First Look, First Test: the SMD 8500.1D Prototype Monoblock Amp Rated 8500 Watts

[@meade916]

This amp is one of the early versions that I have had for a while now. It has had several small revisions since. But this should give you a good idea what it is capable of. The entire lineup should be no different. The buzzing sound you hear in this video is my power supply that is pushing all of this. I use a Sorensen DCR-16-625T 625a 10,000 watt power supply backed up by 4 XS Power SB1000 Super Bank capacitors. I will be testing the production version of this amp when they arrive this week as well as all the others in the series. If you are at SEMA next week, come by the DS18 booth and check them out yourself, meet me and maybe get a free T-Shirt! (limited supply) Thanks for watching if you did! kzbin.infoeJS9sGMqGf8?si=InP93CZyKImzzadP

[@Bluetahoeon30s]

💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿

[@joeinline4443]

O yeah Heard that mad Season good taste ! Love it

[@meade916]

@@joeinline4443 of course! always bro haha! It's a GREAT album, I been riding with that in my collection since it came out LOL

[@WidowedAudiophile]

Hell yeah bro that's sick. Keep up the amazing work. Vee Gee from Seattle

[@meade916]

@@WidowedAudiophile thanks VeeGee my bro!!

[@butchmarkle3103]

I have to say Amp dynos are always a blast to watch. I like the 5 channel amp. Great for the everyday run of the mill guy with a pickup truck and not a lot of room.

[@philipmoye4583]

Good shit Steve happy for you G a long time coming finally your own amp you most well deserve it can't wait to be meet you One day The GOAT OF BASS

[@kristcgpulls1550]

Love how unique it is. No cookie cutter over there.

[@BloodCover]

So smart hooking up with the latest buzz in DS18, SMD by DS18, everybody will want one

[@sHoRtBuSseR]

That big a/b 4 channel has my attention big time.

[@sp00f34]

so cool man. hope to see a vid on the 2000.1. that's the one im getting

[@ellisbermudez6860]

One of the best looking amps I ever seen💯👀

[@meade916]

thanks Ellis!!

[@jk-76]

Been waiting since 2008 for you to do this!

[@lucasshort9728]

Great job Steve Meade and DS18!!! Can't wait to get my hands on that 8500.1!

[@dynagroove1.020]

What tha!!!! Mazing!!!! Next level every video! Coming from a guy stuck in the 70’s! lol

[@Slimerancher69]

This is one of the coolest amps ive seen. Alot of amps now days are just so boring its definitely a premium looking beast thats for sure! Super pumped for you!

[@thamenacechris]

Congrats on the amplifier lines Steve. The sky is the limit homie

[@trentmartin7295]

PLEASE do a Tahoe revamp with the new amps 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@CreamyCornCob]

Been around, pounding the streets since the early 90's. That is one beauty of an amp. Masterpiece. They say, "looks can be deceiving." - not these new amps.

[@travisdenk5317]

Man I can't wait to see what the 5000.1 will be like.. and how it's gonna sound with my 15's when my pre ordered arrives 🎉🎉😅

[@avnut5517]

12K+ Watt burst!!!! The power cables twitching is telling.😮 That IS a beast!

[@DeeHermanson]

Bro that amp is so sick! Good job! And then volt meter. 😮😮

[@Jordanaudionautomotive]

That's a beast amp for $1500... congratulations again steve

[@nelomedia805]

I've been extremely impressed with my HK02. These Korean DS18's have some of the highest Damping Factors in the industry which I feel is overlooked. Coming from another Korean amplifier to the DS18 I can definitely hear the improved controlled low frequency performance.

[@reson8q]

The highest damping factor I have come across is on the MD series Brazillian amps which is 1000.

[@garycharley8589]

Salt Amplifiers are at 400. These amps are still awesome, I'm getting 2 of the 8500 soon.

[@luigimartinez1748]

Ima get mine nexf year in tax season lol my baby is due next month but ive been following you steve since back in them tahoe days with psyph morrison i need the 3000 watt one , keep up the videos this is amazing

[@CheezeMasterGeeWhizz]

Im excited for you bro hope to get some of your gear once you get rolling

[@smokeyou812]

I need to get me one of those 3000.1s. With my OCD I've made over 20 different clear backings for different amps i have from polycarbonate i get from work, but it's nice when it's on the front, because it sucks adjusting them when mounted upside down. Such a simple idea it's brilliant. I know this isn't the first, but wish more companies did this and the LEDs are just icing.

[@derrickwilliams2268]

Finally you got your amp God bless you and a remote to design the lights inside the amp..... NICE

[@davidcochran1815]

These are best looking amps i ever seen, the design looks beautiful 😮👌

[@M.B.Enclosures]

Great work.. congrats sir.

[@oACE20o]

I see a future build coming with all SMD amps and speakers. Nice job Steve.

[@bearxbunny1835]

I hope you are ready to take out a mortgage

[@oACE20o]

@@bearxbunny1835 won't be my build buddy. i said that cause i been following Steve for 15 years. I se him building something. I just enjoy his content.

[@meade916]

@@bearxbunny1835 why do you say that? Who would need to take out a mortgage for a few amps that are about 14 cents a watt? you guys say the most wild random stuff I swear.

[@netaberger94]

BEAST of an amp, 12.5k wtf!?!? in my VERY humble opinion the LEDs kinda make it look cheap, plasticy if you will... OBVIOUSLY this is NOT the case, but still, its a weird look for such a premium product.

[@meade916]

no way. I think it looks more premium with the clear top and LED’s. Not a “weird look” at all. Plus wait till you see what else I can do since that top plate is fully customizable. I can wven send someone a boring solid black cover if they don’t like the clear. Done. 🤷‍♂️

[@chriscarroll3635]

It's definitely your humble opinion. That's one of the coolest amplifiers I've ever seen. And if you stroll down the comments you will see a lot of other people who will agree.

[@netaberger94]

@@meade916 truly, no disrespect, i've been subed for over 12 years at this point and watched probably all of your vids, you are a youtube og and i've practically learned everything car audio related from you. our taste might be a bit different on the topic, maybe (if i couldve even afforded this amp lol) i would've kept my RGBs on a white neutral color scheme. no doubt you have the machinery and expertise to do a solid cover :)

[@netaberger94]

@@chriscarroll3635 absolutely, just esthetic taste i guess :)

[@heavybass3286]

get ready for them haters to start hating

[@meade916]

@@bdc211 i'll start by saying, since you didn't pay attention, that this is a proto not the final version. Even if the production models look like this it is no problem. Looks a lot better than that BDC211 amp that is coming out never. lol

[@meade916]

it's been super positive lately but there is no way to get around the super miserable, bitter individuals that the internet breeds.

[@heavybass3286]

@@meade916 I’m excited for you man these amps will sell quick

[@2105ram-ld9vu]

@@bdc211you sound like someone that believes everything they read on the internet lol. Source: trust me bro I just know

[@meade916]

@@bdc211 I never banned anyone for saying "btl sandwich". I only ban people for being pu.nk ass internet trolls that spend all day trying to get a reaction out of me and then complain when they get one. Just like I wouldn't ban you for that comment. But your follow up reply where you are clearly trying to run your mouth and start some drama might. I don't care if you have everything I have ever made in your ride, what is the point of going out of your way to start some drama? Sh.t is so played out.

[@eyaleliyahu]

That lighting with the remote is so cool, when and from where can we purchase please?

[@RJSDZNS]

Damn! Big boy toys for sure! Its a beautiful amp, Steve!

[@christopherkerr2254]

I’m flawless,awesome,powerful Can’t wait to get one saving up

[@christophermcbride3284]

Hey Steve good looking amps now that's something to look at sometimes peace

[@Jack-tf2gw]

Looks great cant wait to see these numbers

[@JK-gm6kk]

Is that a battery voltage meter on the left? There are alot of pretty cool things people are doing with screen panels and raspberry pi's, mostly on the acrylic side panels on most desktop pc cases. For sensor metrics, displaying various fancy animations and I would assume other things as well. Would be a cool option going forward, with a screen panel mounted flush with the top of the plexi glass. Speaking of, the pi could double as a plex media server, for storing and streaming the media from the client device of ones choosing in the car, without that much more stuff to be done. Mounting the drives somewhere in the enclosure doesnt seem like it would be a problem, or you could even run usb ports in alongside the RCA's and wire terminals for external storage devices to contain media, operating systems, or whatever. Anyway, the main reason i bring this up, is that VU meters and all sorts of stuff could be added in the same or similar way pc builders are using them, I would imagine. Or if there was an option for the meters to be made similar to the battery gauge, would be cool too, but analog VU meter option would be the one i would choose. With the screen panel and pi tho, cause i think thats a pretty dope idea.

[@enlightenCA]

That thing is beautiful! The built in vm-1... very cool.

[@MyBlowncobra]

Steve,looks like a great amp..slick unique design..will it take a 1/2 ohm load so with rise we can get some of that power?

[@garycharley8589]

I want to know what it do at half ohm also.

[@jonas2431]

Thats so sleek clean and beautiful

[@christopherhofheins2763]

Son of ah….. bro that thing is a beast!!!

[@timmontanez3781]

Can't wait for that 5 Channel test!!!!

[@MikeAnnunziato]

DAMN STEVE! Absolute units 💯

[@Richtaco]

Love to see a new build with these sexy amps 🫡

[@rolly4x4]

What a powerhouse! Looks awesome too 👍

[@bojangles1023]

Happy for you

[@meade916]

thanks Bo!

[@HighVybeTribe]

Cant wait to see Derek W do a bench vid on it . 😎👌

[@John2323-b1m]

Hey Steve... when are these gorgeous beasts gonna be available??? I gots to have one...or 3 or 4 lol

[@meade916]

the amps are In California on the way to my shop now! But I am headed to SEMA on Wednesday so I won't be here to sign any of the pre-orders and I know a lot of people want me to. But next week we should be in full motion! Thanks John!

[@domnickish]

​@meade916 can't wait to get mines sir. I hope mines get sign that will make my day sir.

[@John2323-b1m]

@meade916 Sounds good man !! They sure are sharp looking... love the LED's and built in SMD volt meter...super dope !!!

[@gioarteaga3984]

Oh my wows well done Steve wow and. The led nocks it out of the park🤟

[@rayshaffers1488]

Awesome 😎. Love the colors and meters. Congrats 🎉

[@thedude7726]

Finally something to push my sony explodes. I wonder how long one would last on this beast

[@gilbertw5370]

Putting in work and still finding time to play

[@TioDave]

It'd be cool to see an esp32 in there to control the LED and maybe do some other information output.

[@TioDave]

What would make it expensive? I could imagine a few things, but not sure what you are thinking.

[@TioDave]

I think the market growth would be substantial enough to make that a small issue. Imagine a amp with a coil test or other mechanism integrated into the amp. You connect to it's wifi and get a nice display with all the information you need to keep your system from catastrophic failure. It seems like a great selling point. You could even leave it up to the customer to install the esp32 module. Just have a port for it to plug into. There are all sorts of nerd on the internet that would love that type of product, just because it has a esp32 interface. Where it give the AMP more purposes. Like hooking to to a array of transducers and induce a frequency into a physical object. The applications are endless. Think about a transducer based cement vibrator hooked to that amp. There are so many applications, I bet there would be youtube videos out the wazoo. I get carried away sometime. I just like to think out loud sometime.

[@cedoman1]

DSP !.. DSP !... DSP !.. make it happen!

[@cconigliaro]

Insanity! Killed it

[@tcw691]

Excited to watch this test !!! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@meade916]

it's still early testing. These are some of the things I did while deciding what to name them. I think 8500.1 is fair. Anything else is headroom :) :D thanks!

[@craftchest]

I like it. Well done sir.

[@meade916]

Appreciate it man!

[@coolbrezze67]

Hey Steve. When will they be ready for it's to purchase? Direct from you or some outlet or dealership?

[@meade916]

both. Presale is right now and they ship in about a week.

[@rayrosales2172]

BADASS!

[@rexracer537]

Are the class AB better for mids/highs? I think on the website the AB amps had a higher THD at .10 than the class D at .02

[@BIGGIEDEVIL]

8500? Damn I need to get back in to the audio game these amps are just insane

[@albert333pool]

No one more deserving 🙌

[@meade916]

thanks Albert!

[@UD3ADSUCKA]

That’s insane 🔥… I’m buying this and a fat 18” sub and putting it in my em1….

[@audiokeller1975]

Nice high power amps 👍 is the burst test a 40Hz test tone? I guess so because the powersupply / dyno or amp made a similar noise during the test 😊

[@saschacubexyz]

@@audiokeller1975 do we need this monsters here in Germany? What do you think? 😬😬😬

[@audiokeller1975]

Ha! I think the voltage regulators of these small German cars can’t handle amps like this, you need a car with muscles 💪 not much around here 😁

[@saschacubexyz]

@@audiokeller1975 😂😂😂 ouh yeah.... you're right... these monsters need big alternators and big batteries...that's the only chance... 😂😂😬😬😬 Maybe, we definitely live on the wrong continent😉😉😉 This amp would destroy my little rattle box😵‍💫🤪😂😉.

[@akh769]

Looks good but the volt meter kinda looks out of place

[@meade916]

not to me it doesn't.

[@meade916]

@@SeanOMatic I disagree. If I thought it should be there it would be there.

[@Contact_Info]

I like the digital hooligan volt meter, easy to read, mayne yours is better somehow i dont know though​@@meade916

[@meade916]

@@Contact_Info nothing wrong with that. Go buy the Hooligan. I don't care either way brotha. Buy what you like the most.

[@ta420nk5]

thats a spicy meatball.. lol hell yeah man, they look awesome

[@bulldogbradford8081]

DOPE!!!!! Great seeing you at SEMA Brother!! I'll have a bigger bottle at Knowledge Fest!!!!!

[@meade916]

helllll yeahhhh man!!! thanks for that! took the edge right off haha. I'm not going to Knowledgefest though sorry! Have fun!

[@bulldogbradford8081]

@@meade916 I'll stop by the shop before that! I'll bring a bigger bottle!!!!

[@cthornsburg5]

Question. What are my options on subwoofer ported enclosure in a 04 z71 crew cab

[@jadsholloway]

Looks amazing hopefully these bad boys keep it cool!! But they are 🔥 ❤

[@leightoralba9061]

Are you gonna come out with your own speaker to from mids tweets an subs an speakers that are hard to find like the plate an 4x10

[@Triplej863]

Light bill gone be thru the roof 😂 beautiful yet powerful

[@chrisgreen1703]

Love your Tools. Got some of them. Wish you did Motorcycle Amps ;). Greetings from your Canadian Fan. ;)

[@darilynking4751]

Im interested in the 5 channel

[@BHAMILTON92]

Well shit, now I need to save so my next system is all SMD. Not complaining.

[@johnalenwork53]

Badazzz Steve.

[@kingranchkennels]

Beastly

[@tylermcelroy1995]

Are you gonna put these in the tahoe to replace the rockford amps?

[@meade916]

eventually yes. That's a lot of work though hahah

[@shannonferguson7020]

Been waiting for this video them Amps gonna make some noise on the scene

[@Congo802]

That’s one bad ass amp would be nice if you could control the LEDs by Bluetooth or maybe even the settings on the amp gain boost all that then you know your settings are not moving on you when tuned

[@meade916]

why would you need to control LED's over bluetooth? I just hit the button, choose the color and I am done. It isn't complicated. lol

[@biggesmalls446]

@@meade916I like the controller Bluetooth is just more stuff to glitch out

[@biggesmalls446]

@@meade916btw I just ordered me a 8.5k can’t wait for it to arrive I’ve been watching your stuff since the drive through videos in the white Tahoe I was just a teenager ur part the reason I got so into car audio im 28 this year now man this I cool now to be owning one your first amps hopefully better things to come

[@KenMrKLC]

Nice brother!

[@cedoman1]

I like the Green LED..

[@reckingball6242]

What's the difference between SKAR, SUNDOWN and AMERICAN BASS SUBWOOFERS ?

[@audioholic850]

Where's the punch line?

[@reckingball6242]

@audioholic850 it's not a joke this is a real question. What's the difference?

[@audioholic850]

@reckingball6242 All 3 of those companies have higher end woofers and lower end woofers. You can get good woofers from any of the 3. I'd say sundown is the most popular, though. And imo sundown is better than the other 2 companies.

[@reckingball6242]

@audioholic850 wow cool thankyou and how good is American Bass.

[@saschacubexyz]

Nice monsters😎👍🆙️

[@SorryEquation]

New build coming in the future?

[@meade916]

yup

[@yung-qn9nt]

Will they come in different colors? Like white or red cases

[@meade916]

nah. No need for that. The LED’s do plenty of color changing.

[@shawnantoine8414]

Tell me if I am running more than one of these. Do I have to use more than one remote for the lights, or can they be synced

[@meade916]

@@SeanOMatic not sure if it will be the same remote or not. I am supposed to get the final versions today or tomorrow. They will be able to be used between amps though. If every old school remote ever made worked with these that would be a good thing not a bad thing though. Who cares?

[@ICP1SBJ]

@@meade916 actually it is a bad thing. I have some LED lights behind my 90" projector screen mounted on a 3/4" particle board and when I use my Yamaha remote to turn it up or down I have to point it down or it changes the color of my lights.

[@meade916]

@@ICP1SBJ nah, it's a good thing. Because nobody with one of these amps is going to have any issues because you have a strip of LED lights in your house. You have to aim this remote at the sensor for it to work. It's a good thing.

[@rooterbooter405]

Dude the wires are jumping??

[@RobinsonPaulino-n2k]

Excelente producto para dónde lo puedo conseguir

[@meade916]

www.smdaudio.com and many more places too.

[@tcw691]

God I love seeing the smallest remote ON wire VS the huge power and ground lol 🎉 always gets me ( question tho ? Is there any benefit to a larger wire for that simple purpose ? ) Thx

[@meade916]

no benefit at all. Also, keep in mind, those are SHCA 2/0 OFC cables, they ain't no joke haha

[@RNBStyle69]

You need to start an online course like the Wrap Institute.

[@meade916]

I have no idea what that even is.

[@biggesmalls446]

What’s the efficiency on it

[@AleksScandi]

Too bad they are not rated for 0,5ohms, dont want to risk warranty and dont plan on swapping subwoofers but really nice looking amplifiers. I hope for a newer 0,5 series later!

[@meade916]

post up your system bro I wanna see what you are running that you really have to have a .5 rating for.

[@RobinsonPaulino-n2k]

Estoy enamorado de ese producto me encanta quisiera saber cómo lo puedo conseguir ya que vi la prueba que le hiciste ayer

[@jimt5683]

🔥

[@cedoman1]

Very nice bro ...

[@craizygolf1980]

Nice dyno numbers... prices !!!

[@anthonytaylor8672]

Steve I have a name for your next build? I'd rather not give it away? Its very unique and it fits you perfectly. I've been following you for over 20 years. The name is that good! Message me?

[@MrSzero13]

dam....... speechless

[@jessebeatty9696]

Now can it handle.5

[@meade916]

not sure, didn't try it. These are rated at 1ohm. I am sure .7 would be fine.

[@GTAVince]

What a beautiful amp Steve, good work 😎 greetings from The Netherlands

[@biggesmalls446]

Ok I have my skv.2 4500 at .5 rn would this handle that?

[@meade916]

this amp is rated at 1ohm so even if it can it isn't recommended. There really isn't any need to do that anyway.

[@biggesmalls446]

@ I went ahead and purchased one anyway I been watching you since a kid with the white Tahoe and the drive through videos

[@bigdane87]

Goooooooood lord!