DB Link XK4Z 1200 watt 4 gauge Amp Kit

Kit Includes:

16′ +1′ Clear Red 4 Gauge bare copper clad aluminum power wire

3′ Clear Black 4 Gauge bare copper clad aluminum ground wire

17′ Clea X Series RCA Cable

17′ Clear 16 Gauge speaker wire

60A AGU Fuse, fuse holder, ring and spade terminals, wire loom and wire ties.

While shopping around for this review, we came across two DB Link amplifier installation kits that were similarly priced and included very similar components. The DB Link XK4Z and PK4Z come with 17′ of power and 3′ ground wire, 17′ RCA cable, and slightly different speaker wire lengths. What caught my attention however was the PK4Z is rated at 1600 watts and the XK4Z only 1200 watts. Both are 4 gauge and both include 60A AGU fuses. So how exactly can you rate one amp kit for more power, yet include the same size fuse?

I dove into the DB Link amp kits at the same time so I could do a little pre-evaluation. Looking at the cross section, I could see there was a different rope configuration between the two models but the area was very similar. After pulling the ropes apart and counting each model, the PK4Z is actually 10% larger then the power wire within the XK4Z amp installation kit. Placing each model on our digital scale confirmed a weight difference of 10% between the two power wires. So which one of these amp kits is better? The PK4Z obviously, but why rate them at different power ratings and offer the same fuse rating? One is dependant of the other!

After determining the difference between the two DM Link amp kits, I noticed that the power wire included with the XK4Z came in two parts! Inside the package was a separate one foot section of red power wire with a red ring terminal already crimped on one end and a 16′ section coiled up. While I can see the advantage of the crimped ring terminal end, DB Link has now determined for the installer where the inline fuse holder is to be placed. I find this limiting and while the crimped end will help a novice installer, what if set screw battery terminals are going to be used? The crimped ring terminal is wasted and more critically a foot of wire is used without the customers knowledge prior to purchase.

The clear X-Series RCA cable that came within the amp installation kit was a basic, no frills molded RCA cable made from more, you guessed it copper clad aluminum. One thing this review has brought to my attention, the lack of information given with these kits and how easily manufactures take advantage of unknowing buyers. If one is going to incorporate CCA into an RCA, they should at least compensate for the higher resistance and use a larger gauge internal conductor. The “X-Series” also has the exact same specification as the “Jammin” series found in the DB Link PK4Z amp kit

Speaker wire included with the DB Link XK4Z amp kit differed from the speaker wire within the PK4Z wiring kit. The XK4Z had a much more coarse copper clad aluminum strand and far fewer of them. Out of six amp kits with speaker wire, the DB link amp kit had the fourth smallest area. Listed as 16 gauge the XK4Z included 17′ of 19 gauge speaker wire.

Conclusion – At time of purchase, the DB Link XK4Z amp kit was the second most expensive and includes the third largest power wire and makes it our third place finisher. Even with its odd quirks, the DB Link XK4Z uses a 37% larger conductor then fourth place Lanzar’s AMPKIT4.

Specifications – Power/Ground wire

Core Material: 34 Gauge Copper Clad Aluminum (0.15mm)
Rope Configuration: 34 strands x 7 cores x 7 ropes(1666 Strands total)
Dielectric: PVC
Outer Diameter: 10mm
Core Diameter: 5.81mm
Total Conductor Area: 17.17mm^2
Net American Wire Gauge: 6 Gauge

Specifications – RCA Cable

Signal Core Construction: 0.10 CCA strand x 20 – 26 Gauge core
Ground Core Constructionl: 0.12 CCA strand x 30 – 22 Gauge core
Shield: Ground and Foil Shield
Outer Diameter: 5.5mm x 12.5mm
Weight: 0.318kg

Specifications – Speaker wire

Core Material: 36 Gauge Bare Oxygne Free Copper
Rope Configuration: 98 strands
Dielectric: PVC
Outer Diameter: 3.5mm x 7mm
Total Conductor Area: 1.11mm^2
Net American Wire Gauge: 17 Gauge