Old School Cheater Amps - RMS Power Output Test Results

I'm sure many of you have been eager to see my test results from my previous posting on early 90's "cheater amps". Well, I've finally assembled the pieces needed to test RMS power output from the amps. See my previous post for details on my testing methods.

Did I have any favorites? I must say, I thought the Orion 225HCCA would take top honors, but envisioned the Phoenix Gold MPS-2240 would be close behind. Although the Rockford Fosgate Punch 40i DSM was not included in my original "cheater amps" posting or the video I created, I felt it was a worthy opponent to the similar amp models. I put together a separate video on the Punch 40i DSM a while back and it nearly blew me away with it's power and clarity....I guess I was unaware of just how underrated this little amp is!

The Precision Power Pro Mos 25 was no slouch either. It wouldn't win the price/performance ratio, but it outputted 1.5x or greater it's rated output at all test loads. Since this is not a sound quality test, the only comparisons were RMS output power. The PPI Pro Mos 25 would probably gain points to some people for it's "Art" design, but I was always a bigger fan of the black series PPI amps. Also, in the old school, lacking bass and/or treble controls would be another minus for me.

The venerable Punch 45HD was a favorite back in the early 90's and for good reasons. It was reasonably priced ($279 US) and put out at least 2x it's rated power at 2 and 4 ohms. As I've stated in the past, Rockford didn't rate this amp to handle 1 ohm stereo or 2 ohm mono loads; however I've had a Punch 45HD since December 1991 and used it for several years in the 2 ohm mono configuration with no issues whatsoever. It was interesting to see the power output lower in the 2 ohm mono test than the 4 ohm mono test with the Punch 45HD. The limiting circuitry must have come into play to protect the amp from overload.

The Orion 225HCCA and Phoenix Gold MPS-2240 were the only two amps in my test rated to handle 1 ohm mono or 0.5 ohms stereo loads. Unfortunately my current setup provides loads down to 2 ohms and no 1 ohm or 0.5 ohm configuration. I'll add more resistors in the future and test these amps again to find out their full output potential. I have little doubt the Orion 225HCCA will output over 500 watts but have less optimism in the Phoenix Gold MPS-2240...especially when comparing the 4 ohm mono vs. 2 ohm mono loads with this amp.

I hear ya, enough with the jibber-jabber, on with the results! See the embedded spreadsheet below or Click HERE to see the full size image: