240w each speaker or 240w combined?

ImElvis

Sup yo'
So the sound would be better if I went with the 75w x 4?
Wow haha I always thought the more the merrier until you hit peak.
 

killjoy

New Member
just find an amp that fits your budget, 75 x 2 is fine, 100 x2 is fine, but I wouldn't put 240w to one speaker.. only higher end components should be seeing that kind of power really
 

ImElvis

Sup yo'
just find an amp that fits your budget, 75 x 2 is fine, 100 x2 is fine, but I wouldn't put 240w to one speaker.. only higher end components should be seeing that kind of power really
Ohh alrighty. Does the same thing go for subwoofers or is it okay to give a 1200w subwoofer a 1000w amp?
Also for a 1000w amp, what kind of amp wiring kit do I get? I was going to get a 10 gauge for $20 from walmart but someone said a 10 gauge shouldn't be used to power 1000w?
 
Last edited:

killjoy

New Member
Ohh alrighty. Does the same thing go for subwoofers or is it okay to give a 1200w subwoofer a 1000w amp?
Also for a 1000w amp, what kind of amp wiring kit do I get? I was going to get a 10 gauge for $20 from walmart but someone said a 10 gauge shouldn't be used to power 1000w?

Short answer, yes if the sub can truely take that much power. but it depends heavily on brand. Many, many cheaply made foreign brands are notorious for exaggerating even their RMS rating, let alone peak power. As for Mainstream brands however, anything fairly well known stick close to their RMS. Some beefer subs can handle 1000-1200w a piece, yes... If you want I could suggest some great brands for any budget and

They were right, for a 1000w amp, you're going to want at least 4 gauge. if more than that (1200 and beyond really), this includes more than 1 amp, you need to upgrade to 0 gauge if your total power exceeds ~1200w otherwise your amps aren't playing at their best efficiency. Now its not to say it won't work if you used 10 gauge, but the amp has 4 gauge power inputs for a reason.
 


ImElvis

Sup yo'
Short answer, yes if the sub can truely take that much power. but it depends heavily on brand. Many, many cheaply made foreign brands are notorious for exaggerating even their RMS rating, let alone peak power. As for Mainstream brands however, anything fairly well known stick close to their RMS. Some beefer subs can handle 1000-1200w a piece, yes... If you want I could suggest some great brands for any budget and

They were right, for a 1000w amp, you're going to want at least 4 gauge. if more than that (1200 and beyond really), this includes more than 1 amp, you need to upgrade to 0 gauge if your total power exceeds ~1200w otherwise your amps aren't playing at their best efficiency. Now its not to say it won't work if you used 10 gauge, but the amp has 4 gauge power inputs for a reason.
Ohh, good point. So 4 gauge it is.
What are some of your suggestions for $200 total. I might not need an amp wiring kit cause my friend's dad has spare. Even though I have $200 to spend, are there any brands for a budget under $200? Possibly $160-ish?
Which would sound better? A 12" Sony Xplod 1200w sub or a 12" Kicker 300w sub? If an amp is 500 watts, and has 2 channels. Could I use one channel, meaning just use 250 watts to power the 12" 300w Kicker? Or do I HAVE to use both channels?
 
Last edited:

killjoy

New Member
Ohh, good point. So 4 gauge it is.
What are some of your suggestions for $200 total. I might not need an amp wiring kit cause my friend's dad has spare. Even though I have $200 to spend, are there any brands for a budget under $200? Possibly $160-ish?
Which would sound better? A 12" Sony Xplod 1200w sub or a 12" Kicker 300w sub? If an amp is 500 watts, and has 2 channels. Could I use one channel, meaning just use 250 watts to power the 12" 300w Kicker? Or do I HAVE to use both channels?
so you have a 500w, 2ch amp already? whats the model number? impedance (or ohm rating) is very important when pairing amps with subs. I would use Kicker over Sony, but it depends on what you have. What would you do with the other channel if you weren't to use it?
 

ImElvis

Sup yo'
so you have a 500w, 2ch amp already? whats the model number? impedance (or ohm rating) is very important when pairing amps with subs. I would use Kicker over Sony, but it depends on what you have. What would you do with the other channel if you weren't to use it?
No, I don't have anything yet.
Since the Kicker is 300w and the Sony is 1200w, does that mean the Sony would kick harder?
I was just wondering if I could actually do that or if I have to use both channels, because I can't find a 300w amp anywhere. I was planning on getting the Crunch P500.2 250-Watt 2-Channel Amp from Wal-mart to go with the Kicker C124 12" Sub.
 


Last edited:

killjoy

New Member
with that kind of budget, I'd honestly go eBay. Stick with power sellers with near perfect feedback and you will be fine. Or, go used. http://www.caraudio.com/forum/car-audio-classifieds/ this is a great website for used audio equipment. Everyone uses paypal. If you don't have a box, you may want to look on craiglist for a package deal. Or up your budget.

Yes, the Sony would be louder... but I'd still rather own the Kicker. Sony hasn't produced anything decent in car audio since the 90s..

look on ebay for brands like Eclipse, Rockford Fosgate, Alpine, Kicker, JL (overpriced usually though) Hifonics (for sub amps only. Crunch is actually owned by the same company, but I believe Hifonics makes a better amp) and theres a bunch of very good and decent audio brands that are not well known or known at all that would work. Shop around!

Real quick, this right here http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ECLIPSE-XA1200-MONO-600W-CLASS-D-CAR-AMPLIFIER-AMP-/300437064570?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Car_Amplifiers&hash=item45f371cb7a is a good deal. Eclipse pulled out the North American market for car audio a few months ago, so all their stuff is pretty cheap right now. I love Eclipse, their stuff is bulletproof and quality made.
 

killjoy

New Member
oh also, to save a little bit of money you could go with a 10 instead of a 12. With our hatches, it is verrry easy to get loud, a single 10 in a ported box off 500w will be plenty.. if you want louder I can suggest some beefer 10s that will take 500w all day and want more. Check out www.Ficaraudio.com.. these I believe are some of the best subs for the money on the market. I've personally installed many of these and suggest them highly (slightly out of your price range, I just want to get them more known!)
 

ImElvis

Sup yo'
with that kind of budget, I'd honestly go eBay. Stick with power sellers with near perfect feedback and you will be fine. Or, go used. http://www.caraudio.com/forum/car-audio-classifieds/ this is a great website for used audio equipment. Everyone uses paypal. If you don't have a box, you may want to look on craiglist for a package deal. Or up your budget.

Yes, the Sony would be louder... but I'd still rather own the Kicker. Sony hasn't produced anything decent in car audio since the 90s..

look on ebay for brands like Eclipse, Rockford Fosgate, Alpine, Kicker, JL (overpriced usually though) Hifonics (for sub amps only. Crunch is actually owned by the same company, but I believe Hifonics makes a better amp) and theres a bunch of very good and decent audio brands that are not well known or known at all that would work. Shop around!

Real quick, this right here http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ECLIPSE-XA1200-MONO-600W-CLASS-D-CAR-AMPLIFIER-AMP-/300437064570?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Car_Amplifiers&hash=item45f371cb7a is a good deal. Eclipse pulled out the North American market for car audio a few months ago, so all their stuff is pretty cheap right now. I love Eclipse, their stuff is bulletproof and quality made.
oh also, to save a little bit of money you could go with a 10 instead of a 12. With our hatches, it is verrry easy to get loud, a single 10 in a ported box off 500w will be plenty.. if you want louder I can suggest some beefer 10s that will take 500w all day and want more. Check out www.Ficaraudio.com.. these I believe are some of the best subs for the money on the market. I've personally installed many of these and suggest them highly (slightly out of your price range, I just want to get them more known!)
A friend of mine suggested Visonik off of Ebay, he got two 12" Subs, 1000w Amp, and a Amp wiring kit all for $70. I went to see if it was worth it and I'd buy it.. but they only go for $150 on Ebay unless you bid.
But I'll keep looking around and searching those names, thanks!
I've seen Ficaraudio.com around a lot on other forums when someone asks about subwoofers and such.
You're right, it's over my budget a bit..
 

killjoy

New Member
please stay away from Visonik, Pyle, Pyramid, Dual, and any other brand that seems to cheap to be any good, because they are just that. very overratted products that are very cheaply made. You're better off saving your money and doing it right the first time.. Trust me, I've been there!!

Amplifiers that claim they put out 1000w, but only draw maybe 40 amps of current (like those brands) is proof - thats breaking the laws of physics right there. These companies just blatantly lie to the average ignorant consumer. Sure they work, but their products are just crap.
 
Last edited:

ImElvis

Sup yo'
please stay away from Visonik, Pyle, Pyramid, Dual, and any other brand that seems to cheap to be any good, because they are just that. very overratted products that are very cheaply made. You're better off saving your money and doing it right the first time.. Trust me, I've been there!!

Amplifiers that claim they put out 1000w, but only draw maybe 40 amps of current (like those brands) is proof - thats breaking the laws of physics right there. These companies just blatantly lie to the average ignorant consumer. Sure they work, but their products are just crap.
Ohh wow haha at first I thought amps were amps.. all they do is power subs, I never thought they could make it terribly. Are MTX and Boss good brands or are they the ''too cheap to be any good"?
 

killjoy

New Member
MTX isn't terrible, along the lines of Kenwood/Pioneer amps... Boss is with the bottom crowd.

And I thought the same way before I got into this industry, amps are amps. but if you were to pop the hood on a cheap amp vs an actual quality made amp, you can SEE the difference.. there is a difference. Especially when it comes to powering internal speakers - quality of internal parts becomes very important.
 

killjoy

New Member
I will say however, the California series amps by Profile are good cheap decent amplifiers. They can be found cheaply on the net and put out rated power and are reliable - I've used them before and I'm actually using a 4 channel Profile amp in my Teg right now. 2 Channels are pushing my Boston components in my doors, and the other 2 channels are bridged to a Clarion 10" sub - sounds great for a budget system (no rear fill, I don't believe its even needed).
 

ImElvis

Sup yo'
I will say however, the California series amps by Profile are good cheap decent amplifiers. They can be found cheaply on the net and put out rated power and are reliable - I've used them before and I'm actually using a 4 channel Profile amp in my Teg right now. 2 Channels are pushing my Boston components in my doors, and the other 2 channels are bridged to a Clarion 10" sub - sounds great for a budget system (no rear fill, I don't believe its even needed).
Oh, I can't find Profile on Ebay. I typed in Profile Amp and "Low Profile Mini Amp Fuse" shows up.
My friend is selling his car and he's going to give me his Visonik setup for free cause he knows I've been looking hard for good deal and haven't really found one yet. So I might take his subs, and buy a quality Amp to power them, and spend the rest of the money on an Amp for my speakers.
You can put 2 channels to power 1 thing? That.. sounds impossible for some reason haha
 
Top