Audio Amplifier options for 993? advise needed!

Sundeep · Jan 19, 2005

right then all of you audio masters...

the next stage of mod's begins for me and I need you advise !

now before you all say it, yes the sound track of the air cooled engine is great, but I can't send my entire life going up and down from 3000-6000rpm ! I have tried...

So I'm looking to finish upgrading my entire Car Audio system....

having had a quality Bose sound system in my last car, the 993 set up is well a bit weak, put it this way, what's in the mrs' VW polo is better !

I've already replaced my Porsche CR21 head unit with a Sat Nav Becker Traffic Pro which made a difference..

and I've just bought a sets of Infinity speakers (as they are one of the best) to replace the limited speakers that are fitted to my car.... JBL at the back and Phonocar up front !

So i've got a set of Infintity 6500CS component system speakers up front

and a pair of 6x4 (damn the rears are small) Infinity Refernce speakers up back..

Becker & Infinity a fine combo..... I could just leave it at that..... but better to finish the job properly !

so I'm stuck for a suitable Amplifier....?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

The only place I can see is the space under the passenger seat in order for fitting the amp... I thinking that this is where it is kept in such cars ?

as I do not want to put it in the boot up front as I do need all the boot space I can get.. and the space below the passenger seat is quite large...

but what to get..? and what will fit under the seat and be an audio match for the units...??

Option 1 : Get a Porcshe Amp, I know the 993 had some kind of Audio upgrade but I'm assuming that is a bit old now ??

but the 996 has a good DSP Porsche (by Becker! so ideal) Amp which is some kind of Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST.. not sure what it is.. ???) but if it's the right Amp that will do ! not sure of the part number 996.645.331.00 or (oddly) 993.645.304.01

so don't mind getting this..assuming it fits under the passenger seat? but is this the right amp or critically are there better ones available ?

option 2 : Go aftermarket and get say a Pioneer or equivalent amp or who , etc

but this is where my audio knowledge is limited, I know very little about Car Amp's ! apart from Bose amp's are quite good ! as I experienced in my last car... so what's a good car amp brand ????

so what is a good small sized amp to get.. note a normal size amp is as big as the base of the boot, so far too big for going under the seat.....

I've had a look at the pioneer web-site (for starters, don't know if pioneer are any good either ?!) and they have loads of choices.. 4 channel (which I think my Becker head unit is 4 channel), multi channel, etc etc

but which one ! so if I know which one then I can pick one that fits !

????????

regards

graham harvey · Jan 20, 2005

Hi Sundeep,

I was looking recently at upgrading the sounds in my 964. I too have infinity components up front and yes they are one of the best. However even before i removed my rear seats i had disconected the rear speakers. Being an Essex boy, in my late teens i had alot of 'sounds' put into any vehicles i had and one thing i was also told by the professionals was only have mid-base and base sounds behind your ears. I would go with an aftermarket 4 channel amp under the passenger seat and adjust the crossovers on the rear outputs to send only the lower frequencies.

Sundeep · Jan 20, 2005

cheers Graham....

any views on who makes a good amp ?

and to help my limited knowledge.. based on what I have seen on the pioneer site, what's the difference between

(a) 4 X 150W Bridgeable Power Amp & (b) 4 channel Bridgeable Amp ???!!!

and with the amp below the seat what is the preferred route for the wiring ?

regards

graham harvey · Jan 21, 2005

If both are 4 channel and bridgeable the differences may be down to the RMS output or the versatility of the bridging capabilities of each amp.

As far as wiring goes, i wouldn't like to say as i've only fitted equipement in some of 'Dagenham's best' but i would have thought the rears would be easily fed underneath the rear carpet and under the rear side panels up to the rear shelf. ( Not sure on the fronts without looking ).

Regarding makes i've always like Phenix Gold stuff with it being a good blend of quality and good value. However being a big fan of Infinity speakers i would interested to see what their amps are like.

Attached are two links of 4 channel amps;
http://caraudiosecurity.com/catalog/product_info.php+cPath+3_94+products_id+3150
http://caraudiosecurity.com/catalog/product_info.php+cPath+3_94+products_id+2859

Sundeep · Jan 21, 2005

cheers Graham... I don't think many 911 drivers are very interested in ICE.. funny that ! [:-]

did look at an Infinity amp, but based on my home cinema experince, the same manufacturer of amp to sepakers doesn't always work best.. also I am very limited by what can actually fit under the seat and still ensure the back seats are usable !

Black80XSA · Jan 22, 2005

Not sure on your budget, but Pioneer are not considered the best amongst proper ICE installers (OK for maxy P brigade cos they tend to be cheaper)

Suggest you take a look at (in ascending order of sound quality) Alpine, Pheonix Gold, Sinfoni and DLS

Don't take that much notice of the power ratings - a good quality 70W amp will sound better than a cheap 150W one

Shane Hodges · Jan 23, 2005

Sundeep,

Given that all the quality sound will come from your front speakers and the rears will just be fill, you could just run the rears off the head unit and use the amp to drive the fronts. If you are short on space (and you will be!) you therefore might be OK with a 2 channel amp.

As regards names, I'd run with Black80XSA in that a company that makes head units, speakers and amps will be good, but you might get better quality and choice from a company that just concentrates on amps.

As regards names, take a look at JL Audio too.