JL Audio 500/5 - Any others like it?

Jonathan · Post by **Jonathan** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:27 pm

The JL uses complimentary N channel MOSFET output devices and a proprietary circuit that reverses one in each pair to make the output devices more symmetrical. It's very effective and the performance is very similar to that offered by the best amplifiers using scads of Bipolar output devices.

The Elevations use more traditional methods-with the best example being their DX amps with a Triple-Darlington arrangement and bipolar output devices. Bipolars are nice-and linear at that, but they are unstable and unreliable if built with a "just enough" mentality. If you're going to effectively use Bipolars, you have to do it Zapco/Arc Audio (aka: Robert Zeff) style by using an high number of them to make them reliable. Elevation doesn't do that. The amps use Toshiba transistors that, while sufficient, aren't the greatest things out there.

Another reason is that JL overbuilds their power supplies moreso than Elevation. The power supply is the most crucial part of amplifier performance. The regulated power supply is icing on the cake, but the power supply can provide far more current than the amplifier needs.

Then the component quality. All capacitors, transformers, resistors, the circuit board, even little things like the RCA connectors and all power/speaker connectors, the JL is built like a tank in comparison to the EA amps.

Last, but not least-engineering. This is one you can't really criticize from looking at as much as you can from independant testing. And of that I've seen the JL puts out better numbers. Admittedly-amps are the one thing I will go by specs on. Our ears can't tell us that one, and I haven't seen good performance come from inferior componentry, or engineering for that matter.

I'm not saying the Elevations are bad amps-they're good amps for the money. As in the Kicker kind of good for the money.

Bwcad1 · Post by **Bwcad1** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:33 pm

sounds good john... i dont know enough about electricle engineering to aruge or concur

lotas · Post by **lotas** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:33 pm

Jonathan wrote:The JL uses complimentary N channel MOSFET output devices and a proprietary circuit that reverses one in each pair to make the output devices more symmetrical. It's very effective and the performance is very similar to that offered by the best amplifiers using scads of Bipolar output devices.

The Elevations use more traditional methods-with the best example being their DX amps with a Triple-Darlington arrangement and bipolar output devices. Bipolars are nice-and linear at that, but they are unstable and unreliable if built with a "just enough" mentality. If you're going to effectively use Bipolars, you have to do it Zapco/Arc Audio (aka: Robert Zeff) style by using an high number of them to make them reliable. Elevation doesn't do that. The amps use Toshiba transistors that, while sufficient, aren't the greatest things out there.

Another reason is that JL overbuilds their power supplies moreso than Elevation. The power supply is the most crucial part of amplifier performance. The regulated power supply is icing on the cake, but the power supply can provide far more current than the amplifier needs.

Then the component quality. All capacitors, transformers, resistors, the circuit board, even little things like the RCA connectors and all power/speaker connectors, the JL is built like a tank in comparison to the EA amps.

Last, but not least-engineering. This is one you can't really criticize from looking at as much as you can from independant testing. And of that I've seen the JL puts out better numbers. Admittedly-amps are the one thing I will go by specs on. Our ears can't tell us that one, and I haven't seen good performance come from inferior componentry, or engineering for that matter.

I'm not saying the Elevations are bad amps-they're good amps for the money. As in the Kicker kind of good for the money.

Sounds like someone did their homework

kevinberry1 · Post by **kevinberry1** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:42 pm

This is why I love this forum so much! Jonathan, like usual, gave a very knowledgable response. There are so many people on here that possess knowledge about car audio and are willing to answer questions without sounding egotistical or by flaming other posters. Glass and Geo are two others that initially come to mind as far as the knowledge base is concerned. Thanks guys

joeyc · Post by **joeyc** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:51 pm

well, I have the elevation xs125.4, and I think its a great amp. I am sure that the JL is a much better amp, but I would bet you can get just as good sound quality out of the EA amp. Now I am not an electrical engineer or anything, but I think that the Elevation is an excellent amp. But who am I? lol

joeyc · Post by **joeyc** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 7:53 pm

oh yeah, x2 on the props to jon glass and geo. don't forget jeremy and bill. there is a lot of knowledgable dudes on here!! I am not one of them!!!

Jonathan · Post by **Jonathan** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 9:22 pm

Note I'm not a believer in amplifier sound. Any amplifier that puts out necessary power (short of clipping) will sound the same as any other. You can compare Sony and Zapco, for that matter, it's irrelevant.

What differs in a high dollar amplifier and a low budget one is the engineering and material quality. The fact that the high dollar amplifier will be overbuilt, use far more components than necessary to get the rated power output, and components of a higher quality and lower tolerances at that. With that comes build quality, reliability, and longevity, which is always a plus.

NViejeP · Post by **NViejeP** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:19 pm

cool, any other suggestions?

NViejeP · Post by **NViejeP** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 10:28 pm

What about

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fus ... uct_ID=446

lotas · Post by **lotas** » Sun Mar 19, 2006 11:10 pm

NViejeP wrote:What about
http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?fus ... uct_ID=446

I'm not a huge fan of PG, then again I'm not a huge fan of the amps that have "Optional neon insert" as one of their specs