I had 4 kicker 12” solos running off a zx450 back in 99-2001 and I hit a 149.5 db in a 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee and I still have the amp and now it’s running 2 12” kicker L7’s and it hits hard best amp I have ever had I beat on it for 20 years
These are some of the best amps made IMO. Excellent sound quality and extremely under rated. I wish phoenix gold survived and continued to make amps like this. Look at the specs compared to todays amps. I miss my ZX amps especially the Ti's. These amps can do what todays amps do with thousands of watts and are only rated at 18-36 w/ch depending on model.
Hello INFRNL1 , I hope you are fine.. I am building a 4 way Sound Quality Setup and I am looking for sq amplifiers. As I learn the Sapphire line came before the QX. Sapphire was at the tail-end of the M-series product. It went Sapphire -> M (25, 44, 100 etc) -> MS/MPS -> QX -> XS -> ZX -> ZPA. This ranking is right? M25, M44 , M50 are more sq than qx and zx? Or How is your ranking for SQ?
I paid $360-something for an Phoenix Gold EQ215ix (of which I still have) back in 1997. I have 3 of those EQ's now and probably a problem that will require many years of counseling.... I just picked up another PG amp which will make for 20 total car amps in my collection now.
I have 38 PG amplifiers some limited edition like the black Xenon also MS Series Tantrum Octane R Octane Titanium Elite ZX series ZX ti and ZX v2 and some Elite 5 and Titanium Elite subwoofer and Elite 3 and Elite as equalizers and pre amp
Every time my 350v2 and 450v2 catch my eye in the display case I forget that everything above those parts I see in the window is only heatsinks and a fan.
Sorry, I want to add another comment. I've listened to many brands of car audio amplifiers, McIntosh, PPI, Apline, Crossfire, Rockford, PG, etc. And Phoenix Gold amps sound very warm and musical. Even though some of those other brands may have more power, PG amps are very, very, clean with top notch circuitry. They almost sound as warm as tube amps. Being a guitar player I would know how tube amps sound and react. PG old school stuff will always be the best in my book.
In my opinion the Rockford Fosgate amplifiers with the Patented Transnova circuitry are absolutely stunning. I have a couple PG amps and they sound great!
I think in 97 for my white zx500 I think I paid something like $750 or $800I was running two of those and I was running two of the zx 500 and the two zx450. I think I paid close to $800 somewhere in there for the zx450. I ran JL 12 w 6 subs 6 of them.The 450's I was running two rear fills I was running a 8 in my center console and then I was running three-way fol cals in my door and pillar. I then also was using the Phoenix Gold version of the audio control. I was running an eclipse non-powered 5-volt deck. I ran two alternators and 2 AGM batteries no capacitors. What I really loved about the Phoenix Gold was that their dampening factor and their signal to noise ratio was just phenomenal even when I stepped on those amplifiers. The JL's sensitivity were phenomenal as well as the fol cals.
That PG ZX450 can push crazy power when bridged down to low ohms. The jl is clean and powerful but doesnt gain the same power boost from lowering ohm load.
I just found one of these in a box that I've had since they came out. It's used but in great condition. I need to learn what all these dials and buttons do. Seems more complicated than others I've hooked up. Cheers for the old review 😂 🍻
I appreciate your attention to detail.. I remember Phoenix gold zx nd TI amps in high school.. High end SQ as well horse power.. I still looking 4 ppi as art series amp
Just wait till you try an old school soundstream reference series amplifier *kekekek* that zx450 was dynoed at roughly slightly over 100 watts rms on amp performance website
Are you interested in repairing my zx 450 or pointing me in the right direction to get it repaired i believe it's the power supply but not exactly sure on that diagnosis
Any reputable electronics repair shop should be fine doing the repair but if you can afford it I strongly recommend sending it to PG to have it refurbished. These amps are worth it and are high end even in today's market.
Back in 97 or 98 I paid I believe it was five to $600 for the ZX 350 and a little less for that ZX 250 and the bigger ones including the zx ti series Well upwards of $1000 and more back in the late 90s however the build quality As well as the sound quality is second to none
i dont remember the official msrp of the zx450 i paid $750 on layaway for mine around 98, the actual power is around 110x4 rms its a cheater amp for sure.
not much of a difference between this and a 500.4 ti. the benefit to the zx450 is just the finish and a better board. this was the last of the actual gold plated boards. buy whichever you can find in good shape.
i just bought my self one last week for $ 480 australian , and when i say in mint condition it"s in mint condition , i also have the zx500 and zx350 . 500 runs my sub , 450 runs the front and rear 6.5''s and the 350 runs tweeters
Might I suggest you try a Sony XM-GS400 for an amp that has Audiophile SQ details. And this is coming from a guy who has run hertz, Pioneer Class A amps, JBL power series, PG Ti600.2, MS2.125, PG M44, and a PPI 600.2. just grab one and try it, not as much power as that PG, but using a pir of them with 1 amp bridged for midbass and you have a killer 3 way active setup with outstanding detail and a wide soundstage.
pg amps are sql quality amps. Look at alll the specs on all the amps. less .02% distortion, >100db signal to noise, these and other specs determine just how well your music will sound.
you can actually hear a difference but it depends on the music. like you said certain pink floyd or pantara guitar riffs. i would agree 100%. there are real differences that can be tested for with harmonics. on the surface people can say amps sound the same. once you dig deeper there is way more going on with sound. listen to most class D amps, they just sound dead. its not a pleasurable experience at all. there is real science out there that people dont know. you can take a really old design like a class A single ended tube design. they dont make much power at all. what they do is use 100% identical input wave and produce a huge amount of harmonics. these harmonics is what natural instruments produce. these sounds are really pleasing to listen too. there are measurable and sounding differences in each amp design or class. each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. it all depends on the application. these are simple facts.
![1993 Phoenix Gold MPS-2500 - Who's Cheating? [4K]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Cks5W-sLvps/mqdefault.jpg)
![1993 Phoenix Gold MPS-2500 - Who's Cheating? [4K]](/img/tr.png)
I had 4 kicker 12” solos running off a zx450 back in 99-2001 and I hit a 149.5 db in a 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee and I still have the amp and now it’s running 2 12” kicker L7’s and it hits hard best amp I have ever had I beat on it for 20 years
These are some of the best amps made IMO. Excellent sound quality and extremely under rated.
I wish phoenix gold survived and continued to make amps like this.
Look at the specs compared to todays amps.
I miss my ZX amps especially the Ti's.
These amps can do what todays amps do with thousands of watts and are only rated at 18-36 w/ch depending on model.
Hello INFRNL1 , I hope you are fine.. I am building a 4 way Sound Quality Setup and I am looking for sq amplifiers.
As I learn the Sapphire line came before the QX. Sapphire was at the tail-end of the M-series product. It went Sapphire -> M (25, 44, 100 etc) -> MS/MPS -> QX -> XS -> ZX -> ZPA. This ranking is right? M25, M44 , M50 are more sq than qx and zx? Or How is your ranking for SQ?
Same had ZX600Ti and ZX400Ti, now I still used Tantrum 1200.1 manufactured in October 2001 by the sticker on the back.
I’m running the zx450 v2 and the zx200 v2 right now and I love them
More reviews should be like this where they used it for a while and knows what they are talking about.
I paid $360-something for an Phoenix Gold EQ215ix (of which I still have) back in 1997. I have 3 of those EQ's now and probably a problem that will require many years of counseling.... I just picked up another PG amp which will make for 20 total car amps in my collection now.
You sir belong in the Phoenix Gold group on Facebook. I think pg and fosgate probably have the largest old school followings
I have over 200 90s era amps. At least 30 phoenix gold alone. I have 3 450s including a nib fully recapped. You think you have a problem..
I have 38 PG amplifiers some limited edition like the black Xenon also MS Series Tantrum Octane R Octane Titanium Elite ZX series ZX ti and ZX v2 and some Elite 5 and Titanium Elite subwoofer and Elite 3 and Elite as equalizers and pre amp
Every time my 350v2 and 450v2 catch my eye in the display case I forget that everything above those parts I see in the window is only heatsinks and a fan.
Sorry, I want to add another comment. I've listened to many brands of car audio amplifiers, McIntosh, PPI, Apline, Crossfire, Rockford, PG, etc. And Phoenix Gold amps sound very warm and musical. Even though some of those other brands may have more power, PG amps are very, very, clean with top notch circuitry. They almost sound as warm as tube amps. Being a guitar player I would know how tube amps sound and react. PG old school stuff will always be the best in my book.
In my opinion the Rockford Fosgate amplifiers with the Patented Transnova circuitry are absolutely stunning. I have a couple PG amps and they sound great!
I think in 97 for my white zx500 I think I paid something like $750 or $800I was running two of those and I was running two of the zx 500 and the two zx450. I think I paid close to $800 somewhere in there for the zx450. I ran JL 12 w 6 subs 6 of them.The 450's I was running two rear fills I was running a 8 in my center console and then I was running three-way fol cals in my door and pillar. I then also was using the Phoenix Gold version of the audio control. I was running an eclipse non-powered 5-volt deck. I ran two alternators and 2 AGM batteries no capacitors. What I really loved about the Phoenix Gold was that their dampening factor and their signal to noise ratio was just phenomenal even when I stepped on those amplifiers. The JL's sensitivity were phenomenal as well as the fol cals.
That PG ZX450 can push crazy power when bridged down to low ohms. The jl is clean and powerful but doesnt gain the same power boost from lowering ohm load.
I just found one of these in a box that I've had since they came out. It's used but in great condition. I need to learn what all these dials and buttons do. Seems more complicated than others I've hooked up. Cheers for the old review 😂 🍻
I appreciate your attention to detail.. I remember Phoenix gold zx nd TI amps in high school.. High end SQ as well horse power.. I still looking 4 ppi as art series amp
Got two a100 and two a200 ppi arts for sale you can't find them on eBay right now, hit me up with offers
I had one of these in high-school with 2 15 kicker comps and it kicked as. Then they came out with the 0.5 and I had to get that beast
I miss the pg days it was some good stuff
Loved my ZX450!!! I miss it ... too bad some one wanted it more than me ....
Just wait till you try an old school soundstream reference series amplifier *kekekek* that zx450 was dynoed at roughly slightly over 100 watts rms on amp performance website
Great quick review 👏 You "sound" like you have a good ear with your comments. Keep 'em up!
Are you interested in repairing my zx 450 or pointing me in the right direction to get it repaired i believe it's the power supply but not exactly sure on that diagnosis
Any reputable electronics repair shop should be fine doing the repair but if you can afford it I strongly recommend sending it to PG to have it refurbished. These amps are worth it and are high end even in today's market.
Jason campbell. He's in the pg facebook group. Pg forum and online
In Belgium they costs more than 1000€ for the Phoenix Gold ZX450 (ZX500 is the same price).
Back in 97 or 98 I paid I believe it was five to $600 for the ZX 350 and a little less for that ZX 250 and the bigger ones including the zx ti series Well upwards of $1000 and more back in the late 90s however the build quality As well as the sound quality is second to none
What should I get a punch 601 or a 701 or a zx450 as clean as this one?
phoenix gold made a ZPA line those were nice they had clear see through covers.
I have a fully customized and tuned up 0.5, a fully recapped mint 0.5 and a nib 0.3. My favorite amps ever.
For me, one of the best amplifiers that needs a lot of signal voltage and a lot of quality.
i dont remember the official msrp of the zx450 i paid $750 on layaway for mine around 98, the actual power is around 110x4 rms its a cheater amp for sure.
Would you go these over the titanium ones?
not much of a difference between this and a 500.4 ti. the benefit to the zx450 is just the finish and a better board. this was the last of the actual gold plated boards. buy whichever you can find in good shape.
i just bought my self one last week for $ 480 australian , and when i say in mint condition it"s in mint condition , i also have the zx500 and zx350 . 500 runs my sub , 450 runs the front and rear 6.5''s and the 350 runs tweeters
Might I suggest you try a Sony XM-GS400 for an amp that has Audiophile SQ details. And this is coming from a guy who has run hertz, Pioneer Class A amps, JBL power series, PG Ti600.2, MS2.125, PG M44, and a PPI 600.2. just grab one and try it, not as much power as that PG, but using a pir of them with 1 amp bridged for midbass and you have a killer 3 way active setup with outstanding detail and a wide soundstage.
I had this too. It was a beast
Do you still have the slash? Im looking for a 300/4
Ebay'd however Stereo King in Gresham Oregon will wheel and deal if you call them directly or happen to be in Oregon. I paid 390 out the door
Try the helix c amps, or there p amps,very high end made in germany.
pg amps are sql quality amps. Look at alll the specs on all the amps. less .02% distortion, >100db signal to noise, these and other specs determine just how well your music will sound.
Phoenix gold m100 in 1994 was 800
I paid 789 for mine new
I bought a zx500 in 1997 for 770 in New jersey
Both real sexy amps!
try the zx600
JL Audio aren’t made in China, they are made in the US from global parts. I know that’s the case now and I think it’s been the case for some time.
you can actually hear a difference but it depends on the music. like you said certain pink floyd or pantara guitar riffs. i would agree 100%. there are real differences that can be tested for with harmonics. on the surface people can say amps sound the same. once you dig deeper there is way more going on with sound. listen to most class D amps, they just sound dead. its not a pleasurable experience at all. there is real science out there that people dont know. you can take a really old design like a class A single ended tube design. they dont make much power at all. what they do is use 100% identical input wave and produce a huge amount of harmonics. these harmonics is what natural instruments produce. these sounds are really pleasing to listen too. there are measurable and sounding differences in each amp design or class. each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. it all depends on the application. these are simple facts.
I have a zx400ti real good power and quality
Sweet 👍
$450 -550
el JL Audio está lejos en calidad al Phoenix Gold