Old School VS. New School Power
Old School VS. New School Power Ok so right now I'm running an old school setup of Rockford Fosgate Punch 200ix and Punch 4080. No problems with the amps at all but I decided to add another sub and before I spend more money on a old school amp can anyone suggest some new stuff that will push true power. Not these so called 1000 watt amps that might do that in a burp but Im looking for something that's true to its rating. Now I know most of the stuff back in the day for example rockford, orion, lanzar, us amps, PPI, Phoenix Gold, Soundstream and so on have pretty much turned to junk since no longer made in the USA or just not what it used to be. I'm used to class A/B power but did try JL audio's amps and was very disappointed, so please any suggestions of some good products. Oh and if you know about these amps then that will show your age just like me 
Heres a pic of my setup under construction yet but might be changing...again
I do have the link and endcaps so it will look like one big amp, but if I add another 200ix will be a huge amp...if I could find another link
Heres a pic of my setup under construction yet but might be changing...again
I do have the link and endcaps so it will look like one big amp, but if I add another 200ix will be a huge amp...if I could find another link
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 620
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From: Brownsville, texas
Ok so right now I'm running an old school setup of Rockford Fosgate Punch 200ix and Punch 4080. No problems with the amps at all but I decided to add another sub and before I spend more money on a old school amp can anyone suggest some new stuff that will push true power. Not these so called 1000 watt amps that might do that in a burp but Im looking for something that's true to its rating. Now I know most of the stuff back in the day for example rockford, orion, lanzar, us amps, PPI, Phoenix Gold, Soundstream and so on have pretty much turned to junk since no longer made in the USA or just not what it used to be. I'm used to class A/B power but did try JL audio's amps and was very disappointed, so please any suggestions of some good products. Oh and if you know about these amps then that will show your age just like me
Heres a pic of my setup under construction yet but might be changing...again
I do have the link and endcaps so it will look like one big amp, but if I add another 200ix will be a huge amp...if I could find another link
Heres a pic of my setup under construction yet but might be changing...again
I do have the link and endcaps so it will look like one big amp, but if I add another 200ix will be a huge amp...if I could find another link
Yes sir rockford used to be king along with many others. Pretty much any amp done by Zed Audio, PPI, Orion, among others were so called cheater amps. You have to remember though this was in a different time when the rules for SPL was alot different so you would have a amp that runs 25x2 but in reality would bridge to 500-1000w and you would still be in a lower class. So whats all this new school about anything worth looking into?
Last edited by 1sicLS1; Aug 10, 2010 at 02:26 PM.
I just buy old school off of eBay these days. I've got old school Orion amps in my daily driver and my Z28...I've even got a spare set of Orion amps in case something happens to the ones I'm running now.
US Amps use to have the most insane ratings of all the old school cheater amps IMO. I had a US Amps USA-25 that was only rated at like 12.5 watts x 2 RMS, but the thing would bridge and even handle 1 Ohm loads bridged...that's just insane! I think it put out like 300 watts RMS at 1 Ohm bridged if I remember correctly!
US Amps use to have the most insane ratings of all the old school cheater amps IMO. I had a US Amps USA-25 that was only rated at like 12.5 watts x 2 RMS, but the thing would bridge and even handle 1 Ohm loads bridged...that's just insane! I think it put out like 300 watts RMS at 1 Ohm bridged if I remember correctly!
I just buy old school off of eBay these days. I've got old school Orion amps in my daily driver and my Z28...I've even got a spare set of Orion amps in case something happens to the ones I'm running now.
US Amps use to have the most insane ratings of all the old school cheater amps IMO. I had a US Amps USA-25 that was only rated at like 12.5 watts x 2 RMS, but the thing would bridge and even handle 1 Ohm loads bridged...that's just insane! I think it put out like 300 watts RMS at 1 Ohm bridged if I remember correctly!
US Amps use to have the most insane ratings of all the old school cheater amps IMO. I had a US Amps USA-25 that was only rated at like 12.5 watts x 2 RMS, but the thing would bridge and even handle 1 Ohm loads bridged...that's just insane! I think it put out like 300 watts RMS at 1 Ohm bridged if I remember correctly!
You don't have any of that you wanna let go would ya? 
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Man I remember Orion and PPI making some damn nice amps. I ran two Eclipse amps back in the day on my 12" subs, I don't think they make them like that anymore. As far as new school - I think Alpine makes a decent amp.
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TECH Resident
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 856
Likes: 2
From: Elizabeth City NC
I like the older HiFonics as well, Ive used them for years and im still running one of there amps in my car. I remember when Rockford use to run things and when the DVC's came out from them they were unreal. Now all subs are Dual Voice Coil but lack the punch they had in the past.
Nah...I'm running the exact same Orion amps in both of my cars, and I have 1 set as a spare set...I don't know why, I've never had issues with my Orion stuff, but I love it so much that if anything ever did happen, I can just pop in my spare, reset the crossovers/gains and I'll be all set.
I do have some Crutchfield amps on eBay right now that were made by Precision Power back in '89 or so. I had a set of 5 amps that I was trying to sell as a set, but I finally split them up and I've already sold the 50x4 and 75x2, and all I've got left is a 50x2 and 30x2.
Here's a link to the expired auction of the set if you want to see some classic amps from '89 or so:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=270542587519
I do have some Crutchfield amps on eBay right now that were made by Precision Power back in '89 or so. I had a set of 5 amps that I was trying to sell as a set, but I finally split them up and I've already sold the 50x4 and 75x2, and all I've got left is a 50x2 and 30x2.
Here's a link to the expired auction of the set if you want to see some classic amps from '89 or so:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=270542587519
Looking for about 1000w and a matching 4 channel, but might just keep the old school not sure yet 
WOW!!! I remember them Crutchfields, it was all PPI guts very nice brings back memories there
yes alpine sure does great price to boot i have one and it surprised me
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 458
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From: Marissa, Il
I used to love the Pheonix Gold MPS series amps and the MS stuff too.
Anyone remember the Orion monster (cheater amp) that was rated at 1 watt.
IIRC it was one of the last straws that made huge changes in SPL competition.
And Orion did it on purpose for that reason.
Anyone remember the Orion monster (cheater amp) that was rated at 1 watt.
IIRC it was one of the last straws that made huge changes in SPL competition.
And Orion did it on purpose for that reason.
Old school amps are great for raw power, where New School amps you are going to see a Signal to Noise ratio that far exceeds what the old stuff used to put out. For bass this isn't as big of a deal since raw power is really what is needed, but getting clear mid to highs you really should look at some of the newest stuff. SPL contests are all about loudness, not quaility. For some good new school power based amps, you might look at Memphis. They have some great products.
For anything other than your subs, if you are still running an older amp it might be time to shop for new.
For anything other than your subs, if you are still running an older amp it might be time to shop for new.
Anyone have anything to say about Eclipse amps? I know back in the day they were expensive but you got good, clean power ... and it was powerful. I had two but gave them to my dad to put in his boat. For a while there, Eclipse seemed like they quit with the amps but it seems they are back. Anyone have one of their newer amps? I'd like to try and get them again if they're still good.
Just an FYI - the Eclipse amps in my dad's boat are about 10 years old and still trucking on pretty good. I had them on many different subs/speakers. The amps were too damn good to even consider buying a new one.
Just an FYI - the Eclipse amps in my dad's boat are about 10 years old and still trucking on pretty good. I had them on many different subs/speakers. The amps were too damn good to even consider buying a new one.
TECH Regular
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 458
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From: Marissa, Il
Anyone have anything to say about Eclipse amps? I know back in the day they were expensive but you got good, clean power ... and it was powerful. I had two but gave them to my dad to put in his boat. For a while there, Eclipse seemed like they quit with the amps but it seems they are back. Anyone have one of their newer amps? I'd like to try and get them again if they're still good.
Just an FYI - the Eclipse amps in my dad's boat are about 10 years old and still trucking on pretty good. I had them on many different subs/speakers. The amps were too damn good to even consider buying a new one.
Just an FYI - the Eclipse amps in my dad's boat are about 10 years old and still trucking on pretty good. I had them on many different subs/speakers. The amps were too damn good to even consider buying a new one.
These were the amps from back in the day.
Eclipse - Fujitsu Ten