I had the Kenwood KAC-821 and KAC-823 and KAC-923. All 2 channel Amplifiers. They sound loud and clear. I like the fact that they had built-in cooling fans. I had a MTX 3 way hatchback speaker box, and a Collins dual voice coil Bass Tube, hooked up to the KAC-923, and never had a problem with it.
2004 isn't that far back. You are getting the better gear with better capacitors (Hopefully) in 2004 forward. Cool Amp. Kenwood is still a pretty solid car stereo company. I really like their head units today. Especially the Marine offerings.
It is really sick that it has a current meter, even Alpine with the best they could muster, the MRD-M1000, M1001, M1005 etc, none of them would read current, even with their AI net, amp address, fan and temp monitoring etc fanciness, the only feature I wanted, the only *useful* feature, current, they never had. My brother has a KAC-9105D, it isn't an eXelon, but it's rated 500w @4 and 900w @2. No doubt it makes good power, but I definitely think it rolls off early in the low end. It has a subsonic filter, switch selectable, but even with it off, but seems to be rolling off as you go under 35hz. It pushed a Type R 12 really well, plenty of power, and super reliable and a decent price too, but I just feel the bottom end was lacking. I haven't confirmed it with a scope though. I really like Kenwood, it's always been my top choice above Sony, Pioneer, Clarion and JVC etc. Especially their headunits. It is absolutely crazy what you get for $200. The DMX-9720 is a far superior headunit than anything even Alpine can offer in 2024!
I have that same amplifier your borther has. I am was pushing 2 American bass xd's 500 watts each and it does not break a sweat. I also thought it was rolling off on bottome end. However I switched over to two jbl stadiums and set the sub range on a taramps dsp to start response at 25hz and adjusting the subsonic filter on amplifier it was moving those two at 28hz. So its not the amp, its the subs response range.
