Precision Power A Series

Price Paid:  $200.00 from friend

Year / Model Reviewed:
1992 a1200.2

Summary:
A fried of mine needed a amp repair and this thing was dropped in my lap. It was used and abused. Had to resolder and replace the rectifiers and the big mylar caps on the inputs, but that's all it needed. This thing is like the energizer bunny, it keeps on going and going and going... It even has the ability to use water cooling with the retrofit kit

Strengths:
Good power, reliable, looks cool

Weaknesses:
could have better damping characteristics.

Similar Products Used:
PPI A600.2, PPI PC21400, Orion 2250sx

Price Paid:  $0.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
1994 A1200, A600.2

Summary:
WOW, all I can say is they will out live you!! Simply can't find quality like this anymore. I've used both amps in 7 diff. systems always trying to find something better with each one I do and always getting frustrated and coming back to my good old PPI's. Art series is leaps and bounds better than any later models as the company has been sold twice resulting in poorer and poorer build quality. Any ways need help!?!? Maybe should be in forums but new and confused so here we go. What is the load stability of each amp. Can the A1200 and/or the A600.2 go to a stable 2ohm load. I'm getting a JL stealth bow thats wired mono with (2) 12w3v3's and JL said I needed an amp stable at 2 ohms. I told him mine was for sure stable at 4 ohms but I wasn't sure for 2ohms. He said buy a new amp then. I laughed and said that wasn't an option, LOL. I asked my other options. He said running the 12w6v2 in mono with dual 4ohm voice coils would require only a 4ohm load and thus ampo will work. I looked and the 12w3v2 says its a dual voice coil speaker as well. I think he's trying to upsell me. PLEASE HELP. Will either one of my amps run at a 2ohm load stable.

Strengths:
Only amp I can run for 11 hours straight with no overheating and cut off. SC to Miami every year for memorial day weekend. And I've tryed multipule of very fine quality.

Weaknesses:
Absolutly none if your an audiophili

Price Paid:  $1400.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
1994 A404 Art Series

Summary:
If your new to car audio or listen to a real mid range radio sound or a non frequency challenging sound please don't buy an ART Series amp. Oh yea and newbies you dont want these amps cause they got no internal crosover no bling no flashy lights and chicks will like you more if you go buy something else. What I'm trying to say is there aren't enuf of em left in the world for the people who will really appreciate em so don't buy a PPI Art series unless you ae sure you will challenge it, respect it and appreciate what a fine peice of engineering it is (for a non military domestic only product that is).
Currently running an A404 Art Series, I bought it new in 1994 and have built over 8 systems around it over the past 13 Years. I have owned over 30 amps of various brands over the past 15 years, some were louder than the A404 and many boasted better specs but the A404 out lasted and out performed em all over time. I am an Electronic Engineer by trade, I have studid these amps from a component/construction level and every component on the board is of the highest quality. The coils are hand made. They couldn't afford to make these amps ever again, you couldn't justify the the cost.
I once ran 9 kicker speakers off the 1 A404. 1x12" kicker comp series 2x6.5" kicker coax splits and 2x6x9" kicker coax splits with 4x kicker tweeters and it pushed out 114db at a local sound off. Currently it only runs my 4x5" peerless xls splits I've got in a 1990 CRX with 2x10" 500wrms ppi subs powered by 2x500wrms Response Precision Amps all run through a sepperate crosover unit.
I've measured the A404 taking up to 14.8 volts and 42Amps fully loaded down to 1 ohm. Saying the Art series is underated is an understatement even the fuse on the amp is underated it takes a 40 Amp fuse but can draw over that lol. The offical specs are: 50wrms x 4 @ 4ohm, 100wrms x 4 @ 2ohm and 200wrms x 2 @ 4ohm bridged. I have run many different 10" and 12" Subwoofers rated at 500wrms off it (only 1 driver @ a time) without a problem. Though I will say its a waste to only use these amps for low fq they are just to dam sharp and clean. My advise buy a powerful mono block for subs and reserve the quality of an Art Series to deliver all the highs and mids.
This amp should only be installed by someone experienced, don't risk getting it wrong hell don't even buy one if you don't know what your doing no offence but like I said there just ain't enuf of em left to waste on inferior installs.

Strengths:
fq response is amazing, clean sharp and real. can load it down to 1 Ohm maby even further.

Weaknesses:
no internal crossover
they didn't make enuf of them

Similar Products Used:
A600.2 A1200.2 A202 if it ain't Art Series then it ain't similar!

Price Paid:  $200.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
 A.600

Summary:
Great Amp! was my very first a few years back, had it hooked up to 2 Kicker Comp VR's in a sealed enclosure. Unfortunately, i sold it. I'll tell you what, that was the biggest mistake ever. I've never heard more crisp, clear bass with this amp, and i've heard so many other systems. I'm currently on the hunt for this Amp once again

Strengths:
Everything

Weaknesses:
Runs hot, but stable @ 2 Ohms

Similar Products Used:
N/A

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $285.00 from eBay

Year / Model Reviewed:
 PPI A404 & PPI A300

Summary:
10 years ago I was a car stereo fanatic, I went to the 95-96-97 IASCA Finals, local soundoffs, you name the magazine I had a subscription. I taught myself to install and eventually became an MECP First Class Installer for a few local Audio stores as well as doing time at Best Buy and Circuit City. I recently decided to dig out some old stuff just laying around and throw together a system in my Ranger. I have an Alpine 7949 connnected to a PPI DEQ-230, then on to a PPI FRX-456 x-over, a set of MB Quart 6.5 components with the upgraded COMP woofers are in the door and a JL Audio 10W4 is in a custom box behind the passenger seat. I needed a new amp because my A204 wasn't in the best of shape. I went to Ebay and found an A404 AND an A300 for less then $300!!! I had several of these amps in 94-95-96-97 and I wish I would have kept them! ( An A1200.2 pushing 3 JL 12W6's is mind boggling literally) I have listened to some of the new stuff out there and the Alpine 7990 is the real deal and JL still makes a damn good sub but I can't find another amp that is this clean, powerful, and just gorgeous to look at! I just wish I could find a 96 vintage PPI 10 sub for this set up!

Strengths:
Power
Does what it should very well amplify, not color sound
Sound Quality
VERY Affordable via Ebay
Best looking amps ever made

Weaknesses:
NONE except PPI is now owned by DEI and DEI sucked back when I was a pro, they still suck now.

Similar Products Used:
Back in the day Orion 225 HCCA and a couple of old,old Alpine 3555's. Nothing comes close to the PPI's though.