Verdict
Here’s what I love about the R600X5: I can get the beautiful sound clarity of a Class AB Rockford Fosgate amplifier at a decent price. It might not deliver enough power for some, but as long as it’s a good match for the audio system it’s paired with, that won’t be a problem. The biggest drawback in my books is that it can run hot and is lower efficiency than a Class D amp.
Pros
- Excellent sound fidelity (Class AB/D)
- Great value for the quality
- CEA-2006 compliant
Cons
- Not the most efficient, runs a little hot
- Not the highest power you can get
- Not the newest 5-channel Rockford Fosgate model
The R600X5 Prime is Rockford Fosgate’s older model 5-channel amplifier (replaced by the R2-750X5 Prime). It’s bridgeable, so I have the option to hook it up to only my front speakers, instead of all four.
The amplifier’s RMS power needs to be a good fit for the other components in my car audio system. At 2 ohms, I can get 75 watts for each of my four speakers, or 150 watts for each of my two front speakers when bridged. As for the subwoofer, the R600X5 drives it with 300 watts.
This amplifier uses both Class AB and Class D technology: AB to power the four front and rear channels, and D for the subwoofer. In practical terms, that means hooking up the R600X5 to my speakers will give me the highest-fidelity sound I can get out of them.
On the negative side, Class AB amps rank low on efficiency. Rockford Fosgate engineers their amplifiers carefully (using technology like Dynamic Thermal Management and MEHSA) to offset some of the low-efficiency drawbacks of this amp. But even so, it’s going to run hotter than a Class D amp.
Overall, this is a great quality amplifier you can get at a good value. I lean toward this model’s newest version, the R2-750X5 Prime, because it is both higher-power and higher-efficiency. But if the clarity of your car audio system is what you care about most, I think the R600X5 could be the amplifier of your dreams.
Features
Class AB Technology (Speakers) – Class AB amps enable the highest-fidelity sound available for car audio.
Class D Technology (Subwoofer) – Class D amps produce less heat and are much more efficient than AB amps.
Variable Bass Boost – Rockford Fosgate’s Punch boost (0-12 dB)
Speaker-Level Inputs – Allows the installer to connect the amp with almost any car audio system. This is especially important if you are connecting to factory speakers.
CEA-2006 Compliant – Ensures the amplifier’s specifications are standardized to allow for more accurate comparison with other amplifiers.
Controls
- Remote Punch Level Control
- Variable Punch EQ
- Variable Crossover (50 to 250 Hz)
- Variable Phase (0 to 180˚)
- Crossover Switch (All Pass, High Pass, Low Pass)
- Input Switch (2-, 4- or 5-Channel)
- Gain Control
Specifications
Total Power Output: 600 watts
RMS Power Output
- Full Range Channels:
- @ 4Ω: 50 watts x 4
- @ 2Ω: 75 watts x 4
- Bridged, @ 4Ω: 150 watts x 2
- Subwoofer Channel:
- @ 4Ω: 200 watts x 1
- @ 2Ω: 300 watts x 1
Amp Class: Class AB/D (Class AB with Class D subwoofer)
Bridgeable: Yes
Width: 13.2″
Height: 2″
Depth: 6.8″
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