Clarion APA450

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $159.00 from Daddyo's

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 Clarion APA450

Strengths:
Provides plenty of power for my MB Quarts! Clearly defines highs, very easy to adjust. Hasn't overheated yet, and I've pushed it hard.

Weaknesses:
It needs a hpf/lpf on all 4 channels, not just a hpf on the front two and an lpf on the back. too tall to fit under a seat.

Summary:
I have immensely enjoyed this amplifier. It has definately improved the quality of my car's stereo. I've pushed it hard, but it keeps up easily and still sounds awesome.

Similar Products Used:
JVC KAC-704

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $179.00 from hi fi buys

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 apa450

Strengths:
Cheap, puts out clean sound when not clipping at extreme levels. Doesn't over heat.

Weaknesses:
Does clip sometimes. I think its underrated, but i haven't tested it thuroughly.

Summary:
Honestly, for what you pay, this amp is pretty good. It I have it running 6 speakers, and it has never overheated, even after 6 hours. As for that guy who tried to run subs off of it, wtf. This amp was never designed to drive subs in the first place. Anyhow, this amp will clip if you aren't careful. Overall, its worth the money, provided you buy it off ebay. I paid too much, but thats the way it goes.

Similar Products Used:
Mtx amps, jl amps, infitiy amps, sony amps, kenwood amps, and a whole slew of others.

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $89.00 from etronics

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 apa450

Strengths:
Cheap, good lay out

Weaknesses:
Shuts off, circuit board looks like fisher price made it. power connections are cheap and small.

Summary:
I was at first impressed with this amp but I came to conclusions too quickly. I have it on a 3 channel set up; 50w x2 on front and channels 3and 4 bridged for a mono subwoofer (polk gnx-104) I pushed it fairly hard because I have a convertable and after 20 minutes it shuts off. Then once you reset it by turning it on and off it plays until you hit a really good bass note and it shuts off again. Clarion should be ashamed for producing such junk. Don't get me wrong, it looks great and sounds great but only when it's working. My friend tried it in his car just running 4 speakers and no subs and it ran fine; but as soon as he did the same set up as mine it failed on him. When I called Clarion customer service they didnt want to help me. I will never buy another Clarion product again. Summary: "you get what you pay for" an $89 dollar piece of excrement. I replaced the amp with a Kenwood KAC-8401; made very well and no problems as of yet even when pushed at extremes. p.s. Please forgive me if anyone bought this amp because of my first review.

Similar Products Used:
kac-8401

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Price Paid:  $89.00 from etronics.com

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 Clarion APA450

Strengths:
Amp only gets stightly warm, Controls are nicely laid out. Super clean THD! and 100db sensitivity! inexpensive amp that is versital with alot of power capable of 2 ohm loads. Everything you need nothing you don't.

Weaknesses:
Nothing fancy about it

Summary:
This amp is simply amazing for the price. Fairly small and compact, and nothing really fancy about it, gets the job done in a major way. Right now its powering a pair of 5 1/4's with set on highpass with variable frequency adjustment. The other 2 channels are bridged and set with the variable lowpass to power a single 10.