SAE-1000D Questions

[bose301s 1]

I would estimate that the SAE-800 (larger size) would have an MSRP price of around $299 - 349 (depending on my final import costs).

In my testing it is a solid amp - any potential failures are very easy and cheap repairs as well - I drove the proto into failure and had it ready to roll again for about 8 dollars in parts.

It took 2 months of grueling testing to finally find any weak points with the SAE-1200D (about 2 dollars in parts repair). Then we discovered that the test conditions are so harsh that even a 3000D will go into protection in this setup! So I have a good feeling about the long-term reliability of the SAE-1200D and anything else I do with the new build house in the SAE line.

And yes, I normally do try to break things when testing them

If you sent me stuff to test, I'd really break stuff.

Yes, but hitting it with a sledge hammer won't help Jake know about the electrical reliability

[sundownz 197]

Yes, but hitting it with a sledge hammer won't help Jake know about the electrical reliability

*laughs*

Very true

Overall I'm very pleased with the results of the 1200D and the 800D proto.

It seems that the 800D prototype size may eliminate it as a release candidate unless I kept the existing 1000D design alive along side as a small alternative. The "larger" amp, physically, would be a good bit less expensive, though.

[ford302redneck 15]

I idea of having a small amp is cool.

It opens to a different market than a large amp.

If a small amp can do what a bigger size amp can do, why not choose the smaller one?

I say hold off on the 800d.

Seems people is very happy with it right now.

[sundownz 197]

The reason I bring it up is that the 800D "large case" would be 50-100 dollars less MSRP price.

I imagine that would appeal to many people vs. the small case model (eg: current model).

[ford302redneck 15]

The reason I bring it up is that the 800D "large case" would be 50-100 dollars less MSRP price.

I imagine that would appeal to many people vs. the small case model (eg: current model).

Well, you gotta think, if people want a small footprint amp, there going to have to go to another higher priced company.

I don't think 50 bucks is gonna make or break most people looking to buy a small amp, vs large.

If anything, later do a short run of 800Ds, and see how it goes.

[bose301s 1]

Well, for me the fact that the 1000D is strapable is nice in case I decide to run 2 new Mags. If the 800D is more powerful however, it sounds great and I would have no problem running them. I assume the 800D will be stable at 1 ohm as well and would do 1100 watts or so like the current 1000D can do?

[chrismcdonald12 0]

Gotta remember a large part of the market aren't the type who come to a forum or research what they buy, they look for a BIG beefy looking amp. The amp is large cheap and puts out allot of power the general group who walks into a shop to buy it will get a bit of a amp woody. Plus their are allot of budget builds out there that the cost difference in the amp would pay for the wiring or some other piece of their audio puzzle so i think they would move rather well...

[lee 2]

The reason I bring it up is that the 800D "large case" would be 50-100 dollars less MSRP price.

I imagine that would appeal to many people vs. the small case model (eg: current model).

Imho, bring out the large case amp and call it the 1000d (sounds,looks & appeals better to the customer) It's easier on the pocket book & has a slight increase in power though not audible. I believe that would be a "hook,line & sinker" to the average customer. Keep the origional case (current 1000d) and turn it into a 500d later on down the road. the 800 & 1000 are too close together to be lucrative to your business imo

[sundownz 197]

Well, for me the fact that the 1000D is strapable is nice in case I decide to run 2 new Mags. If the 800D is more powerful however, it sounds great and I would have no problem running them. I assume the 800D will be stable at 1 ohm as well and would do 1100 watts or so like the current 1000D can do?

Yep, it is 1 ohm stable and does around 1100 watts actual power.

---

Earthman,

The dilemma is this... the lower power rated amp would cost more, so it doesn't make much sense. I suppose I will wait to do anything until I can try to develop a smaller sized PCB with the new build house so I can stick with one product to cover that segment.

[bose301s 1]

Well, for me the fact that the 1000D is strapable is nice in case I decide to run 2 new Mags. If the 800D is more powerful however, it sounds great and I would have no problem running them. I assume the 800D will be stable at 1 ohm as well and would do 1100 watts or so like the current 1000D can do?

Yep, it is 1 ohm stable and does around 1100 watts actual power.

---

Earthman,

The dilemma is this... the lower power rated amp would cost more, so it doesn't make much sense. I suppose I will wait to do anything until I can try to develop a smaller sized PCB with the new build house so I can stick with one product to cover that segment.

So you're sicking with the current 1000D for the time being?

[sundownz 197]

So you're sicking with the current 1000D for the time being?

Yep, either way there will still be at least a few hundred more 1000Ds sold as they stand even if I do change it.

[chrismcdonald12 0]

If you ever get into selling prototypes i need an amp for my boston GS1500's. Lemme know as ive not used any sundown products yet but have failed to see a single believable bad review.

[NB50 206]

If you ever get into selling prototypes i need an amp for my boston GS1500's. Lemme know as ive not used any sundown products yet but have failed to see a single believable bad review.

Ive got a prototype from him.

They dont come around to often, only when he cleans house.

[lee 2]

Earthman,

The dilemma is this... the lower power rated amp would cost more, so it doesn't make much sense. I suppose I will wait to do anything until I can try to develop a smaller sized PCB with the new build house so I can stick with one product to cover that segment.

Ok, just call the new one a 1000d and 86 the old after they run out. There... done, just moved the old model # onto the new heatsink

[Grinder1989 0]

I love the idea of small amps. They're compact and they can put out a lot of power. However, I think the new amp would be a lot better of an idea because of it's ability to spread the load out more and the fact that it is bigger. It's all about appealing to the customer. Honestly, when I knew nothing of car audio, I used to think that those big ugly audiobahn amps with the flames on them put out a ton of power. But they didn't. The current 1000D would put half of them to shame. But people like big amps. They like to pop their trunks in front of their friends and go "look at that beast". I had more people go "holy chit" when they saw my VLX in the trunk than my 1500D. Not to mention since the amp has more of a heatsink and more parts, it will perform better. Changed the amp models. Make the 800D a 1000D and make the current 1000D a 1000S (S = small footprint) and charge more for the 1000S because of it being small. I highly doubt the difference in power would be noticable. That's just my 2 cents though. Jake, you have been building awesome amps and your doing good at it so don't think I'm trying to tell you what to do lol.

[Dookie-Face 0]

I personally like the idea of a bigger amp with more components to spread out the load. Before I purchase an amp I will ALWAYS check Ampguts to check out the internals. That is why I am such a fan pre-DEI Precision Power amplifiers. A $50-100 price drop is also pretty substantial when talking about a $300 amp. That's a 16-33 percent increase in price.

Since the amps are beefier I would think less would be returned for repair.

My .02

[sundownz 197]

I think the majority seem to like the small foot-print - so I will hold off changing the SAE line further until I can develop a small case model with the new build house.

The current SAE-1000D is extremely reliable already, probably has the fewest warranty cases of any model I sell.

[Big E 4]

More people would believe that it's a 1000 watt amp if it were longer I have a lot of people doubt that mine puts out a true 1000 watts until they hear it. I like the small format but the extra few inches wouldn't bother me either.

[buickid 0]

Make the current one a SAE-c1000D or something. The compact brother of the SAE-1000D or something. Really, there should be three lines, the SAZ - competition grade, SAE - economy minded, and something in between, perhaps products that are compact and well built, but not competition grade. Thats where the 1000D should fit. But actually, I'm liking my first idea more. Yeah. Thinking out loud ftw.

[loudcav 1]

accualy if I was in the market for a good 1000 watt amp it would be between the SAE-1000 and the memphis mcd1000 simply because of the quality of the product and its physical size and accualy I can get the MCD1000 for $650 new from a shop and even at MSRP on the SAE at it being $400 its still quite a bit cheaper and the average customer can deal with Jacob on warrenty work which is a huge plus if you move or dont want to deal with the shop again

[audioxtremes 0]

Man I leave for a while and these are canceled. I wanted 4!

[sundownz 197]

I still have the current SAE-1000D model It's going to be handing around for a bit longer since it is so popular with the small size.

[audioxtremes 0]

Yeah I was thinking of downgrading next year to street stock b with 4 1000watt amps.

[sundownz 197]

Another option...

Continuing the current SAE-1000D board as an SAZ-1000D with accompanying upgrades to make it an SAZ class amp (and, of course, the SAZ case).

Then coming out with the SAE-800D model to fill in the SAE line at that power level.

That way the SAZ line has a smaller sub amp, people that want the small foot-print still get it, and I also have the less expensive model available for those that don't care about the size.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

If I am understanding you correctly, the mono amp line up would shift to:

SAZ-1000D ~ SAZ-2000D ~ SAZ-3000D

??NS-4000D??

SAE-800D ~ SAE-1200D

If so, I think that would be a great idea!