Phoenix Gold Phorum

Hi guys... I'm kind of torn on what to do.

I have a M50 and M44 both of which will require cap replacements due to their age which I would do myself (never did it before so I'm sure it will take me longer than the pros).

OR

I can pick up a JBL GTO1004 600Wx4 for $100 brand new. Here's the specs:

Power Output 100W RMS x 4 Channels at 4 Ohms 150W RMS x 4 Channels at 2 Ohms
Signal-to-Noise (dBA) 104dBA (reference rated power into 4 ohms)
THD 0.02% (rated power at 4 ohms)
Frequency Response 10Hz - 100kHz (-3dB)
Dimensions (L x W x H) 18-9/16" x 10-3/8" x 2-1/8"

I really would love to see my PG amps back in service but the cost to repair and time to install is making the JBL look like an attractive alternative for the price. The cost of a hot air station alone to work on my PG boards would cover the cost the new amp.

Thanks...

You can replace the caps with a cheap soldering iron... mine cost $15 for a good variable temperature station. Good old fashioned through-hole amplifiers are a breeze to work on. The M amplifiers are particularly easy to do... you don't have to unclamp the heatsink at all, which is a huge bonus. Doing the same job on an MS amplifier takes much more time.

I would personally stick with the M amps. The GTO's are robust mass produced entry level amps, but don't hold a candle to the M series in sound quality design.

Okay that's good to know. If I can do it without a hot air station then from a cost perspective I would be ahead of the game using my PG equipement and get the pride factor too.

I can get a pretty good deal on certain harman products so I need to decide on one of these to 5 1/4" component systems:

JBL C508GTi
Infinity KAPPA PERFECT 5.1

1. Any thoughts on either of those speakers? One better than the other?

2. The amp will be installed in an E46 BMW which has balanced signal outputs. Do I need a line output converter to change the signal to unbalanced or can the M amps work with both signal types?

3. The signal input voltage peaks at 11 volts from the head unit - will this hurt the amp?


(Edit - organize questions)

The GTI components sound pretty good IMHO. I have never liked Infinity speakers. If you're on a budget, check out the PG RSD components as well... for being very cheap, they sound amazing, with gobs of midbass, fairly smooth midrange, and a nice silk tweeter.

If you have a balanced signal, you will need to convert it to single-ended. You can do this for very cheap simply by ignoring the signal on the shield, and grounding it. You can do this with a ground loop isolator. http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... Id=2062214

My Saab also had balanced outputs, and what I did was buy an Audiocontrol Three.1 equalizer, which converts the balanced signal to unbalanced, has a linedriver, and gives you tweaky features up front as well. The linedriver will be less necessary in your install, since the M amps max out at 2 volts as opposed to the 8 volts of my Ti500.4. Regardless, it will still be useful, it will keep the better balanced signal, and it's not all that expensive either. I would say it's worthwhile.

If your headunit puts out an 11 volt signal, you will definitely want to scale it back. I believe you can reduce this with the Audiosource processor as well, but don't quote me on that.

Invest in some solder wick it will make things easier its cheap on ebay.

I also have a brand new PG EQ-215 TWO THIRD OCTAVE GRAPHIC EQUALIZER. Can this help me here?

Unfortunately I don't think the 215's have a balanced input like the 230's do.

I'll slide you $200 + shipping for those PG amps. You'll get 2 JBL's for free.

A little time and care is all to replace those caps. You can do it.

The EQ215's DO NOT have a balanced O/P.

HH

I'm sure the JBL's are all fine and good but I'd take the PG amps any day, even considering the cap job they require. My M44/M100 combo is sexy hot... which is also why I have to install those fan shrouds. I'm not the best judge though, I don't have enough experience.

I don't know what vehicle you're installing this in but I found the 90s styled M series amps to fit well in my 90s styled vehicle, if that makes any sense at all.

They're going into a 2005 325i 4dr.
I plan on making a platform hung from the rear deck about 4" to hold the amps.

I'm going to use my PG amps. I love the way they look and they were my pride and joy at 20 they'll be my pride and joy again at 33.

I'll use the M44 for the fronts and rears and the M50 for a sub when that happens.

Time to read my other thread to figure out what caps I need to buy.... In the meantime feel free to post a link to save me the work