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Amp recomendations

John Mcpartland

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I have a 2017 AR240 and I just bought 6 jl mx6.5 and a jl ib 10in sub. Would it be better to go with 2 4 channel amps or go with the jl 800/8? The guys at the car stereo shops recommend going with 2 4 channel amps saying if one goes bad its cheaper to replace 1 4ch. And they dont seem to know about the jl 8 channel amp
Thanks
John
 

jcyamaharider

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Are you wanting to go with a JL Audio amp? There are plenty of good d class amps out there for the money. I am using the polk amps that came with my boat on 6 JL mx650, 1 core 10 wetsounds sound bar and a JL IB sub. Everything sounds great! I am using a polk 4000.4 and a polk 5000.5. On my last boat I even used polk amps because they are a great value and they put out the power. You can see the details in my sig.
 

adrianp89

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I like the idea of a 8 channel for simplicity. 6 channels to your speakers and the last two bridged to the sub.
 

jcyamaharider

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$500 for 2 amps or $770 for one....
 

MattFX4

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Go with the one JL 800/8. I have the same amp and it's a beast. Very efficient too.
 

adrianp89

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jcyamaharider

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John Mcpartland

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Thanks for the suggestion. I found the jl 800.8 refurbished for $499. With a 2 year warranty. I'll probably go that route to keep it simple but the 2 polk amps do let me add tower speaker in the future.
 

robert843

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John Mcpartland

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Has anyone tried the clarion xc micro amps? I like the size
 

swatski

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Has anyone tried the clarion xc micro amps? I like the size
Yes, the xc1410 is an awesome little guy. It can not be bridged, but is stable at 2 ohms and works GREAT with 4 or 6 Polk DBs - used that way by many forum members here.

I have two XC1410s pushing 10 Polk DB651s. One that is pushing 6 DBs (1 pair at 4 ohms and 2 pairs at 2 ohms) maybe as loud if not louder than the other (which is pushing 2 pairs at 4 ohms).

Those amps are about as simple and efficient as these things get. There are several great write-ups here by members who are using them, I have yet to hear of one failing. I wouldn't use them for larger tower speakers, but for cockpit 6.5" - you may be surprised how well one XC would work with all 6 speakers. If not - the worst case - it will buy you some time before you figure out what you really want/need. That can be an interesting process.

I have learned that expensive does not always equal better for my liking. For example, I have a set of tower WS ICON8s powered by WS amp - that cost about 1.5k for the whole set with clamps etc. Yet, I find myself liking my lowly DBs so much more, I have them usually cranked up and the ICONS de-tuned. But that's just what I found works for us, and I wouldn't know it if I didn't try.

I like the idea of a WS tower-soundbar, too, how @jcyamaharider or @Julian have theirs set up.

--
 

Jaylex

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@John Mcpartland I don't think you can go wrong with the 800/8. I also have one of those and it gives you a ton of flexibility now and in the future. Plus it will simplify the install with 1 amp vs 2, its does costs more than other setups, but you wont hear anything else bad about the amp....I say go for it.
 

John Mcpartland

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Yes, the xc1410 is an awesome little guy. It can not be bridged, but is stable at 2 ohms and works GREAT with 4 or 6 Polk DBs - used that way by many forum members here.

I have two XC1410s pushing 10 Polk DB651s. One that is pushing 6 DBs (1 pair at 4 ohms and 2 pairs at 2 ohms) maybe as loud if not louder than the other (which is pushing 2 pairs at 4 ohms).

Those amps are about as simple and efficient as these things get. There are several great write-ups here by members who are using them, I have yet to hear of one failing. I wouldn't use them for larger tower speakers, but for cockpit 6.5" - you may be surprised how well one XC would work with all 6 speakers. If not - the worst case - it will buy you some time before you figure out what you really want/need. That can be an interesting process.

I have learned that expensive does not always equal better for my liking. For example, I have a set of tower WS ICON8s powered by WS amp - that cost about 1.5k for the whole set with clamps etc. Yet, I find myself liking my lowly DBs so much more, I have them usually cranked up and the ICONS de-tuned. But that's just what I found works for us, and I wouldn't know it if I didn't try.

I like the idea of a WS tower-soundbar, too, how @jcyamaharider or @Julian have theirs set up.

--
Thanks for the info, it looks like the xc2410 is the same but it is bridgeable.
 

bigblank69

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Thanks for the suggestion. I found the jl 800.8 refurbished for $499. With a 2 year warranty. I'll probably go that route to keep it simple but the 2 polk amps do let me add tower speaker in the future.
Who did the refurb? Guaranteed it wasn't by JL Audio and then your stuck if anything goes wrong...

Personally I had the Polk PAD 4000.4 and it was a great amp, puts out over 150W Rms (Actual as the amp is underrated) and I tested it at over 500w bridged, very nice amps.
 
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