I did a search already and no answer found yet. I am putting in a system, mild by some standards, should be good enough for me. Wanted to get a red or yellow top, heard all the rave reviews etc. Thought the car may need a new battery so i went to autozone and they did a test. computer said dead battery needs replacement. Ok, car has always started but whatever. So i had asked around before and everyone says optima is no better than any other battery but for it being dry cell. So i ask this guy, and another guy behind the counter chimes in with him saying if you want to spend the extra cash, no problem, but cca are the same between the duralast gold and the yellow top, and the constant amps i think was the optima had like a 70amp more. Now i am going to run a 1farad capacitor, and have 70X4 rms to the speakers, 420rms to the 1 10"sub. Should I be ok? Everyone so far has said yes.

 

I would use the red top.

 

I'd never use a red top in a car with a system. I've seen way to many of them fail due to the fact that's it's not a true dry cell, it's not worth spending the extra money when you can spend a little more and get the yellow top. I'd go with the yellow top or something equilvelant. Never ran duralast, but I've ran Deka and SVR's with little to no problems. If your only gonna run a mild system you should be good with the duralast just make sure the vehile is running when the system is on otherwise you will probaly end up frying a cell.

 

I used to think yellow tops were the way to go, but I was wrong. Red tops will outlast a yellow anyday in an audio system. The problem with yellow tops is that they hold more of a charge, but they cannot recharge as fast as a red top + they need to be trickle charged once a week.You can read about it here:

http://forum.elitecaraudio.com/showt...hreadid=119893
http://forum.elitecaraudio.com/showt...1&pagenumber=2

 

In my humble opinion I would go with yellow top its a deep cycle and can be drained to almost nothing without hurting the battery a Deep Cycle battery takes over double the time to kill using a system. My opinion maybe Bias because optima gave me then and because I needed deep cycle for the judging lanes..


Also it was a great thing the day I left my headlights on for over 5 hours came back and car started right up.. GOOO deep cycle..

 

Well, by judging from what i read and the links you sent me, i don't leave my lights on and they cut off automatically if i did, rarely if ever run the stereo without the car on, and it seems yellow tops are highly defective or don't recover well, and that duralast gold seems to be a ok. So I will stick with this battery for now unless something tells me otherwise.

Gracias

 

I am very happy with my yellow-top, it puts up with my systems abuse. I have a 3 farrad cap though as well. Good luck with whatever you choose