15 replies to this topic

[TRD1JeeZy]

Hi fellas,

was just wondering those that run active setups how have you got your amps configured?

ie 2way do you have an amp per speaker? or an amp a side? or an amp for the mids and amp for tweeters?

which is the most common/preferred way to arrange the amps..
any pros/cons to each way?

Cheers

[shiny_car]

it depends what amps you have and/or how many you're prepared to have.

the ultimate setup would be one monobloc fullrange amp per driver. so a 2-way set of splits would have 4 monoblocs!

but, cos of cost and space, most people either run 2x 2-channel amps or a single 4-channel amp.

to a degree, the availability of amps is a factor too. some series of amps are not available as 2-channel models (eg: alpine V12), and their monoblocs are not fullrange amps.

in my previous setup, i used a separate 2-channel amp to run the 7" midwoofers in the doors. then i had a 6-channel onhand to run the tweeters and midrange drivers; the other 2 channels ran the rear speakers.

[mad89]

hmm. mine was/is kept fairly simple...

i run 6.5" + 4" + 1" tweeter, and (in 'stage 4' of my install) simply ran a 4ch to the 6.5"s (on ch 1 and 2) and 4" (on ch 3 and 4) and another 4ch to the tweeters (on ch 1 and 2) (and ch 3 and 4 ran the rear fill)...

have a look thru my install
http://www.caraudioaustralia.com/forums/in...showtopic=77316



- mad89

edit: if i was going with a 2 way active setup, id prolly opt for a nice beefy 4ch (for ease of installation etc), OR if ur willing to sacrafice the room etc, a beefy 2ch for the mids, and a slightly smaller 2ch for the tweeters? (or an beefy assymmetrical 4ch maybe? old DD C4, or current DD S4 springs to mind)...

Edited by mad89, 31 December 2006 - 11:57 AM.

[Fury♫]

Easiest? 4ch amp running the front (channel per driver).
Having an amp for left and amp for right offers better seperation between l/r.
Having an amp per driver would be ideal but most expensive.

[~Spyne~]

most will simply use a 4ch amp, with 1+2 used for tweeters and 3+4 for woofers. this is because most amp dont have separate gains for each channel...thos 4ch amps that do have sep gains for each channel, you would be best to use 1+2 for left side, 3+4 for right side...this would usually give slightly better left/right separation.

if you have the money, the better way is 2x 2ch amps, one for left, one for right - this will give best left/right separation.
others prefer to run beefy 2ch amps for the woofers, while using a smaller 2ch for the tweets.

basically there are many different ways to do it, all with their own pros and cons

...and lets all reply at the same time

lol. gee we're a friendly, helpful bunch

[fuddbutter]

i just use one good 4 channel amp that has exelent seperation.
each channel has it's own independent gain.
when i do go 3 ways, hopefuly soon i will have a seperate amp for the midbass, a 2 channel very similer to the 4 channel

[TRD1JeeZy]

so amp for left and right is better than amp for mids/tweeters?

maybe if i include the gear i'll be running...

Speakers :
Soundstream Reference series splits RF-60C 6.5"mid and 1" silk dome tweeter rated at 180wrms

pair of Peerless 6.5" mids
http://www.advanceae.com.au/catalog/produc...roducts_id=2462

pair of Vifa 6.5" mids ~75wrms (8ohm)
http://www.advanceae.com.au/catalog/produc...roducts_id=2484

was planning to trial a few different setups running the different mids with the tweeters, and then a pair of the mids will become rear fill and maybe run 2 pairs of mids up front (any point running 2 pairs of 6.5" mids or not worth the hassle?)

Amps i have:
2x Orion 3002 (75wrms x 2 @ 4ohm) <--unlikely i will use these amps for anything but rear fill
Earthquake TNT 1000/2 (200wrms x 2 @ 4ohm)
Alpine V12 MRV-T1005 (100wrms x 2 @ 4ohm)

also eyeing off at 2 other amps:
alphasonik PMA2150 (150wrms x 2 @ 4ohm)
Brax X2400 (100wrms x 4 @ 4ohm)

and also open to any other clean power amps...

[Fury♫]

I'd be using the 2 orions for the front stage, and the alpine or earthquake for the sub (other for rear fill if ou must have it).
I've always been a fan of matching amps, and the Orions are quite nice.


You're going to be eying off that Brax for a long time, unless you have a wallet full of gold

[fuddbutter]

i would agree with fury, run the orions for the fronts

[Pulse-R]

I run an amp for each side - but that may change for set-up purposes... dunno yet.

[TRD1JeeZy]

Quote

I'd be using the 2 orions for the front stage, and the alpine or earthquake for the sub (other for rear fill if ou must have it).
I've always been a fan of matching amps, and the Orions are quite nice.

I was under the impression that the orions wouldnt be as clean as the other two amps, but i just checked the specs and looks decent on paper.
so will have to test them all in different setups to see which one i like best.
also out of the 2 remaining amps 1 would be used for rear fill. and either sell the last amp or maybe possible change to 3 way active up front.
i already have a dedicated sub amp as well...

Quote

You're going to be eying off that Brax for a long time, unless you have a wallet full of gold

wallet full of gold? nope... but ive got more than enough to get this amp if i really wanted/needed it... It is a very nice amp with well reputed SQ qualities but i think i will go with what i have for the moment. and see how it goes..

[mad89]

TRD1JeeZy, on Jan 1 2007, 10:35 PM, said:

also out of the 2 remaining amps 1 would be used for rear fill. and either sell the last amp or maybe possible change to 3 way active up front.

TRD1JeeZy, on Dec 31 2006, 02:41 PM, said:

Amps i have:
2x Orion 3002 (75wrms x 2 @ 4ohm) <--unlikely i will use these amps for anything but rear fill
Earthquake TNT 1000/2 (200wrms x 2 @ 4ohm)
Alpine V12 MRV-T1005 (100wrms x 2 @ 4ohm)

hmm. if it were me, and u were opting for "2 way active + sub", id go:

Option 1: (For sake of having similar sounding amps for front stage)
Orion 3002 = 6.5"
Orion 3002 = 1" Tweeters
Alpine MRV-T1005 = Rear Fill
EarthQuake TNT1000/2 = Bridged Sub

Option 2: (For sake of more power up front)
Alpine MRV-T1005 = 6.5"
Orion 3002 = 1" Tweeters
Orion 3002 = Rear Fill
EarthQuake TNT1000/2 = Bridged Sub

now, if u decide to go for "3 way active + sub", id go:

Option 1:
Alpine MRV-T1005 = 6.5" Mid-bass
Orion 3002 = Midrange
Orion 3002 = Tweeters
EarthQuake TNT1000/2 = Bridged Sub
(Rear Fill off the HU, or none at all)

thats my $0.02

- mad89

[~thematt~]

TRD1JeeZy, on Jan 1 2007, 08:35 PM, said:

wallet full of gold? nope... but ive got more than enough to get this amp if i really wanted/needed it... It is a very nice amp with well reputed SQ qualities but i think i will go with what i have for the moment. and see how it goes..

The Brax are possibly some of the best amps ever made under 10k. Ive seen the guts of them, and they are extremely well built. The sound is also extremely clear, very detailed and clean. However, unless you have some really good gear to team them with, they are really just a waste. Like buying a Rolls-Royce and putting a spoiler on it. They arent plug-and-play SQ. To really make them shine, you need the gear to bring them out. IMO, its quite silly to pour money into something like this, if you dont have the front stage to use it, or the ears to tell the difference. You'd be surprised at how similar they sound to amps at a quarter of the price, and IMO not justifiable on the expenditure. But hey, each to his own.

The Orions really are nice amps. Ive heard a few, and for their price bracket, are quite good. They dont have the brick$hithouse reliability they used to, but most amps these days dont. Nice, clean and seem underpowered. You already have them, so Id be going with them.

Try and be careful not to overcomplicate things. It becomes a very expensive lesson on ignorance. I know, Ive been there. You have some nice amps already, try and use them for your purposes first. If you find yourself still wanting, then try and upgrade. You never know, simplicity may be that which you have been searching for all this time

[TRD1JeeZy]

Quote

hmm. if it were me, and u were opting for "2 way active + sub", id go:

Option 1: (For sake of having similar sounding amps for front stage)
Orion 3002 = 6.5"
Orion 3002 = 1" Tweeters
Alpine MRV-T1005 = Rear Fill
EarthQuake TNT1000/2 = Bridged Sub

Option 2: (For sake of more power up front)
Alpine MRV-T1005 = 6.5"
Orion 3002 = 1" Tweeters
Orion 3002 = Rear Fill
EarthQuake TNT1000/2 = Bridged Sub

now, if u decide to go for "3 way active + sub", id go:

Option 1:
Alpine MRV-T1005 = 6.5" Mid-bass
Orion 3002 = Midrange
Orion 3002 = Tweeters
EarthQuake TNT1000/2 = Bridged Sub
(Rear Fill off the HU, or none at all)

thats my $0.02

- mad89

i will be trying all possible configurations and hopefully one will stand out over the rest. and as stated in my last post there is also an amp for the sub already so the 4 amps that ive listed are all available for use between the splits and rear fill.

Quote

The Orions really are nice amps. Ive heard a few, and for their price bracket, are quite good. They dont have the brick$hithouse reliability they used to, but most amps these days dont. Nice, clean and seem underpowered. You already have them, so Id be going with them.

Underpowered? i assume you meant underrated? free power is always good, and i do always prefer to have more than less.

Quote

Try and be careful not to overcomplicate things. It becomes a very expensive lesson on ignorance. I know, Ive been there. You have some nice amps already, try and use them for your purposes first. If you find yourself still wanting, then try and upgrade. You never know, simplicity may be that which you have been searching for all this time

too true mate. thats why ive gone against my impulsivness and didnt run out and get that brax amp for sale...
is it really worth nearly 10K?? i knew it would be pricey but didnt think it would be *that* much... some dude on this forums is selling one at what seems a very decent price (and hes in perth too )

[Juls]

These days I'm running Dual 4 channels bridged as dual monos.

I did notice a considerable difference in separation when I made the switch.
only did it recently though, still waiting on a second 4ch to complete the deal!

Juls