System Almost Planned - Need Help With Amps

Hi folks,

I've been spending a lot of time thinking and researching the system for my 08 Dbl Cab. It will take a while to purchase everything as cost is not a primary concern and I'd rather buy components as I get the money/find sales.

I'm pretty set on all the components except for the amp(s).

Here's where I'm at:

Head Unit: Alpine Single Din (Don't need/want gps, dvd or anthing like that)
Front: Image Dynamics XS-65 Components
Rear: Image Dynamics CTX-65
Sub: Image Dynamics IDQ 10 D2 v.3
Box: sealed, I will design and build myself

Now - all I need is the power.

I like the idea of a good 5-channel amp to save space in my design and slightly simplify the wiring. Seems like the Alpine PDX-5 may not do that great with the highs and hasn't been updated like the other PDX amps. If I were to buy right now, I'd probably go with the JL HD 900/5.

Plan B would be a 4-channel and mono amp setup.

So - anybody have any experience on the JL 900/5? How does it do with highs?

Would I be better off going with a 2 amp setup. This has the potential to save some money, trade-off is more space taken up behind the seats.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

 

Thanks Wolfpack. By safer, do you mean less chance of overheating the amp?

 

Class D mono amps run cooler and produce more power. They are a great way to go for subs. You can mount that next to your subs behind the seats, and put a 4-channel for the door speakers under the driver or passenger seat. That should save you some space, but keep your amp height under 2.5" if you're putting it under the seat.

Rockford makes great amps if price is not a concern, I've had a punch amp for 9 years and it's still going strong. I'm in the process of upgrading right now and price is a concern, so I'm going with Hifonics. They make a high quality product for the price and simplify the process of daisy chaining amps together (all of their amps come with an RCA in and out).

 

I'm runnin that set up right now(except headunit),i have it powered with a jl xd 700/5 and it sounds awesome!! i have the amp turned up about halfway on the mids and highs and 3 quarters on the sub and its louder than shit..

 

Check out the kenwood xr-5s 5 channel amp. I'm not a huge kenwood fan, but I've heard nothing but great things about it. Google search it. You can pick them up for around $300 too.

 

If money is a concern Kenwood 5 Channel XR5S. If not the JL HD 900/5 is awesome. I have it.

A/B and Class D seperate amps cooler and safer? That makes NO sense. The JL amp I have is paired with Focal 165KR Components And 165CVX coaxials. It makes for some amazing clarity. Absoloutely NOTHING wrong with a JL HD amp untill you clip it... then it starts to not sound good. Make sure 100 watts is enough for your needs. For me it is EXACTLY enough.

Im running 2 IDQ v3 10" subs... 1 is only enough to fill in the low end IMO. You need 2 if you want it to bump.

I have never even felt my amp get warm. Even when the bass makes my hair and nose vibrate and the mids and highs leave me with ringing ears when I turn the thing off. Barely above room temperature... hard to tell it is even on.

The Kenwood is 90% of the amp for half the price, though.

 

I have the Kenwood xr5-s Amazing

 

Thanks for the comments everybody.

DevL - I've thought about two IDQ 10s. I like having a system that can bump hard, but I listen to all types of music (country, rock, rap, etc). My concern was that with 2 10s, the bass might be overpowering with some types of music.

I assume you have the D4s with the voice coils in series and the speakers in parallel to give 4 ohms? Been a while since I've done a full system so my memory is rusty, but I think that works. That would mean they each get 250W RMS rather than a single IDQ getting the full 500W?

 

They get 500 watts together... its not each since its both wired together and they share the same single channel of power and single airspace. But yeah, its like they get 250 each if you want to look at it like that. You have 2 choices to go up 3db... double the power or double the cone area. No single woofer will do 1000 watts that fits in our trucks. I have the remote bass knob so I adjust that 3 db down on the fly real easy. Its installed in the center bottom switch blank under the AC controls. It can do -0 to -15 db. I still have to bump up the head unit to +5 with 2 subs to get it to bump and +10 for rap or techno. The knob lets me put the head at +10 and still cut to -5 for certain things that to much bass ruins. I highly reccomend the remote knob for this reason. I also have both my gains set to about halfway as the recommended procedure by JL for gain seting is way too conservative. IDQs are not terribly efficient. 1 Kicker would hit twice as hard but sound like crap in comparison.

Also Image Dynamcs reccomends 300watts for the IDQ. 500 is the limit before the void the warranty and is redlining it.

If you go to 2 10" subs you really need to consider what you want out of your box. Mine has 2 10" subs with .65 cubes per sub (1.3 cubic feet total) fits my amp and can bth allow the sets to fold and play with the seats folded down.

I had to sacrifice lots to get that like the seat back covers and removing all the welded parts atached to my rear wall. If you are willing to not let your seats fold and dont care if you can play with a folded rear seat you can gain a lot more airspace and not cut all the metal out from behind the seat.

Yes, my subs are dual 4 Ohm wired in series/parallel.

 

Thanks again! I know other subs can hit harder. I am more concerned with SQ than SPL, which is why I was looking at the IDQs

 

I'm running 3 rockford amps in my truck, I have always used this brand for power and have been very satisfied. My truck pounds.

 

So after some more research I'm thinking I do want to stick with a 5-channel amp and am looking more into the Kenwood XR-5s. Can you run a remote to the dash for the sub channel like you can with the HD900/5?

Also, I know with both of these amps, the warranty is only good if you purchase from an authorized dealer. Has anyone had issues with amps purchase from sonicelectronics or woofersetc, or other online retailers?

Thanks again!

 

pdx 5, if the power is ideal for you. if the 5 isn't enough power, find a left over pdx 4.150 for your F/R and an m500 for that sub. but it seems the 5 would be perfect.

who cares if it "hasn't been updated". it's a great piece.

it's an awesome amp series. so small and robust. super duper audiophiles and internet overreaders will say it has noise. i'd be willing to bet 98 or 99 out of 100 of those people saying that wouldn't be able to pick it out of a line up vs. whatever amp they claim is better.

i have a pdx 4.150 that has been rock solid for over 3 years, with the front two channels pushing a type r component set, and the rear two channels bridged pushing a type r sub 2ohm DVC wired in series. signal came from a factory bose HU through a re-q.

the amp sounded beautiful and ran without a hiccup concealed underneath the tool tray in the spare tire well of hatchback.

as much as some people cringe, i buy the majority of my audio electronics from authorized resellers. it's just not worth the hassle if something goes wrong. my local shop will just take the old piece back, give you a new one, and deal with the factory themselves if something fails. you spend a few extra dollars but in the long run the peace of mind is worth it.

 

the alpine type x handles 1000 rms and is an sq sub. i love mine

 

I own the 900/5 and it's fantastic. The Kenwood is a better bargain IMO but wasn't available when I purchased. Looking back I don't know what amp I'd have gotten out of the two if they were both available. The JL is better for sure but it's also more expensive.

As for the bass knob, I don't think the JL has the option for one. But why not just use the adjustment on the Alpine headunit?

 

i am running the 2 hifonics amps for my system right now they were easy to install and they work great. running the same sub as you too

 

another satisfied kenwood xr-5s owner. for the money you wont regret it.

 

if you want to save money AND improve you sq, get rid of the rear speakers.

 

You mean Kenwood? JL has one because I am using it.

 

I'm running 2 kicker cvt 12s off of a kicker zx1000.1, back doors have mb quart 6.5s component speakers, fronts have 6x9 mb quart with tweets and 1.5 inch tweets above them door speakers are running off of a kicker zx 350.1. It sounds great!