Amp to replace factory 4 ch Clairon?

[kevfran99]

Currently I running a 6 channel jl to the six interior speakers, the factory clairon 2 channel bridged to one channel for the sub, and the four tower speakers to each channel on the factory four channel amp. I was thinking of replacing the clairon with the new Polk 500.4 which is 90 RMS per channel @ 4ohms.......is it worth spending the money to get the newer polk amp or should I just stick with what I have? Thanks! oh, the reason I was thinking about switching is I can pick one of these polk amps up for $250.

[AuMDLST]

RE: Amp to replace factory 4 ch Clairon?

IMO I do not think, other than a good price on the polk, that you would be gaining much. The difference is only 10 watts per channel.

[TravisFling]

RE: Amp to replace factory 4 ch Clairon?

You should be able to find a kicker 750.4 for a similar price.

[kevfran99]

RE: Amp to replace factory 4 ch Clairon?

****.....pretty good power for the price travis..........will the speakers hold that much power? I can't seem to find the ratings on them.

[AuMDLST]

RE: Amp to replace factory 4 ch Clairon?

If you are interested in the kicker amps - you are going to be better off looking at the Stereo (2 channel) amps. Specifically the 550.2 - the problem with the multichannel amps (4 channel) is that they do not allow an easy wiring solution for the four tower speakers. If you parallel two tower speakers you will have a 2 ohm load since the speakers are 4 ohms. The multichannel amps are four channels at 2 ohms or two channels at 4 ohms. Using a stereo amp like the 550.2 produces 275 watts by two channels at two ohms. I believe your tower speakers are 125 watts rms.

[kevfran99]

RE: Amp to replace factory 4 ch Clairon?

so If I was to get the amp you mentioned Aumdlst, how do I wire the tower speakers? Right now they are each just run to a separate channel on the amp. How do I run them to 2 ohms?

[crowland]

RE: Amp to replace factory 4 ch Clairon?

Here you go Kev - see the link below, the diagram is pretty clear for wiring in parallel. I think what you are saying in your previous post is that you have a 4 channel amp for the towers, so you will just want to bridge your amp to 2 channels instead of 4. Which is possible on most 4 channels. It sounds like you know what you are doing since your Sub Amp is already bridged. Check your manual - it should tell you which terminals (pos and neg) on the 2 channels to bridge. You simply will then use those terminals for 2 of the tower speakers since you have 4 speakers with 4 sets of wires. Do the same thing on the other 2 channels with your other 2 sets of tower speaker wires. It is a very easy swap. One thing to note is that normally when you bridge your amp is going to output the signal in Mono rather than Stereo mode. I dont think you would notice the difference since they are on the tower speakers, but you definitely have some other options to consider and more power to spare in that amp than you currently have hooked up now.

http://www.caraudiohelp.com/ohms_law/ohms_law.htm

[AuMDLST]

RE: Amp to replace factory 4 ch Clairon?

The nice part of the stereo (two channel) amp is that it is not bridged (using the pos from one channel and the neg from another channel).
Kevfran - in your case with the 4 tower speakers and the kicker 550.2 you would take the wires for two tower speakers (say both left side tower)
and terminate them on the left channel of the amp - repeat the process for the right side two speakers.
The end result would be both positive side speaker wires landed under one terminal on the amp (+)
Both negative wires (from speakers) landed under one terminal for the amp.
Two speakers - one channel - therefore two pos one pos amp terminal, two neg to one neg amp terminal. (this would be one side of the tower - now repeat for the other).
The stereo amps are only mono when bridged - in this case it is not bridged and still has left right control.

[kevfran99]

RE: Amp to replace factory 4 ch Clairon?

If I went with the 2 channel kicker you are talking about, would I notice a difference from the stock one? in other words, is it worth the money???? or should I just run the stock amp in parallel?

And thanks for the previous help! now I get it.

[AuMDLST]

RE: Amp to replace factory 4 ch Clairon?

The stock 480 clarion should be wired with one speaker per channel
The clarion is rated at 4 ohms per channel.
Changing out the amp would deliver about 50% more power to the speakers - Should make a difference
but to what extent I do not know - Send a PM to Earmark as they may have some ideas on this.

[TravisFling]

RE: Amp to replace factory 4 ch Clairon?

My Kicker 750.4 is 2 ohm stable... I have my four in boat speakers running off of "amp 1" - channels 1 and 2- in parallel and the tower speakers (Kicker KMT6's) running bridged on "Amp 2" - channels 3 and 4.
Seperate gain, boost and crossover for each "amp". Kicker acts like it's actually two completely seperate amps inside there, which it may very well be. Works well, though.
My sub is run off a pioneer 720w amp that I have bridged down, too. Run 'em like you stole 'em!!! Yee-haw.