i have a question for you guys...

at the moment, i have a xtant 403a w/ rm-12 running my system... a deal has popped up for a a/d/s pq40.2... is the a/d/s a better amplifier? has anyone had experience with the a/d/s line?

specs:

xtant - 50x2 @4ohms + 200 @2ohms
a/d/s - 100x4 @4ohms or 400x2 @2ohms

its running a set of cdt audio hd cf components up front, a set of nakamichi 2-ways for rear fill (running off the rm-12 module), and a cdt audio cl12 sub...

I cant really say that I am all to familiar with the Xtant product but have played with a/d/s and I love it, very clean, reliable and powerful. If I am reading this right currently the 403a is running the fronts and sub and an rm-12 on the rears (a little confused as I am not familiar with xtant model numbers). If this is correct again I dont know a whole lot about the xtant gear so this is kind of one sided I would move the 403a to run the rears and sub and run the a/d/s to the fronts in 4 channel mode so you can have active crossovers on the front stage.

Both are good amplifiers.

Xtant seems to have more flexibility with the use of various modules.

The a/d/s amp does have more power which will give you more dynamic headroom. I believe that the output is 4x100 4ohms, 4x150 2ohms, and 2x300 at 4ohms.

The only problem that I see is that you'll have to attentuate the rear speakers externally as the a/d/s amp doesn't offer that feature.

i guess i should be a little more clear...

the xtant is a 3 channel amp... 50x2 @4ohms + 200x1 @2ohms... the rm-12 module bridges the front 2 channels and attenuates them 12dbs for rear fill... it basically makes the amp a "5 channel"...

if i do end up with the a/d/s amp, i will not be running any rear fill... since i won't have that ability and i haven't noticed a difference with the rear fill (probably since i chose the such a quiet rm module)...

i cannot run the system active... not that i would want to... i have the upstage kit which i forgot to mention... i could run the a/d/s bridged but 400 RMS would be overkill on my setup...

anyone else?

Both are awesome amps. Xtant will give you more flexability as someone else said.

The negative about the A/D/S amp is the horrid turn on off Thump they are famous for. Which is why you saw very little in Iasca in that time

Specs on the a/d/s PQ40.2 are:
100x4@4ohm
150x4@2ohm
400x2@4ohm bridged

Minimum load is 2ohm stereo. If your CL12 is a dual 4 model then it won't be the amp for you. If you have a single 4ohm coil model then I say do the switch.
With the a/d/s amp you will have more power on your speakers and I imagine your HD's are craving a bit more power than your Xtant is giving them at the moment.

Besides the fact I have this awefull sqeualing sound coming from it, I LOVE my Xtant 2140c, I think I may have a cold solder somewhere but not sure.

My vote goes to Xtant, but then again I've never used ADS amps....heard thier subs and front end though.

[ March 16, 2005, 08:18 PM: Message edited by: Brandon ]

I hate when power is inconsistent like that. Why does the 4ch 2ohm power not match the 2ch 4ohm power?

Make me wonder what the hell... [img]graemlins/freak.gif[/img]

Bridged power is rarely the exact number of the two channels combined number at half impedence.
Rounding off the numbers comes into play of course.

I've seen bench tests on many current DEI produced amps and have yet to see one not surpass it's rated power output.
I have no doubt the a/d/s will do at least its rated power.

well i keep reading different specs on this amp... some specs say 300x2 @ 4ohms and some 400x2 @ 4ohms... but called a/d/s and according to them and their manual its supposed to be 300...

if i do end up getting the amp, ill be changing subs...