what do u guys think of JBL audios amps?

[98thumpin]

i was looking at some of jbls amps and they seem pretty nice. to me im new at this. but i dont know theyre rep. good bad, waste of money? give m your opinions cause they have a GTO1201.1 II class d mono power amp.

The GTO1201.1 II features a high-frequency Class D switching power supply. This topology is more efficient that traditional Class AB designs, drawing far less current from your vehicle charging system.

The GTO1201.1 II features a 12dB per octave electronic crossover, allowing you to optimize bass performance based on cabin size, as well as subwoofer location and enclosure type.

• RCA low-level inputs.

• Full-range preamp outputs facilitate use of multiple amplifiers without the need for noisy and expensive adapters or signal splitters.

• A variable bass boost circuit is provided to optimize system response.

• Optional remote level bass control available.

SPECIFICATIONS
General
CEA Rated
Click here to learn about the new CEA2006 Amplifier Standard.
Power Output 787 watts RMS x 1 channel at 4 ohms
and ≤ 1% THD + N

1114 watts RMS x 1 channel at 2 ohms,
14.4V supply and ≤ 1% THD + N
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 70dBa (reference 1 watt into 4 ohms)
Dynamic Power 1339 watts at 2 ohms
Effective Damping Factor 6.348 at 4 ohms
Frequency Response (-3dB) 10Hz - 302Hz
Maximum Input Signal 6.1V
Maximum Sensitivity 140mV
Output Regulation .14dB at 4 ohms
Dimensions (H x W x D) 18-11/16" x 12-5/16" x 2-3/8"
MSRP U.S. $ $549.95

what do you guys think?
think itll be a good choice for the db212-2. i also looked at kenwood, but there amps are to powerful and cost to much.

[dangerranger]

my dad use to run sound back in his day and iv asked him about jbl and he said they are a good brand and iv read good reviews about jbl.i have never herd a amp but my mom has a lincoln that has jbl speakers and sounds danm good for stock.dont know if this is any help but in my opion i think there amps would be good if they make quality stuff

[audiobliss]

I wouldn't run anything by JBL, personally. I'll bet they're not near what they used to be 'back in the day'.

[cam5860]

JBL makes decent stuff. The gto series is not bad stuff but the power series is a lot better kind like polks db series compared to the momo series.

Ive never heard a JBL amp but ive read reviews on them and they make a ton of clean power.

But me personally amp wise i'd rather own something like a mtx amp over a JBL amp.

[audiobliss]

I'd rather have a Pheonix Gold amp then either an MTX or JBL (meaning the new MTX amps, that is).

[MacLeod]

JBL is a very good amp. Theyve never been my favorite really but there is nothing wrong with them. If you can get a good price on them and they fit your needs, jump on it.

[exalted512]

i personally wouldnt mind having an amp designed by gary biggs and mark eldridge, but thats just me
-Cody

[Topper]

JBL amps (particularly the GTO series) are very popular where i am (mostly cus of the price) and they arent bad at all. But like the others said, if you got the moola for the Power series or the BPX mono range, you'll be a lot happier.

Take note also that this amp doesnt have a subsonic filter and the crossover is just the regular 12db. The JBL BPX (Crown series) version has an adjustable subsonic filter as well as switchable 12/24db slopes for the low-pass. It can also do close to its max RMS power at almost all ohm loads (which gives you a heck of a lot more flexibility in your setups) compared to the amp you mentioned above. Only prob is its soo much more expensive.

Nutshel - GTO aint bad but just be aware of its limitations.

[98thumpin]

gotcha. i just noticed that with the gto series, they dont make too much power. im only gonna be pushing one db 212-2 subwoofer box so i dont need more than 1300 watts max, and the power series make to much wattage, and are to expensive.

[neomagus00]

don't look at max ratings, surely you've heard this before... rms is the only worthwhile rating to use...

[Topper]

What other amp brands and models you considering anyway? or got easy access to anyway? perhaps we could better help if we know all the options.


(also dont worry too much bout the 'max' watt rating. just try to match or come close to the continuous/RMS/nominal watt rating)

[98thumpin]

mtx, phoniex gold, kicker, jbl, kenwood, polk c500-1 =, arc audio, not to sure whatever will be awesome, and cost effective, mtx , kicker, a little to pricey for me.

[Topper]

Well i checked out Sounddomain which carries most of those brands and kinda liked the following:

- JBL BPX500.1 - $599 - CEA2006 rating says its about 700w at most ohm loads. Comes with tons of features but too darn expensive.
- Kenwood KAC-9152D - $329 - seems pretty decent for the price but totally no clue bout kenwood gear so others better chip in on if its decent and stuff
- JBL GTO1201.1 - The one your considering aint too bad and comes with a ton of power but not too sure how the lack of a subsonic filter will affect you

[98thumpin]

i just want an amp that nor alot of people have. i wanna be semi unique. everyone i know has pioneer, or mtx, or god forbid jensen. thats why im starting to look at jbl, kenwood, arc audio, and others.

[aaharvel]

Jensen. Rock-on.

[98thumpin]

from what i heard jensen makes horrible subs what about there amps?

[audiobliss]

Dude, it has got to be a sin to utter the names JBL and Kenwood in the same sentence with Arc Audio!

[jimmyjam_]

don't see mine everyday
http://static.flickr.com/35/73653083_1db2f03501_b.jpg

[audiobliss]

^^ That's for sure. And if you can still find MB Quart amps, they're really cheap, too. Well, usually.

[Topper]

Alpine makes wonderful amps as well so do look inta those too if you get a chance.

[1996blackmax]

i just want an amp that nor alot of people have. i wanna be semi unique. everyone i know has pioneer, or mtx, or god forbid jensen. thats why im starting to look at jbl, kenwood, arc audio, and others.


Out of those, I would choose the Arc's stuff. Check your local dealers as they should be getting their new amps soon. Meaning nice discounts on last years stuff :).

[98thumpin]

oh cool i forgot about the end of the yeaR SALES. do amps just mainly come down to personal choice.

[bknauss]

You guys are funny...
"I haven't ever listened to Brand X, but I would never buy them. I've heard Brand X isn't as good as they used to be".

JBL is good at certain stuff. Don't lump their crappy home speakers with everything else.

[98thumpin]

so jbl is good too ok. the thing id theres so many good companies out there its almost comes down to which amp looks better to the person buying it.

[Topper]

Factor in the features you'll need. I know if i was buying a sub amp i'd want one with adjustable subsonic filter and with preferably steeper slopes for the crossover and then see which amps meet these requirements and then choose from there.

And JBL definitely aint bad amps. Their BPX crown series amps are up there with some of the best.

[98thumpin]

i looked into crossfire online. now let me remind u all im using polk audio db212-2 subs allright. they have a crossfire 1000 watt class d amp but its got a 1 ohmload, and the sub are 2 and 4 ohm load. they have a 2000 Watt amp with a 4 ohm load and its 1000 waatts at 4 ohms.

[1996blackmax]

That is a good amount of power there. I am only running 400 watts to my sub :o .

[MacLeod]

If a 2 ohm load is what youre running, Crossfire may not be your bag. All their Class D amps are 1 ohm stable which is good if youre running multiple subs or competing (classes are rated by the amps 4 ohm ratings) but suck if you dont want to pay for 1000 watts when you only want 750.

For this I would recommend either the Polk 500.1 or one of MTX's amps.

[98thumpin]

does ne one know in actuality what the rms rating of the polk c500.1 is not max but rms what it really produces? and how much do they run.

[neomagus00]

almost 700, i believe, RMS in reality (with a good power source)

and i think they msrp at 450

[98thumpin]

450 sure is better than $800.

[98thumpin]

ok the db 212-2 subs want 750 watts of power at all times. and they peak out at 1500 watts i was thinking of an amp in the 1000 watt range. would this be over kill i just dont want them over powerd or under powerd. ans arc audio is great stuff but they are a bit to pricey for m, so i want arc quality and performance, but with out the price tag. not to mention thay are hard to get im my area, id have to get them online.

[1996blackmax]

I responded in the other thread....

The problem is that you will not get a warranty if you get them online.

[98thumpin]

right. so what to do?

[audiobliss]

Compromise. Go with something cheaper, such as MTX, Pheonix Gold, JBL, Kenwood, etc.

[MacLeod]

The Polk 500.1 did 602 RMS in a Performance Auto and Sound magazine test.

[98thumpin]

thats pretty good but its still a bit underpowerd for the db 212-2. what is your opinion on phonex gold amps?

[1996blackmax]

I think those subs will be happy with 600 watts RMS. That is a good amount of power. It's not that max stuff, but real world watts.

[98thumpin]

i want arc audo but they are hard to get ahold of i know phoenix gold is good but im not familer with them, and i trust and know polk, would 1000 watts be too much power for these subs?

[audiobliss]

LOL

Yeah, 1000 is overkill. You could set the gains and it'd probably work fine, but I don't see why you'd want to spend the money on a 1000 watt amp when you don't need that much. And it's hard keeping up with your train of thought jumping from thread to thread. Next time just start one thread! :p

[1996blackmax]

I don't think you will need that many watts. You could get an amp that pushes that as long as you set the gains properly and are careful with the volume.

[98thumpin]

well i love my loud volume i wanna feel like im at a live concert. also would it not be easier on the amp if the amp was bigger.

[MacLeod]

1000 watts will be too much for those 720 watt subs. However, that doesnt mean you cant use a 1000 watt amp as it wont be making 1000 watts all the time. Setting the gains properly and using common sense with the volume control and you could use the bigger amp.

And no, the 500.1 would in no way be underpowering the 2122.

[98thumpin]

well polk amp it is then even though i love arc audio stuff, th polk woukd mean i have all polk stuff. what do u guys think of nakamichi amps for my speakers.

[MacLeod]

Dont know much about Nakamichi. They used to make some of the best head units on the planet but lately Ive heard their having quality control issues.

[1996blackmax]

If you want all Polk stuff, why not get the 4ch. Polk amp for the speakers?

[98thumpin]

i thought about that i love polk and i love arc and i love nakamichi its hard to decide, ill probably go with the polk amp though naka was a choice for me cause i dont know many people that them same with arc, or phoenix gold.

[98thumpin]

i think nakamichi is very good

[bknauss]

i think nakamichi is very good

As Mac mentioned, they have reliability issues. There used to be a ton of guys competing with their stuff, but its been a LOOOONNNNGGG time since I've seen a Nak in a car. I'd love to have one since they have the features I want out of a CD player... almost none :)

[MacLeod]

Yeah, Id love to have one just for the coolness factor. Its always very cool to have something not everybody else has. Dont get me wrong, I love my Alpine, but everybody and their brother has one!

Id absolutely love to have a Denon Z1 tho!

And as for features, we were talking about that a couple threads ago. About how great it would be if somebody came out with a head unit that didnt have 10 million Ipod features, but was just dedicated to the purest and best reproduction of a CD.

[1996blackmax]

Clarion DRZ-9255 my friend.....

Does not much sexier than this :D

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products/2006/audio/source_unit/CD/DRZ9255/us-en-product-pf_1132912142959.html

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/MungoBlobs/376/98/DRZ9255.jpg

[MacLeod]

That is a great looking unit but I was thinking of one not costing $1400!!

For that Id rather have one of these a Denon Z1 or maybe R1 that is assuming I could find one. Hell these two tiny pics are the only ones I could find!

Z1 http://www.mormarks.com/pix/denon-dct-z1.jpg

R1 http://www.mormarks.com/pix/denon-dct-r1.jpg

[exalted512]

wow, that clarion is pretty sleek. We sell Clarion...I wonder how much I can get that one for...lol

Egh, id just as soon get the pioneer p9 and its eq
-Cody

[98thumpin]

ggreat head units but my god the price my whole system is going to cost me just a little more than that one head unit. maybe when i hit the lottery or something, and become rich i dont many people that can afford a head unit that steep.although ive seen lesser units for the same price.

[1996blackmax]

There were some Denfords here in the States a little while ago. Sounddomain actually had those for a very very good price.


That is a great looking unit but I was thinking of one not costing $1400!!

Actually $1199 at Sounddomain :D

[98thumpin]

i like the clarion double din units two cause thats the size hu i have right now from the factory although if i get a single din hu ill have them mount the eq under it. that be cool

[1996blackmax]

You could get a HU witht he EQ built in and have a pocket to put some stuff instead :D.

[98thumpin]

i just want a external eq to have one. the whole coolness factor i guess.

[1996blackmax]

I would rather go for simplicity, but you gotta go with what you like ;).

[98thumpin]

that is very true. i found one that works up to sic channels would that work for me even though i dont have six speakers.

[MacLeod]

I too prefer simplicity, but even the best head units with EQ's wont match up to a typical 30 band external unit.

[98thumpin]

true true, so for better sound external is the way to go.

[PoweredByDodge]

JBL makes great amps... while the aesthetics on some models may leave much to be desired, they are a good product at a relatively inexpensive cost for what you get.

I have run JBL in the last 5 years and I've been happy with the products.

I still think the GT100 was the best 50 dollar sub on the planet, comparative in quality to many 150 dollar subs.

[1996blackmax]

I too prefer simplicity, but even the best head units with EQ's wont match up to a typical 30 band external unit.

Unless you get that Russian HU that already has two 30 band EQ's ;) .


For many systems a nice HU, like mine, will provide more than adequate control. I had a couple of peaks in my system that I was able to work out with my parametric EQ. For total control the 30 bands are great, but for me it is not necessary.

By the way I love being able to read the actual frequency response of my system by plugging in a microphone into my HU. It is actually a very useful feature.

[98thumpin]

good good. thats what i like to hear. lol. now i just have to save up the money and buy my stuff, anf quit being lazy about it.

[98thumpin]

so ive been talking to jason at arc audio and he is getting me prices on the two amps i want and my eq system. looks like i might get the arc audio after all cause i can buy straight form the company. i dont have to go to the store, or buy online.

[1996blackmax]

Those gusy over at Arc are pretty cool....

[1996blackmax]

What amps are you looking at?

[98thumpin]

im looking at the 1500-xxk for my db212-2

either the 4150-xxk or the 4050-xxk for the speakers.

im going with the mmc 690's and mmc 570's, which would be better the 4150 or the 4050?

also if the speakers are 4 ohm speakers does that mean i have to run the amp at 4 ohms also or can i run it in 2 ohm mode for more power?

[neomagus00]

the amp doesn't run in a 'mode', it's the speakers that provide resistance, and the amp reacts to it... if the speakers are 4-ohm, the amp will see 4 ohms, and produce power accordingly...

[1996blackmax]

Those are some nice amps there. If you have the chance to go with the 4150-XXK go with that.

[98thumpin]

im looking at the 1500-xxk for my db212-2

either the 4150-xxk or the 4050-xxk for the speakers.

im going with the mmc 690's and mmc 570's, which would be better the 4150 or the 4050?

also if the speakers are 4 ohm speakers does that mean i have to run the amp at 4 ohms also or can i run it in 2 ohm mode for more power?

what i meant by mode is the switch that selects ohm on the amp or am i clueless my home amp had a switch on it to select 2, 4, or 8 ohms?

[98thumpin]

and i most likely will go with the 4150-xxk

[neomagus00]

it didn't 'select' the load, it reconfigured the amp to handle the load of the speakers on it, relying on you to know what you were doing... car audio manufacturers are more realistic, they make the amp figure it out

[audiobliss]

If your HA amp had a switch like that, it was probably a pretty crappy amp. Receivers have a 8/6 ohm switch. What it does is, when you select 6ohms, is limit the current the receiver's amp can put out, thus preventing the amp from frying itself. However, it also prevents it from giving the speakers what they need.

I've yet to hear of a CA amp that has a switch, because they deal with low-resistance loads all the time anyways, whereas the majority of HA speakers are only 8ohm.

[98thumpin]

point well takin. i was just wondering has neone heard of a pioneer ts-a4103 speaker, or does ne one now anything about them?