Is there any benefit to multiple amplifiers?

[ogloc.1574]

Hello all just a question i have to gain some knowledge. Let say you have a subwoofer running off a mono block and you are planning a 3 way front stage active with rear fill with a dsp. What is the difference between running four 2 channel amplifiers and a single 8 channel amplifier?

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[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

Hello all just a question i have to gain some knowledge. Let say you have a subwoofer running off a mono block and you are planning a 3 way front stage active with rear fill with a dsp. What is the difference between running four 2 channel amplifiers and a single 8 channel amplifier?

You wouldn't need as much power to the tweets/mids as you would the sub and midbass so you could get a smaller amp for that.

Personally I'd grab a 6 channel and a monoblock for that kind of setup

 

[Jimi77 Premium Member]

Running 2 amps will require a little more wiring, I think an 8 channel would look cleaner. You could run a lower power 4 channel for the tweets and rears. 8 channels due tend to be more expensive.

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

I missed the rears part

 

[spokey9 5,000+ posts]

A quality 8 channel will cost more than 2 quality 4 channels in most cases

 

[mahc 10+ year member]

8ch amp will take less space and make a cleaner install but if it fails, your whole system is down. Easier and cheaper to just swap one 2ch.

 

[RobGMN Premium Member]

If they are specced the same, the only difference (as mentioned) would be a cleaner, easier install, with less likelihood of problems like ground lops, power issues (one amp losing while others don't, due to connections).

Of course, that modular option protects you from being 100% down due to failure, but how many non-comp folks here have had their mains amp crap out?

 

[ThxOne Premium Member]

Words of advice. If you run fewer amps or one amp, have backups in case it goes down. I had a US Acoustics 4 channel go down on me. It was my main amp and not having a backup right away was not fun. Something I will be doing with this install. I am running a 7 channel amp for the whole system. I have multiple 2 and 4 channel amps for backup.

 

[Jimi77 Premium Member]

Words of advice. If you run fewer amps or one amp, have backups in case it goes down. I had a US Acoustics 4 channel go down on me. It was my main amp and not having a backup right away was not fun. Something I will be doing with this install. I am running a 7 channel amp for the whole system. I have multiple 2 and 4 channel amps for backup.

That's dedication to the hobby.

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

I've talked to a serious competitor once from DD, they put one amp per coil per sub, so each amp is link-controlled to output the same wattage, so each amp puts out the same wattage no matter the impedance differences on the coils iirc, or that's the goal, such as impedance differences between subs and even difference between the two coils on 1 sub, caused by being in different relative locations in the box or the vehicle. This system had 16x amps on 8x subs and iirc it was something like 4kw amp per coil, DD Z's. I know that doesn't really help acutely, but maybe it does obtusely.

 

[Doxquzme Premium Member]

Mo is betta!

(it would be hypocritical of me to state otherwise)

 

[Old_Slapper]

What vehicle is this going in? As already mentioned, here are the pros and cons of a single amp.
Pros:

1. Smaller footprint.
2. Easier to install.
3. Cleaner install.

Cons:

1. More power for the same money when using multiple amps.
2. More expensive to replace if anything went out.
3. More brand available
4. A wall of amps is more impressive looking.

 

[huberoy123 10+ year member]

Multiple amps make it easier to adjust the sound for the dedicated speakers, and. easier to troubleshoot problems. It also gives the impression that you are somewhat advanced in the hobby.