Video: 2012 Kenwood Excelon amplifiers
Power your music in style
Heads up!
Welcome to this article from the Crutchfield archives. Have fun reading it, but be aware that the information may be outdated and links may be broken.While at CES 2012, we got the inside scoop on the new Kenwood Excelon line of amplifiers. The line consists of three models featuring a small footprint, clean design, and covered by a reassuring 2-year warranty — the X500-1, the X450-4, and the X700-5. Listen as Matt from Kenwood explains the power ratings of each model.
Read video transcript
Zak: Hey, we're at the Kenwood booth at CES 2012 and Matt's going to take us through the new Excelon amps.
Matt: Yeah, so, we have three new Excelon amplifiers this year. We have the X500-1, which will be 300 watts x 1 at 4 ohms, 500 watts x 1 at 2 ohms. As you can see, it has a very small chassis, a very clean look, and it's an Excelon model so it has a two-year warranty.
The four-channel is the X450-4, and this amplifier actually has a staggered section, so it will do 60 watts x 2 on the A-channel, and 100 watts x 2 on the B-channel, so it gives the user a lot of different area to do different configurations.
And then we have a third model, which is the five-channel, which is the X700-5, and that amplifier will be 40 watts x 4 for the high range, and the sub channel will actually be 300 watts x 1 at 4 ohms and 500 watts x 1 at 2 ohms.
Zak: Great. Thanks, Matt. That's the 2012 Excelon amps with a two-year warranty.
Meet Zak Billmeier
I'll do my best to make videos that are helpful and interesting.
I've been a camera nut since I was a kid. I got really into it around age 12, when I got hold of a Pentax K1000 35mm camera. My father is a photo nut also, and we had access to a darkroom. Ever since then I have delighted in trying out new cameras, lenses, and photo techniques. Working here at Crutchfield, I get to handle all the new and cool camera gear I can get my hands on.
I'm also into audio, from car audio to home audio to headphones. I'm a music lover, and an eye-opening moment for me was discovering just how much more there is to musical recordings when you listen using high-quality gear. It's an experience I try to pass along to others as often as possible. I truly believe that having good quality gear in your car or home can really enrich your life.
I started getting into the video side of things early on in my Crutchfield career while I was a copywriter for car audio products. In those days our video program was just getting started, and many of us pitched in when our writing and editing duties allowed. Today, we have a dedicated team that makes hundreds of videos a year, including spotlights on products and product lines, how-to videos, videos that shine a light on our company, end everything in between. I am proud to be a part of that team and of the work we do.
My job is a lot of fun because I get to play around with all the cool stuff you see on our website while I'm making videos. Getting hands-on with the gear helps me see what I should show you about a product, and I look at our videos as a way of having a conversation with you when you are considering a purchase. If I do my job well, you should come away from a Crutchfield video understanding why you do — or don't — want that product. In the end, it's gotta be something you enjoy.
More about Zak
More from Zak Billmeier
What are factory sound processors?
Video: Discounted car stereo installation gear
Video: Kicker Front Row digital signal processor
Labs Video: Sealed vs. ported sub box listening test
Video: Focal FPS amplifiers
Video: Alpine PDX-V9 5-channel amplifier