2. amps-preamps
  3. 147505-8572

Best Bass Amp!

I’m in the process of rebuilding my pair of Kinergetics SW-900 linesource subwoofers that have six 10” drivers per side. I need input on choosing the best sounding(5hz-80hz), most powerful, hardest hitting & most important cool running(most likely Class-D)monoblock bass amplifiers. I prefer ‘always on’ or ‘auto turn on’ if possible. No built-in crossover needed since I’ll be using my Pre/Pro for that. They will be used for music(40%) & home theater(60%) to mate up to my Apogee Studio Grand & Dali Megaline speakers.

I want to stay under $2500 price new/used for the pair if possible.

My choices so far are:

Bel Canto Ref-1000

Wyred 4 Sound SX-1000

PS Audio M-700

Emerald Physics 200.2SE(in mono)

I have a Coda Continuum No. 8 Stereo Class-A amplifier I will be comparing to hear the difference with the digital amps listed above.

FYI- I’ll be replacing the stock Vifa woofers in the SW-900 with Dayton Audio Reference 10” woofers(model #RSS265HF-8).

Please help me select the best from the list above or add any other amps you can think of that would be better.

Thank you!


ptheo
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Right. Anyone taking time to read up on the theory and practice of distributed bass (which if you haven't you should) will quickly come to realize that while the very best results come from distributing as widely as possible still the concept is so powerful that just about any four locations will work much better than just about anything else based on only one or two subs. 

Questions about distortion are all based on the party line we've been fed for generations, which is all based on a faulty understanding of the way low bass interacts with human hearing in normal rooms.

The OP is in a perfect situation to test this out. He's already got all the drivers he needs. All he needs to do is stick em in separate boxes, plop em down wherever he has room, and let the chips fall where they may.


mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
QSC PLX 3602. Blast a hole through the ozone. Screw hearing. It's feeling that counts.
ptheo OP
72 posts
 

Thanks for the amp suggestions auxinput & mijostyn! I’m sure the Crown & QSC amps would be great for bass but for my application it won’t work since I want a quiet amp with no fan noise(Crown) and way too much power on both. No problem on the XLR connection since that is all I use in my system. Also, with their massive power it will be overkill since I will have so much room coupling due to the multiple drivers. I’m willing to bet my sensitivity will be over 95db SPL @1W. I do value quality over quantity first & foremost. Even thought I do more home theater now,  accurate music sound reproduction is much more important to me vs HT. If it turns out that Class-A/AB amps sound better than Class-D does on the subs, I will use the Class-A/AB amps Nov thru Apr & use the Class-D amps May thru Oct(since it gets so friggin’ hot here in Sacto).


mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
ptheo, the QSC amp fans can be easily disabled. In your use they will hardly break a sweat. You can always use one in Stereo. In my experience AB amps produce firmer bass than D amps. D amps are used almost exclusively in plate amplifiers because they are small and relatively inexpensive. We used these QSC amps on a friends JL Fathom subs after gutting them saving just the enclosures and drivers. He was super pleased with the results now if I could just talk him into getting two more. 
flat4
53 posts
 
ptheo, ashame someone painted them but nice to hear you are taking the time to refinish them. I like the replacement drivers you are using? How did you choose them?

I can say that the fans on the Crown XLS amps do not run much and I never could hear mine run. The speakerpower sub amps you probably wouldn't even push hard enough for them to come on. I was gonna use one had I built the 2nd system.

If you don't want class d the Parasound 2250 v2 will work really well and you could go mono if need be.


More to discover