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Video: Alpine PDX-V9 5-channel amplifier
This compact 5-channel amp will power your whole system
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
Started at Crutchfield in 2007
Began as a copywriter for Crutchfield.com before taking on the role of video production coordinator, which involves a rotating mix of pre-production work, acting as a backup producer during shoots, publishing, SEO research, and long-term planning
Attends dozens of vendor training events each year
As of 2019, has attended eight CES conventions as a Crutchfield reprentative
Attended the NAB Post-Production World conference for video professionals
Photographer, bass player, gardener, and he makes his own hot sauce
The Alpine PDX-V9 is the "do it all" version of Alpine's popular digital PDX amps. It's small, stackable with other PDX amps, and gives you 100 watts RMS x 4 for your speakers, plus 500 watts RMS x 1 to drive a sub. Serious power, with a tiny footprint.
Virtual Audio technology allows you to compare sonic characteristics between speakers so you can make a more informed shopping decision.SpeakerCompare simulates the sound of home and car speakers through your headphones. It lets you compare sonic characteristics between speakers so that you can make a more informed shopping decision.Learn how SpeakerCompare works.
For free personalized advice, call 1-888-291-8923. Our Advisors have listened to most of the speakers we carry, and can help you make the best choice for your system.
SpeakerCompare tailors your listening experience to the exact headphones you have, so that what you hear is comparable to auditioning speakers side-by-side in person. Knowing which model headphones you’re using lets us remove any sonic coloring from your experience.
In an actual listening room, you'd find that some speakers play louder than others when fed the same amount of power. In equal power mode, you'll hear these differences in loudness as they naturally occur between speakers.
In equal volume mode, we've made the loudness of each speaker about the same. This gives you a more direct comparison of subtle voicing differences between speakers.
SpeakerCompare gives you a sense of the sonic differences. But performance in the real world is affected by the acoustics of your car or home, your choice of amplification, and your source material. We still believe that the gold standard for auditioning speakers is hearing them in your own environment — that’s why we offer a 60-day money-back guarantee.
For free personalized advice, call 1-888-291-8923. Our Advisors have listened to most of the speakers we carry, and can help you make the best choice for your system.
Our Listening Kit
To help you choose the right speakers, we recommend using Crutchfield’s SpeakerCompare Listening Kit to ensure a crystal-clear listening experience. It’s available for a nominal rental fee, and includes a $25 Crutchfield merchandise credit.
Our headphone testing and research is ongoing. If your headphones are not currently selectable, please use the link below to request our Listening Kit.
To help you choose the right speakers, we recommend using Crutchfield’s SpeakerCompare Listening Kit. It includes a pair of studio-quality headphones, a combination DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and headphone amp, USB mobile adapters, and a guide to getting the most out of your session. We’ve carefully chosen the components of this kit to ensure a crystal-clear listening experience. It’s available for a nominal rental fee, and includes a $25 Crutchfield merchandise credit.
Our headphone testing and research is ongoing. If your headphones are not currently selectable, please use the link above to request our Listening Kit.
Kit includes:
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro over-the-ear headphones
AudioQuest DragonFly® Black DAC/headphone amp
Guide to getting the most out of your listening session
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
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