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RSD 500.4 VS ZX450 SQ?
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 2:40 pm
by phonixx
Hi!
I have a ZX450 v2 for use on my Boston Acoustics Pro 6.2 Doorspeakers. Now the RCA/crossover board on my ZX450 got some waterdamage and i have to replace it with another amp. I really like the SQ of the ZX450, reminds me of the sound of the MS275 i had in eary days.
I have a RSD 1200.1 for my 2*12" subs and its doing a good job with plenty of power but i was wondering if anyone is using the RSD 500.4 and have anything to say about the SQ for Mids and Tweeters similar to the old school ZX and MS series?
Or should i rather buy a used MS275 ZX450 etc? It seems like a used Ms275/ZX450/ZX500.4/ZX475 etc or a new RSD500.4 is about the same cost so what do you guys think is the smartest way to spend 200-300$?
The most important here is the SQ, not some power more or less.
Thanx!
Bjornar
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 2:43 pm
by stipud
The RSD will have the same sound quality as all of the amps you mentioned. The only downside is it has a less versatile crossover and no LPL port like the ZX has. It should be capable of more power however, and apparently the guy who built the MS amps designed the RSD series, so you should be happy.
By the way... congratulations on being our 100th member! Woot!
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:23 pm
by phonixx
It will only be playing mid/tweeters so the LPL dosen`t matter. I have HPF/LPF 60-200Hz on my Alpine headunit so along with the RSD crossover i can make bandpass as well if needed. I think i will go for the RSD 500.4 instead of a used amp. I think it will fit well in my trunck along with the RSD 1200.1
And i really trust the designer that made the good old MS
Thanx alot for your answer!
Bjornar (Proud member number 100))

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:26 pm
by stipud
Bjorn,
The RSD crossover only goes 40-400, not 40-400 and 400-4000 (using the X10 button) like the ZX and Ti amps could. This may prove difficult for running your components actively as you are planning.
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 3:42 pm
by phonixx
Stipud,
Basicly i just need a HPF for my Boston Acoustics components cutting of at aprox. 120Hz. They have passive crossovers cutting between Mids/Tweeters.
And if needed a bandpass for future midbass i think i can send a HP signal from my Alpine headunit cutting f.ex 70Hz and then use the LPF of the RSD cutting f.ex 200Hz, then i think (If my brain dosen`t fool me) i will have a 70-200Hz bandpass signal that i can use for a midbass?
And the other 2 channels can bu used for Mids/Tweeters along with the HPF cutting at approx. 200Hz and the LPF in the 1200.1 cutting the subs approx 70Hz.
I think it will work fine with 40-400Hz crossovers.
Puuuuuuuuh!
Bjornar
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:32 pm
by stipud
Ah, I see you are doing a 3-way setup instead of 2-way as I thought.
If you are going to run midbass off of the rear (70-200) and highpass on the front (200-20k) that will work perfectly if you set your deck crossover to 70Hz.
I thought you were running an active setup with tweeters on the front, and midranges on the rear. This wouldn't work out because the RSD could not reach a good crossover point between the tweeter and mid (around 3500hz).
The RSD will work perfectly in your system. Don't forget to post pics!
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 4:37 pm
by Bfowler
dammit, and i almost pulled my famous "bfowler2" on the 100th user......
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:13 pm
by phonixx
Stipud,
Yes it looks like it will cover my needs perfectly as i use passive crossovers to do the 3500Hz mid/tweeter cut. I use Boston Acoustics Pro 6,5" for midrange and PG Xenon tweeters and the Boston Acoustics Pro passive filters to do the 3500Hz Mid/Tweeter cut and the ZX450 filter to do the 120Hz HP cut.
I do not have a Midbass yet but thinking of a pair of 8" maybe, taking care of the 70-200Hz or so.
For subs i still use my 2 Celestion AD12 bought back in 1995 but still hang in there. I just like the sound so much that i never been looking for any replacement for them. I have a second ZX450 for the subs bridged into 4ohm mono so they get 250WRms each and that works fine.
I have a brand new RSD 1200.1 just tested and it rocks the subs really hard but the alternator of my old Volvo is to small (60A) so the plan is to replace it with a Volvo diesel alternator doing 100A
I will post pictures when the time comes.
Thanx alot for your answers.
BFowler,
Sorry for snapping the 100th user and thanx for picking me up when i was walking lonesome around at the SoundBuggy forum and guiding me into this forum
Bjornar
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:43 pm
by stipud
If you don't buy midbass, you can also use the RSD500.4 bridged to give your components 250+ watts

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 6:55 pm
by Bfowler
no prob...glad you got some decent help
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:55 am
by phonixx
Stipud,
Thats a thouht....
How do i do with the Rca`s to still get stereo when i`m bridging the Amp into stereo speakers? Do i use the left one on front and the right one on rear or should i use all 4 Rca`s?
Bjornar
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 9:58 am
by stipud
Take one RCA, use two Y-splitters. Split the right signal to the L/R RCA inputs on the front, split the left signal to the RCA inputs on the rear. You can adjust the crossovers and gains independently (try to match them with a multimeter).
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:05 pm
by phonixx
Aha, now i got it.
Do you mean to use the multimeter on the speakeroutputs and get the voltage to match there?
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:17 pm
by stipud
Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:08 am
by phonixx
Thanks Stipud, By the way, do you know how`s the current draw of the RSD series equal to the Ti600.2 ZX450 etc? Is it any "better" or will my frontlights still looks like a candle in the dark when i play loud?
I have ordered a 100A alternator for replacement for the original 60A so hopefully it will help a bit.
Bjornar
Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 7:57 am
by stipud
It is class A/B, so the draw will be higher. I think the RSD1200.1 is a class D (though I don't recall having seen the guts on this one yet), where the Ti1200.1 was class A/B, so the RSD would draw significantly less power in this case. The 500.4 will be about the same as your ZX.
Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 9:56 am
by phonixx
OK. The RSD 1200.1 have 3*40A fuses...... A little scary
Its a Class D as you say. PG say its 1000WRms in 2 ohm with the new CEA2006 and 1200WRms 2ohm at 100Hz 14.4V and <1%TDH
I saw a benchmark that said 1400W so i guess i capable of drawing 100A.
Bjornar
Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:14 pm
by Phoenixcolt
stipud wrote:It is class A/B, so the draw will be higher. I think the RSD1200.1 is a class D (though I don't recall having seen the guts on this one yet), where the Ti1200.1 was class A/B, so the RSD would draw significantly less power in this case. The 500.4 will be about the same as your ZX.
Yeah I run 2 RSd1200.1s and 2 Ti amps a 600.2 and a 500.4 in my colt. I used to run 1 Ti1200.1 and 2 Ti400.2s. Before my upgraded alternator was installed, the stock handled 2 RSd1200s way better than I could ever imagine it handling 1 ti1200.1. That Ti1200.1 pulled crazy amounts of power. You couldn't give it enough! The RSds are hella efficient in comparison. I mean I still love that Ti but it just was too hungry for me and I also didnt have the cash or room to put another ti1200 in there(mainly the cash).
A little update
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:01 pm
by phonixx
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:03 pm
by stipud
Hej Bjorn
The 1200.1 will laugh at those subs. I sure hope your electrical system is strong

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:28 pm
by phonixx
I was hoping that the 1200.1 would winn the battle against these Alpine Sunwoofers
I was planning to buy some RSD 10" but there is not any dealers where i live and there was not to many of them on Ebay. I was just to expensive to ship them to Norway from the few shops that do International shipping.
So i bought these 4 Alpine subwoofers on Ebay instead, hope they will do a good job.
Payed $360 for the speakers and $380 for the shipping, still its a better deal then to buy them at my local store, that would cost me approx $1100.
My electrical system is not strong enough, I have a 100A alternator and 2*1 Farad Caps and i will do some cable upgrades on my car. I will try it but if its to bad i will change my Alternator to a 200A or so and maybe go for 2 batteries.
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:33 pm
by stipud
Hmm..
I would make sure you run 0 gauge power wire. Then you can split it with a pair of distribution blocks into 8 4 gauge leads (4 power, 4 ground). Two to the amps, two to the capacitors.
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:27 pm
by Mackenzie
The type r's are not the best sealed, but they should do ok.
Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 6:18 am
by stipud
Bjorn, I moved your post to the "installs" section

Celestion
Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 7:22 am
by Habz
phonixx
Hi there mate, Just joined on the forum to ask you about something.
I was just readin through a thread and managed to find that you have the celestion subwoofer? Just a few questions on it is yours the ad12? If so whats the power on them, its just that, it was my dads from like back in the days but apparantly there better than whats out in the market today? Will this sub be ok on a rockford fosgate punch 40i DSM 4 Ohm, also have the PWR 54 component speakers, will this power onto this amp if your familiar with it.
Your help would be appreciated.
Cheers Mate
Habz