Which one of thes amps are better?

[celwin]

Which one of the two is the better amp?

Phoenix Gold Trantrum 250.2
http://members.bellatlantic.net/~celwin/phoenix.JPG

- Amplifier Type: 2-channel
- RMS Power: 60W x 2 @ 14.4 V
- Bridged RMS Power: 250W x 1 @ 14.4V
- THD at Rated RMS Power: n/a
- Speaker Level Inputs: No
- Preamp Outputs: Yes
- Built-In Crossovers: HP/LP
- Bass Boost: 0 - 18 dB
- Frequency Response: 20-20,000 Hz
- Channel Separation: n/a
- Signal to Noise Ratio: >100 dB
- Fuse Rating: 25 amps



Audiobahn A2301T
http://members.bellatlantic.net/~celwin/218.JPG

- 75 watts x 2 @ 4 ohms stereo
- 105 watts x 2 @ 2 ohms stereo
- 210 watts x 1 @ 4 ohms mono
- Volt Meter With Blue Illumination
- Dimensions: 2"(H) x 12.75"(W) x 9.25(D)
- PATENT PENDING
- Class A/B MOSFET Circuitry
- PWM MOSFET Power Supply
- Double Sided Glass Epoxy Circuit Board
- THD: 0.02%
- S/N Ratio: >100dB
- Frequency Response: 10Hz

[SQ GT-S]

Well, for starters, neither amp will "sound" better than the other. The question is, what are you going to use the amp for? Subs? Front speakers?

Curt

[celwin]

Front speakers

[SQ GT-S]

Well, looking at the specs you gave there, I would go for the AudioBahn. It has a nice and steep X-over section (18dB) if you cut the bottom out of the front stage. It also seems to have the highest amount of power, with more to spare. Another benefit is the thermal protection. That's a plus if you mess something up.

Basically, choosing the amp is seeing which will have the power you want/need, and the features you want/need. Beyond that, there is NO sound difference between solid state amps. It's all in the features, looks, and power.

Curt

[SouthSyde]

here we go again with this a watt is watt argument....

[SQ GT-S]

Originally posted by SouthSyde
here we go again with this a watt is watt argument....

An FYI, there is a guy named Richard Clark who will give you $10,000 if you can hear the difference between two amps. And you get to choose the two amps. Bring them down to his place, and he'll do an A/B test for ya'.

And to let you know, to this date, NO ONE has won the $10,000.

Curt

[SouthSyde]

i know who is RC is thank you very much. i agree with his theory in many perspectives, and respect the fact that he believes in what he believes and is willing to back it up. but i also know my own ears seeing that each amp has sonic differences. what you are telling me is that a 100 x 2 pyle or boss amp sounds just the same as a 100 x 2 brax. im sorry but i dont buy that.

[SQ GT-S]

Originally posted by SouthSyde
i know who is RC is thank you very much. i agree with his theory in many perspectives, and respect the fact that he believes in what he believes and is willing to back it up. but i also know my own ears seeing that each amp has sonic differences. what you are telling me is that a 100 x 2 pyle or boss amp sounds just the same as a 100 x 2 brax. im sorry but i dont buy that.

You can believe what you want, and I will do the same. Seeing the amps in front of you, knowing each name, you make yourself think one amp is better than another. A true A/B test has these amps hidden so you don't know which is playing.

Again, believe what you want. But if you trust your "golden ear", then why don't you take RC's challenge? You seem confident...

Curt

[RATIFIED]

I would go with the Phoenix Gold personally. Just a better made amp over the Audiobahn. As far as a watt is a watt arguement; one watt equals one watt, BUT each manufactor rates thier RMS power differently. Thats how a 1000 watt Pyramid can weigh in at 5 lbs with a board the size of a pop tart, and a 1000 watt US Amps weighs in at 30 lbs and the length of a 55 gallon aquarium!!! Look closer at the specs. Does it say rated at 12 volts, 13.8, or 14.4? Measured at 1 foot or 1/2 foot? At what frequency was it measured? How much headroom does the amp have?Rated dynamic range of the amp; some do cut off at 15k?

[zapcocelica]

RC has many Groupies, but his amp challenge is complete BS. You can pick any 2 amplifiers and he will level match the outputs of both to equal the worst one. Even then you have to guess right 10 out of 10 times. Statistics alone prove that next to impossible. The challenge never attempts to claim that amps are equal, only that 1 watt is equal to 1 watt. There are obvious differences between amplifiers in terms of headroom, channel separation, power supplies etc. The way most amps are rated today you would swear some of these companies reinvented the wheel. The tests are bogus and specs meaningless. If you think the Audiobahn amp is good, there are probably a dozen others made in the same factory, designed by the same guy, with the same circuit board and without chrome heatsinks and gauges and pretty lights are probably cheaper.

[BlackGT]

do not buy Audiobahn.........

[celwin]

Originally posted by BlackGT
do not buy Audiobahn.........

why is that?

[BlackGT]

It's overpriced, overrated pieces of crap. They are made like ****e, dont perform anywhere near what they say they can do. They are a thump monkey's product.

[Stephano]

I have a phoenix gold 4 channel and I love it.
I decided after talking to someone with experience building systems.
Phoenix gold amps are good quality for the price.

[Brad Merrell]

Amplifier manufacturers stoppped focusing on build quality and started focusing on marketing and profit margins years ago. I think you would be hard pressed to find "bulletproof" amps or groundbreaking technology anymore. Old school PPI, Orion, Soundstream Reference, PG, Linear Power .... Those were bulletproof. PPI DX5075: 2050 and 2075 in the same chassis with a DCX1000 digital xover with a fiber optic LCD controller? Alpine 3545? Class D? That was groundbreaking.
Manufacturers offering a seperate line of regulated and unregulated amps, because the people buying them generally knew the difference? PPI Pro Mos, Orion HCCA... That was the day. Call me old, but I think this sport has been overrun with flashing lights and too many bells and whistles.

I can even pinpoint exactly when the sport started to cheese over: The day Alpine changed the naming sequence of thier products. The 3535 went to "VTech FORCE QXFUJ-338" NOW WITH IMPROVED NEON!!!

I'm not saying that companies are wrong to start taking profits, but damn, let's at least try to keep it real.

OK. I'm done. Flame on....

PS - I want my 7909 back. Does anyone here know what that is? I bet RC does....

[Brad Merrell]

Oh yeah - Props to the JL gang. There still OK.

[SQ GT-S]

Brad, I'm not an old school guy, but I use to own a 7909. That was a freakin' awesome deck. The only problem was, it was too plain for my last car. So sadly I sold it. But yeah, I also want mine back.

Curt

[RATIFIED]

I know how you feel!! I've been into this since the late 80s early 90s and this have really changed. The best amps I've ever had were some old school, bbq style Rockford amps; a Power 500M and a Power 250x2. Those things would take anything!!!!!!!