Old School HiFonics vs Orion Amp Dyno and SPL Testing [4K]

Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары

#AmpDyno #OldSchool #HCCA
If you know about cheater amps, you must know these two beasts. Back in the early 90's, many amp manufacturers were on the "less is more" bandwagon. Of course, less only in the rated wattage as these amps were expensive! Today I'm doing a comparison I've always been intrigued by....1991 HiFonics Isis VII vs Orion 250 HCCA. These amps were matched in price (around $900 USD) as well as ratings. Both were rated to deliver:
50W x 2 at 4 ohms (or 100x1 at 8 ohms)
100W x 2 at 2 ohms (or 200x1 at 4 ohms)
200W x 2 at 1 ohm (or 400x1 at 2 ohms)
Despite what claims you may read online, neither amp was rated for 1/2 ohm stereo or 1 ohm mono loads. The interesting thing if you were an Orion fan is the little brother 225 HCCA was also rated to deliver 400 watts, but it was at 1 ohm mono or 1/2 ohm stereo loads.
For this shootout I decided to not only do an Amp Dyno Drag Race, but also compare SPL numbers (in car) as well as check out some flex from the 8" Savard HiQ subs. The video is nearly 20 minutes long, hopefully it is packed with good info for the old school car audio junkie in us all!
Shop for Savard HiQ 8" subs:
Dual 2 ohm: amzn.to/3aGZujD
Dual 4 ohm: amzn.to/3aGZzDX
Term Lab Magnum: shop.termpro.com/t/test-equip...
Handheld Dyno SMD AMM-1: amzn.to/2u2EgKV
My Favorite Screwdriver Kit: amzn.to/2x0VzcE
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--------Cameras and Gear Used To Shoot This Video ------
(Video Gear I Use)
Camera - iPhone Xs Max 512GB - goo.gl/uFHBh8
Samson Go Mic Mobile - amzn.to/2BSAtll
960 LED Panel: amzn.to/2Sxoq3S
Lavaliere Microphone - amzn.to/2Rw5PIw
Sennheiser Wireless Mic - amzn.to/2BSwIfD
This VIDEO was EDITED with LumaFusion on an iPad Pro 12.9:
iPad: amzn.to/2Ancr1W
Software: goo.gl/6yvWss
-------- Test Bench Equipment ------
SMD / D'Amore Engineering Amp Dyno: goo.gl/sJTcf7
XS Power D1400 Batteries - amzn.to/2BPFCKW
XS Power PSC60 Charger - amzn.to/2CHGcfs
Fluke 1000A AC/DC Clamp Meter: amzn.to/2Rw5WDA
Handheld Dyno: amzn.to/2u2EgKV
My Favorite Screwdriver Kit: amzn.to/2x0VzcE
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase from one of the product links, I may receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

Пікірлер: 782

  • @wal
    @wal4 жыл бұрын

    Shop for Savard HiQ 8" subs: Dual 2 ohm: amzn.to/3aGZujD Dual 4 ohm: amzn.to/3aGZzDX Term Lab Magnum: shop.termpro.com/t/test-equipment Handheld Dyno SMD AMM-1: amzn.to/2u2EgKV My Favorite Screwdriver Kit: amzn.to/2x0VzcE DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase from one of the product links, I may receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for the support!

  • @DJRS9045

    @DJRS9045

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hey BigD, can you dyno test the pioneer GM-A3702. It's 500w and it's $60 - $50 in America

  • @adameve8026

    @adameve8026

    4 жыл бұрын

    Can you wire 4 Gauge or 2 into the Orion amp. It looked like a pair of screws/Nuts and the 8 comes out.

  • @bonzainews

    @bonzainews

    4 жыл бұрын

    You were hitting nearly 140 db in a big suv with only 500 watts. How many more DBs can be found in a smaller interior such as a Honda CRX or Corvette C4. Nobody believes when I tell them my Zeus VIII and 4 Solobaric 10's in My minuscule interior of my 1986 Corvette must have been approaching 150 db. The Amp rack/ batteries/ Subwoofers took up 75% of the space to begin with. Every time you halve the distance you gain 3 db (in theory). the car became a bandpass box itself.

  • @michaelsears306

    @michaelsears306

    4 жыл бұрын

    I always heard that you could run those old school orion amps down to 1/4 ohm ?

  • @jeremiahmontgomery802

    @jeremiahmontgomery802

    4 жыл бұрын

    I have some thing I now you would like I would actually hate to get read of it but I would like to give it to you instead of it going to waste sitting in my garage but I don't now how to get it to you and mybe see a video about it

  • @rrho170
    @rrho1704 жыл бұрын

    A little old school history on why the "cheater" amps exist. In mid 80's to late 90's car audio competitions were a big deal, national events were in stadiums and the like. The classes were divided on power levels. For instance the sanctioning body I was involved in has a Consumer and Pro category split at 0-100w 101-250w 251-500w 501-100 and 1000 up classes so you can see where having 1kw in a system showing 250 rated watts was an advantage. These guys went leas beyond that, like stuffing additional amplifier board into the empty"thermal management" space, or stacking them in the same chassis when simply hiding an extra amp wasn't enough. We had a tear down rule where if you won a category, you could be challenged by a placing competitor. He puts up money, you disassemble your car in front of a judge until he was satisfied and if you passed scrutiny you collected the challenge money for your trouble. Guys had to get very creative with the cheats. You had to disassemble you rack and such but nothing was in the rules about disassembling the amp its self as not to cause warranty issues. Sometimes the manufacturers or their reps helped on the down low or citing ignorance by providing fake nameplates or custom heat sink builds. Ever see an Autotek 666 that was 2 inches higher than the rest? How bout a Rockford Power 1000 with brass buss bars for power leads? Got an annoying flapper vent in the cowl that seems to release cabin pressure at just the right point? What about that unfortunate split in the weld in the kick panels or floor pan that accidentally introduced unfortunate beneficial resonance with the cabin? My all time favorite went unnoticed by the mid west guys where a competitor has his own pass-thru cable from the mic to the meter in his door that was there to keep from kinking the B&K SPL meter cable as he fastened the doors shut. How nice. Needless to say that cable made a detour to the head unit where he dialed in his SPL. It happened A LOT. The rules were made of lead and elastic, easy to bend and stretch. That is where the displacement rules stemmed from instead of power. It's harder to fake surface area. Harder....

  • @tarnationsauce2

    @tarnationsauce2

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yep, that "empty" space in the Hifonics is so you can add another amp in there and get away with actually cheating.

  • @danielanderson8502

    @danielanderson8502

    2 жыл бұрын

    From what I remember if you set a world record it was a automatic tear down. Especially at finals.

  • @25hztolife86
    @25hztolife864 жыл бұрын

    Big D Wiz you never let us Bassheads down; you bring us back to the day car audio was at its peak.

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching and commenting!

  • @davidwhitmire8445

    @davidwhitmire8445

    3 жыл бұрын

    @dicax , no. That's not so crazy, really. Back in those days, we could hit 150s and 160s on the SPL meter, without having to use 15-20,000 watts, or anywhere near it.

  • @earlhouse4458
    @earlhouse4458 Жыл бұрын

    These old school challenges are a blast from the past! I remember both of these amps!

  • @jstrahn
    @jstrahn4 жыл бұрын

    Great video! What a testament to the build quality of both that 30 years later they're still pushing put the wattage without skipping a beat.

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    This is a FACT!!

  • @sketchyssk8shop
    @sketchyssk8shop4 жыл бұрын

    We are paying for all those amps that were rated at 100 watts and cranked out 1000. Now we have em rated at 1000 n crank out 100

  • @sketchyssk8shop

    @sketchyssk8shop

    4 жыл бұрын

    @ Big base has been shut down due to nouse ordinance laws. So it will be raee to see one out cruising while bumping.

  • @trecedaves3159
    @trecedaves31594 жыл бұрын

    I had a buddy back in the day sponsored by hifonics. He had 2 ISIS amps but in his there were 2 ISIS boards in ea amp. So he was able to run 4 amps in a lower class. He had special endcaps for it so it looked like a RF punch 300. Very loud system. You could hear him a half mile away.

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Now that’s something I’d like to see!

  • @mines10inches
    @mines10inches4 жыл бұрын

    Amps of legend. I loved that era the best

  • @ernestgary6812

    @ernestgary6812

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yes I was a kid in 90s... 37 now my 10 year older brother had all the beets in his 4wd izzuzu, shit would make ya teeth rattle back then... not like now adays.... I showed him my team fi 18s lol it like to floored him

  • @Dirtdevil1
    @Dirtdevil14 жыл бұрын

    Brother this is the best test that you have ever done.

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Lots of work and time put in, I appreciate the feedback

  • @SunnyJulienDivine
    @SunnyJulienDivine2 жыл бұрын

    1991: Amp has 150 W, let's rate it 100 W 2021: Amp has 150 W, let's rate it 1000 W

  • @jasonbear3305
    @jasonbear33054 жыл бұрын

    I loved the old days.."when you have 12 "12s and you need a 100 watt amp"

  • @KiloSierra75

    @KiloSierra75

    4 жыл бұрын

    Good ol efficient sub days.

  • @ditto_75

    @ditto_75

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yeah and it took all of those 12's to get as loud at 30hz as 2 12's now days and for 5 times the cost. I used to feel the same way until me and a friend actually did a mock up of the exact same system he had when we were 16 (28) years ago. We were both laughing so hard cause back then we though "damn this shit bumps". It wasn't loud as 1 good 10" and had terrible bottom end. The system was 2 12" JL Audio 12W0-4's and a Phoenix Gold 2500 bridged @ 2ohms making a good 500 watts. The one T2 Fosgate 10 smoked those things on a BRZ.2400D. Cost would have been about the same bought new.

  • @dennisritchie965

    @dennisritchie965

    4 жыл бұрын

    Now its 2000watts on a daily driver and I still want more!

  • @OxBlitzkriegxO

    @OxBlitzkriegxO

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@ditto_75 I would argue you didn't have a good box.

  • @undercut3494

    @undercut3494

    4 жыл бұрын

    Back in the day a hundred watt amp you had some power

  • @rrho170
    @rrho1704 жыл бұрын

    The fun came in when you slid a second amp board in the chassis, extended the RCA over, used one set of outs for each board in mono. I've seen a lot of cheating cheater amps in my day along with various other rule bending measures

  • @robland6118
    @robland61184 жыл бұрын

    Awesome video Big D. Thanks for giving me something to look forward to watching during my wonderful stay at home. Awesome.

  • @Hoppysjunkyardrally
    @Hoppysjunkyardrally4 жыл бұрын

    2 of the most iconic brands of the 90s.. I always wanted a hifonics Colossus!!

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Me too! All of these amps were so far out of reach. So cool to have them now to play with

  • @molloyvader
    @molloyvader4 жыл бұрын

    Great test! I just sold my HCCA 250, insane we use to get so excited for 500 watts back then. These were 500 red white and blue freedom watts though, worth about 2 dollars per lol.

  • @Jackmerius_Tacktheretrix

    @Jackmerius_Tacktheretrix

    3 жыл бұрын

    Back then 500 watts wpuld make some serious sound. Now days you need twice that to make these more powerful subs do anything. My old phoenix gold xs2150 on a single 12 inch kicker cvr 12 (circa 2004) was louder than my four 8 inch American bass 8 inch subs on my jbl 1001ez, rated at 1000 watts rms that dynos over 1300 watts. Just does not hit the lows despite the excursion and power handling. Not sure if the jbl just doesn't put out below 30hz but when I throw a 10hz test tone they barely move, but my old kicker cvr 12 and phoenix gold xs2150 (75x2) would flex the hell put of that single 12. Back then a sealed enclosure and a decent sub amd amp would slam the lows. Now days its hard to find an amp and sub combo in a sealed box that will flex hard on the lows. Everyone is so focused on 40-45 hz these days it seems. But my old school stuff never let me down when it came to lows at 20hz.

  • @Reefdevil
    @Reefdevil4 жыл бұрын

    I really like the SPL tests you are doing with these older amps. Brings back memories from decades gone by...

  • @bryanrails3428
    @bryanrails34284 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for another great video Big D! Needed some good quarantine entertainment....

  • @sittdogg
    @sittdogg4 жыл бұрын

    Really like this comparison vid with the spl test too. Nice amps!

  • @mattb9664
    @mattb96644 жыл бұрын

    I wouldn’t be surprised if Hifonics just didn’t want to thermally test how the entire amp performed so they just gave it a big cavity for the air to naturally circulate around for better cooling. That cord isn’t even staked down! This was a great review! Always like seeing how the equipment performed when I was a kid and got sucked into car audio!

  • @shanen921
    @shanen9214 жыл бұрын

    Thanks a billion Big D. One of your best videos I have seen in a long time. Hell of a lot of work you put in for us thank you .

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    About 20 hours and I appreciate the feedback 👌

  • @svtkilr
    @svtkilr2 жыл бұрын

    This is One of my favorite videos you ever have made! Need more like this 🔥👍🏽

  • @wal

    @wal

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the feedback 👌

  • @brandonstock29
    @brandonstock294 жыл бұрын

    Back in the 90's my HCCA 250 had the center come off for eq adjustments and what not. With a single XTR DVC 15 of the same period I hit 142.7 IASSCA sanctioned event at CAR TOYS in Tulsa which is who sold the floor models to me to get me in there. Thanks Rob, Gary, and even Andy. P.S. I had an Audio Control 4.1...

  • @bruceborneman
    @bruceborneman4 жыл бұрын

    Love the tests and the test songs! Those are some of my favorite bass songs! I love Techmaster PEB too especially if you have a great all around system! The CD It Came From Outer Bass is my favorite of theirs! Keep Bumping the old school! It takes me back to a much simpler time in my life! Thank you!

  • @oldbuddyben
    @oldbuddyben4 жыл бұрын

    The very first amplifier I ever bought was a used "moon and stars" 222SX (iirc).. Those bass tracks are bringing back memories of the OOOOOOOOLD days for sure! Great vid!

  • @vocalone23
    @vocalone234 жыл бұрын

    D Wiz bro this is amazing footage and to see my old amp being tested is like a high school reunion. I ran the isis @1 ohm mono on two dual 4 ohm earthquake balls 18s and did 149 on the dash in what they called legal back when. Thanks bro 🙏. It will handle 1 ohm

  • @datatech2000
    @datatech20002 жыл бұрын

    2021 and still loving this amp shootout video. Thumbs up for Big D

  • @pharmacist_2773
    @pharmacist_27734 жыл бұрын

    My dad back in 96’ bought the Orion 250HCCA and put it into his lx v8 Ford Thunderbird which I’m happy to be the owner of it now and man it SLAPS. Nothing can compare to the power it puts it out for me and how good it sounds. (Also running 2 mtx 10 inch subs in a sealed enclosure)

  • @davidgilkey1899
    @davidgilkey18994 жыл бұрын

    size was everything. 1990 in the bay area both orion and hifonics are legendary

  • @myz06rocks
    @myz06rocks4 жыл бұрын

    I’ve appreciated and owned both these amps and others in each respective model line. Giving each their already earned kudos, I liked the HCCA amps more cause they were so much more presentable and looked awesome installed and I liked the Hifonics more cause they just had better sound quality to my ears. Also, the hifonics/Zed amps just seemed more musically loud on a front stage to me.

  • @Bondovw

    @Bondovw

    4 жыл бұрын

    Back in the day I always felt like the a orions had better sound quality. They were also built better. The hifonics were mostly for people with lots of large speakers. All my friends that had Zeus's amps would keep a Jensen for a spare when the app was being repaired.

  • @workingclassperson2124
    @workingclassperson21244 жыл бұрын

    Got to appreciate what came before we have now. Ya audio is all about FUN! Ya your crazy

  • @Phillipmoreno1
    @Phillipmoreno12 жыл бұрын

    Used nothing but the Orion Hcca they were bad ass... great channel

  • @poopool_Q
    @poopool_Q5 ай бұрын

    I probably watched this video a dozen times. It's still crazy to me that these were so close but designed totally different. Seeing the guts shot is everything

  • @pucho513

    @pucho513

    5 ай бұрын

    I have a gen one 250hcca do you know what the wiring position is?

  • @Jackmerius_Tacktheretrix
    @Jackmerius_Tacktheretrix3 жыл бұрын

    Back when hifonics made some good amps. Breaks my heart to see amps like hifonics, precision power, soundstream and lanzar sell out to and make such crappy over rated amps. Back in the 90s if you had hifonics, precision power, soundstream, lanzar or phoenix gold you had some serious power. Even mb quart and nackamichi sold out. This younger generation really missed p Out on some great amps.

  • @terryc7142

    @terryc7142

    3 жыл бұрын

    HiFonics series VII and VIII are unbeatable, if you can find one. Used to be my preferred hardware back in the day. Won a competition or two with those.

  • @silverbackdb
    @silverbackdb3 жыл бұрын

    Awesome video BigD! Love these big old school beasts that I could never afford. :)

  • @gregoryfaso3322
    @gregoryfaso33223 жыл бұрын

    I love your channel!!! I had the 225 and 2100 on 6 12s !!!! It was awesome

  • @MeatPoPsiclez
    @MeatPoPsiclez4 жыл бұрын

    In the late 90's the family car (Ford Taurus) rocked 3 JL8W6 in a big sealed enclosure powered by a MTX 2x25 (pre Thunder series, can't remember the exact model, ugly red, was actually a ppi amp inside) @1ohm, smoked the amp twice, eventually switched to an Orion HCCA225 that performed about the same but didn't routinely get hot enough to boil water on. Wasn't the loudest car out there even at that power (132dB if my memory serves me correct), but it sounded amazing for what it was. Lots of memories of that setup, driving half way accross North America to scope out Iasca (I think?) championships; accidentally welding 4g with a charged 1f cap, and just lots of ground pounding and cruise nights :p Thanks for bringing back memories!

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    That’s awesome, thanks for sharing 👍

  • @Bassotronics
    @Bassotronics4 жыл бұрын

    This sure was a fun video and it amazes me how much space was in that Hifonics and for it to do that much power with a smaller board compared to the Orion is just trolling at its best!

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks brother 👌

  • @csj9619
    @csj96194 жыл бұрын

    Love the (4) 8" subwoofer set-up. Dig all the Savard stuff too.

  • @shawnk4517
    @shawnk45174 жыл бұрын

    This is an awesome head to head video!

  • @overboostn
    @overboostn Жыл бұрын

    Me remembering fondly having 2-225 HCCA Orions in my blazer in high school, then 6:23 "remember these amps are 30 years old"..........

  • @Hines-73
    @Hines-734 жыл бұрын

    1991 and 12-12's. The pic of that mini truck and set up is LIFE! 😁😎🙌🏽

  • @legendsofcaraudiobradnewso8424
    @legendsofcaraudiobradnewso84244 жыл бұрын

    Man I love these videos! Another great one Big D

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks brother 👌

  • @bonzainews
    @bonzainews4 жыл бұрын

    I've had so many amplifiers over the years and the Early HiFonics Amps are still my favorite.

  • @bonzainews

    @bonzainews

    4 жыл бұрын

    I never felt the need for a "cheater" amp because I never did competitions.

  • @bonzainews

    @bonzainews

    4 жыл бұрын

    funny the isis is a half board. My Zeus VIIIs are full board amps.

  • @evanfield580
    @evanfield5804 жыл бұрын

    Never had a hcca250 but I had two 225hcca on four xtreme 12s and it absolutely beat the hell out of my hatchback escort. Great video big d

  • @BURNETTWEALTHGROUP
    @BURNETTWEALTHGROUP Жыл бұрын

    Man I was in love with those Orion amps back in the day. Just couldn’t afford them

  • @wal

    @wal

    Жыл бұрын

    You and me both!

  • @mattsnider5904
    @mattsnider5904 Жыл бұрын

    I love your bass selections. I always test with dj fury neverending bass, bass patrol nothing but bass, and or def bass krew bass bender. All will show some good flex on whatever subs your running. Your videos RULE!!!

  • @wadehicks9270
    @wadehicks92704 жыл бұрын

    Great video brother man always good stuff 👍👍👍👍👍👍

  • @wbnwbn835
    @wbnwbn8354 жыл бұрын

    Great vid as always 👌 keep doing what u do 👍

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching and commenting!

  • @rogerswearingen1540
    @rogerswearingen15404 жыл бұрын

    Ok you answered my question about how the pmq hooks up, it's what I figured. Thanx.

  • @salecharles
    @salecharles4 жыл бұрын

    Great side by side test, back in 88' I was running a Punch 150 on two Punch 18's and a Punch 45 on mids and highs. Ah the good 'ol days.

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Classic setup!

  • @jaz97
    @jaz974 жыл бұрын

    "We like the cars, the cars that go boom!!" Since we talkin old school LOL. Who remembers that video?!

  • @rrho170

    @rrho170

    4 жыл бұрын

    We cad a customer who's car was all band pass boxes. It only hit that one note so that ALLL HE LISTENED TO all summer long.

  • @electronicengineer

    @electronicengineer

    4 жыл бұрын

    "We're Tigra and Bunny and we like the boom..."

  • @jaz97

    @jaz97

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@electronicengineer haha Fred knows whats up!!

  • @quintonlitton6779

    @quintonlitton6779

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@jaz97 still jam to it today lol

  • @scottmiller3025

    @scottmiller3025

    4 жыл бұрын

    L Trimm!

  • @zerolimitsoffroad6346
    @zerolimitsoffroad63462 жыл бұрын

    Damn bro seeing all that old literature really took me back! I had ALL that Orion literature when I was in high school and building systems. Thanks for posting this.

  • @wal

    @wal

    2 жыл бұрын

    Love the old literature! Takes me back too! Nostalgia is the best

  • @amb3cog
    @amb3cog4 жыл бұрын

    That was awesome. Can't believe how close they were. I always enjoy seeing vintage cheater amps getting dynoed. Just to finally break through the hype, and get the reality. ✌️

  • @jdizzle3740
    @jdizzle37402 жыл бұрын

    As usual, this did not disappoint!!!!

  • @CVObservatory
    @CVObservatory4 жыл бұрын

    My first amp in early 89 was a Hifonics Thor series 1 on a pair of 8" MTX Road Thunders that had just come out. Loved that amp!!! Even had someone try to steal it once. That amp impressed me a lot even all who sat in my car. Later got a new car and new setup this time with a Orion 225 HCCA series 1 with a bridging block on a pair of Kicker 12's. That little amp would flex the metal on that little 89' GT Escort I had. I can't pick a favorite because both of them are/were great brands.

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    I agree both being great and proven right here

  • @Randy_G
    @Randy_G4 жыл бұрын

    Best test even. Great job.

  • @Cappadonna72
    @Cappadonna723 жыл бұрын

    I used to have a 2nd Gen Orion HCCA 225 (running highs) and an HCCA 2100 (running 4 12" solo baric subs). All in a 1992 Escort GT. Yes, I won plenty of competitions in the 90s.

  • @joelowens5211
    @joelowens52112 жыл бұрын

    I had the Orion red amps. We also put Hifonics later edition smaller amps in my friends system. I think later on Hifonics amps became smaller and they went away from the gimmicks some. The Orion I had their subs also and everything was just quality. You can have similar bench test but continuos sound over time and performance I loved the Orion brand. For my high's I had the classic Alpine A/B amps and they put out amazing quality for sound. These days at 47 years old less about super bass and more about balanced system sound quality. Still turn it up every once in awhile for songs I love to hear blasted.

  • @303nitzubishi4
    @303nitzubishi44 жыл бұрын

    Hard to believe back in our day 500 watts was considered competition- ready gear. Here we are 30 years later and 500 watts is basically daily driver status and the contenders in the competition lanes are running 2, 3k at minimum.

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Truth!

  • @psementalist
    @psementalist4 жыл бұрын

    Bravo excellent good video topic of choice for discussion love the amp vs amp test

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching and commenting!

  • @________GHOST________
    @________GHOST________4 жыл бұрын

    It is a tied here on both amps musical and sine wave awesome sir:)

  • @lweston71
    @lweston714 жыл бұрын

    When amp’s were made well. 👍

  • @TCGView
    @TCGView2 жыл бұрын

    That Orion amp was my dream amp back in the day.

  • @wal

    @wal

    2 жыл бұрын

    Mine too

  • @j.t.cooper2963
    @j.t.cooper29634 жыл бұрын

    I had an Orion 250 HCCA back in the early 90's. You could heat your car with it. 🔥

  • @Welcometofacsistube
    @Welcometofacsistube4 жыл бұрын

    My first amp was a Hifonics Cupid. Great amp

  • @michaelstriegel4703
    @michaelstriegel47036 ай бұрын

    Excellent job man. ✌️🏆

  • @basstech714
    @basstech7144 жыл бұрын

    Both were great amps in their day. Ran both into the early 2000s

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Awesome 👏

  • @davewesternky
    @davewesternky2 жыл бұрын

    In the early 90’s before the Marines I was lucky enough to help build 3 national champions at one of the top rated shops in the country back then and all we did was Orion. I have either owned or installed every Orion and Hifonics SeriesVII amps from 88-92 and they’re all legit. Don’t let that Isis board fool you setting in that big heat sink. The term “cheater amp” is for a reason. Looks to me like there’s plenty of room in that heat sink to slide another board in? 😏 I never did it but heard of it being done back then. Man those were good times. 🤘🏻😎

  • @stevensmith1881
    @stevensmith18814 жыл бұрын

    Wow, it only took 500 watts and 4 eights to get over 135 db! Back in the day 4 twelves might not make those numbers. Thanks for the thorough testing Dereck!

  • @jasonhardison7103

    @jasonhardison7103

    4 жыл бұрын

    The meters are way more accurate today. Enclosures as well

  • @brandonstock29
    @brandonstock294 жыл бұрын

    bridged on an xtr3 dvc 15" using an audio control 4.1 this bad boy never shut down and I never gave her a break. my excelon deck was at least 4v maybe 8...

  • @HANSEBANGER77
    @HANSEBANGER774 жыл бұрын

    Amazing! Thanks for that Test

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching and commenting!

  • @Leethal1
    @Leethal14 жыл бұрын

    Big D I love your channel 👍 Keep up the good work! Have you ever done a Zapco?

  • @milesbautista6303
    @milesbautista63034 жыл бұрын

    Nice review!

  • @rlr240sc
    @rlr240sc4 жыл бұрын

    I’m running a 225hcca, 97.1 concept, and 2100hcca. I love Orion

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Stay red my friends

  • @rlr240sc

    @rlr240sc

    4 жыл бұрын

    Williston Audio Labs you got me in touch with Shawn. Great guy who does great work. Only lives a couple miles away from me. I have a nice Orion collection

  • @jdmvette
    @jdmvette3 жыл бұрын

    To this day I am still using my HiFonics Odin VIII (circa '93) to power my main front setup and it sounds as clean and loud as ever. 👍👍🇺🇸

  • @wal

    @wal

    3 жыл бұрын

    Amazing, right?

  • @bilbobaggins4710

    @bilbobaggins4710

    3 жыл бұрын

    Good is good son 👍😉

  • @rickyweston8153
    @rickyweston81534 жыл бұрын

    i would love to see an old school Altec Lansing amp ! i know they werent around for long but they were suppposed to be one of the best amps ever produced

  • @Brian1.
    @Brian1.4 жыл бұрын

    Awesome test Big D. Was that a Zed Audio board on the hifonics amp? Awesome video brother!

  • @PoXFreak
    @PoXFreak7 ай бұрын

    Those who remember the 7 series will remember that the Colossus amp was just 2 Zeus boards in one heatsink. I can't say the Isis could've had the same thing done to it to make it a 200 watt 4 channel capable of 1200-1400 watts, but I'm suspecting someone already did.

  • @amanteapasionado6836
    @amanteapasionado68364 жыл бұрын

    Man I would love to have a pair of those JL subs from back than, I had 2 w6 12s in high school (96-97) and they were some of the best, if not the best sounding subs I ever heard and they beat hard.

  • @juicedcoupe

    @juicedcoupe

    4 жыл бұрын

    I can agree with you on that. The mid 90's is when JL cemented their reputation. I had a 10W1 in a JL bandpass box, on a Earthquake 200X. To this day, I don't think I've heard a single 10 that could jam that hard and play that accurately. A friend had a set of 15W4s on a US Amps 225 HCCA. It did 142 db in USSAC 101-250 class, the mid/high amp put ig over 100. Those subs got abused daily for years and never failed. I knew another guy that had a set of 8W1 Microsubs on a 400W Kenwood. I'm talking about the ones that look like little half circle truck boxes. When he opened his hatch, I was honestly expecting to see 2 12s. The amount of sound those tiny subs could crank out had everyone there dumbfounded.

  • @mrmeiii
    @mrmeiii4 жыл бұрын

    I collect series VII HiFonics but I still can't afford them damn platinum model cheaters lol Got 2 Zeus 2Thor And a bunch of smaller 2&4 channel amps Oh I need a collosus VII to finish off my collection

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    The Colossus VII has alluded me as well. Bucket list amp

  • @ajilla1980
    @ajilla19804 жыл бұрын

    Fun test. Fun video!! Thanks

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching and commenting!

  • @MrV1NC3N7V3G4
    @MrV1NC3N7V3G43 жыл бұрын

    I had an Orion 2100 HCCA and a 2350 (Non-HCCA) back in the day...with the 200CRX crossover & 400BDG bridging modules and a Sony CDX-R88 head unit (and Cerwin-Vega 15's) Back then everyone was using Rockford Fosgate Punch but I liked my setup better.

  • @bigdogbrodavepresents6178

    @bigdogbrodavepresents6178

    3 жыл бұрын

    ORION GUY..... cool... BDBD/2021

  • @pst7393
    @pst73934 жыл бұрын

    been waiting sence i seen the post

  • @jasoncarreiro86
    @jasoncarreiro864 жыл бұрын

    Both good old school amps! No knowledge of today’s quality. Had a Zeus and an Olympus. I know people that had banging systems with Orion amps in high school.

  • @Basshead40
    @Basshead404 жыл бұрын

    Dang that was a close one!!

  • @cooknbbq53
    @cooknbbq534 жыл бұрын

    I love to see the Kenwood 921, and 1021 bro!

  • @mcarb80682
    @mcarb806824 жыл бұрын

    That extra metal help dissipate heat so it runs COOL

  • @FACafe-pt9bd
    @FACafe-pt9bd4 жыл бұрын

    Another great vid. Thank big d.

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching and commenting!

  • @carlitosalanis69
    @carlitosalanis694 жыл бұрын

    Got love old-school Power. I used to rock the red Orion 250 with two 12in M&M Godfather in my red 87' Nissan hard body with a Super shell.

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    We are starting to sound like the old guys at the barber shop 🤣

  • @bryanrails3428

    @bryanrails3428

    4 жыл бұрын

    So true.....I try to refrain from them old stories....I think the older I get the louder systems used to be....

  • @Bondovw

    @Bondovw

    4 жыл бұрын

    @Gary Benningfield I got a pair of m&m and I was so excited . Worked on it all day hook them up and my scumbag neighbor up the street came over popped his head in took a look. The next day they were gone and my speaker box was on the size of his house. I was 18 delivering news papers to buy those

  • @Bondovw

    @Bondovw

    4 жыл бұрын

    @Gary Benningfield They had a really good unique sound to them.

  • @HifiVega
    @HifiVega4 жыл бұрын

    The Hifo over there in 1987 laying in the cut like “Make a huge amp chassis so we can get dat loot”

  • @musicmadantidevil3688
    @musicmadantidevil36884 жыл бұрын

    Awesome vid mr bigg d. Ben watching heaps of your stuff over the past couple of weeks dam chineese virus crap lockdown:(

  • @RandomGuyStuff
    @RandomGuyStuff2 жыл бұрын

    The Hifonics amps were notoriously hot. They would melt the carpet in the trunks of cars. if you were really pulling every watt out of the amp, you also had to install fans to blow over the heat sinks. I can see why they had such a large case, without it they would have likely been glowing redder than the HCCA's. I've had both and fell in love with the Hifonics after I installed my first Hercules 200 mono on a set of cardiac 15's. Never looked back after that.

  • @neilhanley3468

    @neilhanley3468

    2 жыл бұрын

    Haha I had a Zeus on 2 Orion cobalt 12s in a fiero. Had it mounted on the carpet in passenger footwell... melted the shit outta my carpet! It was HCCA from then on

  • @Bassboy1972
    @Bassboy19724 жыл бұрын

    Love the pic of Steve Cotton in front of his red truck.

  • @godzillasballs
    @godzillasballs4 жыл бұрын

    Nice box!!! Minivan getting some good flex!

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Ha, it’s a Sequoia

  • @beefysghost867
    @beefysghost8672 жыл бұрын

    Makes me love my hcca 3000.1dsplx even more, this what people going to be saying about my amp in the future. Thing put out some massive power. Original hcca225 got me hooked so Orion for life

  • @steveharley2021

    @steveharley2021

    2 жыл бұрын

    I tried to buy a second 3000splx to strap em but not sure what's up...hope they didn't go out of business...

  • @beefysghost867

    @beefysghost867

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@steveharley2021 why you say that? They no longer make them. They are coming out with a 4500.1dsplx, should be out next week or two. I just got My amp back from them for warranty repair and they did a bad ass job. Yea took 2 months but with the chip Shortage and all I get it, they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Yes I filed bankruptcy but that was a little while back but they took care of it it’s already been paid and all that so I wouldn’t worry about it I think the only Dsplx you will find is either refurbished or used, Join the Orion Facebook group there’s someone there right now for sale that are in like new condition

  • @erickouniakis5722

    @erickouniakis5722

    Жыл бұрын

    Your hcca 3000 is insane 😂 love it. Loved the 90's hcca 225 - 2100 Great amps for my 79 T/A 😂 When onto Kicker and finally settled for phoenix Gold 2500 for my IROC Z 😂 I find alot of people are more interested in power over clarity these days.

  • @tecitez16
    @tecitez164 жыл бұрын

    Amps back in the late 80's early 90's were no joke. I remember having orions catalog aka comic book on their products.

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yeah miss the cool ads too

  • @thinkmopar
    @thinkmopar4 жыл бұрын

    Me and DJ magic mike blew a bunch of subs back in the day with my hifonics amps. Most recently feel the bass blew a pair of my Jl's with my series vii Boltar lol. These amps were sooooo good I remember having them wired down where my hifonics amp was running below 1ohms did that for years

  • @kenkobra
    @kenkobra3 жыл бұрын

    I still have the 1st gen 225 HCCA that works 30+ years later. You don't need the bridging module as there were ways around that. I also remember listening to MC ADE and Possy on it.

  • @wal

    @wal

    3 жыл бұрын

    225 HCCA was legit one of the best amps ever

  • @danielanderson8502
    @danielanderson85022 жыл бұрын

    These bring be back in time. Omaha, Nebraska. Home of some of the world record SPL cars. I was invited to the first Db drags as I had 4-15”s walled with REAL 500 watts. I remember all the cheater amps because classes were 0-50, 51-100, 101-250, 251-500, 500-1000, 1000 up and then “expert” and these classes were amateur, novice and pro. So imagine a wall of 10-15”s with only “100 watts”. Oh the days.

  • @wal

    @wal

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yeah that’s fun stuff!

  • @malakisands8180

    @malakisands8180

    2 жыл бұрын

    My friend went hard at those Omaha, NE IASCA competition. 1994 he was sponsored by JL audio 3 10W6 in a custom 3 sub triangle box, used all Phoenix Gold Amps and wiring, 2 channel 31 Band EQ, MB Quart 3 way components in the doors, Switched between Alpine and McIntosh for head unit. Clarion custom made a Super Tweeter that was his rear view mirror. In a Fleetwood Cadillac. This was Sound Quality Class

  • @Aaron48219
    @Aaron482194 жыл бұрын

    Oh man...Orion's all the way homie! Love watching your vids on my home setup....Infinity IL40 towers and Dayton powered subs. Rocking the car tunes in daddy's play room!

  • @wal

    @wal

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching and commenting!

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