Amp necessary? [Archive]

CHICO2003

01-19-2009, 05:14 PM

So I've got some front components & rear coaxs for my MS3 Sport. I've got an MTX REQ-5 for the sub... The guy that's doing the install recommended I get another amp to power the speakers... saying that the factory HU is too underpowered. I wasn't really intending on breaking the bank for this but obviously will go for it if it's truly necessary. (he said at best I'd have to crank it up REALLY loud to hear anything and at worst it would sound like shit.) The cost of a 4 channel amp combined with the install will come out to at least $300. The fact that I'm sticking with the factory HU should tell you I'm not some audiophile freak. So what do you think? Should I plunk down the dough or just hope it works well enough off the factory HU?

TheRealDefman

01-19-2009, 06:03 PM

Give it a try with the factory HU and see if you like it. You'll most likely end up adding an amp at some point though, there's always going to be a weak link.

que

01-19-2009, 06:25 PM

I would go for the 4 channel amp if your running aftermarket speakers & a sub. I believe doing the amp at the same time would save you some $$ in labor as opposed to doing it at a later time.

bgibb68

01-19-2009, 06:38 PM

a stocker HU of anykind won't be able to power component speakers for the doors....even AM HUs usually lack the umph to drive 'em....i would get one...

most stock HUs might have like 20watts rms and maybe 50watts max....most components have around 100watt rms to power them and would top out around 150-200watts peak

iplaythemic

01-19-2009, 08:14 PM

I would go for the 4 channel amp if your running aftermarket speakers & a sub. I believe doing the amp at the same time would save you some $$ in labor as opposed to doing it at a later time.

I second this. If you're going to do it, you might as well do it right.

chief_wiggum

01-19-2009, 08:28 PM

I second this. If you're going to do it, you might as well do it right.

9 times out of 10 when i cheap out...I later wish I hadn't.

CHICO2003

01-19-2009, 11:11 PM

alright cool... I found a (refurb) KICKER ZX350.4 90W 4CH Amplifier at consumerdepot.com for $79 Pretty crazy when the cost to install it is more than the actual amp! Oh well... I think I'm making the right call. now if only there was a place to hide these damn amps. They want to mount them on the back of my rear seat. I wonder if they can put them in the tire well (minus the tire of course) Hmm...

que

01-20-2009, 09:23 AM

be careful with consumerdepot. I ordered from them, & they took my money. Found out the item was oversold. Luckily I didn't have a hard time getting my money back. After that I found some reviews on that company & I was happy to not have to deal w/ them. Google them, you'll see.

CHICO2003

01-20-2009, 10:11 AM

Damn... Knew it was too good to be true!

Glad they didn't have a paypal option... getting my money back through that service is a bitch! Still... if they're as shady as they seem, it looks like I'm gonna have to find another amp.

CHICO2003

01-20-2009, 10:33 AM

Just checked the status of the order. Apparently it's already been shipped out! Got a tracking # and everything. Maybe they got their shit together.

TieNN89

01-20-2009, 10:37 AM

i would suggest throwing an amp in for the speakers at least for the front ones

TheRealDefman

01-20-2009, 11:03 AM

now if only there was a place to hide these damn amps. They want to mount them on the back of my rear seat. I wonder if they can put them in the tire well (minus the tire of course) Hmm...

What's under your seats? I took the Bose stuff out of my GT and put the amps under the seats, fit like a glove!

que

01-20-2009, 12:29 PM

Just checked the status of the order. Apparently it's already been shipped out! Got a tracking # and everything. Maybe they got their shit together.

Mine went as far as showing shipped too, but when I checked the fedex tracking number a couple days later that's when I found out the order was cancelled by consumerdepot & the item was over sold. Anyways, hope you get what you ordered. Now, lets just hope it's not DOA.

leadf00t

01-20-2009, 03:51 PM

Really interested in hearing how this works out for you. I am looking at doing the same thing for my sport.

que

01-22-2009, 02:23 AM

So how is consumerdepot going for you?

CHICO2003

01-22-2009, 08:22 AM

according to the tracking #... the amp is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

que

01-22-2009, 09:12 AM

cool. let us know how it turns out for you.

leadf00t

01-23-2009, 04:15 PM

Any news yet ?

CHICO2003

01-23-2009, 09:40 PM

Got it today. Nice job with the packing... like 3 layers of bubblewrap! Won't know until it's insatlled of course whether or not it works.. .but it certainly appears to be in good condition. (no blemishes at all) Assuming it does... can't beat the price!

que

01-25-2009, 01:26 PM

Have you installed this yet? I'm considering giving this company another shot at my money. With this economy, I'm trying to save as much as possible & still have my car the way I want it.

CHICO2003

01-28-2009, 09:20 PM

Update. Had a whole bunch of stuff installed today. Unfortuneatly BOTH Kicker amps (the 2 channel refurb I bought on ebay and the 4 channel refurb I bought from consumerdepot.com) are... well, let's just say they're not working. Each time a new fuse is put in they immediately pop. Shop was baffled since they've installed a lot of refurbed kickers... especially with the luck of getting 2 DOA amps from 2 separate venders. (seriously... that' some shit ass luck if you ask me) So now I gotta return these POS amps and probably pony up some big time retail dough at WorstBuy.

que

01-29-2009, 11:22 AM

Thanks for the update. I definately will not be ordering from consumerdepot. I've read a number of reviews on that company & DOA products, & how they lag when it comes to returns. I hope you have better luck than others. For me, that's all I needed to hear. I'm glad my experience w/ them previously didn't get as far.

CHICO2003

01-30-2009, 07:50 AM

Yeah.. pretty dissapointed to say the least. Everything certainly LOOKED good. They shipped it on time... the packaging was great! And all the documents you'd expect (including a fairly recent report stating it passed all of their tests) was included.

I just bought the SAME amp at CC last night (for $100 more.. .and that was with their so-called 40% off BS) so I'll know today when I have it installed if it was indeed the amp or not. Since CC doesn't allow returns, it better have been! If it turns out these boneheads did something wrong... man I'm gonna be pissed. I just shelled out $300 for 2 over-priced amps I can't return.

strytnyne

01-30-2009, 10:43 AM

try onlinecarstereo.com

TheRealDefman

01-30-2009, 04:34 PM

Design

01-30-2009, 05:43 PM

CHICO2003

01-30-2009, 09:57 PM

After I went the non-retail route (again, bought 2 refurb "factory renewed" kicker amps from 2 separate vendors) with no luck... both were defective... I wasn't really too excited about rolling the dice again. Obviously I could have bought some new amps online but, since my system was 99% complete... (all I needed were 2 working amps) the idea of waiting an extra week to get it all in just didn't appeal. I probably would've done it anyway if it hadn't been for the 'decent' deal I got at CC. kicker zx300.1 for $119 and a zx350.4 for $179 I know I could've found them for maybe $50 less combined online... but whatever.

But here's the worst part. I thought I'd be able to return both amps and get a refund but, with the exception of Consumerdepot (who's actually being cool about it) the F'in Ebay vendor is being a complete prick. you guys should see the emails they're sending me. All kinds of attitude and sarcasm... things like "if you want to leave negative feedback SIR... be my guest. You'll then be the proud owner of a defective amp and we will not help you." shit like that... I was only 'threatening' to leave negative feedback so that I'd actually get a response. (took them 3 days just to get back to me... apparently it worked) But they're basically telling me now I have 3 options... ship it back (on my dime) for ANOTHER factory renwed amp... ship it back (on my dime) and get 'store credit' (minus a 20% restocking fee) or eat the $79 I paid and tarnish their (surprisingly) rather pristine ebay feedback rating. I'm going to try and do the latter no matter what... but obviously I have to find a way to recover some of my loss.

I just wrote a review of a local car shop http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123732237
that just did my install. One of the guys there said he's got a good relationship with the Kicker rep and is going to try and hook me up... Said he might be able to replace the POS kickers I got with new ones. If that's the case... I can then sell them for more than I bought them... and actually MAKE money! Shit... if he's able to pull that off I'm going to have to add to the already glowing review I wrote.

TheRealDefman

01-31-2009, 12:41 AM

the F'in Ebay vendor is being a complete prick. you guys should see the emails they're sending me. All kinds of attitude and sarcasm... things like "if you want to leave negative feedback SIR... be my guest. You'll then be the proud owner of a defective amp and we will not help you." shit like that... I was only 'threatening' to leave negative feedback so that I'd actually get a response. (took them 3 days just to get back to me... apparently it worked) But they're basically telling me now I have 3 options... ship it back (on my dime) for ANOTHER factory renwed amp... ship it back (on my dime) and get 'store credit' (minus a 20% restocking fee) or eat the $79 I paid and tarnish their (surprisingly) rather pristine ebay feedback rating. I'm going to try and do the latter no matter what... but obviously I have to find a way to recover some of my loss.

So, you didn't pay with PayPal or a credit card?

CHICO2003

02-24-2009, 11:48 AM

Update: Anyone thinking about pairing an REQ with their MS3 (sport).... Find another option. This thing has been nothing but a headache. After a shop installed everything, all I heard was a constant buzzing sound coming from (mainly) the tweeters. Drove me F'in crazy! So they spent another couple hours yesterday trying to fix it. They double-checked all their wiring, replaced the amps and even swapped REQs (to make sure mine wasn't defective) no difference. It's now a lot more liveable... thanks to some old school filter the owner of the shop was able to dig up. Unfortuneatly, I now have a rather loud popping sound coming from the rear sub whenever I turn on/off the car. Guy said it's not damaging... but it sure is annoying. He's going to try and get another filter and see if that helps. Even without that though... I still have a noise... albeit very subtle. I used to like driving around without the radio on... nothing but the engine/exhaust. Now... it's just a constant reminder of what a POS the REQ is.... so I've gotta have something on all the time. sort of sucks. wish there was a way to just turn off the radio completely but our stock HU won't allow it. Also of note... the aux jack on the REQ-5 (the main reason I got that version over the basic) is an enormous POS. I've tried 3 different aux jacks... all with plastic surrounds (not the gold plated you sometimes find that can cause feedback) doesnt' matter... this thing is super sensitive and requires the right touch... otherwise it'll produce a god awful distorted sound... not good.

So the REQ gets a 2/10 score. 2 because... well, it DOES work... just not very well.

Should've just went with an indash nav system like I originally wanted to... Unfortuneatly, I'm well past the 30 day return policy for the req so I'll certainly lose money on that... not to mention will have to pay for another install. F'in BS!!

que

02-27-2009, 07:43 PM

A lot of people have used the ReQ w/ positive results. I don't what your situation is, but it doesn't sound right. Possibly that tweeter that buzzing is grounded somewhere. I don't know. As for the popping when you turn on the car, it's from the amp. Most amps have a delay/soft start that prevents this. I have an Eclipse XA1000 running my single 12" that has no thump or static when starting. But, then I don't trust anyone to install anything on my car. So, the buzzing, sounds like a wiring problem. The thump, amp or how it's wired.