[icedub]

I'm looking at a single Genesis profile four ultra to provide the required umph for mine, 2 x 100watts RMS for the front components (probably JL Audio XR's) and channels 3 & 4 bridged for 1 x 300 watts RMS (all at 4 ohms). The rear speakers I would leave standard and run off the rear channels of the head unit's internal amp, these should be turned down alot compared to the fronts anyway so the front soundstage is not dragged back in the car. The amp can be sourced from -http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3679&osCsid=1270a5521ff92b911797fded5a21180b .

 

[icedub]

IMHO I think the Rockford amps are good bang for buck, but do tend to lack in the refinement department. I used a Rockford 600a5 5 channel amp to run a Rockford DVC sub and a set of Rockford FNX components, to me the sound seemed to lack clarity and definition. This is why I have decided to go for a Genesis amp this time round, for clean refined power and excellent sonic ability. I think Pheonix Gold is very good also, as are the JL Audio amps.

As for the speakers, I have used Infinity components in the past and found them ok, a bit bass light for my taste and the tweeters can be a bit fragile. I would look at the likes of JL Audio/ Focal/ Diamond Audio/ Crystal/ Dynaudio/ DLS/ etc. Have a look at www.caraudiodirect.com for a good s election and better prices than Hellfrauds, top service too in my experience.

 

[icedub]

I would seriously consider keeping the rear speakers standard, just run them off the rear channels of the head unit internal amp at a much reduced level - to leave the soundstage where it should be, at the front of the car just above dashboard level. This means they don't matter as much, so the standard jobbies will be ok.

Spend the cash on a single set of components for the front of really nice quality, IMHO a much better option. If you do this a 4 channel amp can be used in 3 channel mode, channels 1 & 2 used for the fronts, 3&4 bridged for the sub - this would give you a much greater choice of amp. This is the kind of set-up I'll be using.

I would have to agree with ROBO-TODA, the Alpine gear is easy on the ear and sounds quite good, but there is better out there. There amp's tend to struggle a bit to make there rated power, and don't like to be loaded down unless stated- stick to the nominal 4ohm load and there ok.

Hope that helps you out.

 

[icedub]

Foxy, you could try what has been suggested, if good enough you've saved yourself some cash/ time/ effort. When using the amp to drive the speakers you would probably be using the high pass crossover anyway, to prevent the speakers trying to reproduce what they are unable to - they will sound far cleaner like this anyway, and chances are go as loud as you require.

I would still look at a four channel amp though, that way to remove the sub box would just be unplugging a set of banana plugs - rather than rca's/ power/ ground/ remote connections. Just a suggestion.