Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have my Punch 300.1 running at 2ohms on an Alpine Type-R 1242D in a sealed box. The amp is installed underneath my front passenger seat with plenty of room to spare. It hasn't gotten all that hot yet, and it sounds GREAT (especially at extremely high volume...)
The amp itself looks sharp, is well contstructed (all of the inputs, wiring, and adjustment knobs are at one end, which helps to keep things clean & organized when installing), it's very compact, and way more powerful than you might think. These amps come out of the box with a test sheet that is often 100+ watts HIGHER than the rms numbers that are on the stock spec sheet. This is a nice surprise for anybody buying one of these new.
Installation is a bit more advanced than other entry level priced amps. There is no on-board fuse for protection, so you'll also have to pick up some kind of inline fuse or fuse block. There are compression wiring terminals that can accept up to 4ga power/ground connections. The large size power/ground wiring terminals are obviously needed, because this little amp is also a power hog. It's probably a good idea to add a stiffening cap to your system if you're going to crank it up, because Rockford amps don't tend to be overly efficient. That being said, I've been pounding away on my system and my headlights haven't dimmed out yet... but I do have a Tundra with a V-8 that can handle more demanding power draws on the stock alternator than a smaller engine.
However, I would like if the adjustment knobs were more accessible because the downside to the amp design is that it can be difficult to reach the recessed dials depending on your installation. A lot of people probably won't care though, because "normal" people (not gear heads or stereo geeks) will simply "set & forget" and never touch the dials after installation.
To sum up; this is one of the best little amps I've ever owned. Yes there are some quirks, but you get a lot more out of this entry-level priced amp than you do from other brands in it's price range. If you pair the Punch 300.1 up with an appropriate subwoofer setup, you will not be disappointed.
********************
UPDATE 3/06/2011
"The Little Amp That Could" is still going strong. I like to listen LOUD and I push this thing pretty hard almost every day, and I haven't had a single problem in the six months since I first installed it.
Click Here to see more reviews about:
Rockford Fosgate Punch 300-Watt Mono AmplifierThe P300-1 is perfect for use as a dedicated subwoofer or center channel amplifier. Regardless if you're driving multiple speakers or just one, the hefty 2-ohm capability will deliver the right amount of PUNCH that you want! Now, thanks to its small chassis design, it will also fit where traditional amplifiers cannot.
P300-1 Features
12dB/octave crossover
4 Gauge power/ground terminals
Audiophile grade speaker connections
MOSFET output stage
MOSFET power supply
Top Mounted LED Indicators
CEA-2006 Power ratings on Rockford Fosgate amplifiers conform to CEA-2006 industry standards. These guidelines mean your amplifier's output power ratings are REAL POWER numbers, not inflated marketing ratings.
Differential Inputs Differential input circuitry measures the voltage of both the (+) and (-) input signal. The circuitry subtracts the voltage common to both conductors (noise) resulting in only the clean signal. This allows only clean signal to enter the amplifier.
Discrete Surface Mount DSM--An industry-leading manufacturing process, DSM utilizes high-speed robotics, high-quality 1% tight-tolerance parts and large board traces. The discrete components are laser etched to meet a particular value and a very low tolerance. This lower tolerance improves the efficiency of the circuit, decreases cross-talk from other discrete components and lowers operating temperature. These superior components are used by aerospace, automotive, and cellular manufacturers.
Dynamic Thermal Management Heat is often inefficiently dissipated across a heatsink causing "hot spots". This impacts important design goals which are:
Keeping internal components cool.
Maximizing potential of all components.
Reducing distortion for better sound quality.
Increasing efficiency to produce more power.
Rockford Fosgate engineers have developed an award winning cooling design called DTM. This patent pending design seamlessly manages the output of power supply temperatures, while evenly distributing the excess heat across the entire amplifier.
MEHSA3 MEHSA3 (Maximum Efficiency Heat Sink Application - gen. 3) is a proprietary process that yields up to five times better heat transfer than traditional FET mounting techniques, using the exact same components. A multi-layer insulated metal substrate operating with minimal thermal resistance spreads heat both downward & outward to quickly dissipate heat from each device across the heatsink. This process combined with our optimized heatsink designs, DSM (Discrete Surface Mount) technology and MOSFET devices, allows Rockford Fosgate to squeeze more watts per cubic inch from every output device as well as provide consistent thermal stability. The 3rd generation creates a dielectric layer between the ceramic topside and the aluminum base that retains all of the electrical isolation and capacitive coupling of the original MEHSA material increasing it's thermal conductivity. The higher power handling results in a 20% reduction in thermal impedance.
NOMAD NOMAD is a "real time" analog computer that protects your amplifier from shorting speaker wires and dangerously low speaker impedances.
Punch EQ2 In the early 70's, Jim Fosgate studied the acoustical properties of automobiles. Utilizing a real-time analyzer and pink noise, he would graph out the acoustical characteristics of each car he tested. Jim discovered three problems that were common to all cars:
A midbass hump between 100-275Hz
A steep roll-off of high frequencies from 2kHz up to 20kHz
Reduced bass response below 50Hz
The Punch EQ on-board equalization circuit helps correct for these acoustical deficiencies in the listening environment. When set to Low-Pass(LP) operation, it becomes a variable Bass Boost. When set to High-Pass (HP) operation, it acts as a variable Mid-Bass and Treble Boost. When set to All Pass (AP) operation, both Bass and Treble frequencies are boosted.
TO-247 MOSFETs Rockford Fosgate amps use custom TO-247 MOSFETs. These have 60% more metal tab area for more power capacity, lower impedance and improved heat dissipation over traditional TO-220 MOSFETs found in competitor amps.
TRANS•ana An award winning studio quality circuit borrowed from the pro audio company Hafler. TRANS-ana is a sound quality circuit that is a standard in the recording industry that simplifies the signal path of the amplifier, allowing the signal to travel through the amplifier at a low voltage. The result: Greater reliability, cleaner performance and exceptional musicality, speed, and durability.
P300-1 Specifications
Thirty Years of Rockford FosgateRockford Fosgate products have been designed and engineered in Tempe, Arizona since the beginning. Rockford's 30 year reputation is grounded in engineering and manufacturing some of the finest audio products in the world. The company's no-compromise approach has yielded patented iconic products such as the Punch EQ, Punch 45 amplifier and the 3Sixty integrated signal processor. Today, Rockford's new products push the performance envelope even further. Each new product is a step forward--they sound bigger, they play louder, and run longer. Rockford never settles for "good enough."
The 2010 product line represents the company's core philosophy. Rockfords new amplifiers, speakers and subwoofers have raised the bar on the competition.
What's in the Box Rockford Fosgate Punch P300-1 300-Watt Mono Amplifier, User's Manual
More Amplifier Options From Rockford Fosgate If you need more features, step up to the Power Series T500-1BDCP.
On a Tighter Budget? Rockford's also got you covered. Consider the Prime Series R250-1.
Rockford Fosgate Punch Series Power Amplifiers
Get 49% OFF
Click here for more information about Rockford Fosgate Punch 300-Watt Mono Amplifier
