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Because that 50W/CH is marketing watts, more like 12W/ch really.

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Edit: How, about the one sold here , i have one like that lying under my seat, and it sounds great.

I did see that. Alas, the seller is UK based and the cost/effort of shipping is most likely a deal breaker. Not to mention that I can't see/touch it before the sale. Living in the SF Bay Area, I would assume that all manner of options exist for me in my own back yard... hmm, more surfing at Craigslist, I guess.
Under the seat isn't an option for me, though- no room there in a del Sol. Trunk mounting is an option- heck, the empeg is going to make my 6CD changer useless anyway. Wiring would be sooo much nicer/easier if everything were in the dash, though.

Here's an audio-n00b question:
Do I really need a 4CH amp?
Isn't four channels the way that we get balance and fade capability?
That is, if I want to have balance and fade, must I use a 4CH?
I've read a few 'basic audio intro' articles, but I guess they weren't basic enough for me.
Thanks-

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what I'm really saying is that I don't need much more power than what my stock head-unit puts out. Certainly that's not 50W/CH.

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I suspect that there's not much of a market for sub 50W stand-alone amps...

You'd be surprised... Of course most are advertised with far higher numbers But those advertised as sub50W would tend to the better [build&sound]quality end of the range.

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If I were a hardware geek I would look at stealing the amp board out of another head unit and packaging it up nice and neat under the dash.

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Here's an audio-n00b question:
Do I really need a 4CH amp?
Isn't four channels the way that we get balance and fade capability?
That is, if I want to have balance and fade, must I use a 4CH?

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I've read a few 'basic audio intro' articles, but I guess they weren't basic enough for me.
Thanks-

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Don't know whether yu've seen this one, but I tend to always recommend this resource which starts with the true basics and goes on to pretty advanced stuff...

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but there must be some 'heavier' resources out there.

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... After having bought my initial MkI shortly after a new VW Polo, cash was a bit tight and I went with 2 Pyramid amps off eBay. One 4channel (4x75W - yeah right) and one 2 channel that I ran the sub off. For the money, surprisingly good...

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Ah- two key words have finally sunk into my brain- Pyramid and eBay.
I wasn't thinking of eBay at all but then realized it's a treasure trove of *information*, not only a marketplace.
Googling for Pyramid amps got me this site, where I found a couple of possibilities:
http://www.millionbuy.com/lcyla160.html
http://www.millionbuy.com/pyrpb180px.html
Small size, low power, a few key features... and a low price.
"At what sacrifice to sound quality??" I hear a few audiophyles cry.
Yet I heed thee not.
I think I've found something that will work.
Anyone had other experiences with Legacy or Pryamid?

That Pyramid amp looks to be exactly what I as using for front and rear, in a slightly different housing... Might be some internal differences also, or not. Model number was PB230PX instead of PB180PX. [Update] Ah, it's also there http://www.millionbuy.com/pyrpb230px.html , tho the spec back then was slightly different;2x90 + 2x60W instead of 2x50 + 2x100W. [/Update]



While what I upgraded to - a 6 channel Audiobahn A6600E, also off eBay - sounds smewhat cleaner (even my poor ears can tell), it is certainly not something audiophiles laude, generally considered chrome and flames before quality, it did get the nod for best sound in Amersfoort last year, powering DLS PS6 6.5" components up front, Knutsson 8" 3-ways in the rear and a DLS W712 12" (sealed) sub.