Amp for WS Pro485

I've got an amp that is about to die on me so I'm looking to upgrade. I will have a pair of 485s on the tower this year. Currently I have a Sound Stream Rubicon 502 on each of them. I'm looking for compact size, high power, high efficiency amps. Here is what comes to mind;

JL HD750/1 JL HD750/1

or

Wetsounds SYN-2 http://www.wetsounds.com/pages/products/SYN2.html

Are there other amps I should consider? Has anyone heard either amp on a single 485?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by hunter660

I've got an amp that is about to die on me so I'm looking to upgrade. I will have a pair of 485s on the tower this year. Currently I have a Sound Stream Rubicon 502 on each of them. I'm looking for compact size, high power, high efficiency amps. Here is what comes to mind;

JL HD750/1 JL HD750/1

or

Wetsounds SYN-2 http://www.wetsounds.com/pages/products/SYN2.html

Are there other amps I should consider? Has anyone heard either amp on a single 485?

Thanks.

When I was looking at amps the Wet Sounds Syn-4 was the amp suggested for a pair of 485s. Also, the Alpine PDX-4.150 was suggested.

Originally Posted by rgardjr

When I was looking at amps the Wet Sounds Syn-4 was the amp suggested for a pair of 485s. Also, the Alpine PDX-4.150 was suggested.

I'm looking for something with a little more power.

I am personally running a JL MHD 750/1 to a pair of pro 485,... It jams them... I have never heard the Wet sounds amps... Everyone says they are awesome...

I first had a single syn2 on a pair of pro80's at 2x200. I just added another single syn2 on a single 485 mono at 700x1 as recommended by WS. CRANKS! The last time i played it in my driveway 3 neighbors came out side their homes, one neighbor yelled at me from across the canal, and two cop cars came. You be the judge.

How loud is the 485 comprared to the 80s? I had a 485 and a pair of 60s and could not tell a difference if the 60s were on or off.

Zapco REF 1100.1 would make those 485's sing!

That's hard to tell for me as I have the 80's and 485 all on at the same time. Each 80 is only running 200w, while the 485 has 700w. So, it's not fair to compare I don't think. It is a ton louder with the addition of the 485, but that is to be expected when you add a 485 at 700w. It was quite loud and all with just the 80's, but I was looking more for retarded loud.

The 485 i believe WS states max is 600, I know they can handle more, but 1100 is probably a waste of watts. imo

Not to a pair of them he'd be showing each one about 550 give or take.

I agree with Hate . The ZAPCO 1100.1 would be a great choice with a ton of power .

In your situation ,I would run (2) Syn 2 amps . You stated that you wanted efficiency and the WS amps will be slightly better than the ZAPCO seeing that it is a A/B amplifier.

You can never have a "Waste of Watts" .Headroom is the key and sometimes people just use it incorrectly.

Well, I thought the 1100.1 could only be used for one speaker, my lack of knowledge is showing. But 2 x syn2 would be better! Either way, enjoy.

Jon, when you come down this way, I'll show you a Syn4 that I've got for sale. I know you probably don't intend to go that direction, but it may be something to think about.

I did some reading, thinking, and measuring today. I think this is the route I am going to go.

WS SYN-2 : WS 485 - 700 watts
WS SYN-2 : WS 485 - 700 watts
WS SYN-6 : WS SS-65 (two pair) - 60 watts each & WS XS-12 - 600 watts

hertz hp all the way!! the official wetsounds boat doesnt even use the wetsounds amps! HERTZ ALL THE WAY! i've got a hertz hp 990 4 channel powering my WS 3 sum and it knocks hard!! Im about to add another pair of pro 80s and i need another herz amp myself. good luck

Originally Posted by dellagucci

hertz hp all the way!! the official wetsounds boat doesnt even use the wetsounds amps! HERTZ ALL THE WAY! i've got a hertz hp 990 4 channel powering my WS 3 sum and it knocks hard!! Im about to add another pair of pro 80s and i need another herz amp myself. good luck

http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=777294

Wow, where have have you been for 2 years The current Wet Sounds Tige RZ2 is FULL of Wet Sounds Syn Series amps. Im guessing you are referring to the previous RZ4, which I believe was built before the Syn Series were ready.

"the official wetsounds boat doesnt even use the wetsounds amps!"

Uhhhhhh?

Is that mock up a cad drawing? I'm sure you'll be happy as a pig in schitt with the system you have designed.

The RZ4 was done before the Syndicate line of amps was released.

whatever hertz amps are way better than wetsounds.. wet sounds make great tower speakers hertz makes the badt ass amps

Good choice to go with the 2 Syn 2s for the tower. You will be very happy.

just my two cents but your going to need to get the xs-xxx sub in order to keep up with 2-485 tower speakers. otherwise the tower will over power the whole system and wont be very well balanced.

Originally Posted by tims72

just my two cents but your going to need to get the xs-xxx sub in order to keep up with 2-485 tower speakers. otherwise the tower will over power the whole system and wont be very well balanced.

I agree, you will need to have a ws-420 to turn down the towers, I have 2 10s and I can drown out the subs with the 485's.

get a ws-420 or a xx-xxx and rock the lakes...

I agree, you're 485's are gonna crank hard. You need more power to those 650's too, I was actually most impressed with how much sound they put out. I knew my ws hardware would be awesome, but I was most surprised by the 650's.

Originally Posted by brian_b

I agree, you're 485's are gonna crank hard. You need more power to those 650's too, I was actually most impressed with how much sound they put out. I knew my ws hardware would be awesome, but I was most surprised by the 650's.

I was planning on the 65's not the 650's. Not to concerned with how loud it is in the boat, just to the rider.

Then you will have NO problems!

Of course the JLs fit nice too.

All the recommend amps are good. Take a look at Zed Audio.This guy has been manufacturing high quality amps for 26 years. Up until now the amps were all class A/B. His new designs are very efficient class D with the latest in technology.
I bought a 2 channel to power my tower speakers. They are powerful and are extremely clean.
Price point is great $429.00 for the 2 channel 250x2 @ 4ohms, 500x2 @ 2ohms & 1000 mono.
I benched tested the one I bought it was actually 325x2 @40hms and 581 @2ohms. Very compact W 9.7 x H 2.1 x L 10.7
The 6 channel is $599.00 150x6 @ 4ohms & 300x6 @ 2ohms. This the most powerful 6 channel amp on the market.
http://www.zedaudiocorp.com/PDF/ZedManual-A.pdf
Page 13 gives you all the specs.

Very interesting. Are all 6 channels on the big amp full range?

As I understand from reading the manual channels 5/6 are low pass. That's exactly why I went with the Syn 4 instead.

I talked to Steve and this is what he sent me. Hope this helps. Sorry it's so long but it gives you a real good idea of the flexibility of the amp.
A six (6) channel amplifier rated at 150w x 6 @ 4 ohm/ 300w x 6 @ 2 ohm. This will truly be a multi tasker as the options available will be really versatile. Full range, High Pass, Low Pass, Band Pass and sub modes are offered with the ability to have all channels as sub, 4 channels or just two.
So the amplifier will do 150w x 2 flat, high pass or low pass (mono or stereo) on channels 1+2.
Channels 3 +4 will do the same with the addition of the Band Pass function.
Channels 5+6 will do full range or Low Pass (mono or stereo) with a variable subsonic crossover.
You are able to:
* Run all channels in flat mode
* Run Ch's 1+2 High Pass or Flat and 3+4+5+6 in Low Pass
* Run Chs 1+2 High Pass or Flat, Chs 3+4 High Pass, Band Pass or Flat and Chs 5+6 Low Pass
* Run all channels Low Pass
* Channels 5+6 can have 2 or 4 RCA inputs
* Channels 5+6 can have their Low pass crossover deleted when used with head units having built low pass crossovers.
* Run all channels flat
* Run all channels low pass
* Pairs of channels are bridgeable for 600w 4 ohm operation for a total of 1,800w - many guys prefer to run their woofers from separate channels as it makes impedance mixing/matching easier.
Example you have THREE 4 ohm woofers. What do you do? Run them in parallel at 1.3 ohm = tough load for most amplifiers (Ever compared the sound of a nominal 1 ohm sub to that of a 4 or even 8 ohm sub - the 1 ohm sounds really bad!
Solution with this or the two channel amplifier. Run two woofers in parallel on one channel and the third on the second channel when using the 250w/ch amplifier OR simply do the same with the 6 channel amplifier with a bunch of channels to spare OR run each woofer on a pair of bridged channels with 600w to each woofer.
Need I say more the permutations or huge and with a little imagination one can accommodate almost every requirement with the 6 channel amplifier.
I sent you a PM with some additional info.

That sucks for my case. I would have to add another device to the signal chain which I would rather not do.

Jon Hunter - Do you still have any of the clamps that you were selling about a month ago? I tried to pm you but it wouldn't let me. I also sent you a pm on wakeboarder.com.

Not I traded them off. Thanks.

For what it's worth -

I have 4 Pro485's, with 2 PDX4.150's bridged.... 300w RMS to each pod, and it's ridiculously clean and unbearably loud. I dont think there is a lot of return for giving each pod more than 300ish watts RMS.. I've played with several different configurations.

For 2 Pro485's you're system will be VERY bass hungry, especially at the party cove. I have 2 13W3v3's powered by a PDX1000 and a 15L7 also powered by a PDX1000, and it's on the verge of imbalance.

Just my .02

The JL HD750's do a good job on them also, the Syn 2 is a great to. I personally run Digital Designs C2A and love how they sound.
I really want to go with some Zapco 1100's.

On the sub issue. I run a pair of Digital Design's M1B's, roughly 1200-1300 watts to each and they are just enough for a pair of 485's.

@ John---> flat equals full range, as i understand it. so yes, the 6 channel amp can be run full range on all 6 channels. you will have to use an EQ to narrow the freq range you want to send to each set of drivers... i could be wrong, so i will let somebody else verify...

Running a Syn2 to each of mine, and they sing. As it's been mentioned better to over amp a little, than under amp with terrible results.