Orion HCCA5000.1D Competition Series Mono-Channel Amplifier Review

Orion’s HCCA series of monoblock and multi-channel amps have stirred up quite a ruckus within the audio community.

There are those who couldn’t wait to see this type of performance offered at what is necessarily a very reasonable price, while others are still reserved.

The reality of the situation is that you get what you pay for, both in a right way and in a wrong way.

Orion HCCA5000.1D Competition Series Mono-Channel amp comes packing enough heat to meet an average user’s requirements several times over, while those who have a bit higher expectations can look forward to finally having a solution for their complicated setups.

Our mission today is to get familiarized with this amp and figure out whether or not it’s everything Orion claims it is.

We are going to find out some awesome benefits HCCA5000.1D has to offer, as well as some things you need to be extremely cautious about.

You should be able to form your own opinion and come to a conclusion that will hopefully go in your favor. With that said, let’s start at the beginning.

Orion HCCA5000 Review

Features of the Orion HCCA5000:

Right off the bat, you can see where Orion spent most of their resources allocated for this project. The enclosure is an ancient school design that we are used to seeing in just about every other monoblock that has come out in past few decades. You get a massive cast aluminum body with large heat syncs and almost no defining features.

Orion chose to produce all of the HCCA models in a single metallic red color. This might sit well with those who are looking for ways to break up the monotony of their black carpet trunks.

On the other hand, those who are into styling might find this solution to be very limiting, especially if they already have everything kitted out in a different color. Since every problem has a solution, you can take the enclosure off and paint it into whatever suits your needs. It’s extra work, but it’s a solution.

On to the things that matter the most. Total nominal Wattage you are looking at here is 11000 at 12.6V. That means 2120 Watts RMS at 4 Ohms, 3600 Watts RMS at 2 Ohms, or 5480 at 1 Ohm. In 14.4V configuration, the figures are a bit larger.

At 4 Ohms you can get some 2200 Watts RMS. This figure jumps to 4120 at 2 Ohms and goes to whopping 7180 Watts RMS at 1 Ohm. Now, that type of output is more than enough for most extreme subwoofer configurations. You can move some serious air if you choose to do so.

Regarding some raw specs, the frequency response range goes from 15Hz to 250Hz at -2.5dB. That’s a particular and narrow band that tells you the bass is going to be very thick at your end of the equation. It comes with a crossover built in, as you would expect, and two filters. Both of these filters work in the 15Hz – 250Hz range.

There are no external controls aside from the remote gain knob you can install on your dashboard. All in all, Orion HCCA5000.1D Competition Series Mono-Channel amp is not the most complex design out there, but it promises to get you the power you need no matter what kind of crazy design you have in mind.

Looking for More Soul Pounding Power? Check out the Orion HCCA 11000.1D Amp

How Does this Amp Perform?:

Installing and wiring thing heavy unit is one part of the process where you want to exercise maximum caution. The amp comes with several safety features, but none of them will protect it from suffering a terminal incident if you mess up the wiring. It’s also a relatively large amp, so fitting it into smaller spaces might prove to be a real challenge.

With that said, installation requires no special knowledge or skill. Everything is standard by now.

When it comes to its performance, Orion HCCA5000.1D Competition Series packs an immense amount of heat. You can power just about any HCCA type subwoofer setup that you can think of. Since it’s a Class D amp, its overall efficiency is pretty high. More efficiency means less heat, and it his unit generally doesn’t have an issue with staying relatively cool.

You would have to overload it to induce higher temps. Regarding sound quality, the situation is perfect. The signal is flat, or at least flat enough for bass application although you might want to make sure that you route your cables in a way that will reduce interference from other devices in your car. Let’s say it’s not the most insulated amp out there.

Is the Orion HCCA 5000 x 1 Class D Amp for You?

At the end of the day. Orion HCCA5000.1D Competition Series Mono-Channel Amplifier brings a big sound at a reasonable price. If we are going to be 100% realistic, this type of package always requires some kind of trade-off. In this case its the insulation from interference and a crude installation process.

If these things don’t bother you much, HCCA5000.1D is going to be a great choice for your build.