The Sony XM-1004GX ES: All You Will Ever Need
Written: Jan 27 '02 (Updated Jan 27 '02)
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Pros: Power, looks, ease of install, reliability of ES
Cons: None really
The Bottom Line: This is all the power that most people will ever need for a price that can't be beat for ES quality.
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| AVaddict's Full Review: Sony XM-1004GX Car Amp |
Please Note
This is the fifth and final part in my overall car stereo review, I know, it’s about time! This was just one of the many components that work in concert (snicker!) to provide the best sound I have heard in an average car in my life. I am all about quality not quantity, with that in mind also know that this system is set up for fidelity, not raw sound pressure levels, though it is capable of exactly that if pushed. This review is of the Sony XM-1004GX ES installed in the trunk of my 1995 Accord. It powers my set of Infinity Kappa 6.1 components in the front and the Infinity Kappa 693.3i 6x9 pair in the back.
As mentioned in the previous "Please Note", it is important to understand that this isn't a second rate install, the whole car has been lined with premium sound damping material. This reality makes a big difference in the overall perceived quality of the speakers that this amplifier is driving in a given vehicle. Essentially all this damping does is reduce exterior noise creating a quieter environment in which to enjoy your music.
This amplifier is powered by, sends signals to the speakers with, and is grounded by very good quality cables. I mention this simply because it really does make a difference in your car and if not taken seriously can add quite a bit of bulk noise to your sound because of given cables acting as antennas instead of signal transfer devices. Wrapping cable groups can be another way of reducing interference, but I will be addressing that subject in my article about the importance of damping and install procedures.
First Impressions
The packing is minimal, as it was with my 6001GXD. Try to find a box, if you are at a store, that is not pierced or has clearly been dropped, there is not much to protect the actual product, even the cardboard is even of lightweight construction! I was lucky though, the unit I received was packed very well with peanuts and a thick outer box. This amp isn’t impressively heavy, nor was my 6001GXD, weighing a little less than 7lbs. This is not confidence inspiring, but once I heard what this amp was capable of any disappointment I may have had was quickly quashed.
The directions are predictably vague as they are for most of their car products, ES or not. There are quite a few supplied accessories, but I think most folks will opt for higher quality connections and other options. If a person doesn’t have other higher grade components, what is included will serve the purpose, anemic as it might be. Beyond what I have mentioned there is not much to say, everything you need is included, short of an amplifier wiring kit.
Sound
It is not reasonable to flatly say the amp sounds good since when what you are hearing is a function of at least three different components including the amp, head unit, and speakers (and possibly other random components). I have great speakers. I have a great head unit. The end result is that I get a super premium sound that is a result of a very clean signal being amplified very well, and then played through superior speakers. So in this respect, since all things are equal, I can say that this amp sounds great! There are some tweeks to be had. There are HP and LP filters for convenient tuning of the sound you hear as well as your standard gain control. I have actually moved the high pass limit to roughly 180hz-200hz and the sound is marginally better than before. I can’t say for sure simply because there are no hash marks to go by. I would simply rather my sub deal with the low end.
Whether hard core rap, dance, or heavy rock, this amp never seems to be affected by my need for higher volume levels. Granted at this point, turning the dial half way can be painful. I can “dial in” distortion if I so choose, but when that happens it usually at sound levels far more than what I am used to listening to and because I love my speakers is not something I have done more than a few times. Ultimately, I have access to as much power as I will need simply because I am conscious of how hearing loss occurs and for that reason don’t listen at the sound levels I did 10 years ago. This is not to say that I don’t crank it, if in the right place at the right time, ridiculously loud gangsta rap can be a lot of fun. The other simple reality is that at 80mph, having any window open can be very loud, but this amp overcomes this problem with genuine ease.
Install
The install for this particular amp was relatively easy all things considered. As long as one (the installer) is clear with the install operation as a whole there are no surprises. You wire the power, ground, speakers and crossovers and you’re done. I actually mounted this next to my sub amp, a Sony XM-6001GXD (see my review for more), for simplicity as well as looks. Another little benefit is that I am able to use a common power supply and ground between the two amplifiers because they are only 2” apart. Both amplifiers are mounted on my rear seat pass through simply because I did not want to deal with the added issues of mounting both on my trunk lid.
Plug and play kids. If you can connect a home stereo system you can wire a car system, its just a question of having good instructions, having done it before, or simply knowing a little about a vehicles electrical system and not overloading a given circuit/fuse or two. As far as the where, that’s really up to you. All one really needs is a flat surface and some good self-tapping screws. Pre-drilling can help the whole process go a lot faster as long as your screws are reasonably larger than your pilot holes. Long story short, if the thought of wiring your own car and removing body panels is a daunting concept, get a pro to do it. Usually the cost involved with a professional install is very well worth it to the average consumer as long as it is done properly.
The Straight Poop
Installed as intended by Sony, 75w x 4ch @ 4ohm, this amplifier provides more than ample power. It does have the ability to be configured in a 3-way as well as a 2-way set-up, but these routings are a little contrary to what Sony engineered when creating this amplifier, in my opinion (yes I know its a 2,3,4 way). If one prefers a higher wattage for a two way config, a dual two channel set up might be preferable. I am writing this for the average owner though, not the individual who actually intends to enter and/or attempt to win sound competitions. This is not to say that twin 2 channel amps are somehow advanced beyond the ability of the average user to appreciate, but most folks aren’t in the mood to spend that kind of cash for a standard install, which is in reality more an issue of space to mount than wiring.
You don’t have to get a larger alternator to use this amp. It has its own fuse as well as warning lights to help indicate (if you are looking at them at the time) when you might be past specific limits, whether temperature or power related. This amplifier does what it is supposed to do with a quickness. I might recommend that the individual that would get this amp also consider at least one capacitor. They are relatively cheap now and although they are marketed under many different brand names, all you will need in this amplifiers factory intended set-up is a single ½ farad cap, regardless of brand. In the spectrum of car audio, brand is really irrelevant for capacitors considering that the speed of discharge is almost identical for most of the capacitor retailers, whether RF, Lightning, Radio Shack, or even Monster. It would not surprise me to find that they all get their cores from the same supplier; marketing is paramount!
Final Thoughts
What all this comes down to is the real world use of a given product. In this case it is the Sony XM-1004GX ES. The real world usage is outstanding, period. It supplies all the power I felt I was going to need to get my stereo to play as loud as I want, whether doing 70 with the windows down or simply getting attention the wrong way. I am warming up to the looks of this unit. Red is not my favorite color, but sitting in the trunk next to my sub amp they really do look pretty slick. My preference for the champagne colored ES car amps is a little irrelevant no only because they are virtually impossible to find new being that they haven’t been manufactured in 3 years.
There are a lot of good amps out there, even the low-end Sony 75x4, for less money at MSRP, but Sony has never really done me wrong. I have had defective products in the past (not amps), that once replaced, performed exactly as intended. This was a $350 amp I got for $218 delivered, wow. The net is there for you to use, do so. Unless you are simply lazy, as I was a week ago when I got a new DVD player, shop on the internet, you will always find a better deal.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 218
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