Top 5: Bass Amps under $250 for 2020

Top 5 Bass amps under $250 for 2020. Five name brand amplifiers are broken down and reviewed by us as we determine which is the best overall amplifier.

These are the amps in the running. (In no particular order.)
Alpine S-A60M 1:39
Kicker CXA800.1 3:23
JL Audio JD500/1 4:30
Memphis SRX500d.1 5:38
Rockford R2-500x1 6:35

DISCLAIMER.. ALL OF THESE AMPS HAVE INCREASED SINCE THE RELEASE OF THIS VIDEO DUE TO COVID, DOCK ISSUES AND CHIP SHORTAGES.

Buy this amps directly from us:
Alpine S-A60

Kicker CXA800.1

Rockford R2-500x1

Memphis SRX500D.1

[chapsteronetime]

I have the older alpine 500w mono amps
Love them been using them for years in multiple vehicles solid rip! Ran it on 2 tens and one solo 12” CT. Nice Amps 20yrs now

[snnave]

The JD500 also has a differential input and a clip indicator around the gain knob

[jaydawg]

Here’s my thoughts-
Street reference Memphis is low quality with high output so they run hot. Buy power reference. Cheap for dollar to watts and dyno’d they perform above the rms by a bit.
Rockfords prime series amps have quality of life clipping detection but they aren’t profitable at all and you can’t get above 1200 watts. Plus their ratings are almost always exactly on point, and I prefer amp brands that under rate their true RMS
JL is very similar to Rockford but pricier. Their higher end amps are the true differential but if I’m paying those prices I’d rather pay for audiocontrol or a Mosconi amplifier. Signal to noise ratio is important if I’m gonna pay upwards of $800 on an amp.
Also I’ve played with taramps amplifiers and they are little beasts for cheap but they fry fast under constant use.
Dumbass here, just my two cents.

[StansE]

A multi-channel Class-D moderate priced Round-Up would be … AWESOME !

[Barney-hkes]

My picks
1. RF
2. kicker
3. Jl
4. alpine
5. Memphis

[rotwiler]

For under 250 I say the SoundQubed 1250 or skar 1200 both are around 1200 rms and 1700 ish burst @ 1ohm. Those both are around 175 and have clipping light in knob. For $250 you can get the even better built model with same rms. Or can go 2, 000 watts in those brands for $250 or under.

[RDERA]

Just subbed! Keep up the great uploads! Clean, organized and well put together!

[Thumper]

Kicker has Fit technology which is awesome so you don’t need a loc and can have up to 40 volts high level input into rca and it makes the signal perfectly clean. This is great if your using stock head units. Also you can get the kicker cxa 600.1 and save some money and still get great power output. I run the cx 600.1 on a old alpine sws 12 in a ported box I made and I had a guy yesterday ask me what I was running cause he said I was banging way louder then he was and he’s running two 15’s lol! I picked up some instant business going to be making him a box no tuning his system. It was hilarious I showed him my box I made out of an old entertainment center 3/4 mdf and my sub sat outside in rain and weather for 6 months with cone top layer missing so pole/coil exposed. I put a dust cap on it and sprayed a thin rubber roofing spray to make the cone ridged. I literally have about a 100 dollars invested in my system and can float paper. The guy was down right flabbergasted. Guys you can be loud and sound good if you build and tune right. Don’t think you have to spend thousands to be loud.

[harleymichael]

The Alpine amp will probably outlast at least six different speakers. Class D stuff is nice.

[patrickhansen]

Is there a video for top 5 under 250 4 or 6 channel amp?

[snnave]

I think the Alpines all say 851 watts. Mine read the same and so have several others

[woodrowhancock]

Wonderfully detailed video! Are there any amps today similar to the Phoenix Gold ZX 500 v.2 performance?

[popeye]

Hello, I'm confused between JL JD400/4 or Alpine S2 A36F, both are class D 4 channel amps, will be buying for my Blam relax component and Coax speakers.

[RAW_Reality]

I feel like there almost should've been a (2b) @ 1:17...
Dampening Factor.
If your choices are 3 amps that'll push the same wattage for the same price, forget trends or brand loyalty... The best sounding of the 3 will almost certainly be the one that has the highest dampening factor.
Ironically, it's also one of the least publicized specs on company and retailers' websites, for most brands. Damn shame.

[greenmanyyy]

Nice review based on service and real life performance ..)

[josephtreadlightly]

My brand new Alpine S-A60M still in the 📦 @ 2 ohms tested @ 795 watts. Soon it will be in my Toyota. 5 years ago I put that same Amp in my Honda. Does anyone know what the equivalent Alpine model was in 2016?
Anyway that Amp with the Alpine 12" Dual Voice Coil sub have been flawless. My mids & tweeters r powered by the Alpine 4 channel 55×4 RMS Amp. Not 1 problem plus there is clean, clear sound with no clipping & never an issue with overheating. I live in a 4 season climate with a full 130* temp range & no garage. I'm impressed with the quality & reliability.

[ericalbers]

I have an SA-55V running everything right now. Damn solid amp. I might go with an SA60 (or two) for my sub (Alpine R 10") but came into possession of a PDX-M6. I've heard there was an issue with them but don't know how common it was. There's no lack of people saying how amazing the PDX series sounds though. I'd love a stack of JL's but when I go JL I'm dropping a divorce worthy amount of cash.

[itsyeboi_pena]

for the jl 500/1, if i have 2 12s and bridge them what would the wattage be??

[scottkellogg]

I have a 12 in subwoofer in a ported box the wire kit I bought is for a 2 channel amp does it matter if I buy a 1 chanel amp

[MemphisMojos]

I miss my Street Reference amp. It was a 1200d.1 and it was heavily used for 2.5 years then sold. I wish I had 2 more of them