i have an aftermarket pioneer head unit that i'm content with. it has 50wx4 high output, and the PO put in a full set of Boston speakers. the original p-car amp is disconnected.

the stereo breaks up at high volume. a good local stereo shop says that the head unit simply cannot power up the speakers. they say that my speakers are mucho dinero, and they would really come alive with a 4 channel amp, while keeping my current head unit.

since they're not dissing my stereo or speakers, but recommending just an amp., i think they're being honest. otherwise they'd be pushing me to replace all existing equipment.

now, they have a Boston 4 channel amp that they want to sell me for $200. and $200 more to install it. they do a really clean install of the big amp, which will need a bracket fabbed up to fit it behind the spare tire, where the factory amp resides (since this amp is much bigger, and i don't want to lose luggage room, this is the best place for the new amp),

so the question is:

1. what's a good (and smaller sized) amp that people like me are using? 4 channels is a must. give me a link if possible.
2. is $200 a fair price for the install work?

TIA

 

JL Audio is pretty damn good. You'll pay a bit more though... but they're nearly indestructible, & sound fantastic. You can find used ones on Ebay & snag one for 1/2 price of new. If the seller says the amp works fine, you can believe the amp will work forever. Virtually the only thing that can happen is it'll blow an external fuse which can be replaced.

 

Don't know if they make them anymore, but I love the Soundstream amp in my car.

 

Consider the Alpine PDX 4.150 amplifier (4 x 150 watts) It's smaller than the Porsche CD changer. It costs quite a bit more, but it fits in the trunk without losing luggage room. Also since it is a digital amp, there is no overheating issue.

 

if the 4.150 is too much dough get the 4.100

 

+1 Alpine is nice amp I am using the pdx 4.100 and has plenty of power and is clean.

 

I used a JL 6450, it is a 6 channel amp so you have two channels for the dash speakers, two channels for the rea speakers and tow channels combined into one for the door subs, works great.

 

JL 300/4 and a JL 250/1 (although I *still* haven't got the 250 installed ... )

 

The JL Audios are cool, but they are big. Not like we have much trunk space. I sold my JL amp on ebay and replaced it with the Alpine.

 

Funny, my JL replaced a month old Alpine that died on me.

 

Looks like you have a C2 or C2S. Your trunk space is about 50% bigger than the C4/C4S. So the 2 foot long JL's take up too much room. My Alpine sits where the CD changer used to be. I wasn't using the changer anyway.

 

The AWD definitely chews up some space. My four channel isn't quite that big though. I mounted it in about the same area as the old amp, just slightly different configuration. I'll see if I can find a pic and post it...

 

I don't seem to have the pictures on this drive any longer but did find my post on Renntech if anyone wants to get some ideas. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index...ic=9184&hl=amp

I've cleaned things up a bit since taking those pictures but the location is the same.

 

I have the audision in my car. Compact and sounds great.

 

Get a JL from the "slash" series. Awesome amps.
http://mobile.jlaudio.com/products_a...php?page_id=29