I've always had the experience of swapping car amps to change the sound. However I think it is more due to how the amp is colored, or internal EQ'ing, not the output transistors themselves like Clark says. Also different amps go into distortion in different ways; on the high side my little alpine will cut out with bass hits but stays clean otherwise....my new kicker will fade to static no matter what and it does not work for me in this setup. Maybe new amps sound the same but old ones were often different (comparing w/out an EQ change if you even had one). Then you have other things like noise floors, overhead, etc. I will agree you need to find a pretty crappy amp to hear amplifier produced flaws that affect the music in a normal car even if the amp has a slightly different response or 'sound' such as more/less bass response.

I made metal tapes for years off of records. They were great in a car, most people never heard a metal tape made on a three head deck.

Helotaxi out of nowhere with the old world amp knowledge.

Solution, send me the Rubi 555, and keep the class A's doing what they are doing. WINNAR!

Lol that rubi isn't going anywhere yet. I found an ebay auction that said rubi 555 and had no pics. Only description was "awesome amp". Buy it now was $50 so I took a chance and ended up with a pretty damn clean 555.

Helotaxi out of nowhere with the old world amp knowledge.

Call it a gift, call it a curse. I remember random crap for YEARS. Useful stuff like people's names...nope.

Lol that rubi isn't going anywhere yet. I found an ebay auction that said rubi 555 and had no pics. Only description was "awesome amp". Buy it now was $50 so I took a chance and ended up with a pretty damn clean 555.

Well we will have to work a deal in the future when I actually have a few play dollars to snatch up some of your un-used soundstream. Still kicking myself for selling my old ones out of the Mercedes.

Helotaxi out of nowhere with the old world amp knowledge.

Call it a gift, call it a curse. I remember random crap for YEARS. Useful stuff like people's names...nope.

For the classic amp fan here, it is a gift. Have you peaked at the Zuki's? They seem to resemble some parts from classic SoundStreams.

Helotaxi out of nowhere with the old world amp knowledge.

Call it a gift, call it a curse. I remember random crap for YEARS. Useful stuff like people's names...nope.

It's a curse. I feel your pain

I forget names usually with in 4 - 9 seconds after I hear them.

Had to ask the gf about 6 times what her dad's name was, oops.

Helotaxi out of nowhere with the old world amp knowledge.

Call it a gift, call it a curse. I remember random crap for YEARS. Useful stuff like people's names...nope.

For the classic amp fan here, it is a gift. Have you peaked at the Zuki's? They seem to resemble some parts from classic SoundStreams.

The Zuki's are a knock off and nothing special, only their ratings are special.

Gut pics of the Zuki's ?

Gut pics of the Zuki's ?

You have PM.

Me too.

I bought a rub 302 a while back and think I got it for 70-75 shipped. It worked fine and came with the wire cover also. 8+/10 shape, only marks were around feet really. Been looking for a while to pair with another figure they would be good high side amps? I ran one on a 12 and it went pretty loud actually.

I was watching a mint Rubi on ebay, it climbed out of my budget in the last 24 hours.

The Rubis seem to go for some really good $$ lately. I like the first gen reference series the best... before the S and SX models.

The ref's are very good too. On day the SSA shop will be doing well and I can feed my amplifier addicition.

are the rubis really that good? never herd one... only real sq amps ive herd are ppi art series and older xtants.... how would u compare?

SS tend to be a little cold and precise sounding IMO, but are clean and good power. It depends on your drivers/install if that will sound bad and if you have lots of EQ well then it does not matter. I'm going to try a pile of amps here soon, have some rubs, naks, HK, alpine, ppi all old school and then some cheaper and newer amps to compare to them. What I don't like I will bail on since some of them can be so pricey....still just another amp to me but they tend to be more durable than new ones that is for sure. I have 2 of the rubs, that should be enough to run active highs I would think providing I like them. I have used older D series in the past but not the rubs. I did run a 12 with one, pretty powerful even on an 8ga wire I tried it on. The first one I got for $40 local couple yr ago so deals are out there. Pretty compact for 300w also, but I don't like the crossover chips.

are mcintosh amps really that good? i would love to test one out

are mcintosh amps really that good? i would love to test one out

they are pretty.....

I agree with m5. IN car, Meh. Even at home, I challenge someone hearing the difference. When it comes to low distortion power, having a large overhead above what the speaker needs > some super dee duper class A ultra mofaky amp. Power wins IMHO

I like how tubes LOOK. And I <3 how McIntosh home apms look. I could use like 3-4 of those pretty green hued beauties.

Edited April 11, 200817 yr by dem beats

If I had the money to spend, sure I would love to run the priciest of the priciest, but until then the ZED BB's will do it for me.

hmm cool

are mcintosh amps really that good? i would love to test one out

Do it at home where you can enjoy it...of course for the money you'd have to spend there are tons of options then.