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Amp Audio Quality Comparison

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SmallTruckBigRadio

Amp Audio Quality Comparison

#16096

Post by SmallTruckBigRadio »

Can you hear me now? Can you hear a difference? Amp audio-quality shootout?

I have already experienced better transmit, and receive audio quality with a step up from an RM KL-200P (Italy? cheap little catholic amp?), to a loaned “Shooting Star 225”. I am currently running a used Boomer 400 Deluxe Hi-Drive, that pushes more power than the “Shooting Star”, but is reported to be less clear.

I am testing the water on some of the top shelf amps.

Dave Made, X-force, Magna-Force, SkyWalker, FatBoy, others?

I am also anxiously anticipating the arrival of a Superwackpacked General Lee from Mr. Radioactive. I am currently using an RCI 2950 DX.

It is my understanding that Dave Made is the top of the top, but can the price be justified by every day audio quality?

If a couple of stations were set up 10-20 miles apart, and different amps in the M-200, M-400 class, (Dave Made, X-force, Magna-Force, SkyWalker, FatBoy, others?) were tried, with the same transmitting radio, mic, and antenna, could a receiving station tell any difference?

Has anyone ever done a test along the lines?
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Guest

#16099

Post by Guest »

:lmao:
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BigBopper

#16141

Post by BigBopper »

I had a (STOLEN) M80 by DAVEMADE, it was a great amp, clean transmitting, had a FATBOY 300, good amp also, bought for about $150, but wasn't as clean in the TX, of course I have had many Palomars, for the money they are good, still have RM KL-200P, good for the money, and I only paid about $60 new, good TX, also have a RM KL-300P, good for the money, but pre-amp comes on when you power it, no seperate switch...Had a couple of Texas stars over the years, good amps,,and many DX amps,,,,but if I had money to buy a new amp, of all the ones I have had,,,all I can say....IT's a DAVEMADE world! Cleanest TX of all the amps I have owned,,,just my 2 cents,,,LOL
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Mr RadioActive

#16151

Post by Mr RadioActive »

Ummm, why not just find out what wins at competitions! DAVEMADE!
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Guest

#16153

Post by Guest »

:Peace!:
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SmallTruckBigRadio

Thanks Big Bopper

#16157

Post by SmallTruckBigRadio »

well your 2 cents, is convincing me to get ready to spend $400+, That's kinda how a transistor works, a little in and a lot out!

Thanks for the advice.

Guess I'm down to these
Dave Made, no remote? no RX pre amp?

X-force, Magna-Force, SkyWalker

I'm staring at the X-force because I can get a remote, and pre-amp, and still be less $$$ than M-400. I wonder if anyone has tested X-400 v/s M-400?
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SmallTruckBigRadio

DaveMade usually wins huh?

#16162

Post by SmallTruckBigRadio »

DaveMade usually wins huh?

Is Davemade M-400 available with Receive Pre-amp? and remote?
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BigBopper

#16177

Post by BigBopper »

If serious about Davemade I would check with Radio Active for price,,,yes they win
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SmallTruckBigRadio

A bit long winded / worded...sorry, your help is appreciated

#16272

Post by SmallTruckBigRadio »

BigBopper wrote:If serious about Davemade I would check with Radio Active for price,,,yes they win
I have not yet gotten “serious” about anything except trying not to regret any more purchases, the story of my progress / dilemma is below.

Being fairly new to the "Big Radio" scene, I am learning that all of the hasty decisions I have made so far have been regretted, and all of the decisions that I have researched extensively, I have been happy with. None yet have been quite as expensive as a $400+ amplifier. So that's why I want to “feel things out”.

I want to be wise about my decision. I am learning that the more I interact with people who have been doing the "Big Radio" thing for a long time, the more I can learn about the “actual” good stuff, and the more likely I can avoid more regrets. I’ve also learned that any salesman or any technician will say his stuff is the best, and that in the CB world, it’s possible for 90% of the advice that you get from the average Joe can be far from the best.

I also don't want to find myself with a $350.00 radio (on the way), and a $450.00 amplifier (M-400) (deliberating X-400..others?), to then discover that I screwed up somehow, or that I have purchased a diamond-studded hammer of some sort. I also don’t want to hear my co-workers tell me that my radio sounded good before, and that $800.00 spent didn’t gain much.

I do not plan to compete, so if I show up to the normal drive to work, in a top fuel dragster, I'll get complaints about the smoke and fumes, and get laughed at for what I spent. On the other hand, I would like a "very nice" sounding radio setup to the point that I won’t need to improve for a long time. I recently heard a base station that was set-up with radio station broadcast type equipment, and the same microphone type used by Elvis, and I was awed that AM CB band could sound so good. I know it may be impossible to get base quality in a mobile doing 85 mph (oops did I say that out loud?), but I can’t help but want a great natural sound.

I also understand that this is not quite a trip to Wal-Mart, and also that most radio technicians have been bombarded with the same questions since Fred Flintstone got the hamster wheel powered amp, and keyed up through a fire hydrant.

So if you guys will bear with me, especially those who already know how to do it right, and especially those with shops who are thinking "I wish he would simply buy from me", while I gradually convince myself of what is the best for the dollar, and that sometimes it's better to simply spend what is costs for the best, I would appreciate it.

I appreciate everyones advice, especially the advice of those who know how to do it well, that includes more information than "just do it".

Let me know how I’m doing:
So far I have decided that a Superwackpacked General Lee will outtalk, and sound better than my “very clear and natural sounding” RCI 2950 DX. (General Lee is being built…almost wrongly… we caught it yesterday)

Mics: Astatic 575M6, 636L, & D104M6B

I am preparing to change from my Wilson 2000 antenna to a Mr. Coily, because I can’t get the Wilsons SWR any lower than 2.5, with a 30 watt “after amp” deadkey, and I think a Mr. Coily has a smaller coil than a Predator 10K. I am scared of the appearance of either on my little white S-10 pickup.

Next, I am planning to try the new General Lee, barefoot, and with the Boomer 400 behind it. To see what my co-workers think of it’s sound. During that time I am trying to decide whether the M-400 is worth $450.00 without remote or receive amp, or if the X-force X-400 with remote, and receive amp for a little less $$$ is the better way to go. Or if there is still a better way to go?
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Peddler

#16273

Post by Peddler »

Good questions
Good concerns
Good intentions

I had all the same and still do to some extent and I've been this hobby for 30+ years. You can ask 10 different people and recieve 10 different answers from everything from radios to pancakes.

It all boils down to your ability to sort thru the hype and to use common sense along with some research.

Good luck in your quest.
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SmallTruckBigRadio

#16274

Post by SmallTruckBigRadio »

Thanks Peddler,

It is a bit of a quest isn't it?
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BigBopper

#16276

Post by BigBopper »

Boy do I understand, I have spent more money after bad, I've been in radios for 30 years, and man I have wasted more money, many things I have learned, or at least I hope I have learned,,,start with the best you can afford, use it until you can do better,,as far as an Amp, I agree $400 is a lot for an amp, but a superwackpacked General Lee will talk the Talk, you might try your amp with the General Lee and see what it does, just a thought,, Mr Coily is a great antenna, and it's really the most important part of your system,,I think the General Lee/Connex 3300HP are the best built radios on the market...and I have seen them all, or at least most......LOL, my wife will tell you I think I have spent money on most of them,,,LOL
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SmallTruckBigRadio

#16279

Post by SmallTruckBigRadio »

I am looking hard at the Mr. Coily Trucker.
Looks like my next good move.

Am I right in thinking that the Mr. Coily's coil is smaller than the Predator 10K?

I am looking around for mounted Mr. Coily pics right now.
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Guest

#16292

Post by Guest »

I just recently dished out 1,023.23 on a mobile setup and i LOOKED,READ,ASK,an ASK SOME MORE!It took me over a month to decide what to buy but i think i got the system right the first time!It took me a long time to decide and it payed off in the long run for sure!I'll play with what i got for awhile and then up grade to something bigger, but a few modifications will have to be made before the upgrade. :Peace!:
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SmallTruckBigRadio

#16298

Post by SmallTruckBigRadio »

Wow,

I looked up the 93T and the 500V at ***Censored*** site. Must be a monster of a talker! Do you get lots of WOWS with it?

Their writeups are fun to read, have you read them?

They really talked up the Superwackpacked General Lee, so I went with that. I hope it sounds as good as they say it does.

I am also finding out about having my Boomer 400 tuned to clean up its Audio quality.
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Guest

#16307

Post by Guest »

YEA,I talk with the best of them around my little town.Not alot of BIGDAWGS around here!I can talk where ever i want.If i hear them i can talk to them.I can DK 250 and Swing 550!Almost 600 on SSB!It really drags the motor down on SSB!I got me another battery to put in the trunk of my car.Already have the wire run just got a few more things to do yet.I hope it helps some.If i'm driving down the highway i dont have a problem just when i'm at idle.But AM is alright just SSB drags her down.
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SmallTruckBigRadio

#16308

Post by SmallTruckBigRadio »

Just ordered a Predator 10K...whew...one more step done...

I am in Southern Indiana, just above Louisiville Kentucky. How close is your part of the Bluegrass?
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Guest

#16309

Post by Guest »

Loisville is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from me!Maysville KY is about 30 minutes away!We should be able to talk if we catch some good conditions. :Peace!:
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