silverta16

I thought all monsoon stereo's were 500 watt but i read on here that the early ones were 250 watt. What should my 98 SS have if it has monsoon? Thanks Brandon.

2MuchRiceMakesMeSick

All though not very common they did make a 200 watt monsoon with the RPO code of UN0

todddchi

iTrader: (3)

97 was distinct. 98-02 they are all the same.

silverta16

So does my 98 have a 500 watt? Thanks

wickedwarlock

iTrader: (4)

I thought they were rated at peak not rms?

MikeFbody

iTrader: (2)

doesn't matter. The numbers on both setups were just pulled out of someone's *** anyway.

MikeFbody

iTrader: (2)

in the business, those types of ratings are known more as ILS (if lightning stikes).

LS1Formulation

iTrader: (13)

Lol ^^^^^

todddchi

iTrader: (3)

The ratings are definitely not RMS. The 500 watt figure is in best case a total addition of the peaks of each of the 4 head unit channels and the 8 amplifier channels.

Don't get tied up on it - it doesn't matter, and there isn't a "drop in" factory amp upgrade which is the main reason this question tends to come up.

If you want better sound replace the front door speakers and head unit. The amp is not the weak point.

HiTechGent

GM marketed the Monsoon stereo system in the '97 to '00 Camaro's as 200W. I believe this was solely to distinguish it from the 500W Monsoon system available in the more expensive Pontiac Firebird. The '01 and '02 Camaro models were listed as 500W.

Even if we concede that the 500W rating is dubious "ILS" spec, it does not make sense that GM would arbitrarily market the same part at such widely different rating values. I'm not saying that GM would be so wasteful as to produce 2 completely different amplifiers, but it is likely the 200W Camaro amplifier had the gain severely reduced. Hence, the significantly lower power rating.

Since the 200W amp and 500W amp are pin compatable with each other, it makes sense that GM would have only one replacement part number (500W) for both amplifiers.

Replacing the 200W amp with the 500W may make a difference in how loud the overall system will play. But I would not expect any improvement in sound quality.

wickedwarlock

iTrader: (4)

yeap, that's peak, lol.

wickedwarlock

iTrader: (4)

I belive all 3 are weak. But that's just me and probably mike@fbodyaudio.

WhiteBird00

iTrader: (4)

There is another thread on this subject but basically, the 97 Camaro used one version of the amp and the 98 through 02 used a different one. The 97 amp was rated 200W RMS and was physically smaller than the later models. The larger 98/99 amp was also rated 200W RMS and then the same amp was rated 500W peak from 2000 on. This was strictly marketing - 500W sells better than 200W even though they are rated two different ways (and even though the ratings are optimistic). Note, the Firebird amp is different and is rated at 240W RMS even though it has the same 500W peak.

Not only is the replacement part number the same for 98-02, the part number stamped on the amp itself is the same through those years.

ls1wfo

Just gimme a 100 watts RMS with 4 channels and .02 THD AND I'd be really really satisfied rockers .

wickedwarlock

iTrader: (4)

I bet you won't tell the difference in .1 or a .02 thd. Very few people can.

todddchi

iTrader: (3)

Well, the point I make over and over again is that there are quite a few people that do clean sheet head unit directly to four new speakers without adding an amp, and are then disappointed by the sound.

People doing a simple head unit / 4 speaker install are better off using the monsoon amp than they are just using the head unit amp, or going out and buying some junky pyramid amp to use. The point is missed because there are not many people in this situation, but on a tight budget it can work pretty well.