Well. It's time.... Luke (And others), Help a guy out?

[TurboJake]

After many, many years of duty. My Old DHD NTX-2136 has finally shit the bed. Over the last month it slowly, but surely stopped hitting as hard. And today it started popped the subs 3 or 4 times and I shut the alpine down to kill it..It's like it has a bad power connection inside.. It did pretty well for oh. 7+ years? I don't feel like reflowing the solder again. I already repaired the RCA's.
I mean. It's gone through 5 different cars. Started life powering some Autotek SS's.... I don't even feel like opening it up again. It's time has come.

It survived Shpongle. After going into a 3 day coma... (Strange...)
I dunno. This little POS amp has been pretty good to me. But the time has come. And maybe it's about time I got something a little bigger. Newer. Cleaner (Visually, and electronically)

SO, to actually get to the subject. Looking for a new amp.

The Subs it's powering?
Power Acoustik FUBR 12's. Two of them. Sealed box. These things have been seriously underpowered for a LONG time. They're doing great. Never had any problems with them. They sounded great up until about a month ago. It's clearly the amp too.

They're SUPPOSED to be rated at 700 RMS each. As typical with power acoustik I don't buy that one bit. Here's a link to the Amazon, and specs.

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Acoustik-12-PowerAcoustik-FUBR-12/dp/B00008Y2IK

Head unit powering it all?
Alpine iDA X-200. It works very well.

That's it. No need for anything else really. Nothing fancy. Just wanting something that's cheaper.

So Luke... Got any ideas for a poor 26 year old college guy?

If you want a relic from the past to hang up on your wall, I have an old Orion XTR II 12" I could trade with to assist the low cashflow *Cheekish grin*

(Sorry I ranted there a little bit. I was waiting for the daily 4:15 A.M. R3V has a database error to go away. So I just kept typing shit...)

(OH! And afterthought edit. Did you ever figure out the stretchable box retaining thought? If not. Consider using the rubber hood straps from ski-doo snowmobiles. That way your only adding a small peg to the box, and one mounting hole or bolt per side on the E30, Could possibly be used from the top too. And they're six bucks for a pair. Just a thought)

[TurboJake]

Aww... 18 hours and not a single response?
Wow. I suck at something

[StereoInstaller1]

Hey, I missed this.

How much power you want?

How much can you spend?

If I were buying new right now, I would look at Soundstream Reference, but that might be because they look so hot.

[TurboJake]

Hey, I missed this.

How much power you want?

How much can you spend?

If I were buying new right now, I would look at Soundstream Reference, but that might be because they look so hot.

No worries!

>$150

Obviously the lower the better.

I was aiming for the 500-1000 clean watts range.. I've been eyeing up an older memphis 500D for one. Or an MB Quart 1000.1 for the pair. With them being up as long as they have, I'm considering throwing them a lowball offer paid on the spot.

I don't want to max out the subs. And I'm seriously considering downing it to just one. Those bitches are heavy as hell. and the gain isn't really all that much over just one, especially with my habits of blaring frank sinatra next to people who blare rap..

Here's the two I was eyeing up on c-list

http://wausau.craigslist.org/ele/2427614025.html

http://wausau.craigslist.org/ele/2435714886.html

I had a soundstream once. Loved it. It died and I just got lazy and gave it away.. There's a REALLY nice DLS sitting down at my local pawn shop. But they want 250 bucks for it. Not in the cards to put that kind of lump down right now.

[StereoInstaller1]

Hit sonicelectronix.com, see if you FB find a deal...that Quart is typicaly about $200ish new.

[TurboJake]

I do have to say, Hopped on there and instantly saw Hifonics.. I've been eyeing up some unused hifonics amps on fleabay. They were very good for what you paid about 8-10 years ago, but is this still ringing true for their newer models?

(Oh, and BTW... If I do end up going back down to one. I may just have to pick up a box from you)

Also. The Autotek Mean Machine series. How are those. I haven't played with autotek since the days of the SS124 having a matte silver face and blue surround.
Those subs got swiped. I'm still angry about that. They were fucking nice in a 27hz slot port. So much sound with so little power

[StereoInstaller1]

So, like, (y'know) 500RMS on a 2 ohm load makes one hell of a boom but won't stun low-flying birds. It is damn loud, but not deafening.

Currently I have one of my normal 12" boxes in my freshly wrecked '87 325iS. I have an old Fosgate HX2 DVC 12, with an Exile 1200.1 Class D amp running it on a 2 ohm load. Makes about 900 watts RMS, maybe. It is WAY fucking loud, like around 145ish db, I would guess.

I do not like it.

Personally, I find all true "Class D" amps to be grainy and harsh and MUCH prefer the typical Class B 2 ohm amps.

So, what I am saying here is IMO, if loud is the goal, do a 1200 watt Class D mono amp, even on a 2 ohm load. If you bias is more towards clarity, go with a smaller Class B (2 ohm minimum is the mark) 500ish watt amp.

[TurboJake]

Sounds like sound advice to me.
Yes. I HAD to be that guy. HAD to do the awful distasteful puns.

Don't worry, I shall slap myself later for it.

Many thanks Luke. I have a good basis to go on from here. Truly sorry for your loss.

Clarity is the goal way over loud. Might hafta start jewing that MB guy down to the 75-100 range. Mainly because it's close. And If I get it, run it at 2Ω

[StereoInstaller1]

Ack.

How much pun can you have in 1 day?

[TurboJake]

Is that an Opus joke?
As in. Bill the cat ack?

If so. I don't get it.
If not. How much?

Edit: Oh well. Couldn't get him lower than 150 for it. The hunt continues