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i recently installed a 1000 watt system, 4.1 channels, half go to the 4 channels and 1 go to my two subs, I connected the + of one sub to the amp and the - of the other sub on the amp and connected the other two cables together. I am really not happy with the way it sounds, i used to have a 200 watt amp and it sounds slightly better... not what i was expecting. i am using a 4 guage wire, but i'm using an 8 guage ground.. will i be loosing any power going to my subs if i use this? do you have any suggestions? I also have another question, i am using an enclosed box for both subs, how much of a difference will it make if i changed to a ported box?
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I'd be happy to make some suggestions but I could use more info. Specifically what is the make and model of the amp and subs and weather the subs are single or dual voice coil and the ohms of each coil. What is the cubic footage of each sub chamber or if you don't know that, what is the external dimentions of the sub box. Did you build the box? What thickness and type of wood did you use?
It's not a good idea to use different gauges of wire for and ground so I would change that. Also make sure your ground is very firmly attached to the body of the car and that you've sanded all the paint off where the connection is so its a good ground. Let me know these things and I can definatly help it to sound better
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theyre single coil i believe, xplod's 1100 watts max, i believe their like 300 rms..the amp is a vr3 brand, i believe it gives 440 watts peak (220 rms) for the 4 channels, which i believe sound good, but the orher 440 wats go to the sub channel, (220 rms) sound the same as my 200 watt amp i used to have. I also changed my subs, they used to be lightning audio 100 watts rms 10' subs, and i switched them for the xplods (both 4 ohms). The box i a big box, its about 2 feet wide and about 3 feet long, i bought it a while back, i did not build it.
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Ok well definatly fix the ground and make sure its on bare metal. I don't know what the ohms rating is on that amp but its most definaly 4 ohm stable if not 2 ohm. If its 4 ohm then its rated power of 220 watts rms is for that ohm rating. If you are putting 2 speakers in series that are 4 ohms each then you are presenting an 8 ohm load to the amp. If its rated to drive a 4 ohm load at 220 and you are giving it an 8 ohm load it would only push about 150 watts or so. And each sub is sharing that so they are only getting a measly 75 watts each. Sorry if that doesn't make much sense the way I'm explaining it. to sum it up, you want to drive the amp to its lowest ohm to get the most wattage WITHOUT going below its rated ohm. If it can drive a 2 ohm load, put your subs in parallel and you will pull 3-4 times the power. If you need help with that let me know. Being that the amp's sub channel is rated for 220 watts and your subs are rated to take 600 collectivly, its not a very good match in the first place. I'm on a blackberry right now, when I can look up the amp ill try to give a better answer. Do you know exactly the model of the amp and do you have a head unit or is it a factory stereo in the dash?
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http://www.roadmasterusa.com/amplifiers_vr3.php
its the amplifier that sais 4.1 on it......do you think i'm better off getting the 400 watt amp for my 4 speakers and getting another amp dedicated just for the subs.....if so i'll probably get something with more power...I believe i am running at 8 ohms becuase of the two subs, which i accidentally ran it at 2 by connecting them both to the amp and every time the bass got loud it shut off the amp. so i guess it cannot take 2 ohms....
AnswerYup sounds like it can't support 2 ohms so I would say its not a very good match for those subs. Getting a 2nd amp that's just for the subs would make a big difference. Make sure to get one that is 2 ohm stable and provides between 400 to 700 watts RMS at 2 ohms. Keep that 8 guage power line on the amp for the door speakers and run a new 4 guage for the new amp. Or run a 2 gauge kit for everything.
As for ported vs sealed that's more of an issue of prefrence vs size and build complexity and weather the speakers will work well in a ported vs sealed box. Generally speaking ported boxes are louder in most freqencies at and above the tuning freqency you build the box to and are much quieter below the tuning freqency. Sealed subs are generally smaller, easier to build but less efficient, they play the deeper freqencies better than ported (freqencies that would be below the tuning freq. In the ported design)generally music with droning constant deep bass like rap do well with ported boxes. Music with a punchy beat like techno usually sounds better in a sealed box.
