Lightning Audio amps, are they good?

[CarCrazed4Life]

Just to back up my statement...went to the spec book again...

Memphis 16-St500D (the memphis amp i would have picked for your app)

250x1 @ 4 ohms @ 14.4v - THD = .5%
500x1 @ 2 ohms @ 14.4v - THD = .75%

S/N Ratio is > 80dB...

I'd rather have something thats greater then 95 then greater then 80.

MTX is not comparable to RF. RF amps remind me of Kicker Solo L7s great power, maybe not as clean...but alot of value and power. but even then RF amps have been having trouble competing with newer amps out there. In all...you can't judge one amp from another by looking at who makes it...each amp might have its own benefit that others don't offer. Each install is different, and each setup is. If you critizied BMW for its new design direction on the 7... doesn't mean everything Chris Bangle has designed is ugly....just the 7 is more controversial. The Z4 actually looks better in person then paper.

[E31]

CarCrazed4Life.....so the MTX amp is the best way to go, right?

[CarCrazed4Life]

for the money....yes. If you really want to go super clean...start paying Zapco, Phoenix Gold, Xtant, etc money. But i'd do those amps to the mids and highs before the lows. Trust me...IMHO...MTX. If you don't like it, return it....goto Circuit City where they have a 30 day return policy.

I don't recommend this, but know of it being done. Buy it from Circuit City...get it installed, if you like it...buy another at the best price you can find it, and then return that one to Circuit City and get your money back. That way you buy it at the best price, and get the 30 day guarantee...But rememeber I didn't recommend it ;p

[boost-inside]

I am speaking from experience (9 years as a certified professional installer) and I have a Xtant 603 and have installed dozens of thier other amps. They sound good but I have yet to see one that doesn't need to be repaired within a couple of years. Thats why mine is laying on a garage floor instead of in a car. You can read specs all you want but they will only give you a rough idea. There is no standard to follow for ratting a amp. If you have any install experience you will know that MTX is not a very clean amp. Thats not to say they sound bad but they don't even compare to Memphis on sound quality not to mention the sound isolation on them sucks. Another good example on how good those spec sheets you like so much is on subs. If you looked at the specs on a JL sub they look like they would be junk.

[capone28]

everyone has different opinions, the MTX will be GOOD dont trip. my friend has a 800 watt MTX running to 2 10'' bazookas. his system sounds good and we all kno bazookas isnt the greatest stuff.

[CarCrazed4Life]

boost-inside you do have a point, I sell system and go of installing them. But to look at the middle ave, you think of most people running xtant...you know they are serious about getting the most out of them since they pay more for them to begin with. as far as the mtx comment, I found that might have been true for their older amps, but the thunder lineup really has my vote. I think for what they offer, unless if you are a true audiophile...you will hardly notice the difference. And yes sometimes specs can be deceiving...but I never found a memphis amp i like, but then I don't have first hand experience with them. In all...I think for the money and e31's setup I don't see them going wrong.

Remember as installer...size matters too....

Everything is a compromise...

[E31]

Thanks for all the input that everyone provided.

CarCrazed4Life....I will get the MTX then. Thanks

[bmw328iproject]

Don't worry about specs so much! One of the best head units on the market is the Nakamichi 45z abd the specs say that the SN ration is above 85. Worrying too much about watts and numbers will end up getting you a shitty system. Most of the companies advertise the highest numbers they have produced on these amps, they don't mention that they were using a 14 volt source or that the amps sounded terrrible at that volume. You would be well off with a JL 500.1 amp. They aren't even that expensive on Ebay and they really work subs well. Avoid Lightning, Lanzar, MTX, Rockford, MA Audio, Audiobahn, American Bass, Pioneer (bad amps and speakers but good head units), Kenwood (there head units are good though),and BOSS. Companies to look for are JL, Pheonix Gold, Alpine (but not for sub amps), XTanT, Nakamichi, ARC (if you can find them), Memphis, and Zapco.