My system has plenty of power. Who needs an amp?

You might think you don't need an amp because you have a 400-watt system in your car, or because your new stereo puts out 50 watts a channel. But those are peak wattage ratings, which may boil down to 15 or 20 watts per channel, using the more realistic RMS rating. An amp sends your speakers the power they need to deliver your music with clarity and impact, whether you're using factory speakers or high-performance components. And low-frequency reproduction requires lots of power, so an amp is an absolute must if you're adding a sub to your system.

Our take on the Helix Competition A4

by Buck Pomerantz

An amp that means business

Helix created the Competition A4 amplifier for those of you who want an amp that delivers pure power with uncompromised sonic fidelity. This 4-channel workhorse can drive four 4-ohm speakers with 85 watts RMS each — but that's not all it can do. You can bridge the amp to pump up to 395 watts RMS per channel to a pair of subs.

Meant for display

An A4 amp isn't your typical modest amplifier, hiding under a seat or in a trim pocket, struggling to play music over road noise. The large chassis features a transparent cover that shows off the amp's internal technology and neat design. The A4 doesn't just power your sound system, it makes it stand up and shout. And you can choose an A4 amp in black or silver to match your system's decor.

Extraordinary features

Gold-plated connections won't tarnish or suffer any oxide buildup that could interfere with the signal flowing in or out of this amplifier. You can set the frequency filters for high-pass or low-pass/bandpass operation, ensuring that you can tune your speaker or subwoofer system to sound its best. There's even a parametric-type bass boost, which allows you to dial in the exact bass notes you want to bump up.

Highlights:

4-channel car amplifier with black trim
85 watts RMS x 4 at 4 ohms (150 watts x 4 at 2 ohms)
395 watts RMS x 2 at 2 ohms
Class A input stages, Class AB output
24-karat gold-plated RCA input, power, and speaker connections
double-sided copper plated circuit boards
noise-free inputs (preamp)
variable low-pass/bandpass filters (15-6000 Hz)
variable high-pass filter (15-6000 Hz)
tunable bass boost (0-9 dB from 30 to 120 Hz )
4-gauge power and ground leads recommended — wiring and hardware not included with amplifier
fuse rating: 25A x 3
17"W x 1-7/16"H x 9-1/2"D
warranty: 2 years
Our 60-day money-back guarantee

Preliminary info from the manufacturer

Our Product Research team will verify these specs and supply more detailed information once we receive the product.

Features and Specs

Performance
RMS Power Output (Watts x Channels) Loading...	85 x 4
Peak Power Output (Watts x Channels) Loading...	---
Power at 2 Ohms (Watts x Channels) Loading...	150 x 4
Bridged Power (Watts x Channels) Loading...	395 x 2
Minimum Impedance Bridged Loading...	2
Minimum Impedance Unbridged Loading...	2
Best Frequency Response Loading...	20-20000 Hz
THD at Rated RMS Power Loading...	---
Signal to Noise Ratio Loading...	---
Input Voltage Loading...	---
Features
Amplifier Class Loading...	AB
Low-Pass Crossover Frequency Loading...	15-7000 Hz
Low-Pass Slope (dB/octave) Loading...	---
High-Pass Crossover Frequency Loading...	15-7000 Hz
High-Pass Slope (dB/octave) Loading...	---
Bass Boost Loading...	0-9 dB
Bass Boost Frequency Loading...	30-120 Hz
Fan Cooled Loading...	---
Fuse Rating Loading...	75
Speaker Level Inputs Loading...	---
Preamp Outputs Loading...	---
Width (inches) Loading...	17
Height (inches) Loading...	1-7/16
Depth (inches) Loading...	9-1/2
Parts Warranty Loading...	2 Year
Labor Warranty Loading...	2 Year

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