opinions on U.S. Amps - any good?

(brucemac) · (brucemac) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 07-01-2008, 10:48 AM

getting fairly close to upgrading my boat's audio and was wondering what you guys/gals think of U.S. Amps. think i found my installer and although he said he'll do whatever i want, he's been recommending and installing quite a few U.S. Amps.

i'm trying to do a modest, yet decent upgrade and although i want it to sound great, i'm trying to stick to a budget.

i'm wanting to keep it to two batteries, two amps, a 10in or 12in sub, two pro80's, a WS420 and then just keep my stock clarion seperates for now, but put them on an amp.

thanks for the replies.

/edit oh, and i should mention, i'm pretty sure he's using the XT series of their amps.

(Message edited by brucemac on July 01, 2008)

(loudsubz) · (loudsubz) **Join Date: Aug 2001** 07-01-2008, 11:30 AM

powerful, built to last, nothing wrong with them.

(murphy_smith) · (murphy_smith) **Join Date: Dec 2005** 07-01-2008, 11:41 AM

With what you are looking to run I would make sure that you use no more than two amplifiers so that you can keep it to two batteries.

(acurtis_ttu) · (acurtis_ttu) **Join Date: May 2004** 07-01-2008, 12:00 PM

I was looking at them for my boat. Never owned one but they put out rated power and are built solidly. I ended up with mmats for my subs, and apline pdx for tower/in boat. Mainly for effeciency reasons. ( all class d amps)

(tanner) · (tanner) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 07-01-2008, 12:01 PM

x3 USAmps have been around a very long time, and build a quality amplifier.

You won't be dissapointed by using them.

(joe_crawley) · (joe_crawley) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 07-01-2008, 6:14 PM

the originals are the best amps you will ever buy. They use more output FETs per Watt than any other amp on the market, very robust

(mikeski) · (mikeski) **Join Date: Aug 2003** 07-01-2008, 6:51 PM

It's less about the brands and more about how you hook them up. I tend to do things differently than what most car stereo shops would do. Most car stereo shops don't really understand how they should be powering boat speakers.

If you want to use US Amps I would run two XT 1600.4 amps.

Amp 1 would be strapped into two channels running the tower speakers at 400 watts each.

Amp 2 would run the four boat speakers off two channels and a 12" sub off the other two channels.

I would guess that the installer will disagree with my configuration?

US Amps had the biggest booth at CES last year and the hottest models signing and handing out blow up surfboards. Translation - huge marketing budget. I doubt you will be disappointed with US Amps but you can probably get more bang for your buck elsewhere with names like Cadence or Crossfire.

I would suggest you make those two batteries either golf carts or high capacity AGMs like Stinger or Kinetics, not low capacity AGMs like blue tops. Again, bang for the buck, stay away from blue tops.