Powering a BTL 18

[tejcurrent 13]

OK, so i've had 2 hifonics bxi2006ds for my 2 btls, but I've been wanting more power. I just purchased one of the bxi's not too long ago, and I take real good care of my stuff so my bro bought it for almost what I paid. To replace it I just purchased a SoundStream 10000d from another member of this forum. I was thinking I'll just go buy another one to match, but I'm considering waiting for the 2nd amp to do side-by-side comparison of different amps that claim to put out a lot of power.

I want to put 4-5kwatts per btl for daily and maybe a few comps, but mainly just groud-pounding, so one amp per sub.

Whatever I find to be the best sound/spl combo I'll get 2 of.

As I do the in car test for the different amps I will post the voltage drop and actual difference between #s on the meter. This is not scientific testing, this is just so others can understand the benefits of different amps when powering their subs.

The budget for each amp is ~$1000, and closer to the $700 range is better (used or refurb, or new if possible but not many 4k+watt amps are that cheap).

What can anyone suggest?

The list of what I want to try so far goes as follows:

• SS 6500- but that seems like a step in the wrong direction?
  
• AB VFL 400.1
  
• dd z1/z2
  
• RF 4000
  
• Memphis 4k
  
• Quantum 4k
  
• DB Drive 4k
  
• Whatever is suggested
  

Hopefully after a few more electrical upgrades the amps should be getting some decent power.

as of now I have:

200a alt, 3 batteries(yellowtops), and 1/0 guage.

I'm going to throw in another run of 1/0, and get a 2nd alt putting out about 300-325amps. I am trying to get a good box design made up for my yukon to fit the extra 4-5 batteries I also plan on putting in, but unfortunately those are going to be taking a back burner for the next few months while I'm moving furniture for the new house.

Any commments are more than welcome, suggestions, experience, whatever you can suggest that might help. If you have an amp that cranks out that power some comments on that would be helpful as well. Thanks!

Edited March 4, 2007 by tejcurrent

[NDMstang65 403]

Out of that batch i'd put the rockford up as top choice.

[theabunai 3]

Id go with the rockford tej

then the Memphis

[tejcurrent 13]

Then it's unanimous!

After some of the cactus sounds stuff that's wayyyyy over the budget I'm setting the rockford was my favorite too, only that it's also the most expensive one I listed above Well, guess after a month or so of playing with the ss 10k I'll get the rf. I can get access to the memphis and quantum w/o having to spend $, so I'll compare those first.

Let me throw out some prices to give a good idea of where I'm coming from as well.

RF 4k- $1100-1300 refurb/new offline

SS 10000- 700-800 used offline

SS 6500- 600-700 used offline

AB VFL 400.1 600-700 used offline

dd z1/z2 $950-1200 used offline

Memphis 4k - $1200 new w/warranty local dealer

Quantum 4k - $700 new local dealer

DB Drive 4k - $850 new local dealer

My thoughts are it's great to have a warranty, but it's always the day after it expires that something happens, or doesn't cover whats wrong.

theabunai I narrowed it down to those 2 amps (RF vs Memphis) before, but as you can see they're in the same price range compared to the others that are hundreds cheaper. I decided the SS 10k to try first because it's rated to do 5k @ 14.4, and it's one of the cheapest.

Price difference from 2 ss 10k to 2 RF 4k is 600-1200 dollars cheaper no matter how you look at it, but performance wise I don't know.

I decided against the mepmhis orignially because I talked to a local dealer and they told me they had 8 malfuntioning memphis amps returned in the month of january alone.

Are there any other suggestions that I didn't list, or any thoughts on the ones I have? thanks again.

Thanks.

[theabunai 3]

I personally think the rockford is an excellent choice if you want to shell out the few bucks above your budget.... It's a bit cleaner and puts out the power it is rated at (since they do participate in the CES rating)

If you want other options that may fit your budget i would also look at the Autotek MM 4000.1D...

4k @ 2ohms, its a class D and it runs just under a grand depending on condition (new, used or refurbished)..

If you are willing to try the SStreams then you can also give the Hifonics XX-Goliath a try... though it isn't as powerful as the SS it can be found for around $1K

and keep an eye out on this company

http://www.rdaudio.net/amps/rd5000.php

lots of people say they are gonna be doing some good Equipment.... We shall see

just throwing out options for you

Edited March 5, 2007 by theabunai

[tejcurrent 13]

I personally think the rockford is an excellent choice if you want to shell out the few bucks above your budget.... It's a bit cleaner and puts out the power it is rated at (since they do participate in the CES rating)

If you want other options that may fit your budget i would also look at the Autotek MM 4000.1D...

4k @ 2ohms, its a class D and it runs just under a grand depending on condition (new, used or refurbished)..

If you are willing to try the SStreams then you can also give the Hifonics XX-Goliath a try... though it isn't as powerful as the SS it can be found for around $1K

just throwing out options for you

The MM4k.1 was in my original list, but the subs I have are dual 2ohm, so that narrows it down to those amps that put out at 1ohm.

I was going to get one goliath from another member, but I wasn't able to get it when it was for sale and lost the info on who to contact when the board was erased. Since I've been running hifonics for about a year or so now I'm ok with how the brutus' I have works. I feel like it's not putting out the power it should, and it certainly isn't stable below 1ohm, but for the price it was ok. I'll have to look into that one a bit more.

The more people I talk to the more I like the sound of the RF-just not the price; but I'm sure it goes back to the saying that you get what you pay for.

And by all means throw out all the suggestions you can, I appreciate it.

[tejcurrent 13]

I was considering 1 amp per coil and getting 2 smaller amps, but I would much rather have just one amp per sub. When I have both of whatever amp I decide on it would also be nice to bridge the amps to give a single btl in a box built just for comps somwhere in the 8k-10kwatt range. Don't know how it'll handle it, but I know it'll have to throw up some good #s with that kind of power.

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

I vote RF too, but I am biased towards them. But if you are interested I can help on pricing on a pair of Sundown's.

[tejcurrent 13]

I apreciate it. I might take you up on one of those for something else, but I really want one amp per sub. Plus each coil is 2 ohms, so if I got a pair per coil that might be good, but that's going back to many more amps, and I really just want 1 per sub. Could you PM me about a price on those sundowns? Thanks. maybe one of those 100.4s too..

[tejcurrent 13]

So one local shop is ordering and will let me audition a quantum 4k in the next few weeks, another just got in a memphis 4k that they are going to let me audition, so hopefully that'll turn out well.