and listening what it could do powering my TC3000.

He is planning a dual 10 inch box, has not bought woofers as of yet.

true power output

sound quality/control of woofers

power delivered requirements (Stock Mazda 3 electrical)

Is there a reason one of you gents and/or ladies would buy one or the other?

I am posting this question because for a dealer specific forum, I have seen some very non biased responses. Also leave out the excellent customer service part of Jacob. I have tried to use that with this kid and it doesn't work. He is interested in boom. And boom only. At least he is letting me somewhat guide him with explanations that fall with in the general laws of physics. I have steered him away from 3000 wat amps that have 50 amps of fuse. And this sub puts out 1000 watts. Sigh...

[audio-neon 34]

Jacob's amps put out more power because his amps are rated at 13.8 volts. Alpines at 14.4v. Tell him to check the voltage at his battery. It's no where near 14.4 volts.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

Unless space is as an absolute premium, I would vote Sundown.

[///M5 2,833]

1 - true power output

2 - sound quality/control of woofers

3 - power delivered requirements (Stock Mazda 3 electrical)

1 - Sundown wins bigtime, just look at the ratings

2 - not pertinent, either will be fine

3 - neither are going to be happy with only stock, but either will be fine with just the big three and some proper wiring to the amplifier

Based on your list, since 2 are a wash and 1 is dominantly for Sundown (and the most important btw) I don't see how you could choose the PDX...unless of course you buy based on size alone as Denim pointed out.

[cubdenno 0]

OK, not sure about why the electrical should not suffice? Again for comparisons sake I drive a toyota w/ stock electrical (80 amp alt stock battery) and with music (not rap) it does fine . some light dimming. With rap the lights appear to go brown. He he. I am going to upgrade to a Powermaster battery. I just figured that the 1000 would not put that huge of a strain along with a four channel amp to power the other speakers. Yes I will make sure 1/0 wire is run to the trunk area. Will also most likely run a dedicated 1/0 ground from the battery as well to the trunk.

I am pushing him to get the SAE 1000. Now my son is also looking at the same car so will hopefully be pushing him same direction.

[Big E 4]

Will also most likely run a dedicated 1/0 ground from the battery as well to the trunk.

Are you putting the PowerMaster in your trunk, or just replacing the stocker. The only reason you would run a ground from your battery to your trunk is if you're adding a second battery.

[///M5 2,833]

OK, not sure about why the electrical should not suffice? Again for comparisons sake I drive a toyota w/ stock electrical (80 amp alt stock battery) and with music (not rap) it does fine . some light dimming. With rap the lights appear to go brown. He he. I am going to upgrade to a Powermaster battery. I just figured that the 1000 would not put that huge of a strain along with a four channel amp to power the other speakers. Yes I will make sure 1/0 wire is run to the trunk area. Will also most likely run a dedicated 1/0 ground from the battery as well to the trunk.

I am pushing him to get the SAE 1000. Now my son is also looking at the same car so will hopefully be pushing him same direction.

Stock implies no big 3 which will be necessary with both.

[tech12volt 0]

Before I answer this. Let me shed some light on my background . I am a Master certified installer . Iasca judge and judges trainer. I competed for many years in the 90s and I am SQ guy through and through with a hint of spl love. I have been an installer for 17 years now.

I sell Sundown amps and I probably sold more Sundown Audio amps last year than any other dealer. I had 2 amps sent back for warranty out of hundreds. 2 and 1 of them the guy dropped on concrete and broke the board in half and it still worked. Sundown amps are bullet proof and they are very efficient. They really have no cons.

The Alpine Pdx amps have some issues the biggest being that Alpine planned for this amps to be more efficient than they actually are. So the fuses that come in them keep popping on the 1000. You can upgrade the fuses to bigger fuse and this problem is solved. The Pdx has nowhere near the power of Sundown 1000d .

BAsically Sundown amp are built like an amp is suppose to be built to last. Jacob is a great guy and he makes sure things are built to his standards. I have had a chance to have him come to 2 shows I sponsor in Orlando and he amazes me at his knowledge of car audio and his passion for it. I actually pulled some custom built Adcom amps out of my Old Iasca car and replaced them with SUndown amps .

If any of you want to see some of my work. www.tech12volts.com

Edited May 14, 2008 by tech12volt

[sick6ness 1]

Very nice clean installs !

[sundownz 197]

Rearding size - the SAE-1000D is still VERY small. Even for a tight install it's rare that the smaller size of the PDX will net any real advantage.

... and Tech does know a thing or two about car audio

[cubdenno 0]

Will also most likely run a dedicated 1/0 ground from the battery as well to the trunk.

Are you putting the PowerMaster in your trunk, or just replacing the stocker. The only reason you would run a ground from your battery to your trunk is if you're adding a second battery.

I will be replacing my stock battery with the Powermaster. I am waiting to see if it will eliminate my dimming issues when cranked. Of course I am waiting for the D3400 to be released.

As for the big 3, I am not a proponent of the big 3. I upgrade the grounds but that is it. Adding a bigger positive from the alternator bypasses some safety engineered into the system. Plus what does it add? Unless you have upgraded your alternator, the wire gauge has been sized to the particular output of the alternator. Bigger wire will not increase the output. Yes yes, I know it may possibly lower the resistance. But rather doubt that it will dramatically improve the charging capacity of the alternator on that short of a run.

As for running the ground to the trunk...

I had a noise issue. No matter where I tried to ground, noise entered the system. I ran a ground from the head unit to the rear as well. As a last resort, I went ahead and ran the 1/0 to the rear. Also because I was thinking I may have to add a second battery. When all was hooked up, the noise dissappeared!!! Plus I noticed that the voltage drop was less at the amp. So now I figure it is a cheap (reletively speaking if you add are able to remove potential time wasted on having to troubleshoot finding a ground loop or noise issue) and easy addition to the install.

[cubdenno 0]

Before I answer this. Let me shed some light on my background . I am a Master certified installer . Iasca judge and judges trainer. I competed for many years in the 90s and I am SQ guy through and through with a hint of spl love. I have been an installer for 17 years now.

I sell Sundown amps and I probably sold more Sundown Audio amps last year than any other dealer. I had 2 amps sent back for warranty out of hundreds. 2 and 1 of them the guy dropped on concrete and broke the board in half and it still worked. Sundown amps are bullet proof and they are very efficient. They really have no cons.

The Alpine Pdx amps have some issues the biggest being that Alpine planned for this amps to be more efficient than they actually are. So the fuses that come in them keep popping on the 1000. You can upgrade the fuses to bigger fuse and this problem is solved. The Pdx has nowhere near the power of Sundown 1000d .

BAsically Sundown amp are built like an amp is suppose to be built to last. Jacob is a great guy and he makes sure things are built to his standards. I have had a chance to have him come to 2 shows I sponsor in Orlando and he amazes me at his knowledge of car audio and his passion for it. I actually pulled some custom built Adcom amps out of my Old Iasca car and replaced them with SUndown amps .

If any of you want to see some of my work. www.tech12volts.com

Thanks for the info on the PDX. That may be able to allow me to convince him. Plus we picked up an 04 Mazda 3 for my boy last night. So we will most likely be able to show him when my boy gets his system up and going. I will insist on the SAE 1000. And I can attest to the tank like nature of the sundown amps with my SAZ 1500D.

[///M5 2,833]

Will also most likely run a dedicated 1/0 ground from the battery as well to the trunk.

Are you putting the PowerMaster in your trunk, or just replacing the stocker. The only reason you would run a ground from your battery to your trunk is if you're adding a second battery.

I will be replacing my stock battery with the Powermaster. I am waiting to see if it will eliminate my dimming issues when cranked. Of course I am waiting for the D3400 to be released.

As for the big 3, I am not a proponent of the big 3. I upgrade the grounds but that is it. Adding a bigger positive from the alternator bypasses some safety engineered into the system. Plus what does it add? Unless you have upgraded your alternator, the wire gauge has been sized to the particular output of the alternator. Bigger wire will not increase the output. Yes yes, I know it may possibly lower the resistance. But rather doubt that it will dramatically improve the charging capacity of the alternator on that short of a run.

As for running the ground to the trunk...

I had a noise issue. No matter where I tried to ground, noise entered the system. I ran a ground from the head unit to the rear as well. As a last resort, I went ahead and ran the 1/0 to the rear. Also because I was thinking I may have to add a second battery. When all was hooked up, the noise dissappeared!!! Plus I noticed that the voltage drop was less at the amp. So now I figure it is a cheap (reletively speaking if you add are able to remove potential time wasted on having to troubleshoot finding a ground loop or noise issue) and easy addition to the install.

The wire isn't sized for the alternator, but the draw of the vehicle. Adding an amp changes that draw a TON.

[cubdenno 0]

Will also most likely run a dedicated 1/0 ground from the battery as well to the trunk.

Are you putting the PowerMaster in your trunk, or just replacing the stocker. The only reason you would run a ground from your battery to your trunk is if you're adding a second battery.

I will be replacing my stock battery with the Powermaster. I am waiting to see if it will eliminate my dimming issues when cranked. Of course I am waiting for the D3400 to be released.

As for the big 3, I am not a proponent of the big 3. I upgrade the grounds but that is it. Adding a bigger positive from the alternator bypasses some safety engineered into the system. Plus what does it add? Unless you have upgraded your alternator, the wire gauge has been sized to the particular output of the alternator. Bigger wire will not increase the output. Yes yes, I know it may possibly lower the resistance. But rather doubt that it will dramatically improve the charging capacity of the alternator on that short of a run.

As for running the ground to the trunk...

I had a noise issue. No matter where I tried to ground, noise entered the system. I ran a ground from the head unit to the rear as well. As a last resort, I went ahead and ran the 1/0 to the rear. Also because I was thinking I may have to add a second battery. When all was hooked up, the noise dissappeared!!! Plus I noticed that the voltage drop was less at the amp. So now I figure it is a cheap (reletively speaking if you add are able to remove potential time wasted on having to troubleshoot finding a ground loop or noise issue) and easy addition to the install.

The wire isn't sized for the alternator, but the draw of the vehicle. Adding an amp changes that draw a TON.

The alternator puts out a finite amount of current. Adding amplifiers does not change the amount of current the alternator puts out. An 80 amp alternator puts out 80 amp at a specific rpm (of the alternator) a 100 amp or 300 amp alternator does the same. If I put 3/0 wire on my 80 amp alternator it does not increase any capabilities of my alternator vs what came from the factory. YES increase the ground wire gauge from battery to chassis especially if you are chassis grounded. Adding amplifiers does chamge the overall electrical system draw, but that is what the battery supplements.

[bigjae1976 0]

I've seen 1 PDX install which got burning hot after a little bit of pounding. Let's face it, its Alpine so everyone is going to say how awesome it is no matter what...kind of like JL who is coming out with their own version of ICE powered amps.

The 1000d is about 1.5" wider and 1" higher than the PDX. Unless you are mounting amps under a seat, the 1000d is the way to go.