I am looking to buy a cheapish but decent quality amp that will be able to power 6x9s and 6.5"splits. It needs to be able to be mounted under the front passenger seat, and have the option to add a sub.

Any advice is welcome as I have completely no idea what to look for.

Cheers

Not asking for much are ya..?

Amp the front splits with something half decent.. You could try a nice JL amp or even a JVC..

Drive a set of 6.5"s from the deck for rear fill..

Separate sub amp.. Option Audio amp will do..

All up the JL or JVC amp will cost you 200 - 500 depending if you go JVC or JL..

But to get a great sounding system on a healthy budget.. That'd be my recommendation..

SuFz :ninja:

Get a 4 channel amp with a relatively small footprint so it'll fit under the seat, once you get the sub, revert the 6x9s to head unit power and use the 2 channels to drive the sub. Other than this, brand selection is up to you/peoples opinions!

I have been thinking of doing this too.

Is there a fire danger associated with having an amp under the front seats? I'm not sure how much clearance they need.

It'll be fine under the seat.

5 Channels with loads of power, the Alpine PDX-5, and the JL Audio 900/5 but the alpine is good value at 600 the JL will set you back 1200, But the JL Sub Channel is a Cracker.

But woob would have the value and sound fans wrapped up again, but the 4 channels running 2 splits and one sub means you need a 4 Ohm woofer, just keep that in mind.
There is plenty out there with a tiny footprint, Alpine PDX F4, The PDX F6, Lots of JL Audios like 600/4.
I dont mind the F6, they'll happily push 180 watts to the fronts, and about 360 watts @ 4 Ohms.
Really like the JL Audio, but its too dear...
You could easily fit a F4 or F6 under one seat, and the 1200 Watt PDX12 mono under the other, no heat issues, and 2000 Watts RMS under your Bums.
One Alpine PDX could almost be hidden from the top by 4 slices of bread. (Smaller than a A4 piece of paper), thicker though.

How much are you willing to spend?

My suggestion is a Jaycar 4x100. Check their website.

How much are you willing to spend?

My suggestion is a Jaycar 4x100. Check their website.
Is that the D Class unit.
I sold one of those here for under $150... about all it was worth IMO, now where near as good as their big AB Class Cracker.
But good enough for a soft system.

I'm down with the Jaycar boys. My 4x100RMS has more than enough power. If you buy a good set of 6x9s and run them through the low pass filter, you won't need to buy a sub.

I'm down with the Jaycar boys. My 4x100RMS has more than enough power. If you buy a good set of 6x9s and run them through the low pass filter, you won't need to buy a sub.

Is that the small 4x100 or the big 4x100, the big one is bit too big to under the seat. I still own a 4x100 and its great...really good, in fact I had two, but the small one.

Apply the KISS principle and keep it simple.

You want a 4 channel amp, at least 50rms per channel and 100rms+ per channel if possible.

2 channels will run your splits and the other 2 channels will run your 6x9s.

When you get your sub, throw away your 6x9s and bridge 2 channels to power the sub.

So basically the same thing everyone else has said so far :P

Its the HEART principle, Haven't Even Attempted Reading the Thread. lol

If you look at the 2 ohm output of the 3rd and 4th channels, add them together, and will give you the 4 ohm power output bridged. If the amp can be bridged, that is.

Which is why 2 and 4 channel amps make good 4 Ohm sub amps.

Lmao @ HEART, I like that one :)

So basically the same thing everyone else has said so far :P

Except for me......

SuFz :ninja:

Well played, gents!

Seeing as we're so enthusiastically theorising, postulating, and mass debating about principles (and given the lemming back slapping going on, there appears to be a lot of mutual mass debating going on between some!), allow me to proffer 2 of the more important principles of the Interwebz:

The, "don't be a Keyboard Numbskull On Booze" principle; and

The, "don't be a Condescending Underhanded Nitpicking Tool" principle ;)

All good and all in jest, boys ;)

To the OP, the reason why you won't need the 6x9s if you get the sub is simple. In the absence of a sub, the 6x9s are a band aid solution that attempts to reproduce some of the lower range frequencies in the sound spectrum.

Once a sub is introduced into your system, it does a far better job at producing sub bass, thus rendering your 6x9s unnecessary. If you are intending on keeping the 6x9s, I'd get them high and low passed so that they don't drag your sound stage back.

On the issue of the amp, if you're looking at the budget end of amps (but not the cheap and nasty end), I'd look at something like this:

http://www.soundmaster.com.au/Soundstream-LW4500-Lil-Wonder-4-Ch-Amplifier/LW4500.asp

Phwoar, didn't realise that we were in the presence of an audio guru, my apologies great sir!

All good, mate.

Just pulling your leg ;)

That sound stream looks OK, still a little long at 350 x 52 x 205, almost 14 inches long, would surely get a kicking from the rear by passengers.

I'd still go the PDX F4 quite small, Excellent SNR, 90% power efficient and tiny Heat Sink (WxHxD) mm: 257mm x 192mm x 50.8mm = 10-1/8'' x 7-9/16'' x 2''
and birth sheets around 110 - 130 watts per channel.

You are way better of getting a bigger amp that you turn the gains down on, than a smaller amp that have turn the gains up on, for two reasons, longer speaker life from lower distortion levels, and less heat.

350mm will fit plenty easy under a seat.

I agree with Woob.

Buy for purpose and no more. If an amp comfortably fits under the seat, no need to shell out a lot more to get a smaller foot print.

On the issue of cost, also remember that not everyone can spend big dollars on (unnecessary) flash gear. That Soundstream amp can be bought for $279, with the following power specs (rms):

Power 4 ohm: 65 x 4
Power 2 ohm: 125 x 4
Power 4 ohm Bridged: 250 x 2

The Alpine PDX F4, while smaller, has a RRP of $699 on Alpine's website.

Here are the Alpine's power specs (cheekily measured at 14.4volts, too):

Per Channel into 4 ohms: 100 W x 4
Per Channel into 2 ohms: 100 W x 4
Bridged into 4 ohms: 200 W x 2

Yep, a lot of people seem to be turning molehills into mountains lately in the audio forum.. Someone comes in asking if their little cheap upgrade is ideal, and end up being told they need to spend 2k on parts that they were never intending on touching in the first place :S

When answering questions like this one of the things you should really consider is "how can I try to save the OP money?". It easy to get caught up with suggestioning things that you would love to put into your own car but really does the OP need it? In this instance, a PDX amp, while nice is such massive overkill it isn't funny! Will the OP really notice a little extra power, damping factor for bass control etc? The lil wonder sounds like a fairly suitable amp for this application, as would a Response 4x100 or similar budget amp.

Ps. I took me nearly an hour to write this.. It seems that bad sun burn and massive sleep deprivation takes a toll on ones ability to structure sentences?

Whats wrong with buying a JVC amp for the fronts and a seperate amp for the sub..?

I thought that'd make things just a little more simple!

I guess peoples opinions differ at times..

SuFz :ninja:

2 amps != more simple than 1

Extra wiring, extra installation and extra cost when it can be perfectly accommodated by a single amp. Why bother?

2 amps != more simple than 1

Extra wiring, extra installation and extra cost when it can be perfectly accommodated by a single amp. Why bother?

I just thought Sub would be One Amp and Splits would be another.. Seperate for Tuning.

But then again.. You bring up a good point!

SuFz :ninja:

Well the Jaycar 4x100 Class AB amp, not the digital one, measures in at 275(L) x 233(W) x 59(D) mm, with 2 x 100 watts on offer, and bridging a sub channel to 300 WRMS minimum.....
At 299, its power at a value price, and they often come on sale, I scored the old model new at Jaycar for $150.00 ;) and there is guys in various states that can hook you up with one.
And the old ones were good for 130 WRMS, and 380 Bridged, but that is the old one.

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=AA0453&keywords=4+x+100&form=KEYWORD

:yawns:

Won't get me out of bed for under 100 Watts per channel.

Theres a few amps out there that put out 35w rms or so per channel that I would pay a pretty penny for!

Hey look, I agree with you, but there are amps you can fit under seats, and there are amps you can fit under seats and you have to warn all your friends about it and constantly worry that it be kicked anyway, and then is the heat.
It fits the prerequisites perfectly except for price. 400 - 500 posted.


Hope you're feeling better.

http://www.audiosavings.com/products/4-Channel-Car-Amplifier/CADENCE-F600-4-1400-WATT-4-CHANNEL-AMPLIFIER--AMP-KIT/F600-4---WK42.aspx
http://www.audiosavings.com/products/4-Channel-Car-Amplifier/US-AMPS-XT800.4-V3N-800w-4-CHANN-CAR-AMPLIFIERWIRE-KIT/XT800.4+V3N---WK42.aspx

Alright I know they are American, but postage to Aus should only be around $55, so if that balances out to be a better deal than what we can get already over here (sometimes does, sometimes doesn't) it might be worth having a little look.
Oh and sorry boys, mainly Woob who has just said something about going and getting the expensive stuff when it's not really needed, I know I have gone and grabbed some more expensive amps online, but to me at around $200 they seem like value that could still be used in a next system, because we all upgrade don't we? Hehe.
Oh and that RE amp seems small, just for the people that are saying go PDX. Cadence isn't exactly what you would call small though.
Only my 2c and I hope your system works out for you.

(edit), sorry to come in straight away defending my choice, guess I was a little bit intimidated with the wealth of knowledge above me. :ninja:

$200 isn't expensive, for the RE that is a very sexy price too, not that I've had experience with the particular amp, I'm just somewhat of an RE fanboy

Edit: on closer inspection, it's pretty weak, I can see the OP growing hungry for more power when I doesn't push as hard as he would like

I know, RE fanboy right here as well. Wish the gear was easier to get here though. I hate paying alot for postage.
AusBoader I have heard many rave reviews about RE as well so if you don't mind sending the yanks your moneyz could turn into a nice little deal for you.

Oops just saw your edit, yeah I agree, but if he was after power maybe a dedicated sub amp could be better suited and this can run a full active front stage.

Thats the problem with being in a country with 1.5 % of the worlds population, you only get 3% of the choice, with heavy margins for higher service and support costs due to the sparse and isolated population.
Ah, the lucky country.

A few good suggestions in this thread.

A few things to note with buying overseas - warranty likely to be harder to claim against, and shipping costs / delays.

Even where an overseas retailer will honour a warranty internationally, consider the logic of spending to ship back overseas and then again to you on a $200 item (many vendors require you to pay return shipping).

Cheers for the many replies :) so much to choose from!

The jaycar amps seem pretty good value for money. 100w x 4 is great, and there's a shop about 5 mins from my house. Saves money on shipping from the US, and I won't have to wait. Although, if I can get something similar or better for cheaper (eg the first cadence amp, dunno about quality though), time is not an issue.

Go the response amp. You will honestly not notice the difference between it and any other amps in the price range, and jaycar is very easy to deal with for warranty if needed.