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My test: PPi phantom 900.4

3K views 18 replies 14 participants last post by  momofx 
#1 · (Edited)
Usually I just take the manufacturer's word for it on highs amps, but I just love my little PPi 900.4 and I recommend it all the time so I decided to test it and see if she is really doing the clean power.

This will be short and sweet. I didn't crack it open or take pics of the controls or inputs. You can see closeups of them here... [URL]http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_38338_Precision-Power-PPI-P900.4.html[/URL]

The amp is active capable and claims 145w x 4 channels @ 4 ohms in a tiny footprint. For less than $200. That's an awful lot of amp for the money. Let's check it out.

From the manual...



RMS Power Rating (14.4V):
  • 4 ohms: 145 watts x 4 chan.
  • 2 ohms: 225 watts x 4 chan.
  • Bridged, 4 ohms: 450 watts x 2 chan.
RMS Power Rating (12V):
  • 4 ohms: 100 watts x 4 chan.
  • 2 ohms: 150 watts x 4 chan.
  • Bridged, 4 ohms: 300 watts x 2 chan.
Yes... we will be getting to that big bish, but let's test the little one first. That's a PDX-10k, in case you don't recognize it. I also think it's hilarious that this is likely to be someone's setup. That teeny thing on the fronts and that monster on the substage. All SQ and shit.



Setting unloaded. A lot of people feel like this is useless, but I like to see what an amp does unloaded so that's why I always include it. If you just used the DMM SQRT method here, you'd be at ~ 24 and leaving some power on the table. This is also why I advocate the use of a scope. Almost 31v here.



Sometimes you will see a highs amp tested and see them say, "all channels driven". This is why they say that. This is one channel driven at 5 ohms. This is almost 150w @ 5ohms but only a single channel driven.



Now we load down all channels and see what we get.

115w per channel @ 5 ohms and 13.4v. All channels driven. It's a power supply thang. 50A draw measured but not pictured.

http://s848.photobucket.com/user/ta...03-3036-0000026188E14BC9_zpsc7db0376.jpg.html

Bridged @ 5 ohms front and rear. All channels driven.

340w bridged @ 5ohms and 13.2v. This is also basically what you'd see at 2.5ohms per channel. ~ 170w per channel @ 2.5ohms all channels driven. 70A draw measured but not pictured.

http://s848.photobucket.com/user/ta...03-3036-0000026188E14BC9_zpsc7db0376.jpg.html

So, yep. She's doing work. Observed efficiency was ~ 75% at 5ohms and 2.5ohms. I'd have liked to see it a little higher at 5 ohms per channel, but at this price point, you really can't complain about much.

Subjectively... I think the little amp sounds great. And I know a lot of people who would agree with me. The amp has a "full" setting that lets you bypass all the filters and that's where I run mine so I can't comment on how the amp sounds using the onboard crossovers. I've had this amp next to several much more expensive amps and I honestly couldn't *hear* a difference. Maybe you can. But if your ears are that good, then maybe you need to spend $1,000 for this much power and make yourself feel better. For my money though... this amp is a fantastic buy.
 
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#2 ·
I've liked mine enough to buy 2 more. I'll have about 4 of them total (2 of the 4 channel, and 2 of the 2 channel) when done with my setup.

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk
 
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#3 ·
Not a fan of the looks of them, but really tempting to try one. My only issue is I love to match amps in an install, and they don't make a Phantom very big for subs...
 
#12 · (Edited)
Nice test! Solid amp for sure, i just bought the PPI bk800.4 and that thing is also a beast for 140$ its another amp from PPI that is hard to beat in that price range and sound. It blows the doors off of my JL 300/4 and gunna catch a ton of shit for this one but oh well.....its better sounding and louder(more power) than my sax100.4 that i used to also have
 
#17 ·
Well... I was running essentially a 2.5ohm load. And at 13.2v. The amp is rated for 225w @ 2ohms and 14.4v and 150w @ 2ohms and 12v. So, I'd say it's doing rated.
 
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