I am currently planning and purchasing stereo equipment for my new truck (a 2004 F350 extended cab 4X4 diesel) when it gets here (soon I hope). The components and the receiver are already ordered and will be here before the truck is...LOL. The system will be more for SOUND QUALITY inside the truck than anything else. I do not care if someone hears me coming or not . AND a modified version of what I have in my F150 regular cab. Here is what I have coming so far:
Kenwood X969 CD
Focal 165 KP components - front doors (nominal power 80 max 160)
Focal 130 KP components - rear doors (nominal power 70 max 140)
I am thinking of using either a Focal 27 V2 (300 watt nominal 600 max) or a Focal 33 V2 (400 watt nominal 800 max) sub.
My questions is/are: For the components - I was leaning toward a Zapco Studio 204 (specs out at 4 x 50 RMS) OR Zapco C2K-2.5X (specs also at 4 X 50 RMS). Will one of these amps be enough or would a Zapco C2K-4.0X (specs out at 4 X 100 RMS)? Sub amp?? Any other recommendations? Ideas? Thoughts?

David

 

Hey, good luck with that new truck! Is it a 6.0L? I love driving my dad's diesel, talk about torque! Very nice choice of speakers I might add, Focal rocks I don't have much experience with Zapco but from what I've heard it's quality stuff. I've been told that if you really want to go for SQ to look for a good tube amp. I've never really looked around for one but I think I read in another thread that Planet Audio makes one (probably affordable). Other than that I know TruTech makes one in their Copper Series, but the price isn't even listed (I'm guessing around $3000). Hope this helps!

,Marc

 

Have no fear on the Zapco they under rate their amps in the power output department anyway. Also they are nice amps and will do wonderfully. As far as power selection goes. My opinion is that for SQ you can never have too much power since you could always resistor balance the amp to a lower impedance and get an even cleaner output than what the amp was initially rated for. In other words an amp that does 500x2 with THD of .10 @ 2 ohms would do a more acceptable power output of roughly 175x2 with even lower THD into say a 12 ohm load and the gains turned down. Not to mention the amp will run much cooler. Of course in our trucks size becomes a large concern so there is a cut off point where amp size can become impractical but you get my basic drift. As far as the speakers go they are a nice choice. There was a nice Zapco listed on Ebay that was a 6 channel that would do very nicely for your setup you should check it out.

 

Then you gotta deal with electrically "HOT" and thermally "HOT" resistors inside (or somewhere free from the elements) the vehicle.

Come on man.. you're idea sounds like a good one, but how many daily driver vehicles have you seen with a resistor bank in them for lowering output power of the amplifier for lowering the THD level? hehehe

Just gotta give you a hard time sometimes for your technically inclined but not so user friendly ideas.
Just pickin at ya bro.

 

Yeap, it is the diesel. I have Focal PolyKevlars in my current setup but they are going with the truck. I had MB Quarts but I swapped them for the Focals, the Focals just sounded better to me. The amps I currently have are a little lame but it still sounds pretty good. I thought it sounded better until I had to swap one of my amps out while waiting for RF to fix mine. It took them three tries but they finally got it working. Any more opinions, etc...



David

 

TEK,

You know, I knew you would want to crush my potato chips

Not user friendly my biscuits. I am always friendly to those who use me

But honestly, I run my amp resistor balanced on my daily driver and when it comes to SQ it's the (insert lastest saying for cool here). I haven't had a problem with my resistor blocks getting overly hot (but they get a bit on the warm side).

Got Therapy?---------->

 

I'd do the 4.0 Focals can be power hungry (esp the PKs) and its great to have the extra headroom.

Im running the 4.0 bridged down to 330x2 on the Utopia 165W3s...

As mention earlier a tube amp would probably pair up quite nicely with the Focals. The only thing I really want to try right now is a Tube Driver Blue on the Utopias. I think the TDB on the mids or highs would sound amazing. I may get one sometime soon to try out and triamp the 3 way set with the 4.0 and the TDB and switch the TDB from the midrange to the tweeter and see how it sounds.

 

Hazard,

If you get the chance to audition that TDB let me know what you think of it. I am seriously taking into consideration going with a tube amp for my midbass/mid/high's. I looked at the TD's years back but my primary concern about the tub in the car environment was the extra vibrations we deal with on a daily basis shortening the life of the tubes considerably. But it looks like it hasn't been much of an issue since there are more and more companies now building the tube amps now and don't seem to be having a problem.

Keep me posted..

 

CES is comming up as you know...So I MAY try to talk to BK again and see what he has to say about a deal on an amp. I almost bought 3 a while back for my front stage however, I got EXCELLENT deals on my Zapcos that I couldnt pass up. (Im talking once in a life time low...well below dealer ) If I have the money and the stereo installed I may try to pick one up.

Just as personal prefernce I guess I'd only go with the Tube Driver Blue. Even so as you know they tube hybrids...However I hear they sound amazing especially paired up with something like the Utopias (I dunno why, but I have always heard they are a great combo). I ask BK about the tube life in cars he said he has had 0 problems with them and if it ever came down to it the tube were only like 10 bucks or so I think to replace, but I think (not positive) that he said hes never had to replace one for that reason.

 

Well that is reassuring with the thought of going with a tuber. I was a little bit sceptical about it at first but I think I will start saving my pennies for one now. What I would really like to do is find a dealer that doesn't mind letting me take one out for a test drive over the course of a few days to see if it will work well in my setup. I may be able to talk one into it..... We'll see guess.

 

I emailed BK and still no respone...Im very disappointed! He replied them very fast last time, but no response after 4 or 5 days (I think, but Im still waiting).

Im dying to try a TDB and hopefuly I will get my stuff in around christmass time. That way I wont feel guilt for buy more stereo stuff when I dont even have the inital stuff for this install installed.

Yea, that how my dealer got me started on zapco, he told me to take the Reference 350x2 and put it in my truck. I had it in my truck for over a month on 'loan' from the shop before I actually paid for it.

 

Your better shops will do that sort of thing for you. That is what seperates them from the everyday joe blow audio.

 

Yea I shop exclusively at this shop now. They started carrying certain brands because of me! I was their opening order for Zapco also they can get Sinfoni now because of me.

But I first went in and he knew I knew what I was talking about so we started BSing and I came through and bought some Focals, and Eclispe HU, and a JL 300/2 as my openeing order through them...Well just over the years now we have become pretty good friends and he really helps me out. Like if I want to go in and watch them do installs and have them teach me stuff they will do it with out a problem like teach me how to install alarms and other stuff...Kinda give me the option to either go in and install my own stuff with thier help (alarm stuff) or just pay them to do it...Guess what I choose

 

It sounds like you have found one of the better shops out there. I think alot of what happens over the next few years will ultimately decide the fate of the 12 volt specialist stereo shops. Unfortunately many are going to wind up closing their doors due to such high numbers of people now going online to purchase their equipment. I personally try to stay away from buying any products online simply because it doesn't support your local economy and the customer service and support if you run into a problem is just not there. Quite frankly, if I and others do not support local shops they will wind up going out of business and then we will be left with all cheap product and no real knowledge base to pull from.

 

Diamond AUdio D7's are one of the best i have ever heard and is what i run at the moment.