I am looking at a couple different options for an amp for a pair of Pro80's. <BR> <BR>Two of the amps I am looking at are: <BR> <BR>1) Orion HP-4800 <BR>* 4 ohms: 65 watts x 4 chan. <BR>* 2 ohms: 100 watts x 4 chan. <BR>* Bridged, 4 ohms: 200 watts x 2 chan. <BR> <BR>2) Orion Orion-8002 <BR>* 2 X 200 @ 4 Ohm <BR>* 2 X 400 @ 2 Ohm <BR>* 1 X 800 @ 4 Ohm (Bridged) <BR> <BR>Bothe have the same RMS power x2 at 4 ohms. Is there a good reason to get the two channel amp over the 4 channel? Will I have more distortion issues with a 4 channel amp bridged to two channels? <BR> <BR>Thanks for the advice.

How about a Monoblock?

well seeing as its a pair i would say get the 2 chn. that way if you decide to add on lateryou can run it in 2ohm mode and get enough power to all 4

Look at the Rockford Fosgate T600 Power Series!

That fosgate is a hell of an amp.

Look at Hifonics, good prices on ebay

Anyone have any comments on whether to run a two or four channel amp. I don't plan to expand the system. If I do, I will get a new amp. <BR> <BR>2 channel or 4 channel bridged to 2 channels? Why?

If it's between those 2 amps then go with the 8002. You need at least 150w per channel for the Pro-80s. Bridging usually increases the distortion and it's not giving you any more power than the 8002 unbridged. <BR> <BR>The 2 x 200w at 4 ohms from the 8002 is ideal for a pair of Pro-80. If you're going to add another pair later you're going to upgrade the amp anyway so either buy an amp that is overkill now or the 8002. <BR> <BR>I run a Zapco 1000.4 (under-rated at 4 x 150w) for 4 x Pro-60. I could have run the interior speakers off it as well if I wired everything in parallel.

Part of the reason I asked is because the HP 4800 is about 1/2 the price of the 8002, with the same power output. Is it worth the extra for the 8002?

GO with the 8002 awesome amp. If your looking for power go with a 2 channel, Orion makes awesome amps I have a 15" HCCA Sub for sale.

Yes, distortion will be 10x less on the two channel. We can get into the bridging distortion discussion here, but bottom line is that you should get the 2 channel if you've got the cash, and you should run it mono.

Zapco 1004 (2x500) <BR>Arc audio SE4200 (2x411) <BR>Zrc Audio Foose FD4150 (2x320)Cadence <BR>ZRS 3002 (300x2) <BR>Arc Kar 600.4 <BR> <BR>These are SOME of the amps recommended by Wetsounds for the 2 Pro80's. 4 out of THESE 5 amps are 4 channel amps. <BR> <BR>Is the distortion from a bridged 4 channel amp that much different than a 2 channel amp? If I get the 8002, I will need to keep my Crossfire 404 amp for the 4 polks inside the boat.

distortion only occurs when a amp is overpowered, I would not worry about this with either amp as long as your not overpowering them. <BR> <BR>With your case it depends on what your trying to do, with my stereo setups I use a 2 channel bridged for the sub and a 4 channel for the mid's and fronts. <BR> <BR>Determine what your trying to do... Dont overpower and disortion will NOT be an issue. Also make sure if you do use the 2 channel bridged that the correct ohm speaker is used to prevent the internal winding melting.

You will likely not hear the distortion on a high-quality amp but between those two amps I would get the 8002. In 4-channel mode, the 4800 doesn't have anough juice for a high-output boat stereo IMO so why buy it. <BR> <BR>You may not need to keep the Crossfire though. <BR> <BR>On the Zapco 1000.4, I believe you can do this: <BR> <BR>1st channel: 1 x Pro-80 (150w @ 4ohms) <BR>2nd channel: 1 x Pro-80 (150w @ 4 ohms) <BR>3rd channel: 2 x Polks (125w each @ 2 ohms) <BR>4th channel: 2 x Polks (125w each @ 2 ohms) <BR> <BR>This is if you wire the Polks in parellel. <BR> <BR>You can also run the Wetsounds in parellel and use that amp for even another pair of Pro-80. <BR> <BR>If you keep the Crossfire, which may be a good idea, get a good high-powered 4-channel like the Zapco for when you decide you want anothe pair of tower speakers. You don't need 400-500w for one pair of Pro-80 so it would be a waste to run that amp in 2-channel for only those speakers. I read that Wetsounds just came out with the MB8 speakers that are the Pro-80 without the horn and are supposed to get it a fuller sound. You will need those extra 2 channels of good power for that if you eventually go that route.

"distortion only occurs when a amp is overpowered" <BR> <BR>Wrong. Square waves occur when an amp provides too much power, but every single amplifier provides some type of distortion. When bridging, you will see the same distortion characteristics that you see at 2 Ohms stereo, which are significantly worse than at 4 Ohms stereo.

Wrong. Square waves occur when an amp provides too much power, but every single amplifier provides some type of distortion. When bridging, you will see the same distortion characteristics that you see at 2 Ohms stereo, which are significantly worse than at 4 Ohms stereo <BR> <BR>Hearing wise if you use the correct crossover, use a quality amp, only connect the amp to the lowest ohm rating, use quality speakers, distortion will not even be noticed hearing wise. Put a scope on it and of course you will notice some ripple but who puts a scope on it???? Turn the Gain down if distortion is noticed which = overpowering the output. <BR> <BR>Gangster each amp has its own filtering of the output signal hence cheaper amps will not do nearly as well however this guy is talking about Orion amps (higher quality mosfets/filtering) <BR> <BR>.

If what people are saying about bridging amps causing more distortion is true, which I know isnt, then the manufacturers would not and could not rate them with rms numbers of the same value. Distortion comes from overdriving the output transistors or low voltage. Bridging the amp just means the output drivers are sharing the load, in series.

Bob, bridging does cause mroe distortion, but it's not noticeable typically w/o a scope.

Bob- mfgs can put any number RMS on amps doesnt mean its clean... Wrong: bridging means half of the signal is on the first channel and half of the sinosodal wave is on the second channel. When the amp is not bridged the signals signwave is shared by both output mosfets on that channel. <BR> <BR>Bridging removes some of the protection components that are used to protect speaker loads. Thats why a lower ohm can be used in bridgeing since 1/2 of the output protection is removed off channel 1 &amp; 2

Anyone think that the Cadence TXA 3002 would be a good amp for the pro 80s (150w rms x 2 @4ohms)? I can get one fairly cheap. My amp that got jacked was a cadence and it made the pro 80s scream.

Leo, <BR>What amp were you running before it got jacked?

ZRS 1502. It is what wetsounds sold me, I just dont have the cash to buy it and risk getting it stolen again.