QuestionQUESTION: I have a Kicker 07DCVR122 sub enclosure that is 2 ohms with rms rated 50 - 800 watts. I am trying to decide between the kicker ZX1000.1 amp rated @ 1000 rms at 2 ohms, or the new RF T1000-1bd Power Series Class-bd Mono amp rated 650 @ 2ohm and 1000 @ 1 ohm. Can the sub box be rewired to 1 ohm to get the most out of the RF amp, or would the 2 ohm kicker amp be best?
ANSWER: Roger,
Your amp should match or be less in rms watts. The ZX1000.1 amp has more rms watts than your enclosure. The problem will be trying to put too much power to the sub and blowing it. It is very easy to do with an overpowered amp. The new Fosgate amp would be a much better match at 650 watts rms. Just a warning though, I have heard stereos with less than 500 watts rms from a mile away. At 650 watts rms, you will not be able to sit in your car and crank it up to full power. Also, Rockford Fosgate is hands down a better product than kicker. Hope this helps, Scott
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QUESTION: Roger,
Would you choose RF over Hifonics. I have a chance to also pick up a Hifonics Tx 1508 mono rated at 900 rms @ 2 ohms. I've heard the gain can just be set a little lower if the amp is more rms than the sub. Is this true. thanks.
roger.
ANSWER: Both brands are hard to beat. They are super durable and can handle just about any task. In this case, I would choose the Hifonics amp. The 1508 is a class D amp, and that is the best circuitry for pumping out bass. The Fosgate bd amp is a hybrid circuitry that cuts a few corners from the class D platform. It is not cheap by any means, but just not quite as dutiful as the Hifonics class D amp. You are correct about turning down the gain control to limit the output of the amp. The problem is that with the power there, most newtimers want to crank it up. It only takes one big hit to blow a sub. Most times there is no warning, because it is very hard to hear distortion in bass (especially 800 watts). Good Luck, Scott
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QUESTION: I had a 200 amp h/o alt installed along with the big three upgrade with 1/0 wire. I only have about a 1000 watt stereo system in my 2004 chevy impala and when I turn the bass up during idle at night my lights still dim. I thought a H/O alt would stop that. Do you know what's wrong?
AnswerThe alternator and wiring upgrade is definitely a good idea to keep from ruining car components such as alternator, wiring, battery, etc., but the light dimming will still happen on hard hits, because they require so much more power than when not hitting hard. The cure for the light dimming and to make the bass hit even harder is a capacitor. Usually in a system under 1000 watts, 1 farad capacity is enough to do the job, but you can buy any size larger, and it will work the same. The capacitor stores up extra power, so when the bass hits hard, the power is available and it is not robbing from other components. It just gets installed just before the amp on the main power line. That will fix your problem. Good Luck, Scott
