Old School Cheater Car Amplifiers - Orion, Rockford, Phoenix Gold and PPI - 1080p

[Lazerbeam323ci]

I love all those amps. I used to run a 222sx on a JBL 12" sub. Had to constantly tighten the bolts on my hatch could not believe the bass.

[bigdwiz]

@Lazerbeam323ci Funny you mention the Orion 222sx...I just found one and will bench test it soon along with the rest of these cheater amps. See my latest vid for an output test of the Soundstream Ref 300. I think the 222sx vs. RF Punch 45HD would be a good challenge. I don't, however, think they would give the 225 HCCA much competition in the output test....

[myz06rocks]

i still run 3 old school Crunch 50SHCs... rated at 2x25 @ 4 ohm... benched at 672x1 into 1 ohm @ only 12V... :) my faves by far.

[bigdwiz]

@myz06rocks I've seen the Crunch 50HC's, but haven't had a chance to bench one. Thanks for the #'s and props for keeping the old school flame burning!

[myz06rocks]

@bigdwiz they were benched by Steve Mantz (ZED Audio) himself actually with the test sheets included... I'm 99% they went over 700 watts @ 13.4. I love the old school... we'll never see amps this good again!!! I think the rarest one I have is an old Rodek 224ci... 2x24 @ 4 ohms... 200x1 rated... around 260 bench. VERY small amp and footprint though so still very impressive. They used the same size shell as the 250e amp.

WOW... the memories!!! Thanks!!!!

[bigdwiz]

@myz06rocks Very cool indeed. Steve has my HiFonics Zeus VII right now and has repaired it, just burning it in. I'd like to have one of those 50HC's, but I'm sure it would spank the other amps in this demo. I'm going to do RMS wattage output from each of these amps in an upcoming video, may add a couple of US Amps 25x2 (USA-50 and 50HC) to the test and any others I can get my hands on...

[myz06rocks]

@bigdwiz Those Zeus amps are amazing.... :) Music loud!!!

[bigdwiz]

@myz06rocks I think I may have been referencing the Lanzar Opti 50HC....I'm guessing VERY similar to your Crunch 50SHC? I've seen several of the Lanzar 50HC's for sale over the past few years, but can't recall a Crunch 50SHC. Funny, b/c people nowadays only know Lanzar as Pyramid, not the REAL Lanzar from the 90's (many also Zed built)

[myz06rocks]

@bigdwiz the Crunch 50SHC is the low impedance (cheater version) of the Crunch CR400. In fact they are identical with the exception that the CR400 is a 4ohm bridged, 2 ohm stereo version. What amazes me is that these amps can be had regularly for less than 140 bucks!! The Mantz made Lanzars were also great amps i think that the amp you're thinking of is called the 50c which was also a cheater amp but would do well over 800 watts :) damn I miss the old days :)

[bigdwiz]

@myz06rocks Yes, the Lanzar 50C...I'm usually good w/ model #'s, but I obviously got confused here! $140 for which Crunch? I don't recall seeing a CR400 or 50SHC for $140?? No need to post your source here, but send me a message if u know of one. I know US Amps also made some great cheater amps, specifically the VLX series. I know there was a VLX-25, rated at 12.5x2 and used a 225A fuse...now that's a CHEATER!!

[myz06rocks]

@bigdwiz will do... I paid $125 each for mine actually a few years ago... although rare, the don't seem to attract big dollars even on ebay. I've seen them sell for between $120 and $170 regularly.

[bigdwiz]

@myz06rocks Yeah, I understand most of the kids today don't want an amp unless it says "2k" or "5k" for wattage. Just curious how many you bought at 125 ea? Send me a message if you ever want to let one go.

[myz06rocks]

@bigdwiz will do for sure! IWas thinking about selling a whack of my old school stuff but much like you, rather not see it in the hands of some 16 year old that has no idea what he has! I bought 3 of those SHC50s from a seller in Brooklyn about 5 years ago. An interesting test for you would be one of these against a rubicon 500. Interestingly.. even though I only had a 2 ohm load on the crunch, it destroyed the sound stream which should have had 2 x the power.

[bigdwiz]

@myz06rocks Hey man, I just noticed you said a seller in Brooklyn...was it Tristan?

[myz06rocks]

@bigdwiz no it was an older guy actually can't recall his name.

[myz06rocks]

@bigdwiz Here's whats left in the old school closet :) 2 rodek RA250e's (2x50 rated into 4ohm... really 2x90 @ 4ohm/2x~150 @ 2 ohm) 1 rodek 1125e (1x125 @ 4ohm/1x200@ 2 ohm... really ~ 250W) 1 rodek RA224 (2x24 @ 4ohm... 200x1 2 ohm... really ~ 260) 3 Crunch shc 50's 1 crunch cr50 1 earthquake power 250tx 1 Audiocontrol EQX 1 audiocontrol 24xs 1 audiocontrol EQS the Audiocontrol units are all BN in the box :) :)

[svtcontour]

Great vid man. I've still got my Orion 225 HCCA and 250 HCCA (same age as what you got there). Great amps. I've also got an old Fosgate 4040 DSM.

[bigdwiz]

@svtcontour Thanks for the comment. I would love to slap a 250 HCCA on my bench and see it's true output. I just picked up a PPI Pro MOS 2050, but it is no 250 HCCA. More comparable to the 225 HCCA power wise. I'm gonna do another vid comparing the output of these amps, but I need to get the caps changed in the PG MPS-2240 first.

[svtcontour]

@bigdwiz I know the 225 and 250 will put out about 25% more than they claim if voltage is 14.4v. I think their ratings were normally at 12V. Also at a car show, i saw the 225 pull nearly 700W at 1/2 ohm mono and 15V - both of which is far out of spec. They had a 50A fuse on the thing if I recall and heavy forced cooling during the test. The 250 HCCA got over 900W. Crazy stuff. Still who will run amps far below rated impedence and bump their voltage and fuse. Too dangerous :)

[bigdwiz]

@svtcontour Even the 12v actual output is more than rated for these Orion HCCA's. My 100A P/S is 13.8v and I got over 60w/ch at 4ohms and 400w+ bridged at 2ohms with my 225 HCCA (more than 2x rated - I can't put my hands on my actual measurements). I haven't even tested it at 1ohm mono yet, but I do not doubt the 700w at 1/2ohm mono...but I bet you could fry eggs on that joker! My favorite part is telling people "this is a 50 watt amp" and it will smoke your 2000 watt "peak" Lanzar, Pyle, etc.

[svtcontour]

@bigdwiz Damn that is very good power without much load. The nice thing is that unloaded, these high current amps have so much control and are so clean. Also I agree its definitely fun to tell people that its only got 50W or so :) Especially now with amps being supposedly mega watts. LOL. Trying to save up for an old mustang (1987-1993) and put my orions and my Audiocontrol EQX in. I'll show them kids :) LOL.

Wonder how the SQ of some of the new amps are like compared to the old stuff.

[GYFD23]

i have a phoenix gold ms 275...can you give me more info about it????//

[bigdwiz]

@GYFD23 See one of my other videos for an overview of the Phoenix Gold MS-275. Nice amp, but if you haven't already, you will need to have the capacitors changed. The factory caps will leak and could cause fire. I would suggest against using it in your car unless you have the caps changed. Check the phoenixphorum for more info on this process or try envisionelec . net

[lionfamlee]

Nice upload. Thanks!

[paulwalker702]

man and we really thought we had something special back then!! if we could only go back 20-25 years with a warhorse or RF15k. thanks so much you really brought back some memories...especially with the punch 45

[t55sto]

nice collection you have there old skool kick ass. am running a 55.2 fosgate punch 27.5w rms (yeah rite) running two sets of focal 165a1's. Also running a 800a2 987w bridged @4ohm running two 12" punch hx2 in a 4cu ported @33hz

[RWL2011]

@t55sto let's see it then :-)

[kskate91]

Super sweet man! I love those Orion amps definitely cheater amps with low impedance handling and the low power ratings. I gotta get me an Orion soon. Long live old school!!

[bigdwiz]

PLEASE NOTE: ALL COMMENTS ARE TO BE APPROVED BY ME BEFORE THEY "GO LIVE". Sorry for the CAPS and please understand why I'm doing this. Thank You!