i encountered this amp on ebay-australia of all places! and yes, it's genuine and it works cos i've bench-tested it!

it's an 'unused' MRV-F900 4-channel amplifier. i've not heard of any MEA members owning one of these, but if they do, cool. it's not something the 'normal' person would go down to their alpine dealer to buy - RRP$3999. let's just say i scored a bargain, costing me about the same price as an equivalent-powered alpine PDX 4-channel.

like other F1 Status gear, the build quality is superb. it weights in at a hefty 13.5kg, compared with my audison VRx6.420 (6-channel) at 9.0kg. it is also longer and a smidge deeper.

i'm not one for going over the specs with a fine-toothed comb, but here's some of them (mostly transribed from F1 literature - not all my wording!). some, i don't know the true benefit of!

*rated power: 4x75WRMS @ 4ohm (12V), 4x100WRMS @ 4ohm (14.4V), 4x200WRMS @ 2ohm / 2x400WRMS bridged (14.4V)
*birthsheet: 4x146.4WRMS @ 4ohm (14.4V)
*S/N ratio: 105dB

*no crossover filters at all: as probably anticipated, all filters provided by F1 PXA-H900 processor
*separate 'gain' controls for all channels

*three-stage Darlington bipolar circuit
*final stage has super-strong parallel push-pull circuit, designed in a perfectly independent two-channel structure, for double stage power supply in a symmetrical layout
*output stage directly linked to power supply by six-layer circuit board with 70µm thick copper plate
*power supply has two extra-large 70-mm diameter high-efficiency toroidal transformers; four specially tuned capacitors ensure unmatched, consistently stable power
*copper-plated chassis greatly reduces electromagnetic interference, eliminates noise, and contributes to pure, clean amplification

i initially bought it with plans to keep it as a collector's item, and not use it. but hey, i now have plans to fit it into the stereo as such:
*alpine MRV-F900: active 2-way front stage for Dynaudio MW160GT 6.5" woofers + morel Supremo Picollo tweeters
*audison VRx2.150: use one channel just for the centre channel!
*audison VRx1.500 monobloc: for sub duties

so i won't use my 6-channel VRx6.420, and the VRx2.150 is rather overkill as a 2-channel amp for the centre channel, planning to use only 1 channel (rather than bridge it); but i'll install it primarily for a nice symmetrical boot layout. i figure this F1 amp can't be too shabby, so will happily try it for the crucial front stage; i can always use the VRx for either the woofers or tweeters instead if i'm unhappy!

in other news (!), i just received my PXA-H900 processor back from a service at alpine. there was a fault (since new, mind you), where on start-up (ie: when cold), there was some 'static-like' distortion coming through one of the channels; disappeared once warm, after about 10min. there was found to be a faulty DSP chip inside. alpine kindly replaced the entire related circuit board for a new one from a processor they use for parts, at a nominal cost. apparently running perfectly now.


and now some pics!

*audison VRx6.420 vs Alpine MRV-F900 (incl Dynaudio 6.5" woofer for comparative size):



*Alpine controls: no xovers, just separate gain knobs for each channel, and switch for 'stereo' or 'bridged':



*amp guts:



*my tidy little collection: F1 Status CDA-7990R headunit + PXA-H900 processor + MRV-F900 amplifier:


thanks for looking. will be featured in the car in the near future (well, not the HU)!

Wow the amp looks beautiful, and obviously was a great buy, looks in top condition and all. Now to just get it installed, I'll check your install thread in September, should be just getting installed then

show off

Link

Here's a shop that will sell you some F1 status bits all day every day.

So we can all own a bit of the magic.

lol

Wow that's pretttttttty Rich!
Surprised ur going that path over the Audisons though.

amp looks nice - dual stereo goodness. build quality is nice (love those knobs).

can I have your head unit

Was thinking the same thing...

Good pick up. I'm sure that you'll love it and good to hear about the HU as well. I'm still surprised that they have parts from another one just lying around though.

still looks like an alpine amp though - unless of course u install it without the cover...THEN it looks hot (love the symmetry)
nice find shiny

i'm a show-off, yes.



well, i can only expect this amp to sound friggin' good! we know what alpine is capable of, and this isn't a cheap product, so it is probably extremely 'clean' sounding. i guess i won't know until i try, but the principles behind the design look superb, and i think it will be better than the VRx.

and, NO, i am not parting with the HU.

drool... that is all

Nice collection...
so this for a seperate SQ project? or in the Alfa? or another 'vehicle' altogether...
Maybe a nice neat 1650 to do a pure SQ comp??no?...

Well done mate, good luck comes to folks that make it happen.

Drool I want

wow very nice

Also How much did the processor set you back?

the amp and processor will be going into the alfa.

will probably be next year before i enter MEASQ comps again.



geez, it was quite a few years ago now, bought brand new from a member here. it originates from Singapore stock. AUS$3500 from memory, which was half retail.

i've been fortuante - not only being able to afford this kind of gear - but to encounter it 'cheaply'. all of it: F1 processor (half retail), HU (secondhand very cheaply), amp (as-new, very cheaply).

does that mean u might part with your VRx there Shiny, Lol???

nope, sorry! will keep the VRx6.420...just cos.

Nice pick up there Richard .... solidly built and beautifully laid out .... no doubt it will sound good

Ooooooooer... Its wery puuuuuurty indeed!

I like it Nice find!

damn you




/me sulks

Wow that was a very good price. I am putting 3 of those in my new 08 WRX here in Thailand. Can you get it at the price anymore? The shop here asking ~3000 $Au for each amp

such a cool amp and wicked find!

only problem i have with them is they just dont look different enough to the normail V12's you think for $4k rrp and being the 'F1' status amp it would look different.

still, i wouldnt say no to one

i like the 'look', but that's cos i like this style of V12 amp. granted, it's no different, though that was intentional i presume. it will indeed match that series of amplifier from '03 (ie: MRV-T420, MRV-F340/540, MRD-M300/500/1000). i guess that makes it a bit 'stealthy', which is part of its appeal.

but i know what you guys mean. as a flagship, you could expect something special, cosmetically.



unfortunately, this appears to be a one-off.

if you're using them, then i presume you consider them a good amp! what is their reputation in Thailand and other parts of the world? there is hardly any information on the internet because hardly anyone uses them. i really look forward to using it, but i wonder if its 'sound' is considerably different to my audison VRx.

nice find there Shiny..

searching on e-bay can indeed find some legit toys and treasures..


that'll look nicely alongside the PG mono..

ONE DAY i'll collect the PG mono off you damo!

whenever i look in my 'stereo cupboard', i see a PG 4-channel and 2-channel; i think they are missing their friend.

oh.. and a boot to go into...

i know of a certain gold & 'blinged' BMW that would appreciate those amps...

HAHAHAH

ohh the old school

and shiny
how am i ever going to ctch up to you

hehehe

Run a test along the side of milbert, butler, luxman cm-2000, brax, PDX, DLS TA2. F900 sounded similar to Luxman but with a bit more guts. Milbert is still the king but F900 is pretty close.

mmm, sounds good. thanks for the feedback.

mmm F1 MRV-F900, good find shiny, I always wondered how this amp would sound. Its a wonder why Alpine through away their R&D of this amp?! Must have been expensive to make

So Milbert is the King over F900? Wouldn't that be personal preference since that test is tube vs SS. I am sure the F900 would walk all over the Milbert in low freqs such as midbass - that may be important to some