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#1
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High efficiency sub amp needed!
Hello! I'm looking for an high efficiency sub amp in the 500 watts
range, on a 4 ohms load. Low idle current would be nice too. I was initially set on a JL Audio 500/1 until I come by a review that revealed an abysmal efficiency of 57%. I'm now looking at Kenwood KAC-9102D, Pioneer Premier PRS D2000T and Alpine MRD-M605, Since all those are fairly new models, reviews are scarce and I could not find the efficiency number anywhere. Anyone got them numbers? This is going in a small RV where battery operation at moderate volume for long time is needed, hence the high efficiency requirement. Comments and suggestions welcomed! -- Eric (Dero) Desrochers http://homepage.mac.com/dero72 Hiroshima 45, Tchernobyl 86, Windows 95 |
#2
Posted to rec.audio.car
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High efficiency sub amp needed!
Eric Desrochers wrote:
Hello! I'm looking for an high efficiency sub amp in the 500 watts range, on a 4 ohms load. Low idle current would be nice too. Then you want to stay away from anything labeled "Class A", that's for sure. Your best bet would be a Class B or, depending upon your application and the amp itself, a Class D. Google is your friend if you want to know why. I was initially set on a JL Audio 500/1 until I come by a review that revealed an abysmal efficiency of 57%. That actually doesn't sound so bad to me. Fifty-seven percent is pretty darn good. Since all those are fairly new models, reviews are scarce and I could not find the efficiency number anywhere. Anyone got them numbers? I don't think you're going to find efficiency numbers. Traditional amplifiers are typically 50% efficient. The only reason a company would have to publish such an unusual spec is because the efficiency their amp boasts is unusually high. If the amp you're looking at is one of JL's Class D designs, then I would say that's definitely the case. This is going in a small RV where battery operation at moderate volume for long time is needed, hence the high efficiency requirement. You've got an RV? Surely you have room for another battery? If you want to play the system at "moderate volumes" (whatever that means) then your best bet is to make sure that you have an ample supply of electrons, preferably on an isolated electrical system (i.e. one battery for the RV's electronics, one for the sound system with an isolator between the two so they can both be charged by the same alternator). That way, you can crank it up all you want until the thing dies, then start your engine back up and recharge the sound system's battery. :-) Keep in mind, though, that the more batteries you add, the more of a load that'll present on your alternator! Also, if you're trying to reproduce low-frequencies (i.e. you have subwoofers in your Winnebago), then that's going to gobble up even more power than if you have just a couple sets of 6x9's doing your bidding--it takes a lot of juice to reproduce those sub-bass frequencies. All in all, I believe you'll be wasting your time trying to shop for amps based upon efficiency numbers--percentage-wise, I just can't see it making that big of a difference for you. Playing your system with the engine off for 55 minutes versus 60 minutes before killing the battery isn't really worth the potential sacrifice you'll be making in the quality of the amplifier. Buy what sounds the best for the amount of money you're willing to shell-out...shopping for anything else is likely only going to leave you disappointed ("Wow Eric, you sure can play your system a long time at moderate values with the engine shut off...too bad it doesn't sound very good.") Just my $0.02. Your mileage may vary. -dan |
#3
Posted to rec.audio.car
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High efficiency sub amp needed!
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#4
Posted to rec.audio.car
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High efficiency sub amp needed!
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#5
Posted to rec.audio.car
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High efficiency sub amp needed!
Hello!
I was initially set on a JL Audio 500/1 until I come by a review that revealed an abysmal efficiency of 57%. That actually doesn't sound so bad to me. Fifty-seven percent is pretty darn good. No. Try 91%, which is the case with the Eclipse XA2000! Further searching revealed the Pioneer Premier PRS D2000T have 80%. xtant 1.1i the same. This is no longer 1992 hehehe! This is going in a small RV where battery operation at moderate volume for long time is needed, hence the high efficiency requirement. You've got an RV? Surely you have room for another battery? That's an old VW bus, not that roomy! I already have an Odyssey 100 amperes AGM auxiliary battery covering a fridge and interior lighting and plan on adding another identical one as the starting/sound system battery. Another sound system (400 watts total) I had in another car lasted for about 3 days with the kind of using I usually do, on an 55 amperes Optima Yellow top. I'm now basically doubling the system's power AND battery but it would have been great to increase autonomy on top of it. Thanks! -- Eric (Dero) Desrochers http://homepage.mac.com/dero72 Hiroshima 45, Tchernobyl 86, Windows 95 |
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