Sony XM-552HX

Price Paid:  $50.00 from Cowboy Maloney

Year / Model Reviewed:
 Sony

Strengths:
Flexibility and great x-over system.
Can be loud.
Playing highs heat it up more than running a sub.

Weaknesses:
but when it does, it goes poop

Summary:
All in all a decent amp. I never got solid bass when wired for a sub, nor did I get crystal highs. I've never expected too much from SOny, but it is decent.

Similar Products Used:
US
Kenwood
A white amp, my very first one, dunno but it was, maybe 200w and hooked to an Image Dynamic Q 12 and beat good.

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Price Paid:  $80.00 from A Friend

Year / Model Reviewed:
1994 Sony XM-552hx

Strengths:
Power Very Clear Good Amp

Weaknesses:
Cant think of any really.

Summary:
Great amp for some subs. It powered my JL W3's pretty good. My friend got a Kenwood and powered his subs really good. I got a Kenwood and now is even hittin harder. The sony is a great starter amp. Dont buy if your lookin to shatter your windows but they will do for the average car users.

Price Paid:  $99.00 from A&B Sound

Year / Model Reviewed:
 XM-552HX

Strengths:
Great Value Modest Power Clear Sound

Weaknesses:
None for it''s class...

Summary:
This has been an excellent amp so far. In the beginning, I was taking time to build up my system. I needed a starter amplifier that would power my Clarion 6x9''s and my modest 10" sub. It did an excellent job for such a low priced amp. The sound quality was very good even with the strain that was put on it. Now I use it to power my fronts. It''s never given me a problem at all. I would recommend this amp to anyone who wants the absolute best value in an amp, go for it!

Price Paid:  $80.00 from Cowboy Maloney''s

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2000

Strengths:
Very good versatility. HPF/LPF config., Gain, Xover, and low boost controls, amp outputs for additional amp hookups

Weaknesses:
none really seen or heard, amp has never cut off yet

Summary:
Sony did an excellent job with this amp. I have two of them. One bridged into 2 ohms pushing a Kenwood 10" and another driving a VEGA 2525 component set. To my surprise the one bridged hardly gets warm at all, yet the one on my highs heats up a good bit while jamming.

Similar Products Used:
Kenwood 3 50W that doesnt compare

Price Paid:  $54.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
 Sony XM-552HX

Strengths:
loud, runs cool, and its looks

Weaknesses:
can't really think of any.

Summary:
I chose this amp to run my Kenwood 4x10's I have in the back of my Saab 900s. I couldn't have asked for better sound. I was originally running my head unit (Sony CDX-CA660X) with the stock speakers. It sounded ALOT better than the stock head unit, but just didn't have enough punch. After I blew one of the 4x10's, I knew it was time to upgrade. So I picked up the Kenwoods. They sounded better too... but my reciever didn't have enough power. So I picked up this little baby on eBay. $54 + $15 shipping wasn't a bad price at all. It's in PERFECT condition. The bass response immediately went up, very loud, and no distortion. Going to pick up another or its bigger brother to run my new component system up front.

Similar Products Used:
None