So, when I get my car back from the body shop, I'll be installing a new amp. It'll be a small Class D amp which I'll mount on the flat space in the trunk, either to the right or left of the well where the jack and tools are held.

These are the amps I'm thinking of, what do you guys think?

Rockford Fosgate Prime R600-4D http://www.rockfordf...details/r600-4d

Pyle Blade 3600 http://www.pyleaudio...Range-Amplifier

Pyle Gear X PDGR440 (not a class D, but an SMD class AB) http://www.pyleaudio...Power-Amplifier

Precision Power P900.4 (is PPI still a high quality company, even though they aren't the same company as before?) http://www.precision...mps/P900-4.html

Alpine PDX-F4 http://www.alpine-us.../pdx-f4/default

Alpine MRX-F65 http://www.alpine-us...w/mrx-f65/Specs

Pioneer GM-D8604 http://www.pioneerel...Series/GM-D8604

Thanks all!

 

I am partial to the Alpine PDX series of amplifiers so I would choose the PDX-F4 from your list of amps. I have had a PDX-4.100 installed for the last 4 years and am very happy with with the small footprint, the sound quality, and reliability. You might also consider posting your choices in a forum geared specifically towards car audio since forums members there will likely weigh in on a more detailed analysis of the amplifiers' specs.

 

Thanks very much. I just did a search for car audio forums....

 

Precision Power is just a label to be passed around by conglomerates like DEI, hoping some of that 90's made in the USA prestige rubs off. By the same token I don't like Pyle or Jensen, and others will only buy Alpine, though I suspect there's no longer that much of a difference.

I actually have a PPI 900.4 in my S2000; it makes its rated power (145Wx2 + 450Wx1 in my current setup) without fuss or excessive heat. Zero complaints so far, especially for a tiny amp with a street price around $180. Useful review here:

http://www.pasmag.com/car-audio/test...004-amplifier-

This particular amp is also sold under the Nakamichi, Polk, Hertz, Soundstream, NVX, Arc Audio, and God knows how many other brands; pick the label, price, and heatsink you like and get the same guts.

 

Hey Kojac, thanks for the great helpful reply. I had no idea that there had been that much consolidation in the car audio industry since I last looked into amps about 6-8 yrs ago. Even Nakamichi huh? Sad....Hifonics too from what I hear. I wonder if that 4ft long Zues I had before would be worth anything to a collector? haha

But, at least the PPI appears to be made reasonably well. I'm primarily looking for good power output so I can play things as loud as I want, and good reliability. Sound "quality" is a secondary choice...after all, it's a car, and a noisy one at that.

Do you think it'll fit in the space I mentioned? On the flat horizontal spacet o the right or left of the well where the jack is?

 

I'll check on that for you, it's very small (think a medium sized hardcover) and should fit just about anywhere. Mine is stashed where the spare tire used to live, but it would also fit in the space above the fuel pump and probably under a seat.

 

I have an ARC Audio mini KS 125.2 stashed underneath my passenger seat that powers my passenger footwell sub and then an alpine KTP 445 for the door speakers stashed behind the passenger dash access panel..

I didn't want to lose any space in the trunk and it worked out well since the trunk is usually full during trips to the track!

Just another option

 

I like the idea of an amp in the dash, wiring must have been a snap. I almost went with the footwell sub too, but I figured I could do without the tool well most of the time and just yank the box if I needed the space/weight savings.

Here's the 900.4 in my car; my wires were too short to reach the location you mentioned but this is as close as I could get:



As you can see there's plenty of room to mount it flat on the trunk floor if you wish. Despite the use of those Velcro cargo corners to keep heavy objects from rolling around, my JL grille has already taken a beating from groceries and luggage, so I would much rather have my amp tucked out of the way.