Sony XM-404EQX

Price Paid:  $200.00 from TMS Electronics

Year / Model Reviewed:
 XM-404EQX

Strengths:
Excellent sound shaping controls. Easy to read indicators (tells you exactly how much power you are using) Affordable. Amp does not generate very much heat. All connectors are on one side.

Weaknesses:
It takes up HUGE TRACTS OF LAAAAND! It's Red. EQ and Volume Pots are very sensitive to dirt/corrosion. Setting the thing up can take days. Cost vs. lifespan is not a good value.

Summary:
When I was looking to buy a 4 channel amp, every stereo shop told me to stay away from Sony like the plauge. I went ahead anyway because the amp had good specs. At first it was a perfect match for my car. I have very strange acoustics in my Audi A4 and the built in EQ's finally let me find a great neutral sound. For the money, it couldn't be beat. The first unit arrived DOA, thankfully my installer had one in stock and swapped it for me free. After about a year of ownership, I'm starting to have lots of problems with it. Sometimes channels pop in and out. Sometimes I lose frequency ranges, and the balance never seems quite right anymore. This problem is extremely annoying. Turning all the knobs makes it stop for a few weeks, but eventually it comes back. I'm going to take it apart and clean it out real good before sending it to the scrap heap. This experience has cost Sony my future business for some time.

Similar Products Used:
Numerous 2 and 4 channel amps.

Price Paid:  $180.00 from Ultimate Electronics

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2000 sony 404eqx

Strengths:
clean when running 4x40, very clean and tight when running components in 2x100 bridged mode.

Weaknesses:
none so far

Summary:
I love the results this amp has given me for the last two years. It gives you decent volume when running all four channels with very clean sound. I have mine bridged to two channels running a pair of Focal 6.5" components for my only mid-range, mid-bass, and highs. This set up keeps up with my two fosgate hx2 12''s in the trunk getting 1000 watts. I''m trying to find another one cheap so i can run some more components in the rear deck.

Similar Products Used:
Kicker Impulse 354xi

Price Paid:  $200.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
 404

Strengths:
Clean sound. EQ is hot. doesn''t get hot at all.

Weaknesses:
no weaknesses with this amp if u have space for it.

Summary:
I bought this amp after being told that sony amps put out clean sound. He was right. My boy has a kicker amp not sounding as clean as the sony. I''m powering a 5.25" Infinity Ref comp system and 5x7''s in my F150. Couldn''t sound any better. 40 watts to these speakers is just what they need. I would recommend this amp to someone who wants a powerful inexpensive component amp to upgrade their system.

Similar Products Used:
none used by myself but i''ve seen far worse amps

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2000

Strengths:
40x4 RMS, thats about all you need, especially when you have eclipse speakers with a sensitivity rating of 97 dB.

Weaknesses:
Nothing, its great. It's a lot better than all of my friends receiver amps.

Summary:
At first I was a little shakey about buying a sony amp, but as it turns out, I love it now. Its plays my speakers (6 1/2's & 5x7's) great! I highly recommend this amp if your looking for something that will play loud and will not be drown out by your subs (if you have any), this is great!

Similar Products Used:
First amp for speakers.

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2000

Strengths:
40x4 RMS, thats about all you need, especially when you have eclipse speakers with a sensitivity rating of 97 dB.

Weaknesses:
Nothing, its great. It's a lot better than all of my friends receiver amps.

Summary:
At first I was a little shakey about buying a sony amp, but as it turns out, I love it now. Its plays my speakers (6 1/2's & 5x7's) great! I highly recommend this amp if your looking for something that will play loud and will not be drown out by your subs (if you have any), this is great!

Similar Products Used:
First amp for speakers.