302Sport

What is the best amp for running six big speakers? Want to keep it simple and stick with one, not two. Is a six channel amp my best bet? This Focal looks good, 150 watts X 6 @4ohms....

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_091FPD9...l#overview-tab

oneanddone

If you are determined to use 1 amp that will work, But I would think the JL M600/6 will power them fine 75 W x 6 @ 4 Ω. I would suggest calling the JL factory they are very helpful. JL audio speakers are designed/tested to perform best with JL amplifiers.. Most Amplifier ratings are so over rated and don't perform like they should as true clean power. The days of telling people you have a 10,000 watt system are over LOL... I have a total of 1,600W. 3-JL audio amps (800,600 and a 200) powering all of my 13 cockpit speakers and its LOUD and very clear. 4 pair-M770, 1pair M880, and 3 10" subs

BigSilverCat

I would not use a 6 channel amp unless you wanted to be able to adjust the volume of each speaker individually. I would just use a 2 channel amp that is capable of running a 1 ohm load (3 - 4ohm speakers per channel is 1.3 ohm)

I would use the JL Audio amp oneanddone suggested over the focal, it is a class d amplifier which will be more efficient (draw less power, build less heat) and is designed for the marine environment.

302Sport

What would you recommend? Need 125-250W per speaker @ 4 ohms

Don Johnson

Great advise on the JL. I am equally impressed with the PDX line of Alpine Amps. They are unbelievable efficient, compact and stable down to under 2 ohm load. They also produce the same power regardless of load.

BigSilverCat

I would not worry about the power rating as much as an amp that will handle the environment. The JL M600/6 will be efficient so you can play it longer without starting the engines. Keep in mind the power difference from it to one that is rated a little more you would not be able to hear the difference.

302Sport

Would like more power than the 75W per speaker than that JL puts out, there's no big power two channel amps out there???

ChargeIt

I think you would have more flexibility and reliability with 2 personally.
Large amps tend to get more spendy than two good capacity smaller. Also, its less likely they both would get hot or fail simultaneously which means you would still have some sound regardless.

Focal is known to have nice speakers, I have never compared their amps.
You might check out the Sinister SD6 from WetSounds 6x185 @ 4 ohm - https://wetsounds.com/pages/products/SD6_spec.html
They put out a durable, marinized, high power product. The price is up there but I am just making assumptions that is not the end all for this system.

Most telling is rated amp draw according to the fusing. Both amps are supposedly efficient class D.
Focal calls for 60a (20ax3) Wetsounds specs 95A at full 6x185 and 165A at 3x585w @ 4ohm! That's almost 1800 watts which tells me their power supply is massive compared to Focal.

ChargeIt

Rockford puts out a beastly line of high output amps - http://www.rockfordfosgate.com/produ...wer-amplifiers
I run 2 T600.2, 1 T600.4 bridged @ 2 ohm (not mfg recommended) and T1500.1 @ 1ohm. Handled Midwest fresh water for 5 years with a fan without a hiccup or thermal.

ARC also has some nice stuff - http://www.arcaudio.com/c/amplifiers_kar-series

WetSounds SYN is a marinized ARC board to WS specs. Sinister is their latest series, I don't know who is behind them?
https://wetsounds.com/pages/products...-overview.html

I am not a fan of "marine" amps but being costal they may make more sense for this install.

I would not go less than 2 ohms on full range speakers. THD increases as resistance drops resulting in more compromised sound. Amp efficiency as well as thermal handling decreases which increases chances of thermal shut down and amp failure.

US1 Fountain

Im running a JL. 300/4 for my 4 7.7's. Not enough amp IMO. JL specs more than the 75/ channel for optimum. I purchased the HD 800/4 to replace the. 300/4 to give the speakers the power to give me that full clear sound at higher volumes which I'm lacking. I'm a believer of have too much power and use your volume to limit the sound, vs pushing everything on those occasions when desired