Are newer Alpine amplifiers still any good? X-A70F, X-A90V, X-A90M

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  • @bruth6138
    @bruth6138 Рік тому +31

    Its good to see people still engineering stuff rather than taking an off patent Korean circuit, putting a different case on it and slapping a name on it.

  • @v12alpine
    @v12alpine Рік тому +29

    One thing I like about Alpine vs cheaper brands is you are pretty much guaranteed true balanced inputs. The signal chain is very well engineered and the noise floor is incredibly low as a result.

    • @bbfoto7248
      @bbfoto7248 Рік тому +4

      @v12alpine
      While they are not "True Balanced Inputs", because that would require 3 conductors on each input channel (like the new Alpine F # 1 STATUS' balanced XLR connections, or the mini-XLR I/O connections on the old ORION DEQ30)...
      But they ARE "Differential" RCA inputs and not the more common Single-Ended RCA inputs (where common/negative is tied to ground). The Alpine's "Differential" RCA inputs do help to reject or cancel inducted noise via "common mode noise rejection," but it's not a "fully balanced" amp.

  • @sergiobisonte
    @sergiobisonte Рік тому +13

    that is why my mrv's v12's and my mrp still working perfectly.. more than 20 years old

    • @mohsinaly
      @mohsinaly Рік тому +1

      Using Alpine MRV-407 and a pair of MRV-500 for JL subs, cant be more happier with the sound quality.

    • @sergiobisonte
      @sergiobisonte Рік тому +1

      @@mohsinaly I have MRV-F400, MRV-T500 and MRP-F200

    • @Fleecejonhson
      @Fleecejonhson Рік тому

      Yup
      Been playing my mrv f545 for years no issues at all..good amps

  • @frankpaul3204
    @frankpaul3204 Рік тому +6

    It’s really good to see a well thought out design and quality engineering

  • @davidfuller581
    @davidfuller581 Рік тому +10

    Nippon Chemicon bulk caps? Very nice! Those are very good quality electrolytics.

  • @shawnk4517
    @shawnk4517 Рік тому +8

    Appears to be H-bridge switching power supply, which can approach efficiency of close to 100%. Pretty impressive for Alpine here! The last H-bridge PS I have seen for car audio was in PPI PC-2350 and its variants (Esoteric/Diamond audio 7402)

  • @bondalero0074
    @bondalero0074 3 місяці тому +1

    My Alpine 3541 and 3522 I used in my 89’ Honda CRX in High School on Kicker 10” subs and Alpine mids & highs sounded magical! Lasted for life of car!#🔊❤️#Alpine

  • @CL-yp1bs
    @CL-yp1bs Рік тому +11

    Those are Nippon Chemi Con caps. High quality Japanese caps, these are built to last DECADES if taken care of.

  • @Acoustic_Theory
    @Acoustic_Theory Рік тому +8

    Alpine has an OEM car audio department, and they have rigorous environmental testing and reliability testing. The experience gained from satisfying the strict requirements of automakers has helped keep their car audio amplifiers well built and very reliable. Some amps may even be made in Japan.

  • @jlabovejr
    @jlabovejr Рік тому +5

    Man I been looking for a review of the newer alpine amps this week. This video is right on time

  • @yodabolt1247
    @yodabolt1247 Рік тому +3

    I loved my Alpine 3527 back in the day. It was great for a pair of door speakers and a sub.

  • @johnnyh127
    @johnnyh127 Рік тому +12

    Can't hate on Alpine. I currently have a PDX-M12 stacked on a PDX-F6 that has been in my truck since new in 2011 and they have been absolutely flawless. Expensive? Yes. Cheap big power? No. But they are built great, sound great, and have been crazy reliable.

  • @johnebuckland
    @johnebuckland Рік тому +4

    Good stuff Alpine.
    Pleased they are still quality after all these years.
    Now just need to bring back the chicklets

  • @Bassotronics
    @Bassotronics Рік тому +12

    Alpine have always been great and I’m glad they are staying that way.

  • @Mark_5150
    @Mark_5150 Рік тому +4

    This is a cool video, it would be nice if you could do this with each brand you get across your bench.

  • @dlcarburetor
    @dlcarburetor Рік тому +4

    I have an Alpine MRD-M301 from around 2004 still running strong. Not a lot of power and not sure of the design in it but sure is reliable.

    • @JohnDoe-le8fy
      @JohnDoe-le8fy Рік тому +3

      Still got a Premier Pioneer CD head unit from 97*? did have a few years of shelf life but works same as always.

  • @milesbachelor8747
    @milesbachelor8747 Рік тому +2

    I love the staggered power Alpine offers. Their 12ch amp is expensive as fluck, but the space you save plus the capabilities got my attention.
    Powering an entire system with a single amp is huge.

  • @RAW-CAt
    @RAW-CAt Рік тому +3

    Great video Sam!

  • @th3drizzl378
    @th3drizzl378 Рік тому +1

    i have one car still running a full set of the pdx series of amps (250's, 450's, 1000's etc that system has 5 amps in it). never had a single issue with them and being one of the original full range class d amps they still sound great

  • @marcogeri
    @marcogeri Рік тому +6

    Finally something new that seems designed with modern techniques. The power supply seems a full bridge type maybe the third inductor is used to make it resonant, non sure about it. From the waveforms it seems to operate in zvs mode at least at idle.
    Class D is a classic half bridge type. 0115 fet is Infineon BSB165N15NZ3. International Rectifier does not exist anymore, many of their former products are now labelled Infineon

  • @steve390gold
    @steve390gold Рік тому +3

    I absolutely love your vids man!!

  • @PunisherOfDeath101
    @PunisherOfDeath101 Рік тому +4

    Love these type of videos

  • @gamerpaddy
    @gamerpaddy Рік тому +3

    9:45 the 0115 is the marking code for a Infineon BSB165N15NZ3
    its a Vds=150V, Rds(on )16.5mR, Id 45A Ptot 78W N fet.

    • @barevids
      @barevids  Рік тому

      Thank you! Only spent a few mins looking while I was filming and it wasn't obvious 😂

  • @PrincessZelda_is_My_Side_Chick

    I just remember back when I was in my teens and just starting getting into car audio, You couldn't go wrong with Alpine amps and head units... same with Rockford Fosgate amps and subwoofers. You couldn't beat their reliabilty, durability and performance for that price point.
    Well, I wouldn't say they're total crap nowadays, but they definitely don't make them like they used to.

  • @ZC33S_Lefty
    @ZC33S_Lefty 11 місяців тому

    I have the XA-90V and XA-90M running my X Series setup including X series Subwoofer...The reproduced Hi-Res sounds is amazing, its like my car is a professional Music Studio

  • @thelastnoobstanding
    @thelastnoobstanding Рік тому +2

    My 2001 pdx.1000 is still going strong.

  • @josephrabant7432
    @josephrabant7432 Рік тому

    Nice to see an amplifier again on this channel👍

  • @BeSome1
    @BeSome1 Рік тому +1

    Great video. TBH car audio has very much fell to the waistside for me lately. Even though I have the most powerful system I've ever had in my daily. I've had 6 15's and purchased a dedicated vehicle for audio they have both been setting for a year now. Though I still have my love for the tech, my enjoyment of the squirt has kind of subsided. Hopefully it will return

  • @joshholden8561
    @joshholden8561 Рік тому +2

    Yes alpine are for sure a solid design.

  • @rideordivekerry4830
    @rideordivekerry4830 8 місяців тому

    Great video as always, one of the kings you said that was important to me is that you could get an amplifier that sounds just as good for a fraction of the cost. I’d appreciate some suggestions as I’m currently looking for them 😊

  • @cityjenkins7500
    @cityjenkins7500 Рік тому +1

    yeah im and Alpine kind of guy,,,, since 1998...

  • @n.shiina8798
    @n.shiina8798 Рік тому +2

    based on the vent design, the rail caps is most likely coming from Chemi-con. i like the parts choice but those final stage mosfets are son of a mother to work on!.
    *lol yea there's Chemi-Con brand during A90V part

  • @bobbyackerson4125
    @bobbyackerson4125 Рік тому +1

    I have a MRD-M605 great little 600watt amp. Hooked up it plays fine for a few months then it pops a code on the readout screen. I disconnect it and let it sit for months at at time. Hook power back to it and its good to go again, i dont get it. But nice little amp sounds great too while it does lol

  • @ericperry72
    @ericperry72 Рік тому

    I need to hear these and that 6 channel especially

  • @PunisherOfDeath101
    @PunisherOfDeath101 Рік тому +4

    Sam what's your openion on Jonathan price class a b amplifiers?

  • @klumpadistdas
    @klumpadistdas 11 місяців тому

    0115 FETs are Infineon BSB165N15NZ3

  • @asdfasdfasdfae
    @asdfasdfasdfae 4 місяці тому

    what do you think of helix m 6 Amp? Are they're comparable to this alpine ?

  • @toma.cnc1
    @toma.cnc1 Рік тому +2

    These would be efficiency champs given the parts they use !!! Hell, the outputs are not directly on the heatsink, that is new.

    • @barevids
      @barevids  Рік тому +1

      They are on the heatsink lol 😁

    • @toma.cnc1
      @toma.cnc1 Рік тому

      @@barevids yes but through thermal pads, pretty thick at that.

  • @jaysonyang1441
    @jaysonyang1441 Місяць тому

    I would love to see the new r2 series of alpine amps, they show s series amp guys but never the r2 series, I’m still trying to decide btwn s series 1200 watts rms mono amp and the r2 series 1500 watts rms one, I really prefer replaceable to-220 mosfet, rather than surface mount mosfets, cause they are better cooled and easily replaceable or repaired, these surface mounts are harder to repair and like in these models are cooled through thermal pads to the heatsink that’s not very efficient hence they run hotter less reliable

  • @jlev505
    @jlev505 7 місяців тому

    Awesome video. I still buy the old duo b and mrv V12 alpines. I will NEVER buy their newer stuff where they started installing Anaview/able IC gate drivers in the amps. Which on 99% of the amps IS the failure! Of course you CAN’T buy one to repair the amp. A $2 part makes these amps TRASH.
    Forcing people to buy a NEW amp over a $2 part is greedy!
    I’ve been a huge Alpine fan since the mid 90s. Have 4 mrv-1507s, 4 old school cda 4volt out Cd players and an Alpine 3558, that I absolutely LOVE. I’m done with alpine forcing people to buy new amps, because their custom ICs fail so often. Good for Alpine, bad for customers and land fills.
    I hope they go back to making their amps repairable again….. until then I’m done with Alpine.

    • @barevids
      @barevids  7 місяців тому

      They are technically repairable with an IRS20956S from china which is a restamp of the proprietary part, but yes very annoying!

  • @tonyking9235
    @tonyking9235 Рік тому

    GOOD GEAR . ESPECIALLY THERE HEAD UNITS

  • @daveroski
    @daveroski 12 днів тому

    Hi what's a better amplifier Alpine M12 or X-A90M ? Thank you!!!

  • @jonathanrodriguez6161
    @jonathanrodriguez6161 Рік тому

    I’ve noticed that Alpine, JL Audio and Sony have their own amp circuit designs. No copies from Korea or China.

    • @msh6865
      @msh6865 Рік тому

      Don't know about Sony and Alpine but, JL's designs are proprietary. Which means they probably pay their Chinese build house extra to prevent them being copied.

  • @turbojoe2
    @turbojoe2 Рік тому

    You would be hard pressed to find a through board component in a modern ECU. Why would surface mount be an issue in an amplifier?

    • @barevids
      @barevids  Рік тому +1

      ECU is logic level, low stress, low thermal cycle environment, very relaxed operation. Surface mount parts are much more prone to failure in the opposite.

  • @tyronenelson9124
    @tyronenelson9124 Рік тому

    Why would the amp need an additional microcontroller? as the TL4949CN does provide short circuit and temperature protection as well as PWM control. You are right this amp is well over engineered, more circuitry to go wrong.

  • @joshholden8561
    @joshholden8561 Рік тому

    On the mrd alpine digital models they come only 2ohm stable if u removed the protection circuit will it stop it from orotection being wired to 1 ohm.

  • @brianb_cause
    @brianb_cause Рік тому +1

    Hopefully you can compare these amps to the new HDA series from alpine. I would definitely watch that video.

    • @RAW-CAt
      @RAW-CAt Рік тому +2

      Apparently they are identical, just use a black PCB.

  • @mitchwolos6758
    @mitchwolos6758 Рік тому +1

    Why not measure the multi tone distortion or something useful? Why bother measuring the switching waveform and such?

    • @RAW-CAt
      @RAW-CAt Рік тому +1

      Cause I'm gonna do that when they will come back😊

    • @bbfoto7248
      @bbfoto7248 Рік тому +1

      ​@@RAW-CAt
      THANKS Nerijus!

  • @notsure6304
    @notsure6304 Рік тому

    Conformal Coating comes in blue?

  • @jordanciaramitaro6351
    @jordanciaramitaro6351 Рік тому +2

    I have found my pdx-f6 four channel though immensely powerful does not sound as good as a mediocre class ab amps.

    • @Bradimus1
      @Bradimus1 Рік тому

      I had a PDX 5 channel. Great power, sound was just okay. Never could quite place my finger on what it was.

    • @jordanciaramitaro6351
      @jordanciaramitaro6351 Рік тому +1

      @@Bradimus1 what I noticed is at moderate volume the lower frequencies would make the higher frequencies sound gurgled. Almost like distortion as a matter of fact I thought it was speaker distortion(not clipping distortion) at first but switching to the class a/b fixed the problem and gets quite louder too while remaining clean.
      I still have the alpine hooked up to two speakers and a different class a/b hooked to the other two speakers and you can here the difference when fading back and forth.
      I know Sam says you don’t need a lot of power on your vocals, but I disagree. The best amp I ever had on vocals was a fosgate power t8004 way over kill but sounded phenomenal! I really liked the idea of the compact class d amp for full range and assuming alpine would make one of the better sounding full range class d amps, I’m still not sold on class d technology for full range sound. I’m not a sq fanatic either. I just like loud clean powerful music.

    • @ericperry72
      @ericperry72 Рік тому +3

      Fyi, thats a older class d design. Class D has come so far since those. Purfi/Hypex/ and ganfet pushes the envelope on sq amps home and car audio wise. Wanna hear a class d that kills class ab? find a soundigital gan amp or better yet try to hear a arc audio 1000.6 trust me you will never worry about a class ab amp again. I suspect these new alpines are atleast on par with the newer above average class d amp. And this is coming from a guy who competed in sq events back in the 90's with class ab phoenix gold ms amps and ppi art series amps and canton 3 way active components. I recently sold all my class a amps and will now be running the top class d amps.

    • @jordanciaramitaro6351
      @jordanciaramitaro6351 Рік тому

      @@ericperry72 will try one of those. Thank you

    • @barevids
      @barevids  Рік тому +4

      @jord I totally agree, class D should be kept for midbass/Subwoofer application only. For full range, tweeters, vocals etc high biased class AB for sure. BTW I think the Rockford sounded great because it's a very good amp 😂 rather than because it was so powerful lol.

  • @gregorywhite3511
    @gregorywhite3511 Рік тому +1

    What amps is this good for the fraction of the price

    • @bbfoto7248
      @bbfoto7248 Рік тому +1

      You're just not going to find amps with this level of high quality components, design, sound, or longevity in a budget amp. This series of Alpine amps have been discontinued and replaced by the Alpine STATUS series amps, so see if you can find any of these older X-series amps second hand (used) at a good price.

    • @gregorywhite3511
      @gregorywhite3511 Рік тому

      If that skar RP 5 channel is on the same level as that alpine x. Then I got robbed. I highly doubt it I can be heard coming and I have no upgrade to my electrical but a AGM battery under the hood in a Honda accord. I’m just saying

    • @bbfoto7248
      @bbfoto7248 Рік тому +1

      @gregorywhite3511
      Well, the SKAR Audio RP-600.5 will be hard to beat from a price/power/channel perspective at its current $195 Summer Sale price!
      SKAR is a well-established company at this point with a good following, and the majority of the reviews are very positive for this amp.
      So, if that's your budget and it meets your system's channel and power requirements, there is little risk in giving it a try at that price.
      I'll just say that "being heard" or "they can hear me coming" has nothing to do with SQ or the internal build quality and longevity of an amplifier.
      And, if someone is using that Skar RP5 in their system, there is little chance that they are also using it to power top of the line high-end Focal Utopia M or similar components or subwoofers and DSP with a truly pro-level tune on it that would actually reveal the differences between the Skar amp and a known high-end SQ amp. So there's that.
      However, a few years back, I installed a NVX JAD-900.5 5-channel amp (discontinued now, but it had nearly identical power specs and was similarly priced to the Skar RP5) in a friend's 2015 Fiesta ST SQ system to power a set of NVX XSP6ACT 6.5" 2-way components (extremely good speakers made by SB Acoustics) with a JL 13TW5v2 sealed shallow subwoofer going through an older but very capable Rockford-Fosgate 3Sixty.3 DSP, and the system sounded absolutely fantastic.
      So there is definitely a place for "budget" amplifiers like the Skar and NVX that will get the job done and will provide years of enjoyment.

    • @gregorywhite3511
      @gregorywhite3511 Рік тому

      @@bbfoto7248 I’m was saying that I’m loud and I sound good. I’m not breaking no spl records but everyone that hears me coming say all the other cars they hear passing buy don’t sound like mine they say my bass has a different tone to it. I’m not sure what they mean because I can’t hear my self coming. But most people are Impressed with how detailed my music sounds. Im not breaking no sound quality competitions either. Im just saying it was a huge difference from the 300-400$ pioneer 5 channel and the 800-900$ alpine x. My experience. I don’t know nothing about skar but I don’t believe a 200$ 5 channel RP amp is going to sound as good as a higher end JL Alpine Kenwood etc…. Maybe it’s compatible with there alpine S entry level amp but a 200 amp sound like a 1000 amp I doubt it. I have only heard those 2. I’m talking 5 channels as well not spl amps.

  • @Steve_Just_Steve
    @Steve_Just_Steve Рік тому

    Hey barevids, I've got a question if you have time or to anyone. My friend bought a new $250k wakeboard boat with an insanely nice factory Wetsounds speakers but there are NO gain or crossover settings whatsoever on wetsounds amp or built in headunit. There's not even a custom EQ, only pop, rock ect. BS.
    Is there something that could make the system tuneable without replacing amp? Head unit replacement is not an option. Thanks

    • @dlcarburetor
      @dlcarburetor Рік тому

      Most likely will need to change the amps out to something that can be tuned.

    • @mitchwolos6758
      @mitchwolos6758 Рік тому +1

      You can't tune an amp unless it's a DSP amp. They just have gain/crossovers. Sometimes bass boost.
      You need either a EQ or a DSP. You can add one in between the radio and amplifier in any system.

  • @TheGodofSEO
    @TheGodofSEO Рік тому +2

    Your videos are like amp crack bro. 🫢🤷🏻‍♂️

  • @kiklop8362
    @kiklop8362 Рік тому

    Hi,
    do you have service manual / schrmatics of these amps?
    Thank you

    • @barevids
      @barevids  Рік тому

      No sorry

    • @kiklop8362
      @kiklop8362 Рік тому

      @@barevids no problem. I would like to make direct input but I do not want to without schematics.
      Anyway what is your plan about them?

    • @bbfoto7248
      @bbfoto7248 Рік тому +1

      ​@@kiklop8362
      Hello, mate. These amps are owned by Nerijus Kochanskas (@RAW-CAt on UA-cam and @Pixerix on DIYMA) in the UK and will be used in his SQ competition car when they are returned to him.

    • @kiklop8362
      @kiklop8362 Рік тому +1

      @@bbfoto7248 Yeah I know his work :). Why is it disassembled? Some upgrades or just for check?
      I am running 2 A70F, one for each side 3 way so that is why I am asking :)

    • @bbfoto7248
      @bbfoto7248 Рік тому +1

      @kiklop8362 Check with Nerijus or Sam @barevids here. But it looked like there may have been a burnt and replaced FET on one of the boards, so maybe in for repair and Nerijus had Sam check the other amps as well just in case before installing them in his car.
      I use a pair of the X-A90V 5-channels in one of my installs and have been very happy with them...and no issues so far. Same configuration as your X-A70F...one for the 3-way Left side and one for the Right side plus mono channels on a 2-ohm DVC sub.

  • @josuecastillo2000
    @josuecastillo2000 Рік тому

    Hey me… can i send you my hifonics colossus 3200.1 for fixing?? Ive had it for over 10 years and i havent been able to send to anyone to get fixed . I believe the problem was low voltage .. i didnt know any better

    • @JasonWW2000
      @JasonWW2000 Рік тому

      Yes, if you live in the UK.
      If not, you need to keep things in your own country to avoid high tariffs, taxes and shipping fees.

  • @TechnikToni-Overtribe
    @TechnikToni-Overtribe Рік тому

    What happend to boom or bust ?

    • @barevids
      @barevids  Рік тому +2

      For those wondering about Boom or Bust - I do plan to continue it, however I got absolutely crammed with repairs to the point that I had to turn one of the other rooms in my house into purely incoming repairs storage; and also the videos arent really doing as well as i'd hoped with relatively low views, and it isnt covering my expenses and time making each episode. :( In the meantime I've actually been making loooads of videos on TikTok, really fast paced snappy repair overviews and theyre doing really well, so if you're on the app search Barevids and check it out!

  • @realflow100
    @realflow100 Рік тому

    how can I join the discord server? is it still a thing?

  • @bradmeek
    @bradmeek Рік тому

    Now do a R-A90S lol

  • @keithalexander36
    @keithalexander36 Рік тому +2

    I think all class D amps are not worthy of my ears.

  • @Bananerocs
    @Bananerocs Рік тому +1

    Engineered to make sure repairing is a nightmare if not impossible

    • @JasonWW2000
      @JasonWW2000 Рік тому +1

      No, I don't see that at all. The Alpine techs can probably repair these with ease.
      Its more likely they are engineered to last a long time so they won't need to be repaired.

  • @crtgamer2355
    @crtgamer2355 Рік тому

    Why do you sound like you're being chased? Relax dude.

    • @barevids
      @barevids  Рік тому +3

      Attention span of the average viewer is low.

    • @crtgamer2355
      @crtgamer2355 Рік тому

      @@barevids I hear what you saying , just I'm from the old school when people spoke with calm. Nice video.

    • @barevids
      @barevids  Рік тому +1

      @@crtgamer2355 yep haha. That doesn't work for UA-cam etc tho sadly. People want info fast and don't want their time wasted with long pauses and uhhhh etc. If i was doing a public speech it would be a LOT different