Amp and front speaker replacement (?)

[Aaron0731]

Originally Posted by Black_SS10

Upon further research I have discovered that the Rockford amp will not fit well on the amp board from Sub Thump. I am looking at the Precision Power P900.4. It is 2ohm stable, has more power, and will fit the board better. Anyone else running this or a similar amp?

I found an Excelon at $199 that should be perfect. 301-4

[Snoman]

Originally Posted by Black_SS10

Looking to get some input from those who know more than me about the proper audio equipment to put in the Camaro. Not looking for a crazy all out audiophile system, just something better than the factory BA system. I already have a powered 10in Rockford Fosgate sub which is plenty loud for me (300watts). Looking to replace the factory amp with the FARK and a Fockford Fosgate Prime R400-4D (2ohm). The front speakers I am looking to replace with Infinity Kappa 60.11CS 6-3/4" component speaker system (2ohm). I plan on leaving the rear 6X9s alone for the moment as I understand they do very little and just provide some "fill". Can anyone tell me if this would be a decent setup or point me in a better direction? I also would love some input on how to replace the tweeters properly. Again, not looking for the loudest, best, or expensive upgrades. Thank you!

There is absolutely nothing under $500 available on the market you could replace those Infinity Kappa 60.11CS with that would be worth the cost. If your driving those with the OEM amplifier or heaven forbid something as low quality as a prime amp, they will sound like absolute trash and it's no wonder you believe you need to replace them. Sure, you could certainly look at Hertz and Focal, potentially some JL C5 series, or downgrade and look at some cheap Pioneers, Sony, JL C2s or RF-P2s but at the end of the day, driving quality speakers with a POS amp is like riding in a Bentley with a Prius motor.

Your problem isn't the speakers, your problem is the amplifier. You need to be looking at a quality 4 channel, like the JL Audio 300/v3, Alpine PDX-V9 (or F6), RF Punch P600x4, PPI 900.4, etc. At which point you will most likely blow the rears since they are junk and cannot be driven with an aftermarket amp properly anyway.

[Snoman]

Originally Posted by The camaro show

JLaudio is the best

Their W6v3 subs are the best product they produce and I am extremely fond of their slash series A/B amps knowing the entire history of the "Slash" amplifier and what it represents. Coupled with the fact they have some of the best customer and product support in the industry, I'll typically recommend those two product lines from them.

Do not confuse their other product lines as having any measurable level quality, because they don't (for the money).

[Black_SS10]

Originally Posted by Snoman

There is absolutely nothing under $500 available on the market you could replace those Infinity Kappa 60.11CS with that would be worth the cost. If your driving those with the OEM amplifier or heaven forbid something as low quality as a prime amp, they will sound like absolute trash and it's no wonder you believe you need to replace them. Sure, you could certainly look at Hertz and Focal, potentially some JL C5 series, or downgrade and look at some cheap Pioneers, Sony, JL C2s or RF-P2s but at the end of the day, driving quality speakers with a POS amp is like riding in a Bentley with a Prius motor.

Your problem isn't the speakers, your problem is the amplifier. You need to be looking at a quality 4 channel, like the JL Audio 300/v3, Alpine PDX-V9 (or F6), RF Punch P600x4, PPI 900.4, etc. At which point you will most likely blow the rears since they are junk and cannot be driven with an aftermarket amp properly anyway.

Thanks sno. I did change my mind about the Rockford amp and leaning towards the PP900.4. I still want to run the Inifinity speakers up front. Should I just disconnect the rear speakers? I already have a subwoofer.

[Snoman]

Originally Posted by Black_SS10

Thanks sno. I did change my mind about the Rockford amp and leaning towards the PP900.4. I still want to run the Inifinity speakers up front. Should I just disconnect the rear speakers? I already have a subwoofer.

Most enjoy rear fill and I would drop some Kappa 6x9s back there to match your 60cs. You need a quality amplifier rated minimum of 140wpc @ 2ohm to drive those Kappas.

[Black_SS10]

Originally Posted by Snoman

Most enjoy rear fill and I would drop some Kappa 6x9s back there to match your 60cs. You need a quality amplifier rated minimum of 140wpc @ 2ohm to drive those Kappas.

Sweet, I will look into those speakers. Do you think the PP. 900.4 amp is good enough? Quality? It is 200 plus watts RMS per channel at 2ohm.

[Snoman]

Originally Posted by Black_SS10

Sweet, I will look into those speakers. Do you think the PP. 900.4 amp is good enough? Quality? It is 200 plus watts RMS per channel at 2ohm.

"Quality" is relative and directly tied to your wallet, no one can answer what quality is for you but yourself. Quality to me is Butler, McIntosh and Mosconi and I'll force myself to settle with second rate manufactures like Zapco, PG, RF, and JL. If you ask me what the best quality amp is for $300 to power some Kappas, I'll tell you it's a tie between the RF-P600-4 and Alpine PDX-F4 with the edge going to Alpine.

PPI lost all industry respect in the late 90's and is no longer the same company as the original owners and engineers left the company 20 years ago. Ownership has changed more hands than a freshman in college on dates. Precision Power Inc is currently owned by Epsilon Electronics, Inc, whom have pretty much ceased any product R&D.

You should be aware of and understand false advertising in the Car Audio industry however. Epsilon electronics does not offer any specification standards for their amplifiers and they are not, in any capacity, CEA-2006/2009 compliant. There is no THD available from their manuals and most of the published ratings and available power are just flat out snake oil. That amplifier is not capable of producing 200wpc @ 2ohm and even if it did, it would blow speaker connected to it. The ratings in their manual are over 1% THD and 14+ VDC.

I believe PPI today is the same quality as a paper weight and I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole, but I've seen many reviews from people discussing this entry level amplifier alleging good things and they seem happy.

Personally, the lowest quality amplifier I'll touch or recommend is the RF-Punch series or JL Audio slash series. You can pick up a high quality JL 300/4v2 (and if you are patient enough, maybe even a v3) for under $300 that will be 10x better than that PPI 900.4. Same with the Rockford Fosgate Punch P600-4.

[sherob]

Originally Posted by Snoman

"Quality" is relative and directly tied to your wallet, no one can answer what quality is for you but yourself. Quality to me is Butler, McIntosh and Mosconi and I'll force myself to settle with second rate manufactures like Zapco, PG, RF, and JL. If you ask me what the best quality amp is for $300 to power some Kappas, I'll tell you it's a tie between the RF-P600-4 and Alpine PDX-F4 with the edge going to Alpine.

PPI lost all industry respect in the late 90's and is no longer the same company as the original owners and engineers left the company 20 years ago. Ownership has changed more hands than a freshman in college on dates. Precision Power Inc is currently owned by Epsilon Electronics, Inc, whom have pretty much ceased any product R&D.

You should be aware of and understand false advertising in the Car Audio industry however. Epsilon electronics does not offer any specification standards for their amplifiers and they are not, in any capacity, CEA-2006/2009 compliant. There is no THD available from their manuals and most of the published ratings and available power are just flat out snake oil. That amplifier is not capable of producing 200wpc @ 2ohm and even if it did, it would blow speaker connected to it. The ratings in their manual are over 1% THD and 14+ VDC.

I believe PPI today is the same quality as a paper weight and I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole, but I've seen many reviews from people discussing this entry level amplifier alleging good things and they seem happy.

Personally, the lowest quality amplifier I'll touch or recommend is the RF-Punch series or JL Audio slash series. You can pick up a high quality JL 300/4v2 (and if you are patient enough, maybe even a v3) for under $300 that will be 10x better than that PPI 900.4. Same with the Rockford Fosgate Punch P600-4.

I just love reading your posts. I was a audiophile years ago, 80's and 90's. Alpine always rated well then in the rags (Nakamichi cost so much... LOL!!!), and seems to rate well today. I always try and give them my dollar when it fits my needs.

Thanks for your great suggestions and taking your time to make them.

[Black_SS10]

Thanks for the great info Sno. I was researching them and came across a lot of the same info, but that their quality is "supposedly" coming back. Anyways, I've read some of your other posts and replies. Curious
About the Zapco amps you mentioned. Never heard of them. Any particular model you would recomend for factory BA replacment?

[Snoman]

Originally Posted by sherob

I just love reading your posts. I was a audiophile years ago, 80's and 90's. Alpine always rated well then in the rags (Nakamichi cost so much... LOL!!!), and seems to rate well today. I always try and give them my dollar when it fits my needs.

Thanks for your great suggestions and taking your time to make them.

Originally Posted by Black_SS10

Thanks for the great info Sno. I was researching them and came across a lot of the same info, but that their quality is "supposedly" coming back. Anyways, I've read some of your other posts and replies. Curious
About the Zapco amps you mentioned. Never heard of them. Any particular model you would recommend for factory BA replacement?

Zapco is old and very strong reputable company, above the likes of Alpine and JL, one of the first names you'll trip into when you enter the top tier class of amplifier quality.

I would look at any of their AB amps, Z-Series or ST-series, whatever you can afford that fits your power needs and something in the 100-160wpc @ 2ohms (x4) power range.

[Black_SS10]

Originally Posted by Snoman

Zapco is old and very strong reputable company, above the likes of Alpine and JL, one of the first names you'll trip into when you enter the top tier class of amplifier quality.

I would look at any of their AB amps, Z-Series or ST-series, whatever you can afford that fits your power needs and something in the 100-160wpc @ 2ohms (x4) power range.

Awesome. Thanks for the info. I will look into them more. Do you know off hand if they make one that may fit the Sub Thum p amp board?

[Snoman]

The amp board supposedly works with any amplifier within 10.5" x 21" in size.

[Black_SS10]

Originally Posted by Snoman

The amp board supposedly works with any amplifier within 10.5" x 21" in size.

Mine is only 8in X 10.5

Been the issue with finding a proper amp.

[Snoman]

Originally Posted by Black_SS10

Mine is only 8in X 10.5

Been the issue with finding a proper amp.

Have a jigsaw and $20? Lowe's/Home Depot sells 1/2" birch in 2'x2' sizes, a yard of carpet is $8 and 3M carpet adhesive another $12.