Kenwood Amplifiers: The KAC-9104D Vs the KAC-7204

As a boy growing up my big dream was to have that fantastic car. You know, the one that everyone stares at and envies. And as great as these marvelous automobiles were everyone knew that the first thing you had to do was to replace the sound system. The on-board equipment was just not good enough to provide cruising serenade.

Times have changed but the desire to have quality sound in the vehicle hasn't. Most vehicles now come with quite amazing sound. But for those perfectionists, or those that just want the best, we turn to a great line of after-market stereo amplifiers.

The KAC-7204 is a great car amplifier that offers 2 channels of 170 watt output. The dimensions are 13.8 x 9.4 x 2.3. So part of the consideration in your purchase is whether it will fit in the space you have to work with. For a $150 price tag, the KAC-7204, comes with options some don't, like an I-Pod feature and the ability to add additional woofers and tweeters to really punch up the sound.

Being able to customize is the real advantage of the Kenwood KAC-7204. Crossovers are often used to keep high-frequencies from reaching a subwoofer. A low-pass filter allows only frequencies below the crossover point to be amplified. A high-pass filter allows only frequencies above the crossover point to be amplified. This is useful for keeping low bass away from small speakers, so they can play more efficiently. The 7204 has 2-way active crossover.

Amplifier total output power is 1000 watts providing great reckless sound to drive your spirit as you drive down the road.

Kenwood has built their reputation in building car audio amplifiers which offer outstanding reliability and advanced sound quality.

Another great amplifier to consider is the KAC-9104D. The 9104D is a little more compact with a rugged aluminum cast chassis. The KAC-9104D is about 30% smaller than its predecessor yet has the output punch of 900 watts. The KAC-9104D includes a low pass crossover filter that adjusts the output of the car stereo for great sound. The subsonic filter eliminates inaudible and ultra low bass which can detract from the performance of your subwoofer.

The KAC-9104D lets you apply a bass boost with up to 18dB at 40Hz. It also has a two way phase switch. Pricing ranges from $180-$230 dollars.

Kenwood products are measured according to the strict standards set by the CEA Consumer Electronic Association). The CEA offers Testing & Measurement Methods for Mobile Audio Amplifiers. This 'voluntary' standard advocates a uniform method for determining an amplifier's RMS power and signal-to-noise ratio. The CEA allows consumers to be able to compare car amplifiers and receivers on a n equal basis.

While each product offers similar output with different dimensions you will never go wrong with a Kenwood.

List of Sources

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KAC9104/Kenwood-KAC-9104D.html?search=kenwood+amps&ssi=0

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-NdovFGsvvQj/p_113KAC7204/Kenwood-KAC-7204.html

Andrew Luu, http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20010911/FREE/70614005