HiFonics Pluto VII from 1989 Amp Dyno Tested

[@wal2]

*SHOP* Speaker/Wiring Terminal Blocks: amzn.to/4a4rIDu Elac Bookshelf Speakers: amzn.to/47Q6zw8 RELATED VIDEOS 1990 HiFonics Zeus VII Amp Dyno Test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/javGl6tpfpenmtE 1989 HiFonics Boltar VII Amp Dyno Test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKuTlYtvjqqKi8U 1992 HiFonics Odin VIII Amp Dyno Test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZjZYWCIjparh8k 1987 HiFonics Colossus VI Amp Dyno Test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHKTl6Gbp66ZnK8 1983 HiFonics Odin IV Amp Dyno Test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHzMiJiPn8mVoac 1990 Autotek 7100 BTS Amp Dyno Test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y57df6NmotyIabM 1992 Autotek 7300 BTS Amp Dyno Test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6fYfHqJebWakLM 1990 Autotek 7054 BTS Amp Dyno Test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqKtq4SbaLWcr9E 1990 Autotek 9050 BTS Amp Dyno Test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/opfPeXaAnb5-gqM *TEST BENCH EQUIPMENT* SMD / D'Amore Engineering Amp Dyno: goo.gl/sJTcf7 XS Power LTO Lithium Battery Cells - lddy.no/1ivr6 XS Power D1400 14V AGM Batteries - amzn.to/2BPFCKW XS Power Titan 8 Lithium Battery - lddy.no/1iq28 XS Power PSC60 Charger - amzn.to/2CHGcfs Fluke 1000A AC/DC Clamp Meter: amzn.to/2Rw5WDA Handheld Dyno: amzn.to/2u2EgKV My Favorite Screwdriver Kit: amzn.to/3vijokl _DISCLAIMER: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase from one of the product links, I may receive a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases_

[@K0Kaz]

I think a lot of us wish 1989 was only _25_ years ago!

[@jedpetersen3806]

I was thinking the same thing! Big D's slippin😂

[@sirdeuces968]

35 years ago! Ugh!!

[@bigcatauna]

It was more like 15 years ago ,I stopped growing up around then

[@dextermorgan1]

Yes we do. Those were the good ol' days. Lol

[@johnbelwell2461]

I remember when i knew guys born in 1989 and were 20yo 😂

[@Jt19702]

These are the best videos. Especially if you are from the late 80’s era of car audio.

[@StonerCreek74]

I'm 50 this year and been in the Car Audio business since I was 16. When I hear the costs of these products from back then compared to today it amazes me. Not only did we spend crazy money on these products, alot of switched things out all the time when the new best things came out. Seemed like money was growing on trees back then for me. Great times!

[@wal2]

Yeah things were so expensive, I saved for months to buy stuff. I sure did my research to keep from wasting $$

[@m4rvinmartian]

Literally still have this amp running a 10" in my work vehicle. I bought it new, in the 80s. Cost a FKTON of money for a kid. Amortizing it over the years of use I got from it, and the low watt sound Q contests I won with it, I think I got a good deal.

[@91CavGT5]

OMG!! Zed audio HiFonics amps were what I drooled over and wanted so bad when I was in high school. Eventually, I ended up with two Cupids(one series 7 and one series 8) and a Zeus. Those amps were workhorses, and were clean as well. I always kick myself for getting rid of them. Thanks Big D!! You’ve been hitting it out of the park lately!!!

[@thomaspadgett5840]

same here had amp in video , Icarus a Cupid wish I still had them

[@paulchristman5875]

Damn. Me too. Clean and unveiled. All Zed audio stuff was on another level of hifi

[@spudrubble]

First time i ever even heard of HiFonics amp was a guy around Everett WA running a Hifonics Colossus Zeus connected to Peavy 24" Black Widows in the bed of a green Chevy El Camino. Loudest thing I ever heard in my life.

[@bondalero0074]

My Zed built HiFonics “Cyclops” 100x1w was the BEST amp I’ve ever owned to date! I think I got mine in 89’/90’ from Stereo Concepts in Gautier,Ms. and it was such a Beast on two Kicker 10” subs in custom boxes. It was one of the first mono amps with a built-in cross over that I noticed. I still think of this U.S. made amp and the quality back then with a huge price tag but worth every penny!#ZedBuilt#HiFonics#Cyclops#🔊

[@defaultdriftco00]

2:35 they used red back then because the blue led as we know it now, wasn’t invented until the mid nineties and not widely adopted until the later. Thanks for another awesome amp dyno video, sir!❤

[@envisionelectronics]

And the green LEDs in 1989 were basically yellow…and expensive compared to red. 1989 folks were used to red power LEDs.

[@terryc7142]

I used to sell and install HiFonics VII and VIII ! They were always rated for less than their true abilities. Plus, the design made it so even clipping sounded better than other amps. The waveform would be rounded off somewhat at clipping, so it wasn't quite as harsh. Great amps and great review!

[@LowLevelNC]

Big D, thanks for the HiFonics love! I had an Olympus VIII and a Cupid VIII back in the day. Sure wish i had thought about using a barrier strip back then. Those molex plugs were such a pain!

[@DGM218]

I still have my Pluto rated for 70 watts. I initially had it to run door speakers with a Cyclops running the subs. Once I became a family man I kept things simpler and smaller and have been running the Pluto on a single 8. Still sounds great to this day.

[@m4rvinmartian]

Mine is currently running a 10". Represent! Lol.

[@bondalero0074]

The Zed built “Cyclops” 100x1 mono amp was the first ever mono with built in crossover that I payed a fortune for and hands down the best amp I EVER owned for 2 decades! Mine was stolen and I still dream about it!#ZedMemories#80’sBestofTimes#🔊❤️@DGM218

[@bigdogbrodavepresents6178]

250 watts @ 2ohm mono... Legendary micro amp with monster power output. Installed a few of these back in the daze... BDBD/2024

[@stevemaniaci4750]

Had this same amp once . For 2 years, there were no problems in 1990. Hook up in a ford escort on my mids. Loved it an sold it to my buddy an bought more car audio. Also had his big brother thor. Nothing but clean loud tunes. Thanks, big d wiz for the review

[@avnut5517]

Did a large system with all of those back in 89. I still have the 50w / ch version. Great sound quality. Excellent made in USA amps!

[@blech71]

That amp case design was always my favorite; Zeus and Isis I used quite a bit. I had the red on black Lanzar 240 & 500 but the aesthetics from HiFonics always looked so much better!

[@markrandolph5046]

Excellent amp in 89 👍

[@Chris2487XD]

My dad had a setup in a truck years ago with a Cyclops VIII and Pluto VII. These amps are great and they would probably fire back up after all these years. I also still have those and an Odin VIII lying around. Would love to see more HiFonics!

[@m4rvinmartian]

I will buy them. Seriously... I'm working on a project car from that era and I'd love to have those in there. I have a (hold on, threw up a lil in my mouth) Skar audio as a place holder right now. Lol, j/k Skar isn't bad, but definitely not ideal for the quality level build I am going for.

[@greenreaper8663]

Zed audio was great stuff back in the day. I ran 3 autotek 66’s on 12 12” kicker subs and 2 of the 44’s on mids and highs. It was a great system back then.

[@stereomojo]

I’m loving the Thursday videos! Thanks Big D!

[@timbarney53]

Very Nice. Does exactly what you want it to do . Love the old stuff. THANKS for another great video.

[@markfresh2000]

In 1995 I bought a HiFonics Zeus amp from The Stereo Shop in Pomona (it was out of their demo Datsun 510). That amp bumped hard, but then like a year later I discovered that I wasn't even running it in bridged mode. After that is nearly cracked my windshield with 2X JL W0 12's. Amazingly, I happened across a matching 4-channel HiFonics Olympus amp at a pawn shop. I put that to a set of Boston Acoustic 3-way components and a big EQ with 2 caps. Damn that system was clean.

[@m4rvinmartian]

Damn, u rich bro. ;)

[@nunyabizznizz7326]

always liked hifonics....

[@roughboygarage1475]

I think the world needs a ZED audio history lesson. I mean how many different Amp brands did they produce? I've always wondered.

[@byronn.2885]

I have owned several older Clarion amps that to my understanding were a ZED design.

[@thomaspadgett5840]

OMG had this amp on 2 jlw0 in early 90s it got HOT!! never stopped playing

[@Andrew-fr3bp]

Imagine running 2 pairs of 6x9's off this Pluto amp back in the day, that would jam !!

[@cueball981]

I started driving in 1991. By the time I was ready to get my license, I had already purchased a car and installed a system in it. I lusted for these old school Hifonics, Phoenix Gold, Soundstream, and Alpine amps. My first system consisted of the very first CD Changer by Sony with an attached controller/headunit (looked like a white tackle box) feeding 2 amps; a Majestic 100x100 running in 2ohm load to Boston Acoustics 506 plates in the doors and 4" Pyle closed-back in the rear (at the time, I had no idea what a front-stage meant). For the subs, I had a Coustic 380 powering 2 Blaupunkt 8's in a dual chambered ported enclosure tuned to 38hz. That system was my pride and joy until I heard a car burglary gang was targeting my car, so I uninstalled everything and sold it off. That system is what hooked me, and now at nearly 49, I'm still in the game, though my current system is waaaay more advanced and robust. I'll never forget those first few years in car audio, though. I learned so much by experimenting and reading as many magazines as possible, going to car audio events, and hounding my local audio shops for tips and pointers.

[@OldManBadly]

I would say that the headroom on this amp is impressive... a lot of space for dynamic response even when you have it cranked. Compare that with the current amps that do say 100watts at 1% and 101 dynamic... joy.

[@jonesaleroy]

I'm impressed myself. I had one like that and it sounded really good!

[@ashadams4722]

35 years old. love your videos

[@blazed_existence3338]

I had a pair of the Ulysses 50w cheater amps and they put out some really good power bridged.

[@St3v3theWeave]

Damn. I've got one. Was going to use it for highs, Odin for mids, and a Thor or 2 for lows. That's unbelievable.

[@warpedhifi1]

I still have a few of the Pluto VII, they will run at 2 ohms mono, but man the get really hot, really fast. Great video!!!

[@brianwatson3705]

That was almost my first stereo setup. Pluto bridged on 2 low power 12s and the alpine 3522 on a pair of Jensen triaxles

[@drozcompany4132]

Awesome little amp!

[@davidsutton5266]

I had a hifonics falcon running 2 tens that thing rocked hard

[@sabawadot-com4185]

Dang, throwback. I still have my Hifonics Aphrodite of this vintage back in the closet collecting dust :)

[@tccoggs]

These guys were good performers but I liked the look of the next series with the white heatsinks and new lettering the best overall.

[@91CavGT5]

That was the series 8.

[@mbfcamanslife]

I've got 2 series viii Pluto's running the front sound stage in my car and love them. Old school for the win

[@MuvoTX]

Very nice Derek... one of the best SQ amps of the era, surprisingly loud too. The best of late 80s Zed audio. I had a europa 30x4 and an Odin 75x2.

[@cpufrost]

Loved the series 7! Had a few Zeus amps. These were superb sounding and they only went into protect if you were really doing something stupid!

[@m4rvinmartian]

A FEW? How rich were you?

[@jonesaleroy]

Still sounds solid!

[@dancingwiththedogsdj]

You're amazing Big "D"! Keep rockin' my friend!!! 😊🌎❤️🕺🏻🐶

[@kjsmolik]

It's probably the most channel matched amp I have seen on your channel.

[@Mr-Neven]

Blue LEDs were hard to produce and very expensive back in the day.

[@JustinGrosz]

They are still the hardest and most expensive to produce.

[@legendsofcaraudiobradnewso8424]

ZED for the win!

[@jandjhotwheels]

Sweet demo Big D! Thanks for sharing and have a great rest of your week 😃👍👍🤙

[@ruikazane5123]

TL594 on the power supply...fancy! That old HiFonics logo definitely better than what happened to them nowadays. As do the amps, no cookie cutter units. And yes, the power LED got to be green...but red is cheaper so there that goes...

[@bigray3360]

35 year old amp sounds and performs great

[@gregnash7918]

We ran this amp 2ohm mono .... it was great. Greg

[@R.J.1]

This is right around when I got into car audio, when I was 12 in 1989. They sold Motorola Pagers at my local audio store so I got one lol. I had a full system before I even had a car. Couple 12" Pyle Drivers on a Zapco with a Alpine head unit. Went into a Honda Accord my grandparents sold me for cheap.

[@kirkkopka8871]

I had the original white one. Had it in the glovebox of my Chevy chevet 😊

[@shawnk4517]

What a little beast

[@PVW4EVER]

ZED Audio was top notch

[@chrishuyler3580]

I love the old school tests, but I do wish Big D was able to test some of the high end modern equipment with the same test format.

[@joboy77]

I had a couple of the old school HiFonics amps back in the day. Great amps, but expensive.

[@bondalero0074]

I remember Zed HiFonics amps were the first with built in crossovers and that was huge for the time and definitely worth the money! I got years out of my “Cyclops” 100x1w amp before my 90’ Nissan 300z was stolen in N.O. at a 92’ Gn’R concert! I still think about that car and amp!🔊❤️@joboy77

[@audiokeller1975]

Wow! That small amp is on par with a punch 40 😊 Nice Video 👍👍👍

[@dustypotter926]

I got one of these on trade back in early 2000s think i still have it at my dad's house attic. Only thing is the 2.5v gain using it on my head unit it would distort before max volume. I was told it's because the head unit put out to much voltage for it.

[@jjthomas9656]

Awesome seeing 80s gear i cut my teeth on starting as a 12v tech.i ran 2 plutos on mids and highs,great SQ amps!!! How about a linear power review please?

[@jameshobbs1460]

I had a pluto powering a pair of Yamaha plate speakers in my back deck of my tercel and a a Alphasonic MAS 1100 amp on a CV LE 15D4 sub infinate baffle in my 81 tercell.. lol

[@nelsonpalma7461]

Big D the blue LED was first presented in 1992 and was the last piece in the LED history in order to produce all colors. That’s why old school electronics before that only came with GREEN OR RED LED COLORS!!

[@drozcompany4132]

Yeah I've heard that too but it was available before then. My 84 VW had a blue LED for the high-beam indicator. It was quite dim, however.

[@nelsonpalma7461]

Maybe wasn’t LED

[@camv5193]

I love the flea market hash tag

[@tatialo37]

Cool amp!!! I'm a fan of these " peanut" amps, like RFP 30! Rfp 45 hd!

[@z1berzerker]

Great old school 🏫 audio information 👍😎 you missed a decade... 30yrs since High School 🏫 graduation 🎓 😉 lol

[@bojangles1023]

Thank you for that

[@bayramoglumurathan925]

Thanks.

[@marckendrick3163]

Starting my hifonics 7 and 8 series now.... 25 years later 😅😅

[@FrankStPeter]

I can't remember the name of the 50 W per channel one.But it was a monster,,, I remember I took that Amplifier And stacked it with a Majestic 250. Per channel. On 2 of the 12 inch blue thunders version one. And a 4 cubic foot box. It was absolutely amazing back then anyways.

[@dylanthevillian1]

Badass!!!

[@joshholden8561]

My dad had a alpine amp just like that under his seat in his 70 Chevelle and I remember after he got his music installed he took a 20 minute test drive with me and the guy who installed it and it went up in smoke he slammed on the brakes and ripped it out of his car and ripped all the wiring out in like 10!seconds.

[@BigMerc91CMDNJ]

I have a old Power Acoustik 2 channel amp that looks similar to this. It sounds great though I don't know it's actual rms. I'm going to use it again on a Skar Audio 10 inch mid where the factory subwoofer was in my 98 Navigator.

[@paulgood2218]

Made in the usa . I have a couple zed audio 2 channel on my shelf . One boss and a planet audio . Both still sound good

[@foreverendeavors6210]

Very cool! I have a carver pt1250 amp I would love to see you test, the only thing is I don't know if I want to part with it for that long, lol who knows..

[@Trapperjohn1000]

Wish you could test the old Hifonics Ulysses Amp

[@tropicana7776]

I Love hifonics vii ,i actually still got my zeus,( 2 pluto,and a thor!!!

[@chijiokepenny2100]

Have you dyno'd any Hifonic Gen X amps?? I have a genX Zeus and two Simpsons. It would be cool to see what they could do!!!😅😅

[@hdm299]

Ran this amp on my mids and highs and a vulcan on my 15"s

[@gen-X-trader]

I loved these, they didn't sound that great, definitely not a smooth sounding amp but they put out a good deal of power and drove subs well. In my area they were also constantly on sale making them one of the best value amps

[@joshholden8561]

I recently came across a amp u might like it's a power acoustic with vu meters apache 980 I believe is model number they was popular before the area 51 power acoustic amps came out.

[@phillipbainbridge9107]

It would appear, given the presence of VX series Nichicon, that this has had a majority recap at the least halfway through its lifetime.

[@Iowa599]

I want to see IR shots of the circuit board during bridged 2ohm operation!

[@wal2]

I only did dynamic tests at 2 ohms mono

[@Iowa599]

@@wal2 I know, but whatever way you do it to see how hot & what parts get hot.

[@BensAudioCave]

did that amp get recapped? Nichicons aren't common place generally

[@quevicular]

These were all the competition with auto Tech and rodeck amplifiers

[@floydwilliams3321]

Cool

[@pierrenorman421]

these could go down to .5 ohms. competitors loved these in the low-power categories. the pluto could run eight 6" mids or tweets at 4 ohms each. the issue was the massive amount of current these would draw... they were unbeatable. knew a guy ran 4 15" subs off a single hi-fonics jupiter. with three amplifiers, he was unbeatable.

[@MrRVRclubprez]

I have looked, but can't find where you have tested the odin series 7?

[@PVW4EVER]

Wow I had a Zeus Boltar and Thor

[@alfredmontoya6740]

Blue LED’s weren’t available back then. Green, I dunno when those came out. Blue LED’s have a story behind them.

[@74midwestbass74]

👍👍

[@Warg666]

Gah my 1st Car Audio mag buying guide is from 1992 or so, I do have a 1989 or so yr Home Stereo one with Car Audio prices instead which was a odd one.

[@TokenTombstone]

Neato

[@k-sell4065]

I hated those amps with the power and ground wires coming directly out the amp

[@mugendrewable]

If I had to take a guess at which one of those three sounded the best it would be the Alpine.

[@TurboSound1983]

#Question: You always show tests with the ELAC speakers. Have you ever considered GR Research? ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 Upgrade Kit to test. Maybe as a collaboration. And your opinion on the difference in component quality, does it make a difference or not.? let's discuss Great video thumbs up!

[@lazzer408]

It was probably "properly" rated 2x 30W@0.01% and you get more because you're running it up to 1% and beginning to measure a clipped signal. 1% is quite clipped. Amp dyno lies. It's a cool novelty though.

[@fanatic26]

im betting that Autotek in the teaser looks identical to this amp inside

[@wal2]

👌😝👍

[@fanatic26]

@@wal2The stereo shop I worked at back in the 90s was a Hifonics dealer. Its a lot of fun to see this old Zed stuff still alive and kickin. If you know, you know!

[@ktmktm12]

Not bad for a 35-year-old amp. ;)

[@joshholden8561]

Man I abused the crap out of old hifonics always bridged class ab at 2 ohms ran em hot but they would never die it might thermal shut down but are tanks ! .

[@byker4lyfe1]

I think I know why the red power led... I don't think blue was invented yet... however, green was a thing so idk 🤷‍♂️

[@orion2250]

Find some coustic amps please