QuestionQUESTION: I recently purchased two 15" audiobahn AW1571SE subs. I have a sony xplode 760 watt amp. when i turn it up the amp will kick off. It never did that with my other subs i had which were JL's 12" but thats all i know about those. I also have a 2.5 farad capacitor hooked up. I was wondering if you can give me some advice. anything that would help really. I don't even really know what i'm trying to ask. I would just like to POUND! lol well thanks for anything you can give me. Any other info ya need just ask. O yeah its 4 gauge wire that i'm using.
ANSWER: Check your ground, first.
You may have different impedance speakers than before and this could easily be the cause. The JL's may not have been dual voice coil. The Audiobahns could be wired many different ways, a few of which WILL kill that amp or cause it to go into thermal protection.
Each 15 could be wireed at 2 or 8 ohms. I would wire them so that each speakers voice coil is in series (8 ohms). Then wire the pair together in parallel-mono for a 4 Ohm mono load. The best you can get from that amp is 2 ohms per channel or 4 ohms in bridged-mono.
The idea of the amp level control is to allow you to get RMS power from the amp when the volume at the deck is at or very near 100%.
Tune the level of your amps until you get to this point.
You may need to change the crossover settings as well. A lower crossover frequency can allow you to turn the amp up more, but if the crossover point is set higher, you will need to reduce the amp level or it will fry.
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QUESTION: Ok so how do i wire the speakers up like that? how do you get the amp to do that also? Do you think i should get a different amp then? I'm lost on this stuff. I just hook up wires how they go and hope for the best.
ANSWER: You are doing the right thing by asking. The real test of a new installer is patience, though! Do not get so excited that you lose scope of saftey and common sense.
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/ca/learningcenter/car/subwoofer_wiring/2DVC_4-o
Be sure all of the bass boosts on the amp, loudness, bass and treble or DSP's on the deck have been centered or defeated before continuing.
* Set the input sensitivity controls of your amplifier to their minimum level (counter clockwise).
* Put in a CD and turn the receiver's volume control up (you might have to raise the amp's gain just a bit to hear the music).
* When you hear distortion, stop. Turn the volume down until it disappears. As much signal as possible is passing from the receiver to the amp. This maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio, and leaves your system less prone to engine noise problems. Keep the volume setting here.
* Now turn the gain controls on the amplifier up until it's as loud as you'll play it. If you hear distortion, slightly decrease the gain settings.
Now you've optimized the amp's output with the receiver's volume set near maximum. You can turn the volume almost all the way up and not damage your speakers or amplify distortion. If you're hooking up a subwoofer, a test disc (or bass-heavy CD) is helpful for making final adjustments.
There is a wealth of basic knowledge here:
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Learn/Article/Menu.aspx?g=820&tp=996
Good luck and let me know if you have any further questions, Joe.
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QUESTION: What you didn't mention is the best option for running the speakers regardless of the amp. How do you get them wired in that fashion too? I know very little about omhs and rms or watts for that matter. I'm wanting to get the most out of the subs and I'm willing to get a new amp. Which amp would be best to run the speakers at peak? Thanks for all the help!
AnswerPeak is NOT optimal. Apparently everything I have told you about RMS went in one ear and out the other.
I have told you how to wire them as I would professionally advise.
Regardless of the amp? There is no such option.
The speaker 'load' is what is important.
You can wire that pair from 1 - 16 ohms. The fact is that if you have an amp that provides the RMS power they need at the impedance they are wired at.. the output will be the same.
If you do not want to learn as you go, you are destined to have many problems.
If you want to learn, do some reading at crutchfield and there ya go.
I am done answering this phase of the question.
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Learn/Article/Menu.aspx?g=820&tp=996
I did not pick up an audio magazine and become a master installer/designer. I have spent three decades getting to this point.
In other words if you do not trust me to not only guide you but to also to give you my professional yet free advice, move along, ask someone else and good luck.
Here is a link to every type of DVC sub wiring.
http://www.crutchfield.com/learn/learningcenter/car/subwoofers_wiring.html
There is wealth of data there at crutchfield if one wants to use it. Remember that the idea is to send full RMS wattage tot he speaker array. No matter the final load impedance.
Jerry Mael
