Audio Systems: Car audio question, pioneer deh p3600, pioneer subs


Question
QUESTION: Hi,
    This is a complecated question so here I go.  My friend gave me a sub thats a 10inch pioneer sub.  My other friend is going to sell me his 2 12inch pionner subs with a 1000watt 500RMS pioneer amp.  He told me I could have all 3 subs powered by the amp hes selling me.  But im wondering will I be supplying the subs with enough power to sound good?  I did some research and for most 12inch pioneer subs it says 200RMS and the 10inch pioneer it says 150RMS which would mean 550 total RMS, also meaning thats to much power for the 1000watt 500RMS amp.  So the second question is should I just buy a bigger amp to supply all 3 subs? or could I by another single amp for the 10inch pioneer? or is the 1000watt 500RMS amp I have now enough power for all 3 subs?  Well if you could answer this question I would be very appreciative. Thanks
ANSWER: Power ratings on speaker is how much they will handle before they fail.  You can drive them with 10 watts or less if you want to. It is a function of how much loudness you wish.

The more important thing for your system is:

ONE: Hooking them up for maximum power transfer and impedance match within the specifications of the ratings of the amplifier.

TWO:  The woofers are mounted into enclosures that will optimize their performance.  The enclosures, in your case, will be more important than obtaining a new, higher power amplifier.

If the three woofers are wired in parallel and they are 4 ohms each - which is common, then the load to the amp will be only 1.33 ohms.  Most amps don't like to see less than  2 ohm loads.  So, better check it out and decide about the wiring as in ONE above.

If you have further questions, please let me know.

C



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well I do have more questoins.  The first is do most component insert speakers require there own amps because they require more power than a deck can supply?  The deck I have is pioneer deh p3600 which gives out 22RMS out 4 ways and 50 total watts through 4 ways. So If get 2 speakers for the dash of my car 2 for the front and 2 for the back for a total of 6 speakers which give out up to 30RMS each speaker will this cause any problems with the deck? or is it pointless to buy speakers that go up to 30RMS because the deck wont supply the speakers with the proper amount of energy?  Last but not least you said the wiring is very important what kind of amp wiring kit would you recommend?  At this point I dont know to much about car steros but since I'am going to do it I want to do it right, sounding good and take no short cuts.  Thanks for the time  

Answer
You don't have much power.  It would greatly enhance the sound quality of the system to add an external amplifier.  But, doubling the power does not increase the sound pressure level all that much. You should go for at least 4 times to 10 times the power you know have.  A power increase of 10 times (400w x4) would be really good; and they are not so expensive now days.  You might have to use two stereo amps to get that configuration.... but there are many, many designs in the marketplace. I like www.crutchfield.com for researching the options and alternatives.