Sometimes manufacturers play with their numbers. And instead of overstating their numbers they choose to understate them a little. For Example Rolls Royce calls the powerplant in the Silver Shadow "adequate." The PG amps, I just got were "dyno" rated at 665 watts, although they were only supposed to be 600.

Listen and look. You will decide what you ultimately want.

 

Soundstreams are no joke either.
Those are some great amps. If you go with what has been recommended here, you will have a system worthy of envy, which seems to be your ultimate goal.

 

with electronics and amps in particular, you can really fiddle with numbers to get your ratings...
ever wonder why a tiny little amp in Walmart is rated for 2000 watts, but only costs $50? it's because they input a signal that was optimally designed to make the amp burp for a .002 seconds and output that kind of power. so sure - it did output 2000 watts for a couple microseconds before it burned up, but in reality that same amp is really on capable of 20 Wrms continuous and maybe 40 watts peak on 4 channels. (btw, fictious numbers - don't do the math).

all your major electronics companies play this game. even your more respectable manufactures play this game to some extent...

companies like Audison, Brax, TRU, MacIntosh, Adcom, etc. don't play this marketing game. they often actually list the 'true' numbers across the entire audio spectrum using signals that approximate music and at actual listening levels vs creating optimal circumstances to get numbers.

this is because they know that their sound sells their amps... not their numbers. if you think their numbers look bad, you'd be surprised to see what actual numbers are for most companies out there...


sure, there's a lot of arguements about golden ears, audiophiles, etc. and sure, there are points where better just can't get much better... but when comparing consumer marketed gear vs high end stuff -- generally, there is a very easy audible differentiation between the Best Buy gear, and the high end stuff.

should you spend $3000 in amps for the S2000? probably not. the car has too much ambient noise to really give you the benefit of these amps. but, if you're looking for blingage (sometimes, the name blings more than the chrome), and a system that will floor everyone who hears it... i gave you some of the best stuff i know of within your budget to do the job.

in all honesty, you're probably better off spending $2000 on your S2000's system and $4000 on a good home system where you have a low noise floor and can better appreciate the sound.

while ludicrous sounding... sure, i spent some change on my system in the S... (probably about $2750 MSRP (uninstalled), i actually paid much less, and reused my amps from previous installs.)
but i have close to $20k (MSRP) in my home system. i didn't pay quite that much since i exploited all kinds of contacts i have in 'the industry'. but i did pay better than 1/2 that amount, and it took me many many years of shopping, listening, upgrading, etc. to get there. eventually, i just had to stop b/c the next tier of upgrades was going to run me (even through my contacts) over the $20k mark, and they just weren't that much better. i had long since hit a ceiling of diminishing returns.

so -- consider all this as you may...
personally, if i had the money and a system to build... i'd get the Audison amps. chances are though, i won't have the money... so, i'll end up w/ the more affordable Soundstream or PG amps.
still, the wife is starting to hint at an Odyssey... it's much better suited to a high end system. maybe i'll give Willie a run for his money... if nothing else, hopefully the 3 kids will get the Wiggles in 5.1 DD surround w/ 1kW of pounding power...

 

Honestly Gio, you are better off using that money in your home system if Sound Quality is your goal. If it's a show system that changes the game. But in that case get a sponser, 'cause other wise you'll pay out the nose. And as I've pointed out with hinted subtlety before, the S2k isn't a concert hall; it's a sports car.

BTW: The Odyssey has a hugely underrated set-up for car audio. And
Room Galore! I'd love to see what Phil will do with his.

Especially with Giore's budget. But alas, this combination will not be!

 

Remember, show is mostly bling. Noone at a show cares about SQ as they care about BLING! Im not saying it should sound like a broken walkman, but blingage is cheaper than amazing SQ. Certain companies can give you both...
(Audison, Tarantula, Helix)

 

Spark-o-matic, Emerson, My first sony, Bose...

JK

 

I personally run a Diamond McDaddy 10" sub, pioneer H/U, Infinity front speakers, and a Rockford 4-ch amp and am very pleased with the results

 

Although I dont doubt that it sounds nice, its simply not show material. Not knocking your setup, just being realistic.

 

awia

 

I didn't install it for anyone but myself...............never intended it for shows............sorry to burst your bubble