LISTENING
I installed the T1000.4 in my labs reference system, and as expected, the amplifier performed admirably. If you like your music on the loud side, but you still need low noise, low distortion, and great dynamics, the T1000.4 is sure to please. With the rear channels bridged into my 4 ohm woofer system, and the internal -24dB/Oct crossover set at about 80Hz low pass, I set the front channels to about 50Hz High Pass, and connected to my reference bookshelf speakers. A quick tweak of the gains balanced the system nicely, and a couple of dozen tracks later, it was easily apparent that the amplifier could easily generate all the oomph I could ask for and then some!
The sound quality was excellent as well, with a clean, articulate, and detailed top end from the front channels, even when the other half of the amp was pounding out the bass notes on my woofer system. During my listening, I did note that the amplifiers heatsink got quite warm, which simply means it was doing it’s job, of dissipating the heat generated by all those devices. I also found that the onboard Punch EQ system is almost a throwback to the previously patented Punch EQ, which was at least partly responsible for building the brands legendary sound way back in the ‘80’s. What’s different about Punch EQ? Well, for starters, it’s not just a bass EQ. While the Punch EQ does provide up to +18dB of boost at 45Hz, it also provides a bump in response at about 14kHz, which can help to overcome road noise and improve the intelligibility of the top end as well. After doing some careful listening, I came away with a very favorable opinion of the sound of the amp, although it didn’t sound quite as flat as my reference amplifier. I was later to discover during my bench testing that there are deliberate “bumps” in the T1000.4’s sonic signature that Rockford Fosgate believe make it a better sounding product when installed in any vehicle. And I would not disagree, anyone who has taken a look at the frequency spectrum of road noise in a modern car would notice that some judiciously placed and properly applied EQ could easily result in superior sonics.
On the Bench
After the listening portion of the test was over, I moved the amplifier to the test bench to see just what kind of numbers I’d get out of it. I expected the T1000.4 to exceed its power specifications based on my listening experience, but I had no idea they were to be not merely exceeded, but annihilated them! Actual measured power tests showed the big four channel amplifier produces over 230 watts per channel into 4 ohms, and an astonishing 380 watts into 2 ohms! Maybe you’d expect with all this power crammed into a smallish chassis, that you’d have to give up some signal to noise performance, but that is not the case. In fact, the big four channel Power Series amp measured better than many two channel amps, at an excellent -92dBA referenced to 1 watt of output, or over -116dBA referenced to full power. Stereo separation also measured very good at better than -50dB.
THE CONCLUSIONAs is usually the case with the majority of four channel Class AB amplifiers, the only spec that may leave you wanting a little is the efficiency, and the big Rockford four channel is no different, coming in at a bit over 65% at full 2 ohm power. But with this kind of power on tap, it’s kind of like driving a ‘60’s musclecar with a big block motor… gas mileage (or current demands) aren’t really foremost on your mind.
www.rockfordfosgate.com
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