Hi. Currently I have 2 15" solobaric subs and an Audiobahn 600X2 amp and i was planning on buying an identical second amp.
I was wondering if there is anyway i can keep my subs wired to one amp, and combine the power of both amps by hooking it up a certain way, or if each sub has to be wired to their own amp.
Also, if both ways are possible, which one is better?
Thanks
Replies (16)
compvr15s on 06/13/2005 16:29:08
some amps are able to be daiseychained together. i know kicker amps are able to do this, i do not know about audiobahn amps, if its a two channel amp more than likey you will not be able to do this... i dont know any reason for doing this other than competition where you need more than one amp to a sub... it will be much easier for you just to give each sub its own amp. note no two amps are identical, when you get your other amp, more than likely it will rate higher or lower than the amp you have now, so may want use a volt meter and get the power going to each sub the same. wont make any difference if you do not do this, but one sub may move farther than the other. wont be much if any. good luck.
Beau640 on 06/13/2005 16:35:08
so even if i get the exact same brand, model, and type of amp i have now, it wont be the same in rating?
Thanks
compvr15s on 06/13/2005 18:16:44
they are rated at the same 600x2 but one may put out 630x2 and the other may be only 602x2, ya see what im saying,they are not exactly 600x2 usually are always over what they say, but the lower end brands like pyle pyramid, jenson, they over rate thier ratings to boost sails, they may say 1000 watts but actaully those brands will only probably put out 250 watts.
Beau640 on 06/13/2005 18:17:26
Ok :) thanks a lot!
lessismorespl on 06/13/2005 20:21:18
Yes, this is very true, which is why Kicker amps have birth certificates, and MTX amps have the certified power certificate.
Which Solo's do you have?(L5 or L7) and are they 4ohm DVC or 2ohm DVC? Reason I ask is this, if you have the L5's, you can run them at 2ohms on ea channel and get 600 wRMS to ea sub, or you can bridge the amp @ 4ohms and get the same 600 wRMS to ea sub. For what another one of those amps would cause, you can buy a good Class D which would be more efficient.
less
swez on 06/14/2005 09:48:41
If you do use dual amps or a 2 channel version, (1 sub per channel) can match power outputs to each sub pretty well by using an AC voltmeter. Just measure the outputs at each sub and adjust the amp gain controls until the voltages are the same from each channel. This is best done with test tones.
If you have 2+2 DVC's, can bridge the amps MONO, and run each sub off its own amp. Again, matching the output voltages to each sub are the key to a balanced output to each sub.
Swez
PS A pair of these amps will draw a large amount of current from your electricals. Hope you have a 250A ALT or higher to power them. You'll need it.
Beau640 on 06/14/2005 11:34:32
one last question :)
These amps are designed to be used with a bass boost knob.
If i hook each sub up to its own amp, does that mean i have to have 2 separate bass boost knobs? or can i hook it up so 1 bass boost knob will control both amps?
Thanks
MrBrownstone on 06/14/2005 13:10:46
In a nutshell, you'd be better off replacing that amplifier altogether with a much better design...class D 1000Wx1 amplifier that can handle the lower impedance of wiring in parallel.
Honestly, it's kinda like having 2 nets to catch one large fish. If you are hauling in a shark, why not have a shark net?
compvr15s on 06/14/2005 15:21:17
good way of looking at it brown. i didnt even think to recommend him a class d amp, since he already had one of the 2channels. but for sure a single mono amp will be better than having two of the audiobahns that you already have, much more efficient and can handle a 2 ohm load and give out high amounts of power/
Beau640 on 06/14/2005 17:16:03
Hmm...
So instead of buying another one of the audiobahns that i already have, Getting rid of the 2 channel audiobahn i have now and replacing it with a mono, single channel class D amp will be more powerful?
That single channel amp would only power 1 speaker though right? So i'd have to buy 2 class Ds if i wanted 1 for each speaker?
compvr15s on 06/14/2005 17:42:59
no a mono class d amp can power multiple speakers. i would recommed a 1000-1500 watt amp, depending on the L5 or L7, if L5 go with the smaller end amps. are your speakers dual 4 or dual 2 ohm? hopefully you can get a 2 ohm load to the amp, this will get most power out of ihe amp.
Beau640 on 06/14/2005 17:53:20
Ok i'm almost positive that these subs (L5s) have dual 2 ohm voice coils.
But still, one Class D amp between 1000-1500 watts will be louder and create more bass than 2 Audiobahn amps? (1 for each speaker) The audiobahn amps are 1200 watts each...
I don't know much about ohms even though i've tried to understand it, but how can one class D amp of only 1500 watts be louder than 2 Audiobahn amps with a combined power of at least 2400 watts?
Thanks
compvr15s on 06/14/2005 18:00:07
yes one amp will out perform two, its just a matter of matching the subs requirments with the power of the sub. if they are dual 2 ohm, this is good, wired each sub in series and then wire them together parellel to the amp.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/victorginger/detail?.dir=8136&.dnm=cdfb.jpg&.src=ph
refer to this picture if you do not understand, after wiring the sub individually you will be at 4 ohms per sub, then once you combine them togheter you will have 2 ohms to your amp... L5s say 750watts rms so, id say anwhere from 1200 watts up you will be fine... a kicker kx1200.1 may be an amp to look into.. class d amps are way more efficient this makes them much better than class a/b amps for running subs.. if you go with two audiobahns you may need an electrial upgrade, those are some power hungry amps. if i was you i would try to sell the amp you have now, and go the way we mentioned.
compvr15s on 06/14/2005 18:01:50
if you want, we can chat through yahoo or AIM if you have those, and i can help you much quicker and easier
Beau640 on 06/14/2005 18:07:43
yes could you IM me at BurtonBoarder640 on AIM
Thanks
swez on 06/15/2005 19:10:32
Update:
Chatted with Beau on AIM last night for over 3 hours. We determined he has a pair of 4+4 Solo L5's. They are independently wired to a 2 ohm load per sub, and parallel wired to the Bahn amp in bridged mode. This is a 1 ohm load and the amp is rated for 1 ohm loads in stereo and Mono modes. (Bahn A2150 HTC)
Beau claims his amp gain setting is 0.2 volts, bass boost well above +6 dB and the amp does not seem to be clipping at peaks. We are not sure on the HU output voltage as this is an older HU. It could be 2 or 4 volts, but we are not sure. Need to measure that to confirm.
Beau will be buying a multimeter soon so we can get some voltage measurements off the subs. This amp is rated at 600 x 2 or 1200 x 1 @ 1 ohm. Each sub will get 600 Wrms.
Voltage readings expected at full power:
Voltage = sqrt of Watts x Ohms
600 * 2 = 1200
sqrt of 1200 = 34.6 volts AC
I would expect slightly higher voltage numbers, depending on frequency range of the input music source. Impedence values change based on frequency (up or down) depending on sub characteristics.
Swez
I was wondering if there is anyway i can keep my subs wired to one amp, and combine the power of both amps by hooking it up a certain way, or if each sub has to be wired to their own amp.
Also, if both ways are possible, which one is better?
Thanks
Replies (16)
compvr15s on 06/13/2005 16:29:08
some amps are able to be daiseychained together. i know kicker amps are able to do this, i do not know about audiobahn amps, if its a two channel amp more than likey you will not be able to do this... i dont know any reason for doing this other than competition where you need more than one amp to a sub... it will be much easier for you just to give each sub its own amp. note no two amps are identical, when you get your other amp, more than likely it will rate higher or lower than the amp you have now, so may want use a volt meter and get the power going to each sub the same. wont make any difference if you do not do this, but one sub may move farther than the other. wont be much if any. good luck.
Beau640 on 06/13/2005 16:35:08
so even if i get the exact same brand, model, and type of amp i have now, it wont be the same in rating?
Thanks
compvr15s on 06/13/2005 18:16:44
they are rated at the same 600x2 but one may put out 630x2 and the other may be only 602x2, ya see what im saying,they are not exactly 600x2 usually are always over what they say, but the lower end brands like pyle pyramid, jenson, they over rate thier ratings to boost sails, they may say 1000 watts but actaully those brands will only probably put out 250 watts.
Beau640 on 06/13/2005 18:17:26
Ok :) thanks a lot!
lessismorespl on 06/13/2005 20:21:18
Yes, this is very true, which is why Kicker amps have birth certificates, and MTX amps have the certified power certificate.
Which Solo's do you have?(L5 or L7) and are they 4ohm DVC or 2ohm DVC? Reason I ask is this, if you have the L5's, you can run them at 2ohms on ea channel and get 600 wRMS to ea sub, or you can bridge the amp @ 4ohms and get the same 600 wRMS to ea sub. For what another one of those amps would cause, you can buy a good Class D which would be more efficient.
less
swez on 06/14/2005 09:48:41
If you do use dual amps or a 2 channel version, (1 sub per channel) can match power outputs to each sub pretty well by using an AC voltmeter. Just measure the outputs at each sub and adjust the amp gain controls until the voltages are the same from each channel. This is best done with test tones.
If you have 2+2 DVC's, can bridge the amps MONO, and run each sub off its own amp. Again, matching the output voltages to each sub are the key to a balanced output to each sub.
Swez
PS A pair of these amps will draw a large amount of current from your electricals. Hope you have a 250A ALT or higher to power them. You'll need it.
Beau640 on 06/14/2005 11:34:32
one last question :)
These amps are designed to be used with a bass boost knob.
If i hook each sub up to its own amp, does that mean i have to have 2 separate bass boost knobs? or can i hook it up so 1 bass boost knob will control both amps?
Thanks
MrBrownstone on 06/14/2005 13:10:46
In a nutshell, you'd be better off replacing that amplifier altogether with a much better design...class D 1000Wx1 amplifier that can handle the lower impedance of wiring in parallel.
Honestly, it's kinda like having 2 nets to catch one large fish. If you are hauling in a shark, why not have a shark net?
compvr15s on 06/14/2005 15:21:17
good way of looking at it brown. i didnt even think to recommend him a class d amp, since he already had one of the 2channels. but for sure a single mono amp will be better than having two of the audiobahns that you already have, much more efficient and can handle a 2 ohm load and give out high amounts of power/
Beau640 on 06/14/2005 17:16:03
Hmm...
So instead of buying another one of the audiobahns that i already have, Getting rid of the 2 channel audiobahn i have now and replacing it with a mono, single channel class D amp will be more powerful?
That single channel amp would only power 1 speaker though right? So i'd have to buy 2 class Ds if i wanted 1 for each speaker?
compvr15s on 06/14/2005 17:42:59
no a mono class d amp can power multiple speakers. i would recommed a 1000-1500 watt amp, depending on the L5 or L7, if L5 go with the smaller end amps. are your speakers dual 4 or dual 2 ohm? hopefully you can get a 2 ohm load to the amp, this will get most power out of ihe amp.
Beau640 on 06/14/2005 17:53:20
Ok i'm almost positive that these subs (L5s) have dual 2 ohm voice coils.
But still, one Class D amp between 1000-1500 watts will be louder and create more bass than 2 Audiobahn amps? (1 for each speaker) The audiobahn amps are 1200 watts each...
I don't know much about ohms even though i've tried to understand it, but how can one class D amp of only 1500 watts be louder than 2 Audiobahn amps with a combined power of at least 2400 watts?
Thanks
compvr15s on 06/14/2005 18:00:07
yes one amp will out perform two, its just a matter of matching the subs requirments with the power of the sub. if they are dual 2 ohm, this is good, wired each sub in series and then wire them together parellel to the amp.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/victorginger/detail?.dir=8136&.dnm=cdfb.jpg&.src=ph
refer to this picture if you do not understand, after wiring the sub individually you will be at 4 ohms per sub, then once you combine them togheter you will have 2 ohms to your amp... L5s say 750watts rms so, id say anwhere from 1200 watts up you will be fine... a kicker kx1200.1 may be an amp to look into.. class d amps are way more efficient this makes them much better than class a/b amps for running subs.. if you go with two audiobahns you may need an electrial upgrade, those are some power hungry amps. if i was you i would try to sell the amp you have now, and go the way we mentioned.
compvr15s on 06/14/2005 18:01:50
if you want, we can chat through yahoo or AIM if you have those, and i can help you much quicker and easier
Beau640 on 06/14/2005 18:07:43
yes could you IM me at BurtonBoarder640 on AIM
Thanks
swez on 06/15/2005 19:10:32
Update:
Chatted with Beau on AIM last night for over 3 hours. We determined he has a pair of 4+4 Solo L5's. They are independently wired to a 2 ohm load per sub, and parallel wired to the Bahn amp in bridged mode. This is a 1 ohm load and the amp is rated for 1 ohm loads in stereo and Mono modes. (Bahn A2150 HTC)
Beau claims his amp gain setting is 0.2 volts, bass boost well above +6 dB and the amp does not seem to be clipping at peaks. We are not sure on the HU output voltage as this is an older HU. It could be 2 or 4 volts, but we are not sure. Need to measure that to confirm.
Beau will be buying a multimeter soon so we can get some voltage measurements off the subs. This amp is rated at 600 x 2 or 1200 x 1 @ 1 ohm. Each sub will get 600 Wrms.
Voltage readings expected at full power:
Voltage = sqrt of Watts x Ohms
600 * 2 = 1200
sqrt of 1200 = 34.6 volts AC
I would expect slightly higher voltage numbers, depending on frequency range of the input music source. Impedence values change based on frequency (up or down) depending on sub characteristics.
Swez
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