by JeremyC » Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:15 pm
I want to add something to your theory about over and under powering.
There really isn't such a thing as underpowering a sub. All your doing is limiting its max output.
Its just like turning the volume down, or limiting how loud you can turn it.
Say your running a 2K watt rms amp on a 1000 watt RMS sub. As long as your gains are set properly, and you never turn your deck up till your input stage of your amp is maxed your sub will never see 2K watts.
Say you do turn the deck up till the input stage of your amp is maxed. All you have to do is turn the deck down the equivlent of 3db and your back down to 1K watts rms.
Cut the deck by 3 more db, and now your at 500 watts rms.
See what I'm gettign at here.
Most of us match the RMS output of our amp to the rms rating of the sub. That way we can get every last drop of output when we want it, and still know were not going to run into thermal issues.
There is nothing wrong with running an amp with a higher rms than the speaker its conected to. In some situations the added dynamic headroom can be a plus, especially in your higher end SQ cars.
And the extra headroom can keep the amps from running as hot when you do decide to crank it up a little. BUT..... You have to know your system, and how its set up. So unless your willing to pay someone with the right tools, and a lot of experiance, or you really know what your doing. I wouldn't sugest it.
I want to add something to your theory about over and under powering.
There really isn't such a thing as underpowering a sub. All your doing is limiting its max output.
Its just like turning the volume down, or limiting how loud you can turn it.
Say your running a 2K watt rms amp on a 1000 watt RMS sub. As long as your gains are set properly, and you never turn your deck up till your input stage of your amp is maxed your sub will never see 2K watts.
Say you do turn the deck up till the input stage of your amp is maxed. All you have to do is turn the deck down the equivlent of 3db and your back down to 1K watts rms.
Cut the deck by 3 more db, and now your at 500 watts rms.
See what I'm gettign at here.
Most of us match the RMS output of our amp to the rms rating of the sub. That way we can get every last drop of output when we want it, and still know were not going to run into thermal issues.
There is nothing wrong with running an amp with a higher rms than the speaker its conected to. In some situations the added dynamic headroom can be a plus, especially in your higher end SQ cars.
And the extra headroom can keep the amps from running as hot when you do decide to crank it up a little. BUT..... You have to know your system, and how its set up. So unless your willing to pay someone with the right tools, and a lot of experiance, or you really know what your doing. I wouldn't sugest it.