Are Classic Car Audio Amplifiers Better?

If you’ve been in the audio industry for a while, then you’ve likely heard that old-school or classic car audio amplifiers are better than the new stuff. How someone quantifies “better” is somewhat of personal preference. They could be talking about aesthetics or the sound of the product. Whatever it is people like about classic audio equipment, buying and selling vintage audio equipment is big business. Here’s a little story a good friend told us about dealing with a pair of older amps.

A while back, a friend dropped off a pair of truly classic car audio amplifiers. We had an Orion Concept 97-3 and a Rockford Fosgate Punch 700X on the bench to check out. The plan was to see how much power the amps made, take some frequency response and distortion measurements and ensure that they would be working properly. Sadly, the Orion almost self-destructed on power-up, and the Rockford had a lot of distortion. Not what we were hoping for, or really, what we expected. So, let’s take a look at each amp, what happened and why.

Orion Concept 97-3

The Concept 97-3 was an amplifier released in 1998 as a giant middle finger to the controversy surrounding amplifiers’ ratings in SPL competition. With the proliferation of “cheater amps,” Orion chose to rate the massive Concept 97-3 at 0.5 watts per channel into a 4-ohm load at 12 volts. Their goal of forcing IASCA, USCA and dB Drag Racing to change the way amps are rated was a foregone conclusion.

Orion on the Bench

We started with the massive Orion amp. We set it up, connected it to our 160 amp power supply and turned it on. Even with no speakers or signal connected, the amp was drawing an incredible 86 amps of current. We shut it down quickly and started looking for problems. Now, we’ll make it clear: We are not a repair shop; we test and quantify the performance of products. So, the plan to fix an amp was a bit outlandish but seemed like a lot of fun!

After about four sessions of measuring resistances and voltages with the help of several industry veterans, we found a shorted output device and a pair of shorted driver transistors. We chose to replace all the output devices to make sure everything was fresh.

Vintage Means Old

We encountered a few issues along the way. The circuit board clamps to a finned heat sink that fits inside the visible shroud. This secondary heat sink is what makes these amps so tall. The output and switching devices have thermally conductive tape on either side of them to remove heat efficiently. The first problem was that the tape had deteriorated and dried out. Surely this would affect its ability to transfer heat efficiently. Another problem was that the tape glued the devices to the heat sink and clamping bracket. When we tried to remove the bracket, several of the devices ripped apart.

The second major issue with the Orion surfaced after we finished fixing it. Once we had the amp up and running reliably, we set it up to take some power measurements. The Concept managed to make 207 watts on the left channel and 208.7 watts on the right, and 738.4 watts when bridged into a 4-ohm load. The next step was to measure frequency response and distortion. This is where things went weird. The amp was oscillating above 1 kHz. As we mentioned, we aren’t a repair shop. Sure, we could chase the signal through the amp and find the problem, but we have other projects lined up.

Rockford Fosgate Punch 700X

The Punch 700X is four-channel amp that was conservatively rated at 87.3 watts per channel and debuted around 2002. On the bench, the Rockford seemed to work well. No strange noises from the power supply, and the output seemed reasonable. Tested individually so as not to tax the power supply, we eked out more than 275 watts per channel into a 2-ohm load, according to our D’Amore Engineering AMM-1 in Dyno Power mode.

We decided to take a look at the frequency response of the amp, so we performed a few high-resolution sweeps using our digital interface and the Room EQ Wizard software. While not a disaster, it does roll off on the top and bottom. Referenced to the peak output at 650 Hz, the amp was down 0.8 dB at 20Hz and 1.27 dB at 20kHz. Not enough to be a problem, but measurable. For reference, most quality amps are flat within a dB from around 10Hz to more than 40kHz.

The next step was to measure distortion. We recently upgraded our digital interface to ensure the measurements we take are of the device under test, and not artifacts of our hardware. The new interface measures flat from 5 Hz to 92 kHz, has a signal to noise ratio of -116dBA and a total harmonic distortion specification of less than 0.00032 percent. We always calibrate the interface before each test.

We took a few distortion sweeps of the 700X, and much to our chagrin, it’s a disaster. Second order harmonic distortion at a drive level of 2V (1 watt into 4 ohms) was around 5 percent to 6 percent on all channels.

Old and Wrinkled

As we were moving the amp around to change connections, we noticed a rattle. A few taps and some shaking revealed that the power supply output caps seemed loose internally. We ordered up eight new Nichicon 4700uF, 50V caps and swapped them out.

As curious as we are, we decided to pry open one of the caps for a look. As you can see, the top of the cap is swollen and it appears the electrolyte has dried up. We hooked two of the caps up to our capacitance tester for some sleuthing. Both caps have a rating of 4700uF at 50V. The first measured 2024 uF and the second cap measured 2012 uF. By comparison, the new Nichicon caps all tested around 4800 to 4900 uF. That’s 40 percent of the desired energy storage and filtering capacity. Not good news at all.

Once the amp was back together, we measured it again. Steady state power production and frequency response were the same. We hadn’t taken any dynamic power tests beforehand, so we had no reference against which to measure after the replacement.

Thermal Compound Deterioration

As we were taking the amplifier circuit board out of the heat sink, it quickly became apparent that the thermal compound used to help wick heat away from the power supply and output switching devices had dried up. No doubt, it wasn’t serving any beneficial purpose. We scraped it off, cleaned up the heat sink and devices, then applied new compound before we put the amp back together.

Let Bygones Be Bygones

So, with two truly classic amps failing, is there anything we can discern from this? We invested more than $200 in parts and supplies to repair these amps. In terms of time, well, we likely spent 20 to 25 hours testing, diagnosing and repairing. Someone who fixes amps for a living would be much faster, but you’d still be looking at several hundred dollars per amp to bring them to this point. Eliminating the remaining distortion and frequency response problems may or may not even be possible. By the way, another friend dropped off a Precision Power PC225 to check out. It blew up. Power supply switching devices went boom. Ugh.

The experience has highlighted that electronics truly don’t last forever. The dried-out power supply caps are the tip of the iceberg for the Rockford. Every electrolytic cap on the board should be swapped out. The Orion was filthy inside and required a thorough cleaning. Maybe dirty EQ or mono switches were responsible for the strange frequency response issues? Maybe some of the caps on this amp had dried out as well? The PPI? No idea what its problem is.

Classic Car Audio Amplifiers Might Be Best as Memories

If we were looking for an amp to power our mobile audio system, something old would not be on our list. Sure, maybe they sounded great when they were new, but time has taken its toll. Could they be restored? Absolutely! The circuit boards are in great shape. Is it worth it? If you have a sentimental attachment, go ahead. If you think they these old clunkers will outperform a new design, based on our hands-on experience, that’s not very likely. If you want an amp that sounds amazing, just buy a new one. Your local mobile enhancement retailer would be happy to help you choose something with outstanding sound.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Why the Shop Matters Most: Certified Technicians Make the Difference

When it comes to aftermarket upgrades or vehicle service, the most important factor is not the product itself—it is the quality of the people who install and support it. A professional shop that employs qualified, certified personnel provides value that extends far beyond the initial installation. The shop’s commitment to hiring, training, and retaining competent technicians is what ultimately protects your vehicle and your investment.

A reputable shop doesn’t rely on chance when hiring. It seeks technicians with recognized certifications, proven knowledge, and ongoing education. This standard reflects a culture of accountability, professionalism, and trust. Certified technicians are professionals who follow standards, use best practices, and deliver consistent results.

Qualified shops operate with clear processes. Certified technicians follow documentation, quality control, and verification steps. Their work is reviewed and validated before the vehicles are returned. This reduces errors, saves time, and limits rework, giving customers fewer problems and a more predictable experience.

Asking a shop about technician qualifications is not confrontational—it is responsible. A professional business expects customers to inquire about credentials and should be prepared to explain what certifications its staff holds and why they matter. Shops that are proud of their workforce often display credentials openly and encourage customers to verify them. This transparency is a clear indicator that the business stands behind its team’s competence.

Long-term relationships matter. Shops that invest in qualified staff better support customers after the sale. Returning for updates, adjustments, or troubleshooting means working with technicians familiar with the shop’s standards and your service history. This continuity ensures efficient, accurate, and accountable service, even years later.

Choosing a shop with certified technicians is about trust in people, not promises. It shows the business values professionalism, invests in staff, and commits to consistent, high-quality service throughout your vehicle’s life.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Why Certified Professionals Deliver Higher-Quality Results

In technical fields, the gap between average and exceptional results often depends on the professional’s training and standards. Certified professionals stand out for their formal education, proven competence, and commitment to ongoing learning—all of which lead to better evaluations, more precise installations, and quicker, more accurate troubleshooting than their uncertified peers.

Certification is more than a title; it proves structured education and assessment. Certified professionals must learn core principles, best practices, and safety requirements for their field. This education exceeds trial-and-error, covering system design, product compatibility, electrical theory, signal flow, diagnostics, and manufacturer requirements. As technology grows more complex—especially in vehicles with advanced electronics and integrated safety systems—this depth of knowledge is essential.

Certification ensures adherence to industry standards. Certified professionals follow procedures that protect customers, equipment, and system reliability. These standards ensure consistency, safety, and performance. Certified professionals know their importance and real-world application. Those without certification may take shortcuts, use outdated methods, or lack information, raising risks and costs.

Efficiency is another area where certified professionals consistently outperform non-certified counterparts. Because their education emphasizes proper evaluation and planning, they identify challenges before work starts. This leads to fewer surprises and post-installation issues. Certified professionals use proven methods to troubleshoot, reduce downtime and unnecessary part replacements, and save customers time and money.

Certification means accountability and ongoing education. Certified professionals stay up to date with technology and industry changes, benefiting customers who need both current and legacy expertise.

For consumers, choosing a certified professional provides confidence and peace of mind. It signals that the individual has been evaluated by an independent organization, understands accepted standards, and is capable of delivering consistent, reliable results. In the automotive aftermarket and mobile electronics industry, certifications from organizations such as the Mobile Electronics Certified Professionals program help customers identify technicians who have demonstrated verified competence in their field.

Certification raises service quality. It delivers better evaluations, cleaner and safer installations, and quicker, more accurate troubleshooting. If you want performance, reliability, or long-term value, choose a certified professional.

To locate a qualified professional, you can find a certified technician or specialist at by clicking here.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Product Spotlight: ADS iDatalink Maestro APX Kits

In February of 2025, Automotive Data Solutions (ADS) introduced the world to a new way of installing car radios. In their presentation, they discussed how aftermarket source unit installations evolved from under-dash to DIN and, subsequently, 2-DIN shapes. Their iDatalink Maestro APX kits, when combined with radios from JVC and Kenwood, usher in a new philosophy in radio upgrade options. Let’s check out the iDatalink Maestro APX installation kits.

The Basics of Radio Installations

Up until now, if you wanted to replace a factory-installed radio, you had a choice between DIN and 2-DIN radio chassis. An extension of these sizes includes floating-face radios with a large screen mounted on a bracket in front of the dashboard.

ADS spends significant resources cataloging vehicle information as it investigates each platform for remote car starter and vehicle interface solutions. The team noticed that many vehicles share common parts, such as screens. If a radio manufacturer could produce an aftermarket solution, ADS could provide simple installation and integration solutions to allow consumers to dramatically upgrade their cars and trucks in terms of features and performance.

ADS contacted their long-time partners at JVCKENWOOD to ask if they wanted to be the initial source unit partners for the APX Advanced Dash Integration product. ADS and JVCKENWOOD worked together on the initial Maestro RR radio data integration project. The two companies agreed, and work began several years ago on developing the APX kits and compatible radios. As a side note, JVC and Kenwood call their APX-compatible radio family Direct Replacement.

How Does Maestro APX Work?

In a conventional radio upgrade, a mobile enhancement retailer replaces the factory radio and often the trim panel with aftermarket solutions. The new dash kit has an opening for a single-DIN or, more commonly, a 2-DIN multimedia receiver. Some of these dash kits are complicated and expensive, and have to include new displays and interfaces for climate controls. Due to space limitations on the dashboard, many kits relocate the radio to a lower, less convenient location. Another drawback is that the radio display often shrinks from 8 inches to 7 inches or less. However, vehicle owners can now have state-of-the-art audio playback and smartphone integration, ready for connection to signal processors, amplifiers, and high-quality speakers.

The Maestro APX kits include two components – mounting brackets for a screen and a T-harness. The harness handles connections to the factory wiring and to a Maestro RR or RR2 interface. The brackets allow the new screen included with the Kenwood or JVC radio to mount in or in front of the dash. In short, the new radio replaces the factory screen with a premium source unit.

Maestro Floating and Eight-Inch Kits

There are two types of APX kits – APX-FL for floating-face radios and APX-S8 for eight-inch display solutions.

The APX-FL kit, like those for the Jeep Wrangler, allows a radio with a 10.1-inch floating face display to be integrated into the vehicle. Unlike DIN- and 2-DIN floating-face solutions, the radios compatible with the APX-FL kits are a true two-part solution. The radios are designed with a hide-away brain and a screen that attaches with a few harnesses. Depending on the kit, the radio brain may be installed in place of the factory CD mechanism or on the back of the display mounting bracket. Where possible, factory mounting brackets are used, but the Maestro kits include beautifully crafted brackets where needed. Spacer blocks and trim pieces are included so your installer can fit the screen up tight against the dash.

The APX-S8 kits are designed for a two-part radio solution that includes an eight-inch screen that replaces the factory screen. Brackets are provided as needed to ensure the new display fits perfectly into the dash. The result, once the upgrade is complete, is that the dash looks just like it did from the factory. All the radio and climate controls continue to function with the new radio, thanks to the Maestro RR or RR2 integration module. The same goes for the radio control buttons on the steering wheel.

APX Kit Applications

As of now, ADS offers kits for many Ford, GM, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Holden, and Infiniti/Nissan vehicles. You can check the ADS Maestro website to see if there’s a Maestro APX radio upgrade solution for your application. A key benefit of the design is that new kits can be created in the future if a compatible platform emerges.

The ADS marketing team noted that there are almost five million vehicles on the road globally compatible with their Maestro APX kits, opening up new technology-upgrade opportunities for millions of vehicle owners. If you want to upgrade your car or truck, check the ADS Maestro website for a compatible Maestro APX kit, then choose a JVC or Kenwood radio that meets your needs. From there, an authorized dealer for the radio brand can bring your plan to fruition, and you can enjoy all the features of a modern vehicle in your older car, truck or SUV.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Apple CarPlay Entertainment Options Expanded

iPhone users are excited by the news that Tidal and SiriusXM are now part-compatible with Apple CarPlay. These subscription-based music services add to the extensive entertainment selections already available for control by using your voice. Let’s take a close look at these new Apple CarPlay entertainment options.

What is Tidal?

In similar fashion to Google Play Music and Apple Music, Tidal is a music streaming service with a catalog of almost 50 million songs. Tidal has differentiated itself by claiming to pay the highest royalties to artists and rights owners. (Before you rush out to sign a record deal, keep in mind that artists get about 10% of the income paid to the owners of master copies and the publishers/record companies).

Tidal emphasizes its commitment to creating and supporting a sustainable music industry at every opportunity. Well-known performers listed as artist-owners on their website include Alicia Keys, Arcade Fire’s Win Butler and Regine Chassagne, Beyoncé, Calvin Harris, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Daft Punk, Damian Marley, deadmau5, Indochine, J. Cole, Jack White, Jason Aldean, Shawn “JAY Z” Carter, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, T.I., and Usher. You can see all of the information at HERE if you want more details.

What Does Tidal Cost?

Tidal offers two levels of service. The Premium service costs $9.99 a month and provides users with access to Tidal’s song, music video and editorial content. The HiFi subscription chimes in at $19.99 a month and delivers audio in uncompressed, CD-quality FLAC formats as well as 50,000 tracks from Warner Music Group in Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) formats. There is some debate about the true benefit of MQA, but you can be confident that both FLAC CD-Quality and MQA formats far exceed what you are used to hearing from conventional streaming services.

With the addition of Tidal to the CarPlay family, you can now enjoy your music with dramatically improved sound quality and access your favorite music by simply asking for it.

SiriusXM Radio on Apple CarPlay

SiriusXM shouldn’t be new to mobile audio enthusiasts. All of the key source unit manufacturers offer SiriusXM compatibility on their premium source unit options, and most automakers include SXM receivers in their mid- and top-trim level vehicles. With more than 140 channels of genre-specific entertainment and coverage for most of North America, SiriusXM allows music enthusiasts to enjoy programming in extremely remote areas.

The addition of SiriusXM Radio to the CarPlay family is more about functionality and integration than about service. A satellite-based subscription or streaming subscription has a base price of $15.99 per month. If you have a satellite-based subscription, you can add streaming access for $4 per month.

To be clear, the addition of SiriusXM Radio to the CarPlay family does not mean you can control your hardware-based satellite radio receiver.

Why Choose SiriusXM Radio?

Just as with other applications, the benefit of being part of the CarPlay family is in the safety of the interface. If you want to listen to Howard Stern, get play-by-play from the big game or listen to your favorite music, all you have to do is ask.

Communicate and Be Entertained Safely with CarPlay

If your vehicle doesn’t already have Apple CarPlay, drop by your local mobile enhancement retailer and check out the wide variety of multimedia receivers available. Be sure to bring along your iPhone so you can see just how easy, intuitive and safe Apple CarPlay is.

This article is written and produced by the team at www.BestCarAudio.com. Reproduction or use of any kind is prohibited without the express written permission of 1sixty8 media.

Are Classic Car Audio Amplifiers Better?

Orion Concept 97-3

Orion on the Bench

Vintage Means Old

Rockford Fosgate Punch 700X

Old and Wrinkled

Thermal Compound Deterioration

Let Bygones Be Bygones

Classic Car Audio Amplifiers Might Be Best as Memories

Why the Shop Matters Most: Certified Technicians Make the Difference

Why Certified Professionals Deliver Higher-Quality Results

Product Spotlight: ADS iDatalink Maestro APX Kits

The Basics of Radio Installations

How Does Maestro APX Work?

Maestro Floating and Eight-Inch Kits

APX Kit Applications

Apple CarPlay Entertainment Options Expanded

What is Tidal?

What Does Tidal Cost?

SiriusXM Radio on Apple CarPlay

Why Choose SiriusXM Radio?

Communicate and Be Entertained Safely with CarPlay

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