So i was at a store and i was looking at this amp

Kenwood KAC 8452 Amp, 800w
for 190$
New, was the Display model Still has box.

It will be going in my 1987 Ranger,

Please could you guys tell me if this is A deal ?
or worth the money please help

 

Just did a quick google Kenwood KAC-8452 4-Channel 800W Max Power Car Amplifier

Just noticed it's discontinued on other sites, I wonder if Kenwood would honor any kind of warranty?

 

yeah that's what i was seeing too. i didnt know if it was Real or fake.

 

i wouldn't buy a kenwood. Amps aren't a place you wanna buy an ok brand, same goes for headunits and pretty much every aspect of car audio. Will it be an improvement, yes. But if i were you I'd save up and get an amp from a better company like soundstream, jl, etc..

 

soundstream is good but i wouldnt reccommend jl. look at AudioQue and Sundown.

 

Being that its a discontinued model, i think the main thing you should consider is most company's offer a warranty from the purchase date, so you may still indeed have a full manufactures warranty if you can hang onto the receipt, also consider if the place your thinking of buying it from will honer any type of warranty, even if it may just be a 30-90 day replacement.

Either way, i remember those amplifiers and i even sold/installed some for a few customers, its a decent entry level amp but in my personal opinion, for almost 200 dollars for a discontinued display model, i think they could lower that price even if its never been used in a vehicle, for 200 dollars theres plenty of choices out there that are just as good if not better.

Car Amplifiers - Amp: Multi-Channel at OnlineCarStereo.com | Ascending Price

I believe that link will work, but its for the 4 channel amplifier section in ascending price order, for less then 200 bucks theres rockford, jbl, mb quart, soundstream, mtx, i even saw a few alpine models in there.

 

Alright thanks guys ! :D

and do you buy from the Site you posted ?

 

I have bought a few things from them in the past, when you buy online pretty much anywhere that isnt a big authorized dealer, youre gonna have the same "warranty" as any other place who doesn't really want to help you past the sale, which is why i see a lot of people like to deal with crutchfield even though the prices are higher.

Recently iv been buying a few things on ebay from Welcome to Csb Electronics hes a great seller, if theres something you dont see listed just send him a message asking about it he usually is able to get it.

 

Alright thanks !
unno if you would know maybe but,

i cant find any info on the size of my speakers are.
1987 Ranger, i believe there is only Dash Speakers, but on a website they said there was rear speakers also

and what channel and watt do you think amp i should get ?

and then Speakers / Sub After words :)

 

There is a sticky for speaker sizes, you might find what youre looking for in there, i usually just use metras fit guide or crutchfield to find speaker sizes, your model probably has the option for rear speakers but it doesn't necessarily mean you have them in your own.

Depending on the speakers you have or plan to get, the best advice i can really give is to get the best quality equipment your able to get within your budget, the amps rms power should at least match the rms handling of the speakers you have, as for the sub depending if you just want a good full sounding stereo or a ghetto thumper is up to you more then anything but the same applies, the best you can afford to get and i would recommend you get a class d style mono sub amp regardless of the brand name.

 

Alright thanks, Ill take a look at some, i just want the music to sound how it should, was thinking of adding tweeters later to level out the sound :)

 

Honestly man, if your wanting that rich full sound id invest in some higher quality speakers and a nice 4ch amp as opposed to just adding some tweeters, if anything a nice component set in the front would bring out the music much better then just a measly set of tweeters, and if they arent name brand tweets and just the say 10-20 dollar specials at the local shop then most likely there along the same lines as the ones a friend of mine used to buy sets for 99 cents and would buy then by the dozen because people would just buy them up at his shop, he makes an absolute killing on them, but ultimately its what suits you.

Another thing just to throw it out there, i havent seen many people talk about it here but using any kind of dampening mat like dynamat, fatmat, seccond skin or whatever theres a bunch of brands out there, can make a night and day difference between the way the audio sounds especially when it comes to the low end, i put 120 sq ft in my blazer and the difference was amazing without changing anything else it sounded almost twice as loud, if you think about it the more exterior noise and vibrations you keep down, the better you hear the music.

 

^ a nice set of components will make a difference.

 

See that, he agrees, and i dont think iv ever seen him agree with anything.. so take that how you will lol.

 

you guys wouldn't have any set ups you would recommend, like Specific stuff ?

 

jl slash series are soooo awesome though. but obviously way out of this price range haha.

 

my price Range can go anywhere, actually :) just not over 400 dollars for amp and sub please :P

 

not to be biased but my system is as good as any and pretty simple. but it did cost both arms and both legs for what i did lol. but my focals have the adjsutable tweeter in the center of each so you can aim them staright at the center of the cab. even with out my sub and amp hooked up the bass was decent. i'm sure there are other less expensive speakers that have this ability(i'm a top name guy though lol). i did a jl prebuilt box loaded with a 10" jl sub and JL 250 watt amp all bit into it. it fits nice just right behind the passenger seat firing towards the back. there are lots of other brands that have these setup and ready to go boxes. i got a decent deal at $350

 

lol well JUST one of the JL 500/1 amps i used to have in my zx2 was about $600( i did 2). i had two JBL 12's in a ported box and boston acoustic speakers. this was a $2500 setup lol

my setup in my truck was right around $1200. keep in mind i bought the high end focals at $400 a pair. they do have cheaper ones that are about half the price and still have the adjustable tweets

you would be fine just doing front speakers. but i'd recommend buying dynamat or similar to cover behind the doors. theres lots of moving parts that will rattle and cause dstortion so you want SOMETHING to absorb it

 

ohh well then i guess this will be something i do next year ahah !

 

for sure! i did the whole cab in mine :)

 

haha don't say that!

get some pioneer three ways for up front(a decent headunit is plenty to power those). dynamat it yourself. get a decent headunit and get a preloaded box/amp combo. you could do it for under $600 easy and it will be a HUGE difference over stock

 

then save up money---sell your old stuff to a friend for $200---and upgrade :)

 

ahha !, yeah but money is a tight thing because well. im still in high school, only working part time at Canadian Tire getting payed 10.25,

insurance is gonna be like 360 or so plus iv got gas iv got to pay for :P

in less you;ve got your old set up you wanna Donate :P jk

 

haha i hear ya. i got tuition to pay. two quads to upkeep. insurance. gas...rent.....but im also making a bit more :)

lol can't help you there it found a new home in my friends srt4 sorry! i told him NOT to turn it all the way up and he apparently though i was joking. two weeks later he was supergluing his rearview back on :)