Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Audio generic amp question

This isn't Contour-specific, but I've participated here for a while and hope I can get some input (heh) from the watt-heads...

I've taken the setup from my Mystique and had it professionally installed into my Mazda 6 (hobbled to the Bose head unit, which is still kind of a work-in-progress)

Right now I'm running one amp, an Alpine V12 "500W" 4/3/2 (MRV-F353 - it's about 5 years old) powering the front speakers only (bridged 1+2 > R, 3+4 > L) and the sub (ch 5). The sound is OK but not as clean and punchy as it was in the Mystique. I'm not sure exactly how it was hooked up (LOC vs. pre-amp/line driver off the Bose amp) but as I approach max volume, some of the crappy Bose features (auto leveling and such) kick in and it leaves something to be desired.

So I'm wondering if my answer is more power. I have a 2nd amp kicking around, an Alpine MRV-F407 2/1 which is barely used. It's rated at "150W" continuous power when bridged into one channel. Would this make a decent sub amp for my 1x12 Alpine type R sub? If I'm not powering the sub off off ch.5 on the 4/3/2 does that mean more power is available to ch 1-4 or is it just being wasted?


Replacing or substituting my head unit is not an option, as much as I wish that were possible, the factory stereo is just too integrated into the console and display for me to consider that. here's what I'm talking about

thanks,
-Peter