Sony XM-7557

Price Paid:  $250.00 from flea market

Year / Model Reviewed:
1996 GMC Suburban

Strengths:
power output to power comsumption is excellent remote option switches and gain controls frount and rear output is good

Weaknesses:
it runs very HOT that may be why it has blown out on some people must keep it cooled down the sub side IS LACKING OUTPUT

Summary:
this amp does work great it's sound quality is excellent for the frount and rear channels and is very loud

Similar Products Used:
all other amps i use are small 2 channel pioneer i tend to use only pioneer but got a good deal on this sony

Price Paid:  $450.00 from ebay

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2002 Dodge Ram Quad

Strengths:
Appearance, problem free, lots of power, 5 channels

Weaknesses:
funky remote turn on input, more sub power but what it has is fine

Summary:
Very nice amp. Plays loud, sounds great, and keeps its cool. Only issue I have with it is the remote turn on wire hooks up funky to the amp. Got this baby hooked up to a 10 inch infinity kappa perfect, and front/rear infinity kappa perfect 6.5 componet set. Runs em like they were nothing

Similar Products Used:
sony, infinity

Price Paid:  $550.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
 Sony XM/7557

Strengths:
Powerful, clean front channels. A ton of adjustments that can make any application work. Remote gain/boost control.

Weaknesses:
Broke 3 times in 2 years! Sub output is way underpowered (compared to front channels). Boost-control setting should allow for a center frequency above 40Hz.

Summary:
I've used this amp for over 2 years now and I've had to get it serviced 3 times. Main output transistors keep blowing. I've also heard of other people having this problem. It's a shame because generally I was happy with the sound quality.

Price Paid:  $320.00 from ebay

Year / Model Reviewed:
 XM-7557

Strengths:
-Flexablity -Price (almost to good to be true if buy on ebay) -SOUND QUALITY -Great looks -Size -not many made, so a bit diferent -For my current use, I feel it ideally suits me! Running a set of ADS 3series comps and an ADS 312rs sub and am very proud of this amp! Can't say enough!

Weaknesses:
-Size -has it's power limits (like all amps) great for all but those seaking a kilowatt of power

Summary:
Another very happy listener! This amp does it all. I remember reading about this amp awhile back. This audio mag was comparing and reviewing sereral high end amps, they really talked the 7557 up, apparently it made a much more expensive and highly respected McIntosh look silly! That got my attention, but I didn't have a grand to spend on an amp. Some time later a ebay seller out of Canada was selling a few of these and I got a steal on one. First thing you will notice is how stuning the amp looks, unlike any other I have ever seen -I've seen my share- big and bold! The guy who said his friends jaws drop is not kidding, everyone I've shown mine to is like "you've got to be kidding" and then they want to know how much I spent. The amp is large, if you want to hide it under your seat look elsewhere, if you want to have a very attractive amp that is highly vissable yet tasteful, this may be for yor. After instalation and getting to some serious listening, I feel this amp is every bit as accurate and powerful as the other big boy amps with simular output -better even- I was using an ADS 20th annaversary amp that put out 4x100 and a ppi Pro 4800.2 that also prodused 4x100, and have used allot of the other HIGH END amps like xtant, older art series, kicker to name a few, this amp is sounds so "clean" and simple being a one amp rather than multiple amp solution, I would have to say I prefer it to just about anything else. If you like to tweak you system you will enjoy the x-over selection, the zero-negative feedback (very rare feature on amps), the hi-current mode(allows you to run at .5 to 1 ohm loads) the bridge mode (gives you 2x150 @4ohms and 1x280 @2ohms in my application), and the bypass circut ( bypass all other controls in selected channels for the altimate clarity)... This amp is not going to be the weak link in any system, I have a sony es C-90 for a source unit and it matches very well, never have to worry that I am not getting it to be everything it can be. This amp plays with plenty of volume without clipping it produces a seemingly underated 4x75 @4ohms plus the 1x220 @4ohms sub channel, and the amp pumps up nicely when driving at lower independences, if you have a W7 or a Brahma, you will want a more powerfull amp, for the 9 out of 10 of you who don't have a speaket that needs a 1,000 plus watts, you really should pick one of this up. This thing would have a much bigger following if Sonys other cheaper amps didn't damage consumer confidence, this one is made with good internals and has brought many hours of great sound to my car. Keep your eye open on ebay for a reputable seller on ebay and get on of these for a VERY good amp and a small price.

Similar Products Used:
PPI, ADS, DEI, Kicker, JL, Aura, Kenwood, Blaupunkt, pioneer, xtant, ect..... Many other good ones, only a very few measure up.

Price Paid:  $400.00 from Tundra Electronics

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5 rs

Strengths:
Lots and lots of clean power!

Weaknesses:
The size was an issue for such a small car. A custom amp rank had to be constucted, but it is nice even 2 years later to open up the trunk and have that big red beauty make my friends jaws drop :)

Summary:
Amazing amp... Clean, efficient, pretty, loud! Everything you could possibly want from a 5 channel amp....

Similar Products Used:
Earthquake 600watt. Dual Power Acoustik 600watt.