Who's making the best sounding car amp today?

First off Joe, just as in home audio the source/headunit of a vehicle is the first line of good sound. amps unlike a DAC will only enhance what the HU is putting out.

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

Well you're right maybe missed placed a little.... What you stated is very sweet just not my price ratio.... Between Alpine and Blaupunkt what would you install under $250 or so.

Alpine all the way. Their V Power amps are very good quality, make their rated power and at a good price. Not sure if they have speaker level inputs though. Check out JL Audio's entry level line. They're excellent as well and at a very reasonable price.

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

I'm using a 2014 Honda Accord and don't know how or if I wish to replace the radio... Its built in with the car video screen, and its ok but needs more watts and speakers. So the amp needs to be speaker input and not RCA :sad:

many companies make molded plastic pieces that drop right in where your current set-up is, and a double din touch screen receiver should be able to take over just fine

Looks like Metra and Scosche both offer a dash kit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlBMHZ0Z_74

http://www.scosche.com/car-audio/2013-up-honda-accord

Did not know you were referring to a new vehicle, I would leave as is

disneyjoe7 wrote: »

I plan on leaving the dash as it is.

Then consider one of these: http://www.crutchfield.com/g_318850/Factory-System-Integration.html?tp=61671

Can find them around the net for cheaper. Then..what are your goals? How many speakers in the car? You plan to replacement them? What about the low end?

Specs are virtually meaningless. The JL Audio is the better built amp, will exceed it's rated power and have no noise. The benefit of the class D amp is that it's much more efficient and works in a much smaller chassis. That JL Audio HD amp can be mounted under the front seat it's so small. That's why class D is popular. Lots of power, very high efficiency and very small size. Not saying the Soundstream is a bad amp just that I'd rather have the JL for those same reasons.

As far as the build quality of the Soundstreams vs. The older legendary amps or other amps....they are no joke. Here are the internals of the 1000 watt model:http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/amp-guts-modifications-custom-crossovers/120187-new-school-soundstream-gut-pics.html

Its just not possible to make a hand made in the USA amp today with the best components at a price that the masses are willing to pay. Nor does it makes sense as automated SMT can be very accurate if done with the right quality control. Nevertheless, the prices I've seen some of these amps go for on the net can be ridulously low.

I'm with MacLeod on that JL makes Quality products as well as Alpine. JL's class D was so good Alpine went back and redesigned some of the issues they had with theirs. Class D in the car is not a bad choice at all and makes so much sense if you need something small. Look how small the JL Audio XD 2 ch amp is:



As far as class A/B vs. class D, class G/H, vs. tubes, etc some treat it almost as critical as 2 ch home audio. Some SQ purist only run expensive class A/B amps because think they sound better. That Genesis I had for example, the bias was custom adjusted to a more class A at the low level, class A/B as the output increases. I was after the best and cleanest output and a little warmth I could get for critical listening for SQ events and gatherings.

Still some of today's class D like the JL's sound just as good in a quiet home environment. Get them out in the car rolling down the street they will more than meet the need.

No problems with the amp and I've never run a LOC off my factory head unit so I can't tell ya anything there cause I always go with an aftermarket CD player even if it means losing stuff like display, steering wheel controls and what have you.

As for the speakers, the DB's are decent but they're more what I'd consider entry level. The DXi's would be worth a look as they're a little better model. I'd personally drop the rear speakers completely and get a set of MM's for the front.

One thing to check is the opening in the door for the speakers. Honda is notorious for making a small hole for their crappy stock speaker that nothing aftermarket can fit in. You might have to trim some metal down even with a spacer or go with a 5.25" speaker. I don't know about the '14 Accord but that's the way it's been with the 7th and 8th gen models.