I can understand from that POV. It's not totally quality that's in question. Power amps are alright, it's the marketing and such that is of question. Well, they're doing something right because they sell a lot of product.

definitly! thats why i would like to have the cappacity to chop momo, swiss audio and audio bahn, 'cause the average young buyer out there likes the product and thinks its cool, so there gonna buy the stuff, rockfords kinda got that reputation now, and the audiobahn stuff has tons of cool accesories, and nice cosmetics. like the stuff LOOKS really cool!

Yes, RF sells alot of product, and from what the shop's RF numbers look like over the past couple of years, much more of it is being sold online. RF's talk of clamping down on internet sales seems to be just that....talk. The shop went with power amps to atleast try to differentiate some from Best Buy and unauthorized net retailers who were mostly carrying punch amps. It is just something that I think I would have to keep in mind if I was opening a shop.

Agreed, Power is where it's at.
As a comparison, I have Sony amps. Many people think of Sony as junk due to their Xplod line starting in 2000. What some don't realize, though is that there was the Mobile ES line that absolutely kicked a$$ for amps and HU's. I can testify to that. A 1 ohm mono stable amp that was made 6-8 years ago was surely not a common thing. And it was also not easily available to public markets until they discontinued that generation of amps.
btw I'm referring to the XM 260G and 2100G
I think markets are also changing to suit world wide sales and marketing. Higher end amps like these are ideal for use in making bombs in Middle Eastern countries.

^ I have found the Xplod line of amps quite reliable actually [img]graemlins/dunno.gif[/img]

The local shop has done some installs with those amps(customer supplied, not purchased from the shop), and they have not been impressed at all. People have different experiences with different equipment though.

Hey, Let me tell you something:
That is a great way to be successful. Spend lots of time, use your money to buy inventory and then not let people in other then your best friends. That way people only expect to pay dealer cost. Way to go buddy! You don't have to be Best Buy. But if you don't want to make money for all your effort, run your store out of your car, just like I did. [img]graemlins/puke.gif[/img]

Audison or McIntosh for amps,
Focal Utopia for speakers and subwoofers,
Alpine F#1 system for head unit and processor,
Monster Cable for wiring,
Cascade Audio Engineering for sound dampening.

Pyramid
MEI
Boss

o.k., no really now, I would chose:

Alpine
Kicker
Boston Accoustics (They make amazing amps now y'know !)

And Scosche/EFX wiring

I would do

Clarion (for their HUs and low end product)
Kicker (for the middle of the road people)
MTX (because they offer a nice balaned product line including a rnage of price levels and also own streetwires so you could get interconnects from them too)

if I got to pick more I would also carry

MMATS (very loud and durable, an excellent brand to offer)
JL Audio (because it sells very well)
RF (because they carry almost everything for those people who want all of their equipment to be from one company)