So I'm reading my monthly Performance Auto & Sound ... I often read the reviews on amplifiers and this morning, I was comparing notes on the efficiency of a particular amp ... small in size, the ability to provide a lot of power even at idle voltages, etc ...

The one thing I'm surprised to read about is the reviewers comments about sound ... as if he was describing sound from a component set ... punchy, not booming or echoing, etc ...
All of this from a 300 watt 2-Channel!

So here's my question ...
I have multiple 2-Channel Amplifiers lying around ... my system by no means, is SQ so its hooked up as opposed to properly staged ... I have 2 Alpine SPS600C hooked up in my door (2-Way) w/ Alpine 9886 w/ Imprint (and no idea how to PROPERLY use it)
And the amps I'm talking about are Exile, Kenwood and Kicker ... not SQ companies either ...

But ... to the untrained ear, would I actually HEAR differences that this reviewer is talking about? Help a blank slate

 

In most cases I do not think you will hear difference from one amp to the next. I do however feel if your install and speaks are up to it, you can and will hear differences.

I just sold all of my full range class d amps, and will be I stalling ARC Audio SE amps to replace them. I will post exactly what I hear or cannot hear.

 

Cars are a really bad environment to start with............... so I'd say unless you've spent a lot of money and time on your install to *fix* this environmental problem, you won't notice much if anything between similar amps.

 

It is my opinion that often a reviewer has to say something or it is not much of a review....

 

yeah, especially when the manufacturer buys ad space in your mag.

 

The difference people hear are usually one of these 3...euu 4.

1:Expectations that it will sound different, this goes back to the field of study called Psychoacoustics.

2ifferent levels. Usually when we swap amps we don't careful set the amps at the exact same sound level. The most common thing ears can tell apart is volume(We do it everything we play the the volume **** or an EQ). So is one amp louder then the other? Chances are the loudest will be the one chosen as the best sounding.

3:Built in sound curve, if an amp has a boost or dip somewhere, and some do, then it will of course sound different.

4: Damaged.

Indeed reviewers need to talk about something. It seems all reviews about class D amps in particular always reference "other" class D's that don't sound great... but I have never seen that one review taking about that one class D amp that didn't sound good hehe.

 

It's all crap. Only reason I bought the car audio magazines is to look at all the painted fibreglass and oogle the chicks

 

^^i finally realized that around 1988 after i started doing my own a-b testing. I started buying them for the same reasons as you junk.

 

And dats right !!! Least we bein' honest 'bout it all.................