so with your original statement you can also say that a tube amplifier sounds identical to a digital amp?

 

I think one thing you guys are forgetting is that, as the first poster noted, the amplifier section, if specified identically, will sound the same. True statement. BUT...the power supply section that feeds the amplifier section will make all the difference in the world in a car environment. Chances are, with a higher dollar amplifier, you will have a much more robust power supply section.

Ask anyone that knows anything about home stereo, and you'll soon find out why people are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for Krell and Classe...it's not becuase they have some special fairy dust in the amplifier section...they all use about the same amplifer components...it's the big, freaking power supply that keeps the amplifer section happy. Same in car audio.

It does no good to discuss and flame each other on this topic. Those that have the money and can tell the difference can keep spending more bucks for good sound...and those that want to think they know what's going on can be happy with their sound as well. To each their own. Does everyone need a McIntosh running factory 4" speaks...nope. But those that know how and why sure love them.

I did IASCA competition for 8 years, was invited to the world finals four years in a row and had a car on display for a manufacturer at one of them. Went through countless hours of training to become a sound quality judge and did installs for all types of people, including the conductor of a well know symphony.

I know good sound and many of my former clients knew it also. Many of my friends do not and I do what I can to help them. If you can go to a shop and listen to a variety of amplifiers, get the one that your ears tell you they like...don't look at brand or price or specifications...just listen for a while and have the sales guy switch amps around and not tell you which is which. Many people spend too much and some don't spend enough.

I've had cars place in the top 10 in the world, some with great amplifiers and some with not so great amplifiers...it's always been the total install that makes or breaks...speaker choices, placement, controlling unwanted resonations, and damn reflections. I promise you, get the right install, and you can substitute numerous amps and be happy with the sound. Screw the speaker placement, or one other portion and no amp in the world will help you.

Now...what's the next myth that you want to discuss...

Too Slow

 

that was a well put post Too Slow...you have to do 100% of the work to get it right......follow the basics match components, correct placement, and quality install can make most components soubd very good

 

Too Slow or anyone else:
The importance of speaker placement was mentioned, what would you do for speaker placement in an xB? Will kick panels make a huge difference? How about tweeter mounts? I listened to an xB w/ kick panels and it sounded nice, but I'd rather not do them. I'd be willing to think about tweeter placement/pods or something though. I have two-part components right now (Focal Access 165A).

 

Too Slow is absolutely correct. The power supply makes a huge difference. There are also many other factors that contribute the how an amp sounds. If you've ever seen an amp open you'll see an awful lot of components. Those aren't there to amplify, the mosfets(usually) are there for that. The other components are there to control the sound, reduce noise, and increase the spectrum the amplifier can amplify.

The amplification section of an amplifier, the bare bones roots, is nothing more than transistors. Unfortunately, transistors by themselves are limited in what they can do. The other components work in harmony with them to produce the sound you hear free of most noise and in a wide spectrum so you don't have to buy many amps to create a system.

 

I'll throw out a different idea that is simple... I am going to moint my tweeters in the top corners of the winshield facing the passengers...I am basing this on the old Richard Long Sound Sytems designs...I have done it before and the results are very very suprising

 

Sounds interesting, and also involved... might be beyond me right now. How will having that much distance between the tweeters and the rest of the component set affect things?

 

Do a search on Richard Long Sound Systems..... it gives the system a very open and airy sound....Richard Long built the best sound systems in the world period! before his death

 

StackTrayce, you have a PM about your speaker placement question.

You guys are right on...there are so many variables involved we'd need a hundred posts to discuss them. The bottom line: Trust your ears, but know what to listen for!

BTW: Two cars each have 300 HP (we'll say at the wheels on a dyno,) are they both as fast as each other or is the red faster than the blue?

That question is the same as the statement that got this topic started. Too many variables come into play, you can't make an educated decision based on just one variable.

Too Slow

 

obviously its whatever car cost more... duh...

sorry couldn't resist

 

I spent $50 on an Optimus amp (Radio Shack) about 3 years ago and have used it ever since. Am I happy? Damn right 'cause I used a good quality Rockford Fosgate 12" sub in a Q-Logic Bandpass enclosure along with some FMOD 100Hz lowpass inline crossovers on the line in section of the amp. All-in-all I spent about $250 and accomplished my goal of good bass for little cash.

Now am I saying I have a better sounding system then someone who forked over $3000 on there system. No.

What I do like is I got good sound for little money and can now spend the other $2750 on other parts of the car, like the head unit. Now there's a part that makes the difference. I'm sure this post will attract flame but don't care.

 

jmiller20874: Nobody is stating that the decision you made was good or bad...IF you started spouting that your amp sounded the same as my McIntosh running my JL Audios in custom enclosure...well then we'd have to flame ya!

 

Well, this thread is almost a month old but anyway, Too Slow, Im interested in speaker placement for the Xb. One thing Im considering is 1, maybe 2 JBL GTI series 10's (small sealed box(s) large crown amp) and id like to get rid of the factory speakers to round out the sound. I plan to eventually do the Camry Nav. swap too. Your input would be greatly appreciated.

 

A month old? This thread was a year old.

 

yup, the amplifier ratings and all that bull____ only measure one component of the system.

the overall design of the system will have a profound effect on the performance of the "amplifier".

that being said, if you spend 1000 bucks on an amp then you're a douchebag.

 

Actually your dead wrong. The contest has been going on for years. Anyone that can tell a difference between two amps putting out the same wattage rms with under .1% thd. will win $10,000

Simple fact is, you cannot tell the diff man

 

People just don't want to believe the truth. I totally agree, but there are too many other variables in a car sound system to contend with.

 

EXACTLY. I competed in 1998-2001 iasca sq+ and did very very well I have been into car audio since most members on here were in 1st grade. Sure I love a good high doller amp, the looks, features etc... but when it comes down to it anymore a watt is a watt. Nothing more nothing less. People pay for ooohhhsss.. and ahhhhsss..... when others look at there system. Ah well

 

What you should look for in an amp if your in the market...

#1 does it have the featrues you want? Power, crossovers etc...

#2 reputation of the company. Customer service etc...

#3 The look of the amp.

Guys that is all you need to look for to be happy!

 

Lol guess your right, i revived a year old thread lol. Guess I was a little tired when I read it and just saw the Jan. not the 05.