Best amp, at the best price, right here ! :-)
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 0
Best amp, at the best price, right here ! :-)
Who me ? Opinionated ? 
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...-1000+R-B.html
Man, I'll tell you what, this is a freaking STEAL ! These amps have an MSRP of $1500, and after running mine for 6 months (I paid $500 from SonicE) I have to say, I think they are darn near "worth" the full suggested MSRP !
Yes, this one is refurbished... or open box, or whatever. But I'll tell you right now, I'd scoop it up if;
1) I wasn't such a poor ****, and
2) I wasn't thinking about getting stupid with the whole SPL thing (kind of thinking now, about a T2000, or even a T4000)
Personally speaking, as a single, 5ch, full SQ system amp, I don't believe ANY company has ever built an amp with the "value per dollar" as this one.... and that's if you were paying $700 or $800 for it ! At $429.... well, I think it's just a no brainer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "only" problem (if you want to call it that) with 5 ch amps, like the P1000, is that they make it hard to upgrade any one portion of your system..... Like I'd like to get a bigger sub amp now.... but then what to do with the sub section of this amp, that would just be sitting there idle ?
However, if you think you won't ever want to build a rediculous 150db + SPL type of system, I personally don't think there is a better choice on the market.
Just wanted to hook up a fellow F150 forum member with a great deal, if your interested.
Peace,
Fish
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...-1000+R-B.html
Man, I'll tell you what, this is a freaking STEAL ! These amps have an MSRP of $1500, and after running mine for 6 months (I paid $500 from SonicE) I have to say, I think they are darn near "worth" the full suggested MSRP !
Yes, this one is refurbished... or open box, or whatever. But I'll tell you right now, I'd scoop it up if;
1) I wasn't such a poor ****, and
2) I wasn't thinking about getting stupid with the whole SPL thing (kind of thinking now, about a T2000, or even a T4000)
Personally speaking, as a single, 5ch, full SQ system amp, I don't believe ANY company has ever built an amp with the "value per dollar" as this one.... and that's if you were paying $700 or $800 for it ! At $429.... well, I think it's just a no brainer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "only" problem (if you want to call it that) with 5 ch amps, like the P1000, is that they make it hard to upgrade any one portion of your system..... Like I'd like to get a bigger sub amp now.... but then what to do with the sub section of this amp, that would just be sitting there idle ?
However, if you think you won't ever want to build a rediculous 150db + SPL type of system, I personally don't think there is a better choice on the market.
Just wanted to hook up a fellow F150 forum member with a great deal, if your interested.
Peace,
Fish
Last edited by Fish Chris; Aug 23, 2009 at 01:26 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 601
Likes: 1
that is a great price, sonic always has some crazy low prices, maybe not the lowest but i think they are more reputable than some of the others.
p.s.: ive got a t2000 for ya in the classifieds but it may not be up to par for ya on the appearance.
p.s.: ive got a t2000 for ya in the classifieds but it may not be up to par for ya on the appearance.
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 0
Hey JD, well first off, this amp is rediculously underated on power. Mine actually puts out 111 wts RMS X 4ch, into 4 ohms. It's stable on those channels down to 2 ohms, at which it will put out about 160 wts RMS per ch.
Here's how I know this;
Then, I also run my sub channel at only 2ohms, for 705 wts RMS, even though that that channel is rated down to 1 ohm. So in other words, my amp is putting out 1000+ watts, while just skating along, barely breaking a sweat.
So to answer your question about heat output, it's like this, on a cooler day (in other words, when the amp starts out cool) it barely gets luke warm when beating on it. Now, it has an internal fan, and an indicator light, for that..... But even on 100 degree days, when the truck has been all sealed up... then I get in the truck and start beating on the stereo, I've still yet to have the internal fan come on. I guess on days when the amp was 135 degrees before I got in the truck, it might have climbed to 145 or 150.
I've been told that running my amp at 4 ohm stereo, and 2 ohm sub, it would be exceedingly rare for my fan to ever come on.
One more thing, about amp ratings (if you didn't already know this) you have some companies that seriously underate their amps, while you have lots more companies that seriously over rate them. I know their are other companies that make great amps, but I wouldn't even consider another amp unless they either 1) came with a birthsheet, or 2) had been independantly tested for actual output.
Peace,
Fish
Here's how I know this;
Then, I also run my sub channel at only 2ohms, for 705 wts RMS, even though that that channel is rated down to 1 ohm. So in other words, my amp is putting out 1000+ watts, while just skating along, barely breaking a sweat.
So to answer your question about heat output, it's like this, on a cooler day (in other words, when the amp starts out cool) it barely gets luke warm when beating on it. Now, it has an internal fan, and an indicator light, for that..... But even on 100 degree days, when the truck has been all sealed up... then I get in the truck and start beating on the stereo, I've still yet to have the internal fan come on. I guess on days when the amp was 135 degrees before I got in the truck, it might have climbed to 145 or 150.
I've been told that running my amp at 4 ohm stereo, and 2 ohm sub, it would be exceedingly rare for my fan to ever come on.
One more thing, about amp ratings (if you didn't already know this) you have some companies that seriously underate their amps, while you have lots more companies that seriously over rate them. I know their are other companies that make great amps, but I wouldn't even consider another amp unless they either 1) came with a birthsheet, or 2) had been independantly tested for actual output.
Peace,
Fish
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,862
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Their warranty coverage sucks, beware of that with Sonic. That price is pretty low though. I wasn't super impressed with the sound from those RF amps (although they do dish out some power). Far from "best" IMO.
In an F150 where space is limited, if one wants a 5 channel I would look into the JL HD 900/5 or the Alpine PDX5. Tons of clean power but in a very small footprint, about 1/3 the size of the RF beast.
In an F150 where space is limited, if one wants a 5 channel I would look into the JL HD 900/5 or the Alpine PDX5. Tons of clean power but in a very small footprint, about 1/3 the size of the RF beast.
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 0
Ya' know mSaLL, I'm sure you know their is a whole large chunk of the hard-core stereo crowd, who believe that their is "very little difference" in the SQ of one amp vs any other > until it starts distorting.
In other words, you take brand 'A' which claims to put out 300 watts RMS, but it actually puts out 500 watts RMS..... then you take (budget) brand 'B' which claims to put out 800 watts, but in reality, it 'only' puts out the same 500 wts that brand 'A' does.
So, both of these amps are approaching 1% distortion at "the same" 500 watts.....
.......and I have to mostly agree with the crowd that says 500 wtts RMS at 1% distortion, sounds virtually the same whether it coming from some top $ amp that only claims 300 watts, or the budget amp, that claims 800 watts.
Yes, their are some small differences, with certain aspects, like hiss... but with my gains turned down to a minimum (like they should be on any amp) my amp is as quiet / hiss free, as any I've ever heard.
Oh, and about SonicE's warranty's, and customer service; Through my research, I have found that they are among the most trusted for "non-authorized" dealers.
I was talking to the CEO of RF about 6 months ago, and I told him straight up, that I bought my amp from SonicE, to which he replied, "Well obviously we'd prefer that you bought our products from an "authorized" dealer.... but if you are going to buy from an unauthorized one, SonicE is probably one of the safest bets" and then he went on to say, that if the amp should ever fail, RF would repair it {without bias} for the same cost that they would with any of their products purchased from an authorized dealer, but of which had passed the warranty period. Hmmm. Okay. Straight from the CEO of RF. Very nice guy too, BTW... Oh, and the amp he uses in his dailer driver ??? > The Power 1000 25 to Life
Peace,
Fish
In other words, you take brand 'A' which claims to put out 300 watts RMS, but it actually puts out 500 watts RMS..... then you take (budget) brand 'B' which claims to put out 800 watts, but in reality, it 'only' puts out the same 500 wts that brand 'A' does.
So, both of these amps are approaching 1% distortion at "the same" 500 watts.....
.......and I have to mostly agree with the crowd that says 500 wtts RMS at 1% distortion, sounds virtually the same whether it coming from some top $ amp that only claims 300 watts, or the budget amp, that claims 800 watts.
Yes, their are some small differences, with certain aspects, like hiss... but with my gains turned down to a minimum (like they should be on any amp) my amp is as quiet / hiss free, as any I've ever heard.
Oh, and about SonicE's warranty's, and customer service; Through my research, I have found that they are among the most trusted for "non-authorized" dealers.
I was talking to the CEO of RF about 6 months ago, and I told him straight up, that I bought my amp from SonicE, to which he replied, "Well obviously we'd prefer that you bought our products from an "authorized" dealer.... but if you are going to buy from an unauthorized one, SonicE is probably one of the safest bets" and then he went on to say, that if the amp should ever fail, RF would repair it {without bias} for the same cost that they would with any of their products purchased from an authorized dealer, but of which had passed the warranty period. Hmmm. Okay. Straight from the CEO of RF. Very nice guy too, BTW... Oh, and the amp he uses in his dailer driver ??? > The Power 1000 25 to Life
Peace,
Fish
Trending Topics
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 1
From: ohio
Their warranty coverage sucks, beware of that with Sonic. That price is pretty low though. I wasn't super impressed with the sound from those RF amps (although they do dish out some power). Far from "best" IMO.
In an F150 where space is limited, if one wants a 5 channel I would look into the JL HD 900/5 or the Alpine PDX5. Tons of clean power but in a very small footprint, about 1/3 the size of the RF beast.
In an F150 where space is limited, if one wants a 5 channel I would look into the JL HD 900/5 or the Alpine PDX5. Tons of clean power but in a very small footprint, about 1/3 the size of the RF beast.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: WA
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 0
Hey I was just checking out that JL HD 900/5, and I have to say, it looks like a very nice amp. Clean, and compact (although without back seats, space in a Supercab, or Supercrew is not a problem 
In fact, a big amp has more wow factor
I'd like to see an actual birth sheet for that 5ch JL (if JL does that) or an independant bench test of one. I know a lot of guys rave about JL's, and how they underate them, just as RF does, but I'd just like to see some actual numbers.
In any case, even if this amp were a tiny bit better than a RF P1000, I was talking about great "values", and this amp is twice the cost of a P1000.... so it had better be a LOT better, and I really have to doubt that it would be.
One other nice thing about the JL though.... Apparently they are still making them ? Where RF discontinued the P1000.
Peace,
Fish
In fact, a big amp has more wow factor I'd like to see an actual birth sheet for that 5ch JL (if JL does that) or an independant bench test of one. I know a lot of guys rave about JL's, and how they underate them, just as RF does, but I'd just like to see some actual numbers.
In any case, even if this amp were a tiny bit better than a RF P1000, I was talking about great "values", and this amp is twice the cost of a P1000.... so it had better be a LOT better, and I really have to doubt that it would be.
One other nice thing about the JL though.... Apparently they are still making them ? Where RF discontinued the P1000.
Peace,
Fish
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 5
From: Alabama
That RF amp is a nice amp and I wouldn't hesitate to own one. The only thing that has ever held me back is the sheer size of the amp -- it just doesn't work in an underseat install unless you put it on the back wall.
JJDH....... that was definitely not a typo and I plan to order one of those amps whenever I get the spare cash. I was going to run a 300/4v2 with my 500/1v2 but I think I'll sell my 500/1v2 and run the HD900/5 instead.
JJDH....... that was definitely not a typo and I plan to order one of those amps whenever I get the spare cash. I was going to run a 300/4v2 with my 500/1v2 but I think I'll sell my 500/1v2 and run the HD900/5 instead.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,862
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Ya' know mSaLL, I'm sure you know their is a whole large chunk of the hard-core stereo crowd, who believe that their is "very little difference" in the SQ of one amp vs any other > until it starts distorting.
In other words, you take brand 'A' which claims to put out 300 watts RMS, but it actually puts out 500 watts RMS..... then you take (budget) brand 'B' which claims to put out 800 watts, but in reality, it 'only' puts out the same 500 wts that brand 'A' does.
So, both of these amps are approaching 1% distortion at "the same" 500 watts.....
.......and I have to mostly agree with the crowd that says 500 wtts RMS at 1% distortion, sounds virtually the same whether it coming from some top $ amp that only claims 300 watts, or the budget amp, that claims 800 watts.
In other words, you take brand 'A' which claims to put out 300 watts RMS, but it actually puts out 500 watts RMS..... then you take (budget) brand 'B' which claims to put out 800 watts, but in reality, it 'only' puts out the same 500 wts that brand 'A' does.
So, both of these amps are approaching 1% distortion at "the same" 500 watts.....
.......and I have to mostly agree with the crowd that says 500 wtts RMS at 1% distortion, sounds virtually the same whether it coming from some top $ amp that only claims 300 watts, or the budget amp, that claims 800 watts.
Originally Posted by Fish Chris
I'd like to see an actual birth sheet for that 5ch JL (if JL does that) or an independant bench test of one. I know a lot of guys rave about JL's, and how they underate them, just as RF does, but I'd just like to see some actual numbers.
Its not just about who has the highest "watts" etc. Pop open the amplifier and look at the components used. Look at the layout, the construction, etc. While the JL HD series are class D, they still sound very good and for their compact size are almost impossible to beat in these F150s. And about the price...werent you boasting about the MSRP on the RF being like 1500 bucks? Hmm, thats higher than the JLs $1000.
A good read:
http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...goes-sale.html
But if you want to go by numbers, the Alpine PDX amplifiers are extremely powerful and underrated (as proven by their birthsheets). The 4.150 is such a small amplifier yet it dishes out tons of juice. Not the best sounding amp in the world because of its class D circuitry, but it is VERY loud running 4 midranges per side in the kicks (in the application I heard).
Anyways, if I were to get an amp that was anything near as big as that RF amp, it would be the new ZED Leviathon 6 channel...
150wrms x 6 @ 4-ohm
300wrms x 6 @ 2-ohm
600wrms x 3 @ 4-ohm bridged
Dimensions: 16.1"x9.7"x2.1"
Last edited by mSaLL150; Aug 25, 2009 at 10:21 PM.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 1
From: ohio
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,862
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Nothing wrong with JL, I just think they are overpriced. However, I do believe these HD amps are worth it for these trucks when you look at the clean power in a compact size. Their other amps are just not enough quality for the money to me. And their subwoofers...dont even get me started lol.