Gotta love Chrome!
Written: Sep 14 '01 (Updated Sep 14 '01)
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Pros: Beautiful cosmetics. Excellent balance of sound vs. power.
Cons: SPL comp users can look elsewhere.
The Bottom Line: This amp combines power, clarity, and style in a package that looks good and doesn't break the wallet.
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| mister_playboy's Full Review: Premier 200W x 2 Amplifier PRS-X720 |
I've had this amp with my pair of Pioneer Premier 12" 1240DVC subs for nearly a year now, and the whole set up works beautifully. The amp itself is quite possibly the coolest looking one ever invented. All that metal work is for a purpose, too. The heavy heatsinking does a WONDERFUL job of keeping the vital internals of the amp cool. I've cruised the strip for hours with my everything from Metallica to Eminem to Nine Inch Nails cranked up, and I've NEVER ONCE had the amp shut down because its heat protection circuit tripped.
As far as power goes, this amp far exceeds its advertised 100Wx2 and 400Wx1 RMS output into 4 ohms. Try 258Wx2 and 789Wx1 RMS on for size! That's what was listed on the performance test sheet sent with the amp. Being skeptical, I decided to take it into a local store to see what test numbers they came up with. (The test sheet is from the factory) Nearly the same result. WOW! And the fact that I've seen a lot of amps with a "power rating" seemingly drawn out of a hat makes me appreciate an amp like this that doesn't fall short. Out on the street, my car garners some attention from a distance. Despite considerably exceeding the nominal input of my subs, they've held up fine, which makes sense. If the amps are underrated, why not the subs? I personally believe systems work best with components from the same manufacturer. Pioneer has a solid reputation for quality, and the PRS-X720 supports that.
Distortion is quite low for the power on hand, and it's only the kind of distortion you can test in a lab, not hear with your ears. Sends the music through with power and authority. I listen to everything from heavy metal to Mariah Carey, and nothing gives this amp trouble.
Cons? Power-mongers will need a bigger amp for competetion use, and those who like to use low impedances to bump out their power levels should note the PRS-X720 is designed for no less than 2 ohms stereo and 4 ohms mono. No crazy .5 ohm systems here! Besides, nothing is free in life, and while lower impedance allows more power to be sent to the speakers, it also degrades sound quality and causes the amp to create more heat, which can shorten its life. This amp is made for people who love music, so if your interest runs to SPL, look elsewhere.
The MRSP of $550 makes this a fairly expensive amp. As with all car stereo equipment, make sure you spread your money around. A wonderful amp like this will be wasted on subs of lesser quality. Balance is essential!
Friends who look at your amp are sure to say, "hey, I can see my own reflection!". Chrome has always been the American way to make something look cool and expensive. Look at the Cadillacs and Lincolns of the 50's for proof! And it looks just as good today, in the 21st century.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 479.99
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Epinions.com ID:
mister_playboy
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Member: Rocky Czaplewski
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
Reviews written: 24
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
I'd like to think I've got some opinions worth your time to read.
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