Price Paid:  $192.00 from ebay

Summary:
This amplifier is a lifesaver.

I've got a sub that is very difficult to drive (Alon by Acarian Systems SW-1). It is a stacked isobaric dual 12" floor-firing configuration that shows the amp less than 3 ohms. My review will be of the combo.

I wanted deep, deep bass and lots of detail and speed. Physical laws make these two things next to unattainable together; traditionally you get one or the other. That's why M&K subs pound like hell but have trouble keeping up with the most musical speakers, while the REL subs are delicate and fast but lack the ultimate slam for the big boom LFE passages of your favorite action DVDs.

I bought the Alon because I loved its combination of musicality and outright muscle--and it's flat down to 16 Hz! The problem was driving the thing. It's a sealed isobaric design with 2 12" drivers that shows an amp less than a nominal 3 ohm load, which means average amps will fry driving it.

The RBH can push it to nearly insane sound levels without clipping, for less than $200 used. It is a class AB design, so it's fast and has far, far lower distortion than the class D junk 90% of sub manufacturers throw in their boxes. If you want sweet, detailed music in the low end as well as the mids and the highs, you must stay away from class D amplification.

So I was looking for good class A stuff and found precious little for under $2000 including the crossover and phase adjustment facilities that come with this amp.

If you are looking at a high-quality passive sub so you can have better amplification than what typically comes inside the box of even good powered subs, then search until you can find one of these.

You may still go with a megabuck monoblock, but this will more than do you while you're saving up the cash.

I feel no need to upgrade--this thing has all the muscle I'll ever need.

Strengths:
Cheap, cheap, cheap! Best bang for the buck out there in a full-featured sub amp/crossover.

Weaknesses:
Heat forces the placement issue somewhat, but you expect heat if you want a fast amplifier so maybe this isn't a weakness after all.

Similar Products Used:
A plethora of amplified subs, From Celestion and KEF to Velodyne, up to and including the M&K MX-150. The M&K is the best of the lot for sheer gut-wrenching deep bass and powerful thump and slam. Seve

Summary:
This is a fabulous non integrated sub amp. It is rated at 200 watts, but that is a very conservative rating. I have heard this amp coupled with the RBH 1010 signature series subwoofer (2 10 inch aluminum drivers in a vertical cabinet about 30" high). Performance was stunning. The T-Rex in Jurassic Park seemed actually in the living room. Most subs don't have too much problem with loud soundtracks. What impressed me about this amp and speakers was their music reproduction. The extension was low, lower than 25 Hz, yet never boomy or artificial. The kettle drums and cannons in the 1812 overature (RCA Red Label CD Recording) were so realistic that every time a volley was fired I jumped, even though I knew when they were coming. The Sam 200 and the 1010 are thousands of dollars underpriced

Strengths:
Incredibly deep bass extension

Weaknesses:
None, at its price range

Similar Products Used:
Sunfire true sub, several Velodine models