Amp recomendations

[John Mcpartland]

I have a 2017 AR240 and I just bought 6 jl mx6.5 and a jl ib 10in sub. Would it be better to go with 2 4 channel amps or go with the jl 800/8? The guys at the car stereo shops recommend going with 2 4 channel amps saying if one goes bad its cheaper to replace 1 4ch. And they dont seem to know about the jl 8 channel amp
Thanks
John

 

[jcyamaharider]

Are you wanting to go with a JL Audio amp? There are plenty of good d class amps out there for the money. I am using the polk amps that came with my boat on 6 JL mx650, 1 core 10 wetsounds sound bar and a JL IB sub. Everything sounds great! I am using a polk 4000.4 and a polk 5000.5. On my last boat I even used polk amps because they are a great value and they put out the power. You can see the details in my sig.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

I like the idea of a 8 channel for simplicity. 6 channels to your speakers and the last two bridged to the sub.

 

[jcyamaharider]

$500 for 2 amps or $770 for one....

 

[MattFX4]

Go with the one JL 800/8. I have the same amp and it's a beast. Very efficient too.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

$500 for 2 amps or $770 for one....

Where can the JL be had for $250?

 

[jcyamaharider]

I didn't say JL, you can buy 2 polk amps that put out the required rms and more for 200 bucks though.

but if you want to get technical:

https://www.amazon.com/JL-Audio-JX4...8&qid=1509115800&sr=8-4&keywords=jl+audio+amp

 

[John Mcpartland]

Thanks for the suggestion. I found the jl 800.8 refurbished for $499. With a 2 year warranty. I'll probably go that route to keep it simple but the 2 polk amps do let me add tower speaker in the future.

 

[robert843]

I'm installing the same speaker set up I didn't want to spend a ton of Money on Amps I spent $99 on the JL mx300/1 for the subwoofer and $200 on a polk pad 40004 to power 6 6.5 inch speakers should sound pretty good from what I have read .

https://www.amazon.com/Polk-Audio-PAD4000-4-4-Channel-Amplifier/dp/B006OCBW1Y
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_13698402/JL-Audio-MHX300-1.html?search=mhx_300&skipvs=T

 

[John Mcpartland]

Has anyone tried the clarion xc micro amps? I like the size

 

[swatski]

Has anyone tried the clarion xc micro amps? I like the size

Yes, the xc1410 is an awesome little guy. It can not be bridged, but is stable at 2 ohms and works GREAT with 4 or 6 Polk DBs - used that way by many forum members here.

I have two XC1410s pushing 10 Polk DB651s. One that is pushing 6 DBs (1 pair at 4 ohms and 2 pairs at 2 ohms) maybe as loud if not louder than the other (which is pushing 2 pairs at 4 ohms).

Those amps are about as simple and efficient as these things get. There are several great write-ups here by members who are using them, I have yet to hear of one failing. I wouldn't use them for larger tower speakers, but for cockpit 6.5" - you may be surprised how well one XC would work with all 6 speakers. If not - the worst case - it will buy you some time before you figure out what you really want/need. That can be an interesting process.

I have learned that expensive does not always equal better for my liking. For example, I have a set of tower WS ICON8s powered by WS amp - that cost about 1.5k for the whole set with clamps etc. Yet, I find myself liking my lowly DBs so much more, I have them usually cranked up and the ICONS de-tuned. But that's just what I found works for us, and I wouldn't know it if I didn't try.

I like the idea of a WS tower-soundbar, too, how @jcyamaharider or @Julian have theirs set up.

--

 

[Jaylex]

@John Mcpartland I don't think you can go wrong with the 800/8. I also have one of those and it gives you a ton of flexibility now and in the future. Plus it will simplify the install with 1 amp vs 2, its does costs more than other setups, but you wont hear anything else bad about the amp....I say go for it.

 

[John Mcpartland]

Yes, the xc1410 is an awesome little guy. It can not be bridged, but is stable at 2 ohms and works GREAT with 4 or 6 Polk DBs - used that way by many forum members here.

I have two XC1410s pushing 10 Polk DB651s. One that is pushing 6 DBs (1 pair at 4 ohms and 2 pairs at 2 ohms) maybe as loud if not louder than the other (which is pushing 2 pairs at 4 ohms).

Those amps are about as simple and efficient as these things get. There are several great write-ups here by members who are using them, I have yet to hear of one failing. I wouldn't use them for larger tower speakers, but for cockpit 6.5" - you may be surprised how well one XC would work with all 6 speakers. If not - the worst case - it will buy you some time before you figure out what you really want/need. That can be an interesting process.

I have learned that expensive does not always equal better for my liking. For example, I have a set of tower WS ICON8s powered by WS amp - that cost about 1.5k for the whole set with clamps etc. Yet, I find myself liking my lowly DBs so much more, I have them usually cranked up and the ICONS de-tuned. But that's just what I found works for us, and I wouldn't know it if I didn't try.

I like the idea of a WS tower-soundbar, too, how @jcyamaharider or @Julian have theirs set up.

--

Thanks for the info, it looks like the xc2410 is the same but it is bridgeable.

 

[bigblank69]

Thanks for the suggestion. I found the jl 800.8 refurbished for $499. With a 2 year warranty. I'll probably go that route to keep it simple but the 2 polk amps do let me add tower speaker in the future.

Who did the refurb? Guaranteed it wasn't by JL Audio and then your stuck if anything goes wrong...

Personally I had the Polk PAD 4000.4 and it was a great amp, puts out over 150W Rms (Actual as the amp is underrated) and I tested it at over 500w bridged, very nice amps.