Introducing the contestants:
In one corner we have my TRU t-series 4.100v.2.
In the other corner we have an installer's Zapco C2K4.0X.

Speakers: My brand new Dyanudio Esotar component set with 80 hours of work in period. These speakers are by far the best speakers I have ever listened to.

Background: I've had my TRU 4.100v.2 now for 7 months and I was thinking of upgrading to the TRU copper series c7.4T. After reading the Car Audio and Electronics review on amp classes, we decided to bring my car into my local shop and test my class a/b TRU amp versus one of the installer's Zapco a/b amp.

Listeners: Myself, shop owner, installer and my friend who plays for the Toronto Orchestra.

Testing Proceedure: One at a time, we went to the bay and sat in the car for 2-5 minutes first with my TRU amp. Then we uninstalled the TRU and installed the Zapco. Then we listened to the Zapco with the same cd, same speakers and same install. Without talkiing to eachother, we wrote the winner of the listening test on a piece of paper without discussing results until everyone wrote down thier winner.

Results: Unanimous win for my TRU amp. Even the owner of the 4.0X agreed that my TRU amp sounded better. With the Dynaudio's installed, we all agreed that the TRU sounded more open and the stage was much deeper and wider. The TRU sounded like it was more powerful while the Zapco sounded a little less detailed.

The Zapco amp does look sexier, those amps are just too damn sexy to not look at. The Zapco amp did well, but we all feel that the TRU outperformed it. We all agreed that they were close, but it was a noticeable difference in sound. The TRU outperformed it, while the Zapco looks sexier. Also noted, the Zapco was much, much more expensive (around the price range of the copper series from TRU). The shop owner did agree that people would buy the Zapco due to looks because some people do not care too much about performance, but for the price range the copper series looks sooooo damn sexy (the reason why I am upgrading to it).

Overall:
TRU 4.100 outperformed the Zapco C2K4.0X, but the C2K4.0X looks sexier (to me), but for the price of the c2k the TRU copper series is sexier and I'd speculate that the copper series would outperform its little brother 4.100 and the c2k.

Disclaimer: These we our tests and our results. We do not claim them to be official, just our results.

Thats all for now.

Great write up, I really enjoyed reading it.

You should post more often. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Adam

Very good read, keep it up.

^^^Keep 'em comin'.
Glad to hear a good report on the Esotars....been itching to get a set in.

You can ususally find a 4.0 for under a grand US (not just on eBay). I bought mine (along with a 6.0) while living in Texas. I paid $600US each for both. However, by comparison, the last time I priced the copper series it was $2900CND (on sale), two weeks ago. Not exactly apples to apples. Having said this, I've compared the two and to my ear the copper series beat my 4.0 hands down. Open, transparent...everything was superior especially female vocals. Not enourmous differences but enough to notice it. Made me want to upgrade...except for the price.

interesting test. what was the reference used for comparison, by that i mean did you reference your comparison in your vehicle? what reference material was used? did everyone compare that same music

thank you

I have had a lot of people email me about these speakers. There are the best sounding speakers I have ever heard. I will do a writeup of them soon.

[quote]Originally posted by droy:

Quote:

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Also noted, the Zapco was much, much more expensive (around the price range of the copper series from TRU).

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You can ususally find a 4.0 for under a grand US (not just on eBay). I bought mine (along with a 6.0) while living in Texas. I paid $600US each for both. However, by comparison, the last time I priced the copper series it was $2900CND (on sale), two weeks ago. Not exactly apples to apples. Having said this, I've compared the two and to my ear the copper series beat my 4.0 hands down. Open, transparent...everything was superior especially female vocals. Not enourmous differences but enough to notice it. Made me want to upgrade...except for the price. [/QUOTE}
retail in canada they are about the same.

I agree, the copper series slays anything that i have heard. another cusomter from the shop changed out his black shadow audison for the copper series and he said that his car sounds much better. after he heard my dynaudios he is selling his focals and buying the same dynaudios

focal and iasca cd