I'm strongly leaning towards adding an amp and need some help sorting through the many possible choices.

The speakers I'll be using are:
CXS64 V.2 - Image Dynamics 4 ohm 6.5" Component System
CTX69 - Image Dynamics 6 x 9" 4 ohm 2 Way Speakers
Boss Bass600 powered sub

I plan to tap into the X9331 (HIFI) for signal to the amp.

For those who haven't heard this too many times already, I currently have Infinity Kappas running off the HIFI amp, and am looking to reduce the brightness with warmer or neutral system. So, no bright amps please.

Here are some of the amps I've been looking at, but other recommendations are welcome. They range in price from $270 to $550. I'm wondering what benefits are gained with the more expensive amps?

Lowest price I've looked at is the Alpine MRP-F600 at $270. It is an AB type amp with 100w x 4 @ 4 ohms, and has line outs that will be useful for connecting the Bass600.

Top of the line is the
Q 450.4 - Image Dynamics 4-Channel 450 Watt AB amplifier. Since it is made by the same company as the speakers, I would assume that it would go well with them. Some of the techno-jargon sounds more sophisticated than the MRP-F600, but I not really sure what that means in real life.

The Alpine PD-4.150 @ $460 (and 100 @ $370) seem to be popular. However, they don't have a line out (more installation hassle) and are D type amps (supposedly more efficient, but lower quality than AB?). What advantages to they have over the MRP-F600 that justify their higher price?

Then there is the Polk PA500.4, JL Audio G Series G4500,
Rockford Fosgate Power T400-4, and on...

 

well since you asked.....why not get a 2-channel amp for the fronts, and either not use rear speakers (my choice)...or since they just ast as fill. power them with the factory HU.

PS..since you didn't ask....i won't yell you that you should upgrade your sub

I got in on a deal on an amp i found over at DIYMA..it was this amp, plus 20% off this price..its a nice sleeper amp.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013BR78S

 

Because in the rear channels of the HIFI amp, bass falls off somewhere between 100-150 Hz. So, a large part of the reason for going to an aftermarket amp is to restore full range to the rear speakers.

Size is one reason. Also, it is something I can do later, if warranted.

Interesting that Crutchfield's price of $175 is $25 lower than the price at SonicElectronics. WoofersEtc doesn't carry this amp. What do you like about it? If it is just about price, is it really a good idea to spend a lot on speakers and cheap out on the amp?

 

Depnending on how you install the amp you will not regain the fall off from the rear woofers, nor do you need to. Rear fill is for amateurs

I did not buy the amp based on price, i bought it based on the fact that it has been determined that it is designed by Robert Zeff, who makes Arc Audio amps...and the internal parts are nearly identical to Arc Audio....hense i called it a "sleeper" find....I got it for undr $140 shipped

 

When k6rtm measured the rear speaker signal at the X9331 in my 2007 MCS--before attampting the rear channle swap--he determined that the signal had full range. I plan to tap into the X9331 for the signal to the new amp.

Please explain. At a bare minimum, I need rears for the Park Distance Control that only plays through the rear speakers. Also, I've already purchased a pair of CTX69 - Image Dynamics 6 x 9" 2 Way Speakers.

OK, reviews and write-up sound good. At that price, I could use two of them for less than most good 4 channel amps. Any way to get that price again?

 

OK...so if you need rear fill for your parking status, do you really want to spend money to amp that? You do not need rear fill to get the best stereo image and sound quality. I would not say this if it wasn't true. It is true. We can argue this point all day and i will not change my mind. But if you do want rear fil thats totally cool...but you do not need to use an aftermarket amp and you will be fine with a speaker than plays flat 150hz up to about 6000hz.I would leave that alone and focus on your front stage.

I have read that the ONLY place to pull true line level signal that is not going to roll off at 100hz is behind the HU whihc requires remove t he speedo...i may be wrong about that...i know very little about the mini when it comes to the stereo signal.

You need to find 2 coupons to get that deal...one is for 20% off and the other is for a $25 dollar gift card....at one time they both worked together. You may try calling crutchfield.

Its a big amp (12" wide and 10" tall with connections on both ends)...not sure 2 would fit in the mini...but it will also play 2chanel stereo AND sum a mono signal to the subwoofers at the same time...that is my intentions.

 

Are these Crutchfield or Clarion coupons?

 

crutchfield
http://www.ultimatecoupons.com/coupo...ld_coupons.htm

and here is the link i found it at...

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...ar-arc-ks.html

 

Any other opinions?

Since I've done a rear seat delete, I would have space for two
Clarion DPX2251 180 wats RMS x 2. From all the reviews, they seem like great amps for the price. It would be nice just to have one amp...

 

here is a little amp **** for ya to help you decide....

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/...-gut-pics.html

 

I will say for the cash that amp looks very nice . Clarion is a very odd brand I used to own a DRZ-9255 stereo best looking stereo on the planet (and great sounding too) http://www.clarion.com/us/en/product...294764151.html

The stereo used Mcintosh internals, so it was a deal at $599(this was cost not retail)

Then I have had other Clarion products that have been junk. So it is hit or miss and this looks like a hit.

My other recomendations are looking at some used amps locally on CL sometimes you can get a steal there but you need to know what you are looking for .

Or you can purchase the best amp I have ever heard/used and I currently own

http://www.steg-america.com/k402.html


And I second the notion of spending a little more on the sub side

Image Dynamics made its name off of the IDQ subs so what not keep it the same . They are prbably the best bang for the buck in subs very musical.

 

I don't know what I'm looking for new or used. However, $1,200 is about $650 more than I'm willing to pay.

I'll deal with subs at a later date, or do without. I probably would stay with ID.

How would you say the Q 450.4 - Image Dynamics 4-Channel 450 Watt AB amplifier, or the Alpine MRP-F600 compare to two DPX2251?

 

The Alpine might be convenient, especially for the price and the line out for a sub. Could you power your fronts, rears, and sub on it altogether? I just feel that for myself (who is also looking for a good amp to power... Focals, probably), I'd rather have something that will work well with future installations--including a woofer--and not necessitate further costly and time-consuming upgrades.

 

One amp would be more convenient than two, but it looks like a quality/convenience trade-off.

Not with the MRP-F600. You need a 5-channel amp for that, such as the Alpine PDX5. However, it is a D class amp which isn't quite as spiffy as the G/H Clarion DPX2251 (at least on paper. Don't how this translates to the real world).

With the MRP-F600 you could run the fronts and the rears; or the fronts and a sub; or the rears and a sub; but not fronts, rears, and a sub all at once.

 

Three amps in the car sounds like a lot to me. There would be the disconnected HiFi, the front/rear spkr amp, and the woofer amp. Even if something like the Alpine PDX5 is more expensive or a class D amp, it could allow easier upgrading in the long run, avoiding the fuss (and space) of a sub amp and other connectors. Saves time and $$, right?

Let's say I put good Focal front and rear speakers on a 5-channel amp like the Alpine PDX5, leaving room for a woofer on the same amp for a later upgrade. What kind of difference would you notice between the Alpine PDX5 and the Clarion DPX2251 in terms of sound reproduction on the speakers?

 

they should be the same ...and yes one chassis is always going to be more convenient.

 

Yea, I don't know where you would put them all, unless you did a rear seat delete, like I did.

I don't think the HIFI amp would be drawing much current when not connected to any speakers. If it were bridgeable, it would be useful, buy I doubt very much that it is.

And, saves space.

This is the question I would like an answer to, except change that to Image Dynamics CXS64 V.2 and CTX69 speakers.

 

Ok, then I'm going with a 5-channel amp. Even if I have to save up more for it, it'll make things simpler in the long run. Now to figure out which one!

 

Robin, the weird EQ in all the Mini Systms is from the head unit not the Mini amps. You are going to have to get either the JL Clean Sweep or the Alpine Imprint to clear this up.

I went with the Alpine Imprint because of the Audessy tuning with a mic and the 3 band parametric eq. I wanted a natural warm sound and the Hertz High Energy speakers with either a Focal 4.75 or JL G4500 will do the trick. The Alpine PDX amps are nice too. I went with the Focal 4.75 amp for 75 watts to the fronts and bridged 3 dn 4ch for 200 watts to my JL sub.

 

Are you sure this applies to the HIFI option MINIs? IIRC, when k6rtm tested my MCS, he found full range signals at the X9331 connector.

 

this is incorrect.

the standard system (no amp only head unit) has a rear channel roll off from 100 hz down.

the Hifi system has an OEM amp that has filtering built in to it. I personally have done all the testing on this and this has been talked about in a number of other threads. search it out. The amp does the job of crossing over thre frequencies as needed and there are no passive crossovers.

This is not true. The OEM amp has a roll off below 30hz but is +/- 0.5db from 30hz to about 2khz.

 

My fault...I forgott you had the Hi-Fi option...you are correct about the stock system having the rear roll off.

However, even though the fronts are full range for both the stock and hi-fi system there is a large dip is the freq curve. There was a post on this forum somewhere about this.

 

I think things may have changed sometime in 2008 or 2009. Mine is a 2007. My memory is that k6rtm found a roll off somewhere around 100-150 hz at the rear speaker wires on mine.

Bob has offered to test mine again. I may take him up on that for the X9331, but since I'm planning on adding an amp very soon, I probably wont have him text the HIFI amp.

 

Getting closer to ordering an amp. At this moment, I'm leaning towards paying way too much and getting the Image Dynamic Q 450.4 amp. The Clarion DPX2251 2-channel amp seems like a great deal, but having to put two of them in just seems too funky.

 

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what about the 5 channel Alpine that some people have here? Its a sweet amp and really small....so when you upgade that sub you will be all set