Polk Audio PA5000.5 vs Massive Audio NX5
06-02-2012, 11:43 AM
#1
Polk Audio PA5000.5 vs Massive Audio NX5
Yes, I have both amps.
Polk Audio PA5000.5 ( 5 channel ) Street price $300-$400
Positives:
1. Very small foot print 13-5/16"L x 6-3/4"W x 1-13/16"H
2. Makes rated power 70w x 4 ( 4ohms ) and 500 x 1 ( 1 ohm ) Sub Channel
3. Remote bass **** included
4. Comes with extra 40 amp fuses ( 2 x 40amp )
Cons:
1. Does have a bit of noise floor to it at higher volumes
2. Bass boost- never been a fan of that feature
3. No hi-level inputs
PA Series 5-Channel Class D Car Amplifier
RMS Power Rating:
4 ohms: 70 watts x 4 chan. + 200 watts x 1 chan.
2 ohms: 100 watts x 4 chan. + 400 watts x 1 chan.
Bridged, 4 ohms: 200 watts x 2 chan.
Subwoofer Channel (1 ohms): 500 watts x 1 chan.
High-speed MOSFET power supply
Wired remote bass level control included
Efficient design to help amplifier run much cooler than conventional amps
Toroidal transformers ensuring plenty of clean, efficient power and a compact size
LED power (green) and protect (red) indicators
Soft Start Turn-on
Stable at 2 ohms for full range channels and 1 ohm at subwoofer channel
SUB/INT source switch for cleaner signal processing
Chanel Mode switch that sends same signal to front and rear channels
Non corroding stainless steel hardware for a sturdier look and feel
5/4/3 channel operation
4-Way System Protection circuitry (thermal, DC offset, reverse DC voltage, and short circuit protection)
Heavy duty aluminum alloy heatsink for extreme heat dissipation
Nickel-plated RCA level inputs
Nickel-plated screw terminals
Input sensitivity:
Low level: 200V-6V
Variable high-pass filter (40-400 Hz, 12dB/octave)
Variable low-pass filter (80-4,000 Hz, 12dB/octave)
CEA-2006 compliant amplifier
Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz
Massive Audio NX5 ( 5 Channel ) Class A/B and D ( sub section ) Street price $350-$500
Positives:
1. Compact design - small footprint. However not as small as the Polk Audio in terms of length. 15"L x 5-1/2"W x 2-1/8"H
2. Class A/B and D for the sub channel
3. 24db crossover section HP and LP
4. Nice classic look with flat black sleek design
5. No background noise - very clean noise floor. Puts Polk to shame in this area.
6. No bass boost - yeah!!!!!
Cons:
1. No remote bass ****
2. Had turn on pop when wired remotely to the PXE-H660 from Alpine. Had to give it a dedicated remote turn on lead to get rid of the pop.
3. All controls have detents but no frequency numbers same with gain.
4. Does not make rated power - as with all of Massive Audio equipment, it's very much overrated.
5. Runs very hot from complaints I've read. No heat sink fins at all. It does get warm but I've not pushed it for hours yet.
Massive Audio NX5 Nano Block Series 5-Channel Car Amplifier
RMS Power Rating (14.4V):
4 ohms: 120 watts x 4 chan. + 200 watts x 1 chan.
2 ohms: 240 watts x 4 chan. + 400 watts x 1 chan.
1 ohm: 800 watts x 1 chan. (Subwoofer channel only)
Bridged, 4 ohms: 480 watts x 2 chan. + 200 watts x 1 chan.
MOSFET power supply with high grade switching devices
LED power/protect indicators
Designed to fit into restrictive or limited spaces while still delivering staggering amounts of power
Ultra efficient Nano Technology power supplies and endless possible installation scenarios
2-Channel operation
Extreme power in a small footprint
Ultimate mounting flexibility (stackable, line array, side mount)
Mill Spec double sided PCB with SMD parts
Built-In noise reduction circuitry
Heavy duty aluminum alloy heatsink anodized in a Raven Black finish for extreme heat dissipation
3-Way protection circuitry (short circuit, overheating and Low Voltage)
Chrome-plated RCA level inputs
Chrome-plated screw terminals
Adjustable high-pass filter (40-200 Hz, 24 dB/octave)
Adjustable low-pass filter (20-200 Hz, 24 dB/octave)
Frequency response: 20-25,000 Hz
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): <0.05%
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >89 dB
Max Voltage: 15V
Max RCA Voltage: 5V
4-gauge power and ground wiring is required for installation. Contact us for information regarding a discount on select amplifier kits when purchased together with this amplifier.
CEA-2006 compliant amplifier
Also found as: Massive Audio SKUNX2
Weight: 15 lbs
The Massive amp sounds allot more dynamic and does not have near the noise floor the Polk does. Although, the noise floor on the Polk isn't bad, I was able to notice it at higher volumes. The Massive is very clean sounding in this department. However, the Massive does not put out the 120 x4 and 800 x1 power as they claim. Both amps sound identical in power and I would give a slight edge to the Polk in terms of raw power.
The next amp that I would love to have and is by far one of the best 5 channel amps on the market "claim not by me", is the Soundstream REF5.1000 if in fact they are built anything like the older reference amps from back in the day. Of course if money was no object and it may end up in my truck is Stephen Mantz Zed Audio Leviathan III. Made and built in the USA!!!!
SPECIFICATIONS REF5.1000
Channels 5
RMS Power @ 4Ω, 14.4V 95 x 4 & 270 x 1
RMS Power @ 2Ω, 14.4V 135 x 4 & 460 x 1
RMS Power @ 4Ω Bridged, 14.4V 270 x 2
RMS Power @ 1Ω, 14.4V 500
Total Harmonic Distortion (4Ω power) 0.02%
Frequency Response 15-50kHz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (4Ω power) 102dB
Damping Factor (100Hz, 4Ω) >2000
Dimensions:
2.25"h x 9.875" 23"
Ch. 1&2 HPF/Hawkins/Subsonic
(12dB Slope / 0-10dB Hawkins Boost) 15Hz-4kHz
Channels 3&4 HPF (12dB Slope) 15Hz-1kHz
Channels 3&4 LPF (12dB Slope) 50Hz-4kHz
Channel 5 LPF (24dB Slope) 50-200Hz
Subsonic Filter Slope (24dB Slope) 24dB 15-50Hz
Phase Control Switch 0 or 180°
Remote Gain Control Included
External Fuse Required 100 A
Polk Audio PA5000.5 ( 5 channel ) Street price $300-$400
Positives:
1. Very small foot print 13-5/16"L x 6-3/4"W x 1-13/16"H
2. Makes rated power 70w x 4 ( 4ohms ) and 500 x 1 ( 1 ohm ) Sub Channel
3. Remote bass **** included
4. Comes with extra 40 amp fuses ( 2 x 40amp )
Cons:
1. Does have a bit of noise floor to it at higher volumes
2. Bass boost- never been a fan of that feature
3. No hi-level inputs
PA Series 5-Channel Class D Car Amplifier
RMS Power Rating:
4 ohms: 70 watts x 4 chan. + 200 watts x 1 chan.
2 ohms: 100 watts x 4 chan. + 400 watts x 1 chan.
Bridged, 4 ohms: 200 watts x 2 chan.
Subwoofer Channel (1 ohms): 500 watts x 1 chan.
High-speed MOSFET power supply
Wired remote bass level control included
Efficient design to help amplifier run much cooler than conventional amps
Toroidal transformers ensuring plenty of clean, efficient power and a compact size
LED power (green) and protect (red) indicators
Soft Start Turn-on
Stable at 2 ohms for full range channels and 1 ohm at subwoofer channel
SUB/INT source switch for cleaner signal processing
Chanel Mode switch that sends same signal to front and rear channels
Non corroding stainless steel hardware for a sturdier look and feel
5/4/3 channel operation
4-Way System Protection circuitry (thermal, DC offset, reverse DC voltage, and short circuit protection)
Heavy duty aluminum alloy heatsink for extreme heat dissipation
Nickel-plated RCA level inputs
Nickel-plated screw terminals
Input sensitivity:
Low level: 200V-6V
Variable high-pass filter (40-400 Hz, 12dB/octave)
Variable low-pass filter (80-4,000 Hz, 12dB/octave)
CEA-2006 compliant amplifier
Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz
Massive Audio NX5 ( 5 Channel ) Class A/B and D ( sub section ) Street price $350-$500
Positives:
1. Compact design - small footprint. However not as small as the Polk Audio in terms of length. 15"L x 5-1/2"W x 2-1/8"H
2. Class A/B and D for the sub channel
3. 24db crossover section HP and LP
4. Nice classic look with flat black sleek design
5. No background noise - very clean noise floor. Puts Polk to shame in this area.
6. No bass boost - yeah!!!!!
Cons:
1. No remote bass ****
2. Had turn on pop when wired remotely to the PXE-H660 from Alpine. Had to give it a dedicated remote turn on lead to get rid of the pop.
3. All controls have detents but no frequency numbers same with gain.
4. Does not make rated power - as with all of Massive Audio equipment, it's very much overrated.
5. Runs very hot from complaints I've read. No heat sink fins at all. It does get warm but I've not pushed it for hours yet.
Massive Audio NX5 Nano Block Series 5-Channel Car Amplifier
RMS Power Rating (14.4V):
4 ohms: 120 watts x 4 chan. + 200 watts x 1 chan.
2 ohms: 240 watts x 4 chan. + 400 watts x 1 chan.
1 ohm: 800 watts x 1 chan. (Subwoofer channel only)
Bridged, 4 ohms: 480 watts x 2 chan. + 200 watts x 1 chan.
MOSFET power supply with high grade switching devices
LED power/protect indicators
Designed to fit into restrictive or limited spaces while still delivering staggering amounts of power
Ultra efficient Nano Technology power supplies and endless possible installation scenarios
2-Channel operation
Extreme power in a small footprint
Ultimate mounting flexibility (stackable, line array, side mount)
Mill Spec double sided PCB with SMD parts
Built-In noise reduction circuitry
Heavy duty aluminum alloy heatsink anodized in a Raven Black finish for extreme heat dissipation
3-Way protection circuitry (short circuit, overheating and Low Voltage)
Chrome-plated RCA level inputs
Chrome-plated screw terminals
Adjustable high-pass filter (40-200 Hz, 24 dB/octave)
Adjustable low-pass filter (20-200 Hz, 24 dB/octave)
Frequency response: 20-25,000 Hz
THD (Total Harmonic Distortion): <0.05%
Signal-to-Noise Ratio: >89 dB
Max Voltage: 15V
Max RCA Voltage: 5V
4-gauge power and ground wiring is required for installation. Contact us for information regarding a discount on select amplifier kits when purchased together with this amplifier.
CEA-2006 compliant amplifier
Also found as: Massive Audio SKUNX2
Weight: 15 lbs
The Massive amp sounds allot more dynamic and does not have near the noise floor the Polk does. Although, the noise floor on the Polk isn't bad, I was able to notice it at higher volumes. The Massive is very clean sounding in this department. However, the Massive does not put out the 120 x4 and 800 x1 power as they claim. Both amps sound identical in power and I would give a slight edge to the Polk in terms of raw power.
The next amp that I would love to have and is by far one of the best 5 channel amps on the market "claim not by me", is the Soundstream REF5.1000 if in fact they are built anything like the older reference amps from back in the day. Of course if money was no object and it may end up in my truck is Stephen Mantz Zed Audio Leviathan III. Made and built in the USA!!!!
SPECIFICATIONS REF5.1000
Channels 5
RMS Power @ 4Ω, 14.4V 95 x 4 & 270 x 1
RMS Power @ 2Ω, 14.4V 135 x 4 & 460 x 1
RMS Power @ 4Ω Bridged, 14.4V 270 x 2
RMS Power @ 1Ω, 14.4V 500
Total Harmonic Distortion (4Ω power) 0.02%
Frequency Response 15-50kHz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (4Ω power) 102dB
Damping Factor (100Hz, 4Ω) >2000
Dimensions:
2.25"h x 9.875" 23"
Ch. 1&2 HPF/Hawkins/Subsonic
(12dB Slope / 0-10dB Hawkins Boost) 15Hz-4kHz
Channels 3&4 HPF (12dB Slope) 15Hz-1kHz
Channels 3&4 LPF (12dB Slope) 50Hz-4kHz
Channel 5 LPF (24dB Slope) 50-200Hz
Subsonic Filter Slope (24dB Slope) 24dB 15-50Hz
Phase Control Switch 0 or 180°
Remote Gain Control Included
External Fuse Required 100 A
Last edited by lizardking1; 06-02-2012 at 12:40 PM.
10-17-2013, 10:12 PM
#2
Senior Member
I know this is an old thread but tell me how you like the ZED Leviathan III as I am considering this amp for my Stereo Integrity BM MKIV's and what ever components I chose. Thanks.