Tantrum Amps, no love?

[denim]

Just wondering why they seem to not be discussed much. Not to mention, they very rarely pop up on ebay. Could be because they are not that old or rare yet. In the past, I made a number of attempts to snatch up a few of them, but more recently went with the Xenon's instead. So I guess I was wondering why I have not seen much chatter on the Tantrums.

[pnyryd]

Well I'm using a Tantrum 400.4 and a 300.2 in my truck they seem to be good amps not that they can hold a candle to my MS and MQ items but for my everyday listing pleasure there fine.

[Stryker]

Wasn't the main issue trying to acquire the tri-path chip and/or replacement parts if/when they break? Had this somewhere in a thread here. I'm guessing that once they break there may be no way anyone can fix some of the things that happen without the parts being available....

[Bfowler]

^that was only for the 1200.1. all the other are fairly standard mosfet design (although beefy)


it is odd you dont see them pop up.

i like them a ton. reliable, small footprint (something pg rarely does)

the problem is. you can get the rsd amps for much cheaper typically, and its a more robust amp. even the ryval's stack up to them pretty well for much cheaper


i think they just happened to be the right price point for people who wanted a decent system, but weren't the types that swap there gear out often. im betting most are still installed in the same place they were 6 years ago

[Eric D]

Only the big mono amp uses the tripath chip. The remaining models are traditional designs.

These are very good amps. They sound every bit as good as the MS or other PG lines, but they just produce less power and don't have as stout of power supplies for things such as 2 ohm mono loads.

I think people tend to prefer the other models since they are a bit different. Gold plated boards, ability to display the guts (in the case of the MS amps), or a more radical looking chassis (in the case of the ZX and ZPA). Plus there are no limited edition Tantrum amps, and I think amps like the Outlaw, Bandit, and Route 66 are what really made the M line popular. At the core, both the M and the Tantrum amps are simple designs with lower power.

[dwnrodeo]

I've never gotten into the Tantrum amps much because of the fly cut heatsink design, but have a secret obsession for XS amps despite being a lower model than the Tantrums. My first amp was a XS2300 and I still have that thing today, saving it for an all XS amp system that I will build when I get the right car.

[Bfowler]

ditto, but they aren't really "lower" they were both middle of the road offerings. the tantrums have beefier power supplies. i too have a xs collection. 3 2300's, 2 2500's and a 4600

[Eric D]

If you want to talk "lower", talk QX...

[dwnrodeo]

ditto, but they aren't really "lower" they were both middle of the road offerings. the tantrums have beefier power supplies. i too have a xs collection. 3 2300's, 2 2500's and a 4600

I just assumed they were lower because of the Tantrums variable crossovers. All I have for my XS collection is the 2300, two XS104d subs, and two XS BB4 fused distros.

[Bfowler]

2nd rev xs's have variable crossover too

[dwnrodeo]

2nd rev xs's have variable crossover too

Just the 2300 if I'm not mistaken.

[Rold Gold]

I used to run 2 1200.1's and still have my 600.4. Tons of power to say the least. Fortunently for me, I never had the Tri-path issue.

Much luv for the Tantrum line.

[fuzzysnuggleduck]

While I can't necessarily competently comment on the subject, my vague understanding is that while variable xovers are convenient, they aren't necessarily more "high end" than fixed RNET xovers because with the RNET, you gain a higher degree of precision... whether or not specific precision is in fact a good thing in practice, is arguable.

[Bfowler]

^TRUE

[denim]

All I remember negative wise, was a few complained of current draw being higher then expected.

[Damo95]

i've got a few of them down here in Aus..

2x 600.4
1x 1200.1
1x 500.2
1x 300.2

the first 3 will be used in my stereo, to power my dynaudio front stage active (and bridged) and to power my 2 focal subwoofers..

the 300.2 i got with a "package" deal of 600.4/1200.1/300.2 from a reputable member of the australian car audio forum.. the other 2 were scored from aus e-bay..

i've been scouting for another 1200.1 but $$ is holding me back at the moment.. plan on creating a complete set if possible..

I've had the Xenon's in the past (2x 100.4 & 1200.1) but i personally like the tantrum line better, more solid..

[OldSchoolFool]

There was a "link" planned, but the tool was too much $$. Instant surfboard.

You can also fit neon tubes down in the side rails for install lighting effects.

It had the disadvantage of a cast heatsink which is filled with air bubbles, unlike extrusions. The offset was massive surface area via the design.

Nobody ever breaks one, besides the 1200.1's.

It came out just as the Ti line was expanded with the 800.1, 1000.2, 1200.1, and 900.7. That could explain a lot.

[Eric D]

Well, I know your statement "Nobody ever breaks one, besides the 1200.1's." is a general statement, which is probably true 99% of the time.

However, I did fix a T500.2 for a friend and I must say, they take a lot to kill and when they do die they die hard.

I wish I had photos of it, but the powersupply melted the aluminum clamp bars, and burned deep holes into the heatsink casting. This is a very impressive death of an amp, mostly likely do to extreme abuse from the owner.

[smgreen20]

I've never heard anything negative about them other then the 1200.1 and its infamous chip.

When money allows, prob next summer, that's what I'm looking into getting for the wife's car, a 300.4 and a 300.2 or just a 600.4? I love the looks of them, I know they're built like tanks and they're on the cheap.