Never buy a 5 channel amp! here's why
 

I would never buy a 5 channel amplifier! once you buy one, you have absolutely no upgrade path. A 4 channel and a mono (or 2 channel)would be a better choice!

If you knew 100% that you would never want to upgrade and you were absolutely limited on space then maybe a 5 channel, but otherwise no way.

Discuss.

I agree completely.

As for me, I can never do massive system upgrades in one shot. I need to do one part at a time, and I would hate the idea of buying a sub amp and then leaving the sub channel unused on the 5 channel - it just seems wasteful.

That being said - I do think a that 5 channel amps have their place. if I ever get around to upgrading my wife's van, a 5 channel would be nice because her van isn't my primary vehicle. I wouldn't upgrade there. I would just want to get something in the van that is nicer than stock so my ears don't cringe when I have to use the van . . . even then, I would likely buy a 4 channel - 2 channels for the fronts and bridge the rear for the sub. The rear speakers are so far back I wouldn't waste my time upgrading them, or even amping them as I likely wouldn't hear them over the fronts.

I agree...in addition to those negatives, I'll add:
1. many of them share the same power supply for the sub portion and the 4ch
2. the high powered ones (memphis belle mch 1300) are as big as separate amps anyway
3. most have under-powered sub sections

that said...a nice 5 channel can sound very good in a modest set up with minimal install time and effort.

It is all about what is right for the customers application, not about what we want to sell them. I will be using a 5 channel in one of my own vehicles as it is ideal for what I need it to do.

i as well will be using a 5 channel, an audison lrx5.1k......the best 5 channel amp i have ever used period

I think your statement is totally false.

I dont like the idea of a shared power supply either.

I am using the Zapco DC Ref 350.6 and I am quite satisfied... yes it is a 6 channel but I bridged the sub... all positives no negatives I cant wait to use the DSP in it

agreed!
the only scenerio where i would consider using a 5 chan is to upgrade from a stock setup and still run a single 12" sub about 300w nothing more

how is my telling you the best 5 channel amp ive ever used, the audison lrx5.1, possibly false

imagine the flexibility with 2 5 channels and an audison bit one or a pxah900

not your statement, the original posters statment.

ahhhh....then i totally agree with you....

As crazy as this sounds you could always get a monoblock for the sub and only use 4 channels on the other amp.

This is the stupidest thread ever..

where do you people come up with this ???

Maybe the OP had a bad experience with a 5 channel amp.

lrx amps rock. I use a 6.9....sounds great. Audison makes great multi-channel amps.

... stupidest thread ever... no this thread is not that epic but give us time

Ridiculous post... I ran a Soundstream Ref 705 and it was amazing... fully active set up AND over 400 RMS to the sub (under rated) all in one amp.

Any pray tell.. what would be the issue with having one power supply for both the separates and sub by the way? Is there an engineering phenomenon I am unaware of? Thats totally without substance. I bet no one could tell the difference by just hearing the systems.

5/6 channel amps have their place and I kick my self for selling that Soundstream. ARGH!!!

I think you need to re-read the original post.
He didn't say that 5 channel amps are crap. There are plenty of 5 channel amps out there that I would love to have, and sound incredible.

I believe the original intent was that buying a 5 channel limits your expansion and is not his own personal preference (nor mine).

Dropping $1000 or more on high quality 5 channel seems to risky to me. While I might be happy with some features, I could see myself wanting something different for another part of the system. Yet, because I would have spent so much money on the 5 channel I would be reluctant to upgrade - say with a sub amp. Instead, I like the idea of buying 2 channel amps. They are versatile enough that if I want to upgrade, I can add another 2 channel with it, or I can move that 2 channel to my wife's vehicle etc.

I won't buy a 5 channel amp.
Yes, there are plenty of 5 channel amps that sound phenomenal, but I still don't want to be limited in my set-up as the OP noted.

(Oh yeah, and the shared power supply thing makes me hesitant as well. I have no experience with this, but the arguments against it make good enough sense to me)

[QUOTE=gumby!;454944]This is the stupidest thread ever..

where do you people come up with this ???[/QUOTE

dramaaaaaa! I don't know...seems like a legitimate topic for an audio board. Certainly not the stupidest thread I've seen.

A 5 channel is however nice for a single footprint...like an amp rack.I was going to use 5 Zapco AG amps for my system......but ran out of room fast.So now I am 4 chan and Mono.

fair enough... :) I guess for me people get really addicted to the LOUD part and forget that 400-500 RMS in a daily can actually be pretty loud if you're running the right config and box... People thought I was running 800-900 on my sub with the ref 705...

To each their own

I know 5 channels have their place and can work well in many good quality systems.

I just wanted to see how polarized people are on the subject, and guess what, people are.

I liked my 5 channel back in the day... oh those were simpler times

The theoretical issues is that when the 16hz organ tone comes on hard, channel5/6 will hog all the power out of the shared supply and your comps channels may clip. Same argument applies for all multichannel amps that don't have individual power supplies.

The hope is that engineering got to put in the power supply the amp needed, not the one accounting said they could afford... :sly:

My only real problem with a 5/6ch amp is that if you nuke a channel it all goes in for repair at once.. :ohwell:

Perhaps part of the problem with this thread is the title of the thread: Never is too strong of a word . . . it is an absolute statement which indicates there are absolutely no exceptions to that statement. This is part of the reason why I try to stay away from absolute statements like "never" and "always." In almost all circumstances someone will be able to find the exception to the absolute statement and thereby undermining the credibility of many other things that you have said or written.

Perhaps the title should read - 5 channel amps should be avoided. Should indicates the general idea that they tend not to be great (for the reasons mentioned above) but still leaves room for people to point out the ways that they have proven their greatness.

^^ ooooo mark the calender I agree with Dukky nothing inherently wrong but it is an opportunity to under build

Heyyy - we agree quite often I thought... just don't mention cables :D

Personnaly, I can see many uses for the 5 channel amps out there, mainly for footprint issues, or making wiring a bit simpler. I probably wouldn't use it myself, because, as was mentionned many times, upgrading can be an issue if your amp can't work with your new speaker setup, and I myself am one to swap things out maybe once a year or so.

But, for someone who has their system planned out and won't likely be changing anything anything anytime soon, then multichannel is probably the way to go. I've considered using a pair of 5 channel amps for my setup myself. Fronts on tweeters and midrange, rear bridged onto midbass, and sub on the sub. And each amp would take care of one side of the car ! :P

I've actually been included in a rather nice 5-channel build into a Honda Pilot. We were using a PDX and aside from a new head unit and much better sound, you would never have guessed anything was in there. (Components all around, sub in a factory locale, new head unit and an alpine pdx 5-channel hidden in the headrest storage compartment under the trunk.)

I was never a huge fan of them, but they definately serve a purpose. (And being digitally regulated is always a bonus.)

my PPI Pro 650 was awesome. Boat loads of power and always ran....sad day when it went for a swim in my buds Basement. I've never had an amp fail on me in 15 years. I've own a continuum and almost bought a Davinci before well you know....

Who the FAK plays 16hz organ material on a 5 channel amp???

^ lol, Telarc does :D

I had two 5 channel Memphis belles in my Neon. Not one problem at all and my car sounded good at all volume levels. I think 5 channel amps can do just as well as any other amplifier providing the amp is of good quality. But that is the case with any amp.

mmm, I wanted those Belles of yours so badly....

Me too!

http://caraudioelectronics.automotive.com/68026/caep-0206-studio-amp/separation.html]Separation | Car Audio & Electronics Magazine Article at Automotive.com

Check the link out. Memphis Bell 16-ST 1300D is what I'm running right now. I'm borrowing it from a friend until his car is ready for anything other than a mono amp. He's only installed my Kicker ZX600.1 and a sub, when he's upgraded his other speakers, then he'll take this puppy back.

Big difference between this 5 channel and the Kenwood 959 5 channel I first bought. The sub channel was too weak, that's why I ended up buying that Kicker amp for the subwoofer.

I disagree that 5 channel amps are useless. Depends on a lot of different things. If you make an educated purchase, and understand the pros and cons of a 5 channel, you might be able to find one that works for you.

the more i look at this thread the more i think the original poster should be steralized

I know another member who's going to have a Memphis Belle ST1300D in his '97 Cavy in a couple of weeks.....:worshippy :D

It will be running Jl Comps up front at 230w per door and a pair of Clarion SSW1001 subs in a ported box....I'm starting a pool for how long it takes before body panels start flying off.....:lol_hitti

Like I said in post #24 :

"I know 5 channels have their place and can work well in many good quality systems.

I just wanted to see how polarized people are on the subject, and guess what, people are."



And it appears some people are still worked up over it!