Kenwood KAC-848 Channel Amplifier

Price Paid:  $249.00 from Best Buy

Year / Model Reviewed:
 Kenwood KAC-848

Summary:
I don't have room for a sub in my trunk (business related) so I wanted a 4 channel amp to run my 6.5 Kicker coaxs in the rear and 6.5 JBLs in the doors. This amp does a great job fof the price. I listen to mostly rock so the bass boost some amps have isn't missed by me and it plays at pretty high sound levels for 50 watts a channel.

Strengths:
Good sound, good value, nice all in one 4 channel amp.

Weaknesses:
Can sound a little strained when pushed real hard, but at anything but very high volume, the sound is very good.

Similar Products Used:
n/a

Price Paid:  $300.00 from n/a

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2000

Summary:
Good amp so far. I looked into it before buying it and have found that it does put out a considerable amount of bass considering its a 4 channel amp. I\Right now its pushing 2 12 inch kicker 300 watt speakers and doing fine. Well you get what you pay for and im happy with my purchase.

Strengths:
many different settings for the picky type. good sound and apearance

Weaknesses:
can be confusing to adjust. until i read the manual.

Similar Products Used:
sounds to me the same as my Fosgate 460.4 did. BUT the Fosgate blew. This one hasn't.

Price Paid:  $75.00 from USED

Year / Model Reviewed:
 99''

Summary:
I bought this amp used from a friend for just $75. It kicks out a fairly clean 50watts x 4 @ 4ohms. Runs pioneer premier 6 1/2 coaxials up front, high passed from 80hz up. Then the Premier 6x9 speakers in the back run low passed at about 100hz and below. I love the way it bumps the 6x9s to their full potential. The highs could be clearer at loud levels, but at only 50watts rms you can''t expect to much. Not audiophile quality, but decent enough.

Strengths:
Doesn''t get to hot, doesn''t shut off, good crossovers.

Weaknesses:
No bass boost (not really needed for powering main speakers though). Could be a little cleaner.

Similar Products Used:
Xtant A2002(very clean), MTX 250D mono amp (good for one 10" or a lower power 12").

Price Paid:  $250.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
 Sozuki Baleno 2k

Summary:
I have the amp running a 6.5 split system and a MTX T6124 12' sub (got rid of the JBLs, hopefully it will last longer). The JBL amp sounded better(not louder).
This amp is a jack of all trades it seems. Im buying another MTX sub and will power it by a new amd will use the Kenwood for 2 6.5 split systems.

Strengths:
Value for money, 4 reasonably powered channels, reliable, never cuts out/overheats (gets very warm though). The amp is supposed to put out only 150wrms (shop said i had the gain tooo high) but I did not mess around with it ever.

Weaknesses:
Do not expects wonders, I had JBL DA3504 sounding a LOT clearer (both BASS and TREBBLE). It blew 2 (on seperate occasions) JBL GT212 12' subs (RATED AT 225wrms) The amp is supposed to put out only 150wrms (shop said i had the gain tooo high) but I did not mess around with it ever.

Similar Products Used:
JBL DA3504 sounds better but less power than the Kenwood.

Price Paid:  $300.00

Summary:
This amp is very reliable as long as it's used within it's design range. It never overheats, but I don't use it to make bass, (that's a job for my Planet Audio sub). Don't buy this amp if you expect it to be a bass machine, use it to hear everything else. Buy a sub amp for that. Overall, a worthwhile amplifier and expect it to keep on playing for years to come.

Strengths:
Lots of power for price, excellent sound (through my Eclipse and MB Quart speakers), very usable x-over.

Weaknesses:
Not pounding bass, but you don't buy a 4 channel amp for bass.

Similar Products Used:
None