Ohms
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 31
From:
Ohms
I have a question about my set up.. I curently have my 2 12" subs hooked up to a 2000w four channel amp (got it free still in box and don't have the money for a better one). It is bridged to two channels and my DVC subs are wired in a series to get an 8ohm load on my amp i think is that to much because my subs are distorting at about half volume and i'm pretty sure they are not blown.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 354
From: Stamford, CT
RE: Ohms
You may want to wire them in parallel that would drop the resistence to 2ohms that should help with the distortion, also can the Subs handle that level of power?
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3rd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 740
From: New Orleans, La
RE: Ohms
1. A 2000 watt amp would shup down your car the instant the bass hit due to the current comsumption, check the manual it came with and find out what kind of power it really puts out. Your lookin for RMS or nominal power.
2.Your DUAL VOICE COIL SUBS are wired correctly if you make them 8 ohms then drop them down to 4 at the amp (series-parrellel configuration). Distortion is a direct result of the gain level. Here's what you do to dial in the gain correctly withou a multi-meter
A)Turn gain completely down
B)Start vehicle and turn volume up to max valume at which you listen to it (high as you normally go)
C)Raise the gain slowly. Listen carefully as yo uwill get to a point where you notice that the subs arn't getting much louder as you turn the gain up but you don't hear any distortion yet. That is where you want you gain to be.
2.Your DUAL VOICE COIL SUBS are wired correctly if you make them 8 ohms then drop them down to 4 at the amp (series-parrellel configuration). Distortion is a direct result of the gain level. Here's what you do to dial in the gain correctly withou a multi-meter
A)Turn gain completely down
B)Start vehicle and turn volume up to max valume at which you listen to it (high as you normally go)
C)Raise the gain slowly. Listen carefully as yo uwill get to a point where you notice that the subs arn't getting much louder as you turn the gain up but you don't hear any distortion yet. That is where you want you gain to be.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 31
From:
RE: Ohms
My Amp is 4 channels bridged to 2 channels and at two channels it is running at about 450w RMS each. I 'd like to know how to tell whether it is my amp or my subs that is causing the distortion because my subs are 1000w peak and about 500 RMS and my amp according to what my amp's power it should push the subs louder than wat they are doing right now. The subs don't cut out or anything its just everytime they come to a part where there supposed to hit hard they sputter.
1st Gear Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 55
From:
RE: Ohms
I assume you have two dual 4 ohm voice coil subs. You have each sub wired in series to present a final load of 8 ohm per sub. The problem is, there is not an ideal solution with a 4 channel amp. When you bridge a 4 channel amp to 2 channels, most amps will are not desinged to operate below 4 ohms bridged. At 8 ohms, the power is basically cut in half, (unless your amp has the ability to put max power into all loads, which few do). So if your amp is rated at 450 watts bridged in 2 channels then, at 8 ohms, each sub is getting around 225 watts. If the amp would do it, running them in parallel would present a 2 ohm load but, most amps will get really hot doing this and damage the amp or shut down. Again, there is really no good way to maximize your power from the amp into your dual 4 ohm subs. I would try F00Mustang's solution and see if it helps. Otherwise, take the risk and run them at 2 ohms each. Other than that, you need a switch in subs or amp to really help.
Let us know the amp brand and if the subs are indeed dual 4 ohm coils.
Let us know the amp brand and if the subs are indeed dual 4 ohm coils.
1st Gear Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 55
From:
RE: Ohms
Ok, I looked up your amp. Why in the world manufactures insist on putting useless ratings on them is beyond me. Lets look at the useful rating. The amp is rated at 200 x 4 @ 4 ohms, 350 x 4 @ 2 ohms and 700 x 2 @ 4 ohms bridged. These are the RMS ratings and to be honest, an amp that cost around $125 is not going to put out these kind of numbers. But, this is what you have so, lets work with it.
Again, you did not mention if your subs are dual 4 ohm or dual 2 ohm voice coils but, I will assume dual 4 ohm. To operate within Pyle's recommended ratings, there is two ways to run it to get the most out of your subs with this amp.
You can wire each sub to a 2 ohm load and run one sub per channel. This would still leave you with two available channels and each sub would receive 350 watts.
Or, you can wire each voice coil to its own channel. Each 4 ohm voice coil would get 200 watts and each sub 400. The problem with this is matching the gains on each channel. If you have say one gain for the front channels and one for the rears, this would work. Just wire one sub to the front channels and one to the rears.
With dual 4 ohm voice coils, there is no way to take full advantage of the 700 x 2. You could run each sub at 2 ohm and run each one to a bridged channel but, Pyle does not recommend it and the amp might heat up too much.
Again, you did not mention if your subs are dual 4 ohm or dual 2 ohm voice coils but, I will assume dual 4 ohm. To operate within Pyle's recommended ratings, there is two ways to run it to get the most out of your subs with this amp.
You can wire each sub to a 2 ohm load and run one sub per channel. This would still leave you with two available channels and each sub would receive 350 watts.
Or, you can wire each voice coil to its own channel. Each 4 ohm voice coil would get 200 watts and each sub 400. The problem with this is matching the gains on each channel. If you have say one gain for the front channels and one for the rears, this would work. Just wire one sub to the front channels and one to the rears.
With dual 4 ohm voice coils, there is no way to take full advantage of the 700 x 2. You could run each sub at 2 ohm and run each one to a bridged channel but, Pyle does not recommend it and the amp might heat up too much.
Moderating with Angels
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,231
From: New Orleans La
RE: Ohms
look at your fusing and multiply by voltage in your car. say you have a 30 amp fuse x 12.4 volts 373.50 at peak 432 when lightning hits and everything is toast. i personally have used nothing but orion amps for the last six years. garbage in = garbage out. sorry not trying to be mean, but your amp being four channel peak at four ohms with two dvc 4 subs. series your voice coils per sub and then parellel your subs to stay at a safe load
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 31
From:
RE: Ohms
ORIGINAL: dconder
Ok, I looked up your amp. Why in the world manufactures insist on putting useless ratings on them is beyond me. Lets look at the useful rating. The amp is rated at 200 x 4 @ 4 ohms, 350 x 4 @ 2 ohms and 700 x 2 @ 4 ohms bridged. These are the RMS ratings and to be honest, an amp that cost around $125 is not going to put out these kind of numbers. But, this is what you have so, lets work with it.
Again, you did not mention if your subs are dual 4 ohm or dual 2 ohm voice coils but, I will assume dual 4 ohm. To operate within Pyle's recommended ratings, there is two ways to run it to get the most out of your subs with this amp.
You can wire each sub to a 2 ohm load and run one sub per channel. This would still leave you with two available channels and each sub would receive 350 watt
Or, you can wire each voice coil to its own channel. Each 4 ohm voice coil would get 200 watts and each sub 400. The problem with this is matching the gains on each channel. If you have say one gain for the front channels and one for the rears, this would work. Just wire one sub to the front channels and one to the rears.
With dual 4 ohm voice coils, there is no way to take full advantage of the 700 x 2. You could run each sub at 2 ohm and run each one to a bridged channel but, Pyle does not recommend it and the amp might heat up too much.
Ok, I looked up your amp. Why in the world manufactures insist on putting useless ratings on them is beyond me. Lets look at the useful rating. The amp is rated at 200 x 4 @ 4 ohms, 350 x 4 @ 2 ohms and 700 x 2 @ 4 ohms bridged. These are the RMS ratings and to be honest, an amp that cost around $125 is not going to put out these kind of numbers. But, this is what you have so, lets work with it.
Again, you did not mention if your subs are dual 4 ohm or dual 2 ohm voice coils but, I will assume dual 4 ohm. To operate within Pyle's recommended ratings, there is two ways to run it to get the most out of your subs with this amp.
You can wire each sub to a 2 ohm load and run one sub per channel. This would still leave you with two available channels and each sub would receive 350 watt
Or, you can wire each voice coil to its own channel. Each 4 ohm voice coil would get 200 watts and each sub 400. The problem with this is matching the gains on each channel. If you have say one gain for the front channels and one for the rears, this would work. Just wire one sub to the front channels and one to the rears.
With dual 4 ohm voice coils, there is no way to take full advantage of the 700 x 2. You could run each sub at 2 ohm and run each one to a bridged channel but, Pyle does not recommend it and the amp might heat up too much.