22 replies to this topic

[MICSS88]

hi guys,
can you guys give me some advice?

i am finding a 2 channel SQ amp to power a 3 way front stage.

I am happy with anything above 150 watts per channel.

i have 3 choices in mind,
the Audison LRX 2.9, Audison VOCE AV DUE or the FOCAL FPS 2.300RX.

Both of the audisons are very expensive retailing at around $1200 but are way more powerful than the FOCAL.
But the weird thing is that the older LRX is more expensive then the newer Voces. Is the LRX the better amp? as their specs are very similar.

The FOCAL in the other hand is way cheaper at around $799 retail while outputting 155 watts per channel. what do you guys think? do you think the audison's have an advantage in sound quality? is it worth almost double the asking price of the focal?

Thankyou

[Tritty]

You're going to be running them passively yes? If so, I'd go the Audison, I've heard the LRX but not the Voces. IMO the LRX is better than the Focal for SQ, plus you'll need all the power you can get because the crossovers will take approx 20% of the power you feed them. (depending on how efficent they are)

[MICSS88]

i see, I currently have an Audison LRX 6.9. It is a 6 channel amplifier.
But i can run it at 3 channels With channel A and B running the front stage with 240watts per channel.
and channel C running the SUB with 280 watts.
However, when i asked the advice of Bill Leighton of Focal, He states that:

"Running any amplifier in bridged mode makes it sound rough. It's to do with the slew rate, which is a term used to describe how quickly the output of an amplifier can track its input. The higher the slew rate, the better the amp is at reproducing the subtle nuances and dynamics of the music. Music played through a bridged amplifier will sound a little harsh and what we call 'grainy'. You really need a two channel amplifier if you are only running front speakers"

He also states that:

"Ideally run your subwoofer from a separate amplifier than your Utopias. The reason being that subwoofers draw vast amounts of current and pull down the voltage within the amplifier during heavy bass tracks. This makes the music from the front channels sound harsh because the amplifier is under stress, running out of power. If you are running a subwoofer, give it its own amplifier and your front speakers will sound better."

What do you guys think?
do you think, i should just use the LRX 6.9 for my front stage and subs? or to follow his advice of purchasing a 2 channel amp and a seperate Mono SUB amp?
What do you think is the most financially feasible option as installing 2 seperate amplifier would be greater in complexity and cost. Do you think running 2 seperate amps would make a BIG difference than running it with the LRX 6.9?

I also asked him regarding running the 3 ways active using the LRX 6.9, but he did not recommend this. He said:

"
I'd stick with the Focal crossover. Using the UNIQ crossovers, the settings are all taken care of, there is much less room for error, the speakers stay precisely in phase during the transitions up and down in frequency. As the speakers hand over the sound to each other at different frequencies, the two drivers involved stay exactly in phase, which is not always the case with active set-ups. The adjustments are clearly marked and user-tunable.
Active systems require very accurate set-up using some very expensive equipment, if they are done properly."

What do you guys think??

My front stage is an Focal Utopia BE kit n7 Active 3 ways with the uniq crossovers.
The sub that i am planning to run would probably be a FOCAL Utopia 21WX 8 inch sub, Seas lotus 250/1 or Morel Ultimo 8.

Edited by kevin sutanto, 31 May 2012 - 12:16 AM.

[IamtheSteg]

Hi Kevin, some very nice gear you have and are looking at...

What car is this all installed in? How is it installed? How hands on are you wrt tuning, or how much time are u prepared to pay for with someone tuning? Are you looking to compete or just enjoy?

Sorry bout all the questions!
The utopia xo is undoubtedly a very well designed and beautifully made unit - it should sound wonderful...
The biggest problem with a typical 3 way install in a car though will be PLD - for example you may have midbass drivers low in the door, miss high in the door and tweets up in the dash or A pillar.

This makes it very difficult to create realistic staging and imaging. You can only time align each channel as a whole so r pretty limited in this regard.

The flip side is a full active front will require 6 channels of amplification and you are starting at square 1 wrt tuning and driver integration... Much more flexible but time consuming and not for the faint of heart!

Sorry bout the long reply but I'm sure with some more info some of the gurus in here can help you work out what's best for your install...

[Big_Valven]

I'd go the LRx.

[~Spyne~]

Spec-wise, the two Audisons are almost identical. However, I'd personally go for the LRx also, simply because I have experience with the LRx line of amps and think they are extremely well made with very good components.

[MICSS88]

Hi Kevin, some very nice gear you have and are looking at...

What car is this all installed in? How is it installed? How hands on are you wrt tuning, or how much time are u prepared to pay for with someone tuning? Are you looking to compete or just enjoy?

Sorry bout all the questions!
The utopia xo is undoubtedly a very well designed and beautifully made unit - it should sound wonderful...
The biggest problem with a typical 3 way install in a car though will be PLD - for example you may have midbass drivers low in the door, miss high in the door and tweets up in the dash or A pillar.

This makes it very difficult to create realistic staging and imaging. You can only time align each channel as a whole so r pretty limited in this regard.

The flip side is a full active front will require 6 channels of amplification and you are starting at square 1 wrt tuning and driver integration... Much more flexible but time consuming and not for the faint of heart!

Sorry bout the long reply but I'm sure with some more info some of the gurus in here can help you work out what's best for your install...

I will be installing this in a Lexus rx, the woofers will be in the door panel while both the tweeters and mids would be placed in the a pillars. i am just building this system for my own enjoyment, not for any competition. I currently have a 6 channel amp which is the audison LRX 6.9. i am just confused in regards to whether running this system active using the LRX 6.9, Running the LRX 6.9 in 3 channel mode to run the front stage and sub, or to get a stereo amp along with a mono amp to run the system. i am just confused to what will be the most cost effective system

[Big_Valven]

Keep the amplifier you have, and buy a mono amplifier for subwoofer(s.) It's perfect for what you want to do, running in 6 channel mode.

[data_mine]

Having recently spent some time with a Kit7 install (wazza's), in with both the crossblocks and active. I'd say, if you're prepared for spending time with tuning, go active. Waz isn't convinced yet, and it needs some more effort in tuning, but it will be a kick ass system when it's right.

As said above, staging on a passive install will always be a compromise. With active, there's more you can do to fix it.

So. IMHO, keep the 6 channel LRx, add a mono, and run it all active.
(no mention of what head unit/processor you have???)

[~Spyne~]

^
Agreed. If you have the processing to control time-alignment, then run active with the LRx6.9 and buy a mono amp for the sub.
You don't even NEED crossover control on the headunit, as the LRx6.9 has adequate crossovers for active 3-way set-ups (though typically a processor or high-end headunit will have more flexibility around crossover points, accuracy and slope adjustment).

[MICSS88]

Having recently spent some time with a Kit7 install (wazza's), in with both the crossblocks and active. I'd say, if you're prepared for spending time with tuning, go active. Waz isn't convinced yet, and it needs some more effort in tuning, but it will be a kick ass system when it's right.

As said above, staging on a passive install will always be a compromise. With active, there's more you can do to fix it.

So. IMHO, keep the 6 channel LRx, add a mono, and run it all active.
(no mention of what head unit/processor you have???)

^
Agreed. If you have the processing to control time-alignment, then run active with the LRx6.9 and buy a mono amp for the sub.
You don't even NEED crossover control on the headunit, as the LRx6.9 has adequate crossovers for active 3-way set-ups (though typically a processor or high-end headunit will have more flexibility around crossover points, accuracy and slope adjustment).

I am planning to run, a Mcintosh MX406 as my source. I do not have a processor currently and i am still confused whether i should get one?
I'm new in car audio, but i have been a long player in home audio. usually in home audio, the shortest path from the the source to the amp and the speakers is the best route to the best sound quality. Wouldnt putting a pure signal into a processor before the amp would somehow degrade the signal due to things like more digital/analog, analog/digital conversions?

[data_mine]

From a car audio point of view, because a car is a terrible 'room' for audio, you need the extra processing capability to help deal with the inherit issues.

That McIntosh deck, is severely lacking in such features (no crossovers, no time alignment, very limited EQ), I'd probably skip it altogether and look for something else.

[MICSS88]

Fair enough.
is there any head units that have a time alignment function, slope adjustment and etc?
because the LRX 6.9 already have a crossover function, if possible, i do not want to include any DSP such as bit one because it will increase the system's complication.

[jamiebosco]

Pioneer P99

[~Spyne~]

Current headunits = Pioneer DEX-P99RS, Pioneer DEH-80PRS, Clarion HX-D2, Clarion CZ702A, Alpine CDA-117E, JVC KD-R90BT

Of course if you're running three-way active PLUS sub/s you will need a headunit that has 4 pairs of RCA pre-outs, which limits your current headunit options to the P99RS and the HX-D2

[SQXPRT]

The Pioneer "P99" is the winner for single-box systems at the moment. Excellent sound quality, good tuning features, and clean looks.

[iluvmusik]

Some nice gear you're aiming for there. Like to see how it pans out.

[scraverX]

I've been half eyeing the Voce myself but that's only because you can get 'add-on' modules that allow digital connection between the BitOne processor and amps. If I didn't have the BitOne I'd probably go the LRx's as well.

[sam04]

I want to know which amplifier would be best for subs, either bridged EX2500 or bridged RMX2450, I mean which amp has better performance with subs ? All information are welcome .

[~Spyne~]

1. This is not your thread, try starting a new one to ask you question.
2. Neither are car audio amplifiers. Perhaps ask your question on Stereonet.

[sam04]

1. This is not your thread, try starting a new one to ask you question.
2. Neither are car audio amplifiers. Perhaps ask your question on Stereonet.

Thanks for the information .

[SQXPRT]

meow!

[sam04]

hi guys,
can you guys give me some advice?

i am finding a 2 channel SQ amp to power a 3 way front stage.

I am happy with anything above 150 watts per channel.

i have 3 choices in mind,
the Audison LRX 2.9, Audison VOCE AV DUE or the FOCAL FPS 2.300RX.

Both of the audisons are very expensive retailing at around $1200 but are way more powerful than the FOCAL.
But the weird thing is that the older LRX is more expensive then the newer Voces. Is the LRX the better amp? as their specs are very similar.

The FOCAL in the other hand is way cheaper at around $799 retail while outputting 155 watts per channel. what do you guys think? do you think the audison's have an advantage in sound quality? is it worth almost double the asking price of the focal?

Thankyou

My Opinian is "FOCAL FPS 2.300RX." is best for you.