Ok I am looking for an amp to power my boston pros. I have no subs, and would like to stay away from them if at all possible so retaining some bass is important.

These speakers are really hungry so I need something with a little power.

The 3 amps I am looking at are the

JL 300/4 (75X4 RMS) Has lots of bass but is leastclear ($350)
Alpine MRV-F540 (80X4 RMS) Kind of in between ($310)
Eclipse PSA 5422 (85x4 RMS) Really clean sound but not as much bass ($240)

 

I had Boston Pros in my old 300ZX TT. I was powering them with a Zapco Studio 300X (150x2). I don't understand why you describe your choices as, "Has lots of bass/not as much bass/Kind of in between" - that makes no sense to me. Since you're not running a sub, bass will depend on your woofer component, i.e., a 6.5" woofer will go deeper than a 5.25", etc. and your 5x7s or 6x9s in the rear. Anyway, any of those amps will do, however, why don't you get a 2-channel amp with more power (100W+, component speakers take a lot of power, and need it to get the best sound out of them), and run the rear speakers off the source unit. Most of what you hear will come from your front stage so put your power there.

 

Maybe I'm stupid, but how does one amp give "more bass" than an other? I know some are EQ'd internally, but I don't know if those are. Check your gains. Assuming that EQing is equal, look at other ratings too other than just power ratings. What about distortion, range, input voltages, etc.

Did you try these amps in your car to make the determination of sound quality?

 

Well, everything you hear will come equally from the front and rear. You want your sound stage up front. Definitely run your rears to your deck.

BUT, here's the problem with that. You want bass? Your fronts aren't in an enclosure that's good enough for good bass. Hell, the rears aren't really either. I upgraded to something along the lines of Sony XS-V1340H (which required a little modding of the mounting points) and I think JBL Power P8652 out back. I actually LOST some bass response. Go figure. But I'm running off the deck (Sony something or other. Part of the L3 series).

I would suggest if your deck has multiple outputs, get a 4 channel amp to retain fade control. That way you can keep your sound up front and tweak the rears for fill to your taste.

 

That's not true. There will be a bias from your front stage. From the driver's seat, 80% of what you hear will come from the front.

 

Heh...what I meant was there's no signal difference from front to rear. The rears are getting the same info as the fronts.

But all levels centered will still move your stage close to the center of the car. The FD is different due to speaker placement. Stupid place for them IMO.

 

go with the eclipse is my opinion, its the least overpriced usually, but if you want another option-I'd suggest checking out Memphis amps, tons of power for your money, and not over-rated power either

 

check out JBL amps

 

agreed on JBL amps, get a little more power than you think you need though, they over-rate a tad, but they are great amps for the price

 

ZAPPCO is the way to go.