I have a pair of 10” MB Quart subwoofers. I’m looking for an amplifier to driving them. There are two amplifiers available here; Nakamichi PA-302 and Soundstream Reference 405.
The Nak is a 2-ch amplifier and the SS is a 5-ch amplifier. If the Nak is used, the satellite speakers will be driven by the Pioneer head unit. But if the SS is used, all speakers will be driven by it.
IMO, the Nak should perform better for subwoofer driving because it has no duty to drive the satellite speakers, while the SS would have to share power or input current to 4 satellite speaker channels at the same time.
However, according to the specifications, the Nak is only listed 80Wrms x 2ch @ 4 Ohms, whereas the SS is listed 100Wrms x 1ch @ 4 Ohms (mono subwoofer channel).
Consequently, which amplifier is more suitable (or better) for powering a pair of subwoofers?
The Nak is a 2-ch amplifier and the SS is a 5-ch amplifier. If the Nak is used, the satellite speakers will be driven by the Pioneer head unit. But if the SS is used, all speakers will be driven by it.
IMO, the Nak should perform better for subwoofer driving because it has no duty to drive the satellite speakers, while the SS would have to share power or input current to 4 satellite speaker channels at the same time.
However, according to the specifications, the Nak is only listed 80Wrms x 2ch @ 4 Ohms, whereas the SS is listed 100Wrms x 1ch @ 4 Ohms (mono subwoofer channel).
Consequently, which amplifier is more suitable (or better) for powering a pair of subwoofers?
It is your set-up, your ears and your perception. Why need confirmation of which you should use. Maybe a different amplifier completely. I like the name Nakamichi more that Sound Stream and hate people who add "Reference" in their product line. reference to what?
The power difference/spl difference is small, but 2 x 80W instead of 1 x 100W is worth having.
Further, you could not drive a pair of 4ohm speakers from a single amp channel other than in series (unless it can drive a 2ohm load), when the power into 8ohms will be even less.
Further, you could not drive a pair of 4ohm speakers from a single amp channel other than in series (unless it can drive a 2ohm load), when the power into 8ohms will be even less.
It can be a marketing choice, but together it's also possible to have an extra quality point.
It can be aesthetic, construction or performance, or a combination of these.
Generally it's a denomination to differentiate from basic production.
It can be aesthetic, construction or performance, or a combination of these.
Generally it's a denomination to differentiate from basic production.
Since we touched on car audio, I would like to tell a story.
A few months back while driving my radio stopped working. I have a old car, no warranties or such. I stopped of at a certified audio installer and asked him to look and see if a fuse might have blow. He checked and confirmed that a fuse was blown but said that he needs to check why it was blown. I thought why not he has to make a living.
It took him more than one and a half hours to remove and replace carpets, paneling, leather trimmings. and eventually exposed the ugliest metal box I have seen which was the amplifier. He showed me that the thick positive wire in the harness had shaved through where it enters through some body panel in the back of the car. I was seriously thinking what this little exercise was going to cost, just for a fuse replacement.
He said that it is a manufacturers oversight since there were no plastic/rubber grommet installed. He got everything taped up, inserted a grommet and closed up (no spares left over, not even one screw). He told me to submit a claim against the manufacturer and I told him that the car was 20 years old and I would not even know where to start with submitting a claim.
He told me to hang on, went into the office and called a number chatted for a while then popped back out and asked if I was satisfied with the work he had performed and if I would sign it off. I did and he bid me a good day and went back into his office. No charges at all. Not a word heard since.
A few months back while driving my radio stopped working. I have a old car, no warranties or such. I stopped of at a certified audio installer and asked him to look and see if a fuse might have blow. He checked and confirmed that a fuse was blown but said that he needs to check why it was blown. I thought why not he has to make a living.
It took him more than one and a half hours to remove and replace carpets, paneling, leather trimmings. and eventually exposed the ugliest metal box I have seen which was the amplifier. He showed me that the thick positive wire in the harness had shaved through where it enters through some body panel in the back of the car. I was seriously thinking what this little exercise was going to cost, just for a fuse replacement.
He said that it is a manufacturers oversight since there were no plastic/rubber grommet installed. He got everything taped up, inserted a grommet and closed up (no spares left over, not even one screw). He told me to submit a claim against the manufacturer and I told him that the car was 20 years old and I would not even know where to start with submitting a claim.
He told me to hang on, went into the office and called a number chatted for a while then popped back out and asked if I was satisfied with the work he had performed and if I would sign it off. I did and he bid me a good day and went back into his office. No charges at all. Not a word heard since.
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A car amplifier can be very attractive, believe me.
The use of plexiglass covers is an example of aesthetic marketing, or even the chrome plating of the chassis.
Both are useless for music in the car, yet they are choices that can interest someone.
People are strange.
Or all people are different.
Audiobahn has introduced amplifiers with a very particular aesthetic shape to the market, which is useless for the sound but can capture attention.
Many like to show off a tidy trunk with complex workmanship, lights and exposed electronics, this can be a motivation.
Instead, for more technical and experienced enthusiasts, attention can be captured by an aesthetically essential product that contains an electrical circuit with important solutions for performance and sound, without having eye-catching gadgets or particular versatility, but the result of a refined project.
Linear Power, for me, is an example, with a simple and sharp chassis, aesthetically anonymous and professional, without gadgets (the most recent productions have allowed various chassis colors, in addition to the classic black), but with a great sound.
Others look for amplifiers that can work at impedances of 0.5 ohms or worse, for some it's the ideal solution.
Amplifiers for a car audio system are indispensable, they are its muscles and can be available in different ways: brutal power, sweet timbre, limited absorption, added versatility with x-overs and equalizers or other types of adjustments, or a refined balance at all frequencies, or a dedicated amplifier for each range or the cooling system, etc.
This is why there are so many types and this is why it's an element of great interest and importance.
Class "A", AB, B, D of operation are further discriminants for the advanced enthusiast, as well as the size of the amplifier.
There are many criteria for analysis and choice.
I agree with you, the job of an amplifier is to sound good, so the care of aesthetics in its design is not important to me.
It simply requires a sturdy frame and safe, long-lasting connectors.
However, the car audio system has evolved greatly and in the past it was a status symbol not only for performance but also for installation work.
Professional installers have reached very high levels in the workmanship of the structures, connections and also aesthetic finishes.
So the market has added attention to the aesthetic side of car audio products, not only on head units, but also on amplifiers and speakers and everything else.
Events and competitions have participated in this trend and a new class of enthusiasts has been added who, in addition to the sound, show off the aesthetics of the installation and the products, even the electronic boards.
As always, everyone has their own ideas and personal tastes, what i can say about my way of thinking is that sight disturbs listening.
It's a complex thing and it's personal because even the way of listening to music is personal, therefore also the way of setting up the system.
For me all the components of the system must be hidden as much as possible with the right air exchange for heat, and the car interior sober and anonymous.
Space only for music.
And less possibility of theft of your treasures.
In this way even the research and purchase of components is aimed only at the construction quality and performance, therefore also at a specific production policy of a brand.
There are amplifiers or speakers that have been designed with an attractive aesthetic and that also have excellent performance, personally i am more attracted by an essential and anonymous aesthetic, because i think that the manufacturer has had more attention (and budget) for the substance.
Perhaps an aesthetically refined product facilitates marketing and increases the price.
But if technically the aesthetics of a car audio component has no importance, in reality it's very difficult to separate this factor from the construction and operating solutions.
I think this is the case for all products in every sector.
After all, fun is fun, and everyone does it their own way.
Even pizza is eaten first with the eyes.
It simply requires a sturdy frame and safe, long-lasting connectors.
However, the car audio system has evolved greatly and in the past it was a status symbol not only for performance but also for installation work.
Professional installers have reached very high levels in the workmanship of the structures, connections and also aesthetic finishes.
So the market has added attention to the aesthetic side of car audio products, not only on head units, but also on amplifiers and speakers and everything else.
Events and competitions have participated in this trend and a new class of enthusiasts has been added who, in addition to the sound, show off the aesthetics of the installation and the products, even the electronic boards.
As always, everyone has their own ideas and personal tastes, what i can say about my way of thinking is that sight disturbs listening.
It's a complex thing and it's personal because even the way of listening to music is personal, therefore also the way of setting up the system.
For me all the components of the system must be hidden as much as possible with the right air exchange for heat, and the car interior sober and anonymous.
Space only for music.
And less possibility of theft of your treasures.
In this way even the research and purchase of components is aimed only at the construction quality and performance, therefore also at a specific production policy of a brand.
There are amplifiers or speakers that have been designed with an attractive aesthetic and that also have excellent performance, personally i am more attracted by an essential and anonymous aesthetic, because i think that the manufacturer has had more attention (and budget) for the substance.
Perhaps an aesthetically refined product facilitates marketing and increases the price.
But if technically the aesthetics of a car audio component has no importance, in reality it's very difficult to separate this factor from the construction and operating solutions.
I think this is the case for all products in every sector.
After all, fun is fun, and everyone does it their own way.
Even pizza is eaten first with the eyes.
Expectation bias is a very real and often powerful influence on listeners' perceived sound of a system, hence the huge sums spent/wasted on the aesthetic finishes of so-called 'high end' equipment. I would love to run a series of sighted and unsighted tests of two identical speakers, one pair in sumptious rosewood, the other bruised and battered with ripped grilles, and hand-painted in household emulsion leftovers...
My view is that artificially reproduced sound is there to be heard, not seen, and that the true test of a system is in total darkness, or with the entire system - particularly the speakers - hidden behind an acoustically transparent veil.
I definitely agree but unfortunately it depends on many factors.
The blind test has a very technical and objective value, but in my opinion it cannot be the only reliable one, it depends on our critical skills.
It also depends on the assumptions.
If there is a culture of aesthetics it means that someone has spread it, it has entered marketing and the sectors concerned.
It becomes difficult to reject this culture with other more "objective" values, because they are much more complex to understand than a pleasant aesthetic, i believe a different inclination is also needed, very practical and much more time to dedicate.
Sorry for the digression, presscot.