Car Stereo Gurus: got an amp for Xmas-- no idea if its good - TriStateTuners.com :: Home of Tristate Auto Enthusiast

WRXD · 12-26-2006, 12:01 AM

Hey-
I just got an amp for Christmas from a family member who knew I was considering upgrading my system. The problem is, I know nothing about car audio or amp specs. I have no idea what type quality amp I recieved was or what other components I would need to make it work.

my car: 04 WRX completely stock system (no factory upgrade)

the amp I recieved(stats in the owners manual):
Crunch car audio 'Ground Pounder' GP1400.4 4 Channel amp
Power output RMS/Dynamic
4ohms: 160x4/175x4
2ohms: 320x4/350x4
4ohms mono bridged: 640x2/700x2
Power Supply: PWM
Configuration: Mosfet
Soft Start Sound: Yes
Dampening Factor: >151
Signal to Noise ratio (A-weight): >95dB
Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.05%
Channel Separation: >72dB
Input Gain Control: 0.2V- 5.0V
Input Inpedence: 47KOhms
Variable Frequency Control: 50Hz-250Hz

so my questions are:

is this a good amp?
what else do I need to buy to use this amp?
can I power a headunit and speakers and not have to have a sub??
is it worth keeping??

thanks in advance...

CleanNeon98 · 12-26-2006, 12:10 AM

i think its a 4 channel so you can amp the speakers...ur gona need a wiring kit from a store..also would recomend aftermarket speakers if ur gona amp.

**TROLL** · 12-26-2006, 12:15 AM

i'm not an expert but it sounds like a cheap high power low quality amp. i'm not sure if you'd really benefit from it much. if you are trying to improve your audio i'd think about a decent head unit and component speakers for the front, then a lower powered higher quality amp if you're still looking for more.

S4toSTI · 12-26-2006, 12:31 AM

Speakers are always gonna be your biggest jump in sound quality. I really don't know much about that amp so i am not gonna talk about it being crap or not. I would rather see you get something alittle nicer tho doesn't need to be a jl could be a jbl. But as i said your best gain is gonna be with speakers.

ToyotaTat · 12-26-2006, 12:42 AM

im gonna agree w/ troll on the amp...and i recommend changing front speakers, leave the rear ones stock, new head unit, and if you'd like a sub also, thats what i did and i love my sound

Renegade_ · 12-26-2006, 12:49 AM

I don't think you would "hurt" your audio system by putting it in, but then again you will always be limited by the factory speakers before anything.

I am looking to upgrade my speakers sometime too but I don't want to blow a crapload of money on speakers... I just want some nice speakers that have tone quality before anything else.

WRXD · 12-26-2006, 12:49 AM

The problem is if I decide to sell it, I have to find some way to explain that to the person that gave it to me... kinda puts me between a rock and a hard place.

Renegade_ · 12-26-2006, 12:53 AM

say you changed the external cover to a design you liked better...?

ToyotaTat · 12-26-2006, 12:55 AM

or just keep the factory speakers and have them reinstalled b4 you sell...you'll get the same amount of $ for the car and then you can eitehr sell or re use the speakers

WRXD · 12-26-2006, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToyotaTat

or just keep the factory speakers and have them reinstalled b4 you sell...you'll get the same amount of $ for the car and then you can eitehr sell or re use the speakers

I meant, if I decide to sell the amp I got for x-mas, the person who gave it to me sees me kinda often (my sisters fiance) and how do I explain that I never installed it. Makes me feel like a dick.

ToyotaTat · 12-26-2006, 01:57 AM

just say that when you went to have it installed you were scammed into an upgrade (assuming you get another one)

On Sale · 12-31-2006, 12:05 PM

FYI Crunch audio isn't all that bad. They are a company under HiFonics

mr_eh · 12-31-2006, 12:32 PM

say you took it to somewhere to get it installed, the installer dropped it and they offered to give you whatever you decide to get as a replacement and it was worth double the value...

S4toSTI · 12-31-2006, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_eh

say you took it to somewhere to get it installed, the installer dropped it and they offered to give you whatever you decide to get as a replacement and it was worth double the value...

That doesn't happen.

Honest_Bob · 01-01-2007, 02:58 PM

It probably isnt the best amp in the world, but as long as its installed and tuned properly I dont see a problem with using it. If anything it probably just dosent put out as much power as it says it does. Even still its got plenty more juice than any aftermarket head unit. Its deffinitly a step up from being unamped. Go for it!

Your deffinitly gonna want some aftermarket speakers. Personally I would go with a really nice set of fronts and skip the backs maybe even take the rears out if you dont have passengers to often. I'm assuming you have a head unit with a set of preouts. An amp installation kit is going to be needed. If you plan on putting a sub in the car I would just go straight for a 0 gauge kit so you have room to grow in the future. When you get the second amp for the sub just pickup a set of distribution blocks and your done. No ripping out old power wire and running new.

Your probably gonna want to keep the gains on the amp set to minimal as to not blow the speakers. In my old setup I turned the gains down low enough as to make it impossible to get distortion even on the highest volume setting on the head unit. Keeps people that may borrow your car from blowing the hell out of your speakers.

WRXD · 01-02-2007, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honest_Bob

I'm assuming you have a head unit with a set of preouts.

I have a totally stock 04 WRX sound system.

I have installed amps and subs before in friends cars-- I just dont know thing one about amp quality.

124spy · 01-03-2007, 05:08 PM

it's just the run of the mill amp, pretty average quality. as long as it's installed properly it will sound fine.

igo4bmx · 01-03-2007, 05:18 PM

average amp
i would run it
it will most likely not do its rated power
and like others said also upgrade the fronts and headunit.

12-26-2006, 12:01 AM	#1
WRXD Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SEPA Member #1156 My Ride: 2013 Ford Focus ST iTrader: (0)	Car Stereo Gurus: got an amp for Xmas-- no idea if its good Hey- I just got an amp for Christmas from a family member who knew I was considering upgrading my system. The problem is, I know nothing about car audio or amp specs. I have no idea what type quality amp I recieved was or what other components I would need to make it work. my car: 04 WRX completely stock system (no factory upgrade) the amp I recieved(stats in the owners manual): Crunch car audio 'Ground Pounder' GP1400.4 4 Channel amp Power output RMS/Dynamic 4ohms: 160x4/175x4 2ohms: 320x4/350x4 4ohms mono bridged: 640x2/700x2 Power Supply: PWM Configuration: Mosfet Soft Start Sound: Yes Dampening Factor: >151 Signal to Noise ratio (A-weight): >95dB Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.05% Channel Separation: >72dB Input Gain Control: 0.2V- 5.0V Input Inpedence: 47KOhms Variable Frequency Control: 50Hz-250Hz so my questions are: is this a good amp? what else do I need to buy to use this amp? can I power a headunit and speakers and not have to have a sub?? is it worth keeping?? thanks in advance...

12-26-2006, 12:10 AM	#2
CleanNeon98 TST Ruined My Life! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Philadelphia Member #2029 My Ride: "Honey Badger" Turbo Miata iTrader: (8)	i think its a 4 channel so you can amp the speakers...ur gona need a wiring kit from a store..also would recomend aftermarket speakers if ur gona amp. __________________ 2004 MAZDASPEED MX-5 : 328whp / 308wtq / 2500lbs 2012 Toyota Prius 2 : Daily Driver

12-26-2006, 12:49 AM	#6
Renegade_ Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: May 2006 Location: NNJ/NYC Member #1912 My Ride: 1J Swaggon iTrader: (2)	I don't think you would "hurt" your audio system by putting it in, but then again you will always be limited by the factory speakers before anything. I am looking to upgrade my speakers sometime too but I don't want to blow a crapload of money on speakers... I just want some nice speakers that have tone quality before anything else. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

12-26-2006, 12:53 AM	#8
Renegade_ Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: May 2006 Location: NNJ/NYC Member #1912 My Ride: 1J Swaggon iTrader: (2)	say you changed the external cover to a design you liked better...? __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures.

12-31-2006, 12:32 PM	#13
mr_eh Tri-State Addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Staten Island, NY Member #1149 My Ride: Zenki S14 - Sold the SRT4 iTrader: (1)	say you took it to somewhere to get it installed, the installer dropped it and they offered to give you whatever you decide to get as a replacement and it was worth double the value... __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. no thread for current s2000.

12-31-2006, 12:05 PM	#12
On Sale Tri-State Post Whore Banned Join Date: Sep 2005 Member #869 iTrader: (5)	FYI Crunch audio isn't all that bad. They are a company under HiFonics

01-01-2007, 02:58 PM	#15
Honest_Bob TST Ruined My Life! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Easton, PA Member #1179 My Ride: 05 WRX Wagon iTrader: (2)	It probably isnt the best amp in the world, but as long as its installed and tuned properly I dont see a problem with using it. If anything it probably just dosent put out as much power as it says it does. Even still its got plenty more juice than any aftermarket head unit. Its deffinitly a step up from being unamped. Go for it! Your deffinitly gonna want some aftermarket speakers. Personally I would go with a really nice set of fronts and skip the backs maybe even take the rears out if you dont have passengers to often. I'm assuming you have a head unit with a set of preouts. An amp installation kit is going to be needed. If you plan on putting a sub in the car I would just go straight for a 0 gauge kit so you have room to grow in the future. When you get the second amp for the sub just pickup a set of distribution blocks and your done. No ripping out old power wire and running new. Your probably gonna want to keep the gains on the amp set to minimal as to not blow the speakers. In my old setup I turned the gains down low enough as to make it impossible to get distortion even on the highest volume setting on the head unit. Keeps people that may borrow your car from blowing the hell out of your speakers. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 signatures. Last edited by Honest_Bob; 01-01-2007 at 03:06 PM.

01-03-2007, 05:08 PM	#17
124spy Tri-State Aficionado Join Date: Nov 2006 Member #2873 iTrader: (0)	it's just the run of the mill amp, pretty average quality. as long as it's installed properly it will sound fine.

01-03-2007, 05:18 PM	#18
igo4bmx Tri-State Post Whore Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Under the bar... Member #592 My Ride: 2009 Audi A3 Quattro, 2008 BMW X5, 2003 WW Evo8, 2000 Turbo SOHC Civic iTrader: (1)	average amp i would run it it will most likely not do its rated power and like others said also upgrade the fronts and headunit. __________________ BOOST doesn't get you laid. Roofies and some creativity does however Tuned by some white dude @ a shopwithbigtrucks.com "You get what you pay for" - thanks captain obvious, unless you bought rotas and received volks.

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