This is for the real audiophile out there. Which out of these is the best? JL Amps vs Phoenix Gold vs Namikachi (sp) vs Zapco vs Kenwood vs Alpine

Price really doesn't matter, I need one about 600x4 and 1200x1. Which is the best???? I have heard Phoenix Gold, then Namikachi, then Zapco, I dunno what to get.

 

First I would eliminate Namikachi and Kenwood from this comparison, only because if you are spending the money for Alpine, Zapco, PG, and JL, Kenwood is not in the same class I am not saying that Kenwood is not good. Nakimiachi I have heard have problems, and I personally do not think that it is in the same class.

Now Alpine, Zapco, PG, and JL is very good equipment obviously there are other amps that meet or exceed these ones but since you asked about these I will give you my OPINION. I would recommed JL amps over these, I have personally installed and listened to these amps and I am very impressed, not just with the sound but the options that they have. The only drawback is that their Class D amps are only about 60% efficient, which is not that great for a class D. I think when it comes to price and diversity JL takes the cake. Once again this is only my opinion. The Alpine amps are great but they are not worth the price that they are going for, also you stated that you wanted a 1200 Watt, I presume you mean RMS if so I don't think that Alpine makes one in their Class D division.

 

1. JL

2. Zapco

3. PG

Don't even consider the others. Alpine, Kenwood and Nak doesn't even make amps that come close to the above amps.

 

I need something to power 4 MB Quart Q series Components, and a single 12" W7. I want to put about 1200w to the sub and about 150w to each speaker. These #s are all RMS.

 

Go with the JL 1000/1 1000X1 sub amp (perfect match)

and the JL 300/4 75X4 4ch amp for your MBQ. (more than enough for your MBQ's)

 

Decide how much power you want first. And then get the amp that can put out that much or more clean power, the cheapest. All else is irrelevant.

 

As much as I like the new JL amps I don't know how you could rank them above the Zapco C2K's. Hands done Zapco. Then JL then the PG Titaniums.

 

As I said before, get the one with the most power per dollar. But modify that to be most 12.5 volt power per dollar. If they rate it at a higher voltage, call the maker for clarification of real world 12.5 volt power. So that you will know how much power it will have while sitting in a parked car. All of the specs that say an amp puts out 4 billion watts at 13.8 or 14.3 volts are not worth the paper that they are printed on.

A 300 watt rockwood will sound the same as a 300 watt Zapco C2K. The Zapco may last 30 years longer, but they will both sound the same while outputing 300 watts.

 

Some amps will have less distortion and noise compared to others.

 

But you will not hear the distortion unless you go well into clipping. Unless you are a golden eared dog or something. If 300 watts is enough to push your speakers into distortion, up to that point any amp will sound the same if it is rated clean to that level.

I took the RC amp test on Monday. We used a really cheap jensen amp about 6"X9" compared to a JL 300/4. They sounded identical up to the clipping point. Bass hit just the same, transients were just as dynamic, sound stage and transparency all identical.

 

the power rating on the MBs is 90-170 watts. I'm pretty sure this is RMS, correct me if i'm wrong.

 

You can tell from my page that I am a /////\LPINE fanatic but I would pick a Zapco amp over an /////\LPINE one. My .02
oliver

 

If you are running MB Quart Q series speakers then you should use the Zapco amps since MB Quart tunes their speakers with them. Otherwise, the JLs for efficiency. Have you looked into the new Kicker line?

 

Where the heck did you come up with that load of crud? An amp is an amp is an amp. Nothing more. If you want a processor, get a processor. Need an amp, get an amp. But eliminate all the load of BS that people keep feeding about this amp sounding more open, that amp haveing better dynamics. It all comes down to the clean power output.

 

So which amp has the most clean power???

 

Decide the exact model numbers of the amps youare considering. Then email the makers asking for average bench test results. Or email the magazines for their bench test results. I would agree with throwing the Nak out of the list. They simply build crud. I wouldn't expect the Nak to last long in an avearge install. But Alpine and Kenwood are good companies, just don't expect them to have more power than labeled in the RMS specs. Zapco and JL may have slightly more clean power than in the RMS specs. But, at a price. You may be able to get a 100 watt Alpine or Kenwood for the price of a 50 watt JL or 25 watt Zapco. Oh, sorry forgot the PG. Their stuff is clean, but not high power. Expect it to put out what it is labeled to put out. Not more. But they do generally have more crossover flexibility.

 

I saw some literature on PG compared to all other amps, well JL RF and Alpine anyways. It beat out all of the other ones in everything: power/$, RMS Power, Peak Power, and the fact that it was actually underated.

 

Look at the test voltage, who paid for the test and the dollar per RMS watt. Also consider ohm load and other testing conditions. Is it a valid test that shows anything about real world usefuleness? I have a cheap MTX that is more powerful than my PG. Price difference is a 2-3 to 1 ratio. Or, my 300 dollar MTX amp is more powerful than my $700 PG.

 

So if I gave you two amps, different manufacturers, both with the same THD xxxx.yyyy percentages, same ohms, power output/per channel etc. and you listened to both of them, you wouldn't tell me that amp colors the sound and affects the way it sounds because its vacuum based whilst the first one is all transistor designed, yet both have appreciably clean power output.

 

Correct. Neither could anyone else on this planet who has tried in the past 10-20 years.

 

ZAPCO, AS LONG AS PRICE DOSENT MATTER

 

I have the PG Tantrum 1200.1 and I am extremely happy with it. I have it running 2 12" Kicker Solobarics...A series...and I have to have the bass boost turned all the way down, or else it's just too darn loud for my otherwise stock system. It's rated at 1200, but actually puts out closer to 1500W. I think mine was tested at 1509W or something.