WFO 15.1 Clamp Test and Review

[Kanaworm$ 292]

Who is Synergy Audio? Well, it seems they are a brick and mortar store based out of South Dakota that couldn't find anything up to their price to performance standards. So instead of "settling", they did it on their own and started their own line.

This is the first of what I understand will be (3) size offerings. They are currently available in their storefront (obviously) and I believe 3 online stores including SSA and FB.

 

Price - $400

Rated (14.4v)
4 ohm - 400w
2 ohm - 800w
1 ohm - 1,500w

 

This heatsink... it reminds me of something. Something old school. Kicker Impulse, maybe? I can't put my finger on it. But the first thing I noticed was that it wasn't super heavy. It doesn't seem to have as much sink as some competitor offerings, or maybe I'm just used to hauling around a TFE for too long. Either way, my testing is pretty brutal since I do so many back to back and it got hot, but not like... hot. I'll spend some more time with it in a daily application and report back on that.

 

"WFO" is the 2nd coolest name for an amp ever. I use that term all the time. I don't know if it's the same thing I use it for, but every time I see those letters, I think "Wide fuggin open". Lol.

 

 

Solid 1/0 power and ground. 8awg speaker. Hex key set screws for those that like to overtighten shit like I do. Had a little trouble fitting oversized 1/0 in there, but that's nothing new.

Plastic pots. That's ok as long as you don't adjust them with your pocketknife. Strappable. Came with a bass knob. I always mean to take pics of that thing but I forget. Sorry. I bet it's nice. You can see that the plastic end caps double as the mounting feet. You're kinda screwed if you break them. The feet on other amps are pretty wimpy but at least you could replace them if they get jacked. I'd suggest pan head screws and minimal torque when securing this guy.

Guts. One little note here... the end caps have a little tab that help hold the backplate in place, but it makes reinstallation of said backplate nearly impossible without removing one of the end caps. Moral of the story... don't take the damn backplate off.

 

On to the testing...

My CRX. 300A Ohio Gen. (2) JuiceBox batts. All of this testing is resistive testing. For those not familiar with my testing, the voltage on the AMM-1 is the output.

 

Unloaded. That's a lot of voltage for a 1.5k. Side by side pic to show the difference of one more click on the knob. We're totally fine at 50v at battery resting voltage (car off).

5 ohms resistive.

 

That's 620w @ 5 ohms and 14.7v. 86% efficiency. Wait... isn't it rated for 400w @ 4 and 14.4? Anyway...

 

2.5 ohms resistive.

1,100w @ 2.5 ohms and 14.2v.

 

Umm... I'm seeing a pattern here.

 

1 ohm resistive.

2,250w @ 1 ohm and 13.8v with 74% efficiency.

 

Whaaa?

One last test. This is sort of an "uncertified" run up to clipping at 1 ohm.

Kidding me.

 

This amp is a little beast. Somebody is messing with my head because this could easily be called a 2k. And a solid one at that.

At $400, this should rocket right to the top of the list of anyone shopping with that budget. Easily places it alongside the AQ2200 or Crescendo BC2k... but cheaper than either. Durability is still untested, but 1 ohm resistive isn't exactly a walk in the park. And not to pick on the DC2k, but these numbers are comparable to/better than its dyno and the Synergy didn't need 14v batts to get there. Just sayin...

 

T-Fade approved.