Looking for new amps

[helotaxi 46]

I never got around to finishing the system in the last truck but this one will be different, dammit. Anyway...

New truck is an F-150 Supercrew. The H/U is already installed, Kenwood DNX-8120. It has some limited processing capability but I doubt that I'll use much of it. I have an Altomobile Drive 30 for processing the front stage, I'll replace it with a MS-8 if I decide that it isn't getting the job done from a noise perspective. Front is going to be 3-way active, HAT Legatia 3s and 1s in the kicks and some midbasses in the doors. I have a pair of CDT ES-06+ woofer that may go there or I might order a pair of Dayton 6s for each door. The rear will have a decent pair of coaxes for use with surround encoded music DVDs but otherwise will be turned off with just me in the truck. Subs are SI BM mkIIIs. I have 2 but may only use 1 for space and power reasons.

What I need are some amps. I've got 3 Sundown 100.2s NIB that I will be selling first of the year and I may let my 1500d go as well. They would be great for the system but simply don't fit in the truck. I'd like either a 5-channel and a 4-channel for use with 1 sub or 2 5-channels for use with both subs or a pair of 4-channels and a small mono amp for use with a single sub. On amp processing is not that important. I'm looking for 40-100 watts per channel on the multi-channel amps and 200-400 into 2 ohms for use with a single sub. A little more or less power on the sub is acceptable.

I listen to all kinds of music, but usually not very loud. With factory speakers on HU power, 25 out of 35 is about as loud as I go but usually closer to 20.

Size matters. The amps must either fit on the rear wall between the seat supports (maybe 20"x30" but that is a guess, probably smaller) or under the rear seat along with the sub.

Budget isn't a huge deal but I'm not looking to spend Brax/Helix/Focal money on amps. I'm not competing and I will not do enough listening sitting still with the engine running to make it worth the extra $$$ over a moderately priced amplifier setup. Call it $1.2k max.

I've been looking at a few amps and wanted to know if anyone had experience with them. The first is the Vibe Audio (not related to Lanzar) Lite Box amps. This would be a pair of 4-channel and a single mono amp setup. they look ot be built off the same boards as the Arc Mini amps but are a little under half the price. The size and power look promising.

The second set is the Infinity Kappa amps, either a pair of Kappa5s or a Kappa5 and a Kappa4. A good bit more money compared to the Vibes.

Finally looking at a pair of JL XD 700/5 or a 700/5 and a 400/4. These again are a little more expensive and are probably about as expensive as I'd be willing to go.

Looking for opinions and experiences with any of the above amps. If there are any other lines I should be looking at I'm receptive to more ideas as well. I'll be buying most likely in mid to late January.

[Impious 1,476]

No experience with any of those.

Elf Audio also has the Arc Mini amplifier boards. They only have the 2-channel on their site but I believe they offer all 3 models. There was a long debate on DIYMA about whether or not they used inferior parts to their Arc counterparts. At one point someone owned them both and posted internal shots of both amps, although I honestly can't remember the results. Moral of the story is that I'd expect the Elf and the Vibe to be similar.....so if the Elf used lesser quality parts than the Arc's, I'd expect the same from Vibe.....and if you can find the Elf's for less than the Vibe's, that could be another option for you as well.

Another option would be the new Zed line, one each of the Leviathan and Kronos. Fits in your budget and you'd have 10-channels of high power amplification in just 2 reasonably sized chassis. Or if you really wanted flexibility go with two Leviathans. That'd give you 12 channels to play with, but it'd basically hit the cap on your budget.

[Sir-Lancelot 216]

I vote ZED too.

Looks like a sweet amp with a smallish footprint.

[Julian 641]

You could also consider Stetsom or SounDigital, Their footprints are very small, especially efficient too.

[Kanaworm$ 292]

Massive Audio have the new Nano series of amplifiers. http://www.massiveaudio.com/store/product.php?productid=16246&cat=281&page=1

Rushrun here on the forum runs Massive amplifiers and says many good things about them.

[helotaxi 46]

Massive Audio have the new Nano series of amplifiers. http://www.massiveaudio.com/store/product.php?productid=16246&cat=281&page=1

Rushrun here on the forum runs Massive amplifiers and says many good things about them.

I saw the Massive amps. Only two problems with them. One is finding an authorized dealer. I live in a little shit town in southern New Mexico. The other is price. I guess that they're within my stated budget if I bought gray market but that kind of defeats the point of getting amps new.

Nothing in the Stetsom line that fits my need and their full range amps don't appear to be all that small. SounDigital also does not fit my needs.

[Kanaworm$ 292]

Could always inquire about the new SS-Series from Digital Designs http://www.ddaudio.com/amp/09/amp09SS4.htm

[jcarter1885 995]

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_27292_RE-Audio-VLX-1DE.html ----- Sub amp, a few more watts then you want.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_27296_RE-Audio-VLX-4150X.html ------

Im looking at the 4 channel as well unless I get another Sundown 125.2, what you thinking of letting your 100.2's go for? You can pm if you dont want to clutter up this topic.

[Julian 641]

I've heard great things about the Hifonics Zxi60.4 + 1k

It's Maxxxsonics new line for Hifonics... i think even brad said they were stout ICR.

[Randal Johnson 544]

[Impious 1,476]

I've heard great things about the Hifonics Zxi60.4 + 1k

It's Maxxxsonics new line for Hifonics... i think even brad said they were stout ICR.

If you were referring to me....I believe at the time I was simply stating that no one (at the time) could actually demonstrate that the new lineup was overrated, as that particular thread was littered with people putting them down with no actual information to support that position. You know.... "Yeah but Hifonics is overrated, I'd rather have a Sundown"

It was just one of my "you guys need to think before you speak" sermons

[Julian 641]

I've heard great things about the Hifonics Zxi60.4 + 1k

It's Maxxxsonics new line for Hifonics... i think even brad said they were stout ICR.

If you were referring to me....I believe at the time I was simply stating that no one (at the time) could actually demonstrate that the new lineup was overrated, as that particular thread was littered with people putting them down with no actual information to support that position. You know.... "Yeah but Hifonics is overrated, I'd rather have a Sundown"

It was just one of my "you guys need to think before you speak" sermons

Ahh!

[helotaxi 46]

Anyone know anything about the Powerbass mini 5-channel?

[jcarter1885 995]

Anyone know anything about the Powerbass mini 5-channel?

I heard they were ok for the price but no personal experience with one myself.

[helotaxi 46]

Reading online reviews of the Infinity amps shows several problems with reliability on the Kappa series, both the 5 channel and the 4 channel. Too bad, they otherwise looked promising.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_27292_RE-Audio-VLX-1DE.html ----- Sub amp, a few more watts then you want.

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_27296_RE-Audio-VLX-4150X.html ------

Im looking at the 4 channel as well unless I get another Sundown 125.2, what you thinking of letting your 100.2's go for? You can pm if you dont want to clutter up this topic.

We sell those too.