Already a monster in the pro audio world, JBL has focused its reputation and talents in that arena to the less demanding, just as passionate, world of autosound. Back in the day in the U.K., we used to power JBL's 1500 and 1800Gti series subs with the company's "tunnel" fan-cooled amps. These big beasts powered our rides like the inside of any club.
Curious to see if the Power Series amps had some of that spirit and innovation behind them or whether they were metal shells simply flossin' the logo, we wrapped our paws round a Power Series P80.4. Rated to deliver 40x4 at 4 ohms stereo and 160x2 bridged at 4 ohms, the P80.4 accepts a full 4.8 volts before the inputs clip, a slight increase on its 250mV-4V range.
We set up the P80.4 in three-channel mode by bridging the third and fourth channels, a configuration we think many installers would opt for if using this in a single-amp system. After dialing in the outputs, we added 5dB of gain overlap to account for the average levels of music and measured the following:
The P80.4 meets and exceeds spec on these counts, and performed without appreciable audible distortion during measurements. It's fair to say these levels could be achieved in just about any similar install. The amp is not a hog in the power department either, proving itself 66-percent efficient, a good thing for those wanting some bump but not ready to start swapping batteries and alternators. At a standstill with no signal input, the amp draws a mere 0.2 amperes.
Although the P80.4 has only modest on-board features, the accuracy of the crossovers was very good. The range of crossover points is a well-positioned 32-320Hz, which allows two types of configurations. One would be a standard low- or high-pass function for a subwoofer (in low-pass mode) or a midrange driver of various diameters (in high-pass mode).
The other use could be as a protection feature for a subwoofer that's already using a low-pass filter from a signal source upstream, perhaps the "sub out" from the head unit. The protection feature would come from using that 32Hz crossover point in a high-pass configuration so that the lows get filtered out. This may be ideal for smaller subs, but also for larger drivers in vented boxes.
The only noticeable drawback of the filter and input controls is the lack of multiple markings around the dials (a pet peeve of ours, if you hadn't noticed). A small selection of 80-, 150- and 220Hz markings would be nice to help with initial set up. Also absent are any markings on input sensitivity except for the lowest and highest ranges. If you had a head unit with only one volt of output, it'd be helpful to match the gain with some guideline prior to final tweaking.
The P80.4 is an easy install with screw terminal power and speaker connections and signal inputs-either low level RCA or high level speaker wire-all located on the opposite side. On-board fuses mean that the only extra accessories required include a fuse at the battery and your own 8-gauge power/ground, and 18-gauge remote turn-on wires.
Unlike larger, more powerful amps that require capacitors and distribution accessories, the P80.4 will be just fine with one of the pre-packaged install kits out there, primarily because the high-level inputs allow the use of speaker level connections if needed.
The JBL P80.4 measures a tidy 12 9/16 in. x 9 1/16 in. x 2 11/16 in.(LWH), so it's going to fit under most seats, and definitely in an unintrusive spot in the trunk. The flat heatsink has a minimum of sharp edges, good to keep in mind if you got kids or clumsy friends.
Setup is really very simple. After the gain is set and the crossover has been adjusted during a short listening evaluation, you're ready to go. One small detail not to overlook is that the amp has a stereo/mono operation selector switch, so make sure that's set correctly before heading off. Another minor detail is that the RCA input must be connected independently for each pair of channels. Since there is no signal steering input switch, a head unit with just one pair of preamp outputs will need a "Y" adapter or use a combination of RCA and high-level inputs to feed signal to both pairs of channels.
The P80.4 owner's manual is pretty basic, a simple but effective guide with good info about pre-installation cautions, a handy first order passive crossover chart and basic suggestions on setting up the amp.
Overall the P80.4 is a good little amp that manages heat effectively. Its small footprint makes it easy to install in just about any practical place in a vehicle where enough room exists and the high level inputs mean that it's going to work with a wide range of factory sound systems. Power is moderate, but certainly enough to drive a good front stage with some bump in back.