4 Channel Amp vs. 2 Channel + Monoamp

[denim 5,000+ posts]

nope ,they are under rated a bit tho ,i've seen guys putting 500-700 rms on them

We don't promote sending more power then ratted as the returns are minimal and could threaten thermal failure if not done correctly.

 

[Rhythm 10+ year member]

We don't promote sending more power then ratted as the returns are minimal and could threaten thermal failure if not done correctly.

So then nothing more than around 350rms?

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

So then nothing more than around 350rms?

You can send more power to it as plenty of people do with their Dcon's, headroom is not a bad thing. But because of a number of different reasons, we do not suggest it.

 

[Rhythm 10+ year member]

So you're just covering your butt, got it.

 

[zako 10+ year member]

If you're on a tight budget, a single 4-channel amplifier could work beautifully. I'd recommend a class D amp that can give you 300-500watts in bridged mode. I have been using PPI Phantom P900.4 (same as Soundstream TN4.900d), rated for 450watts in bridged mode. I have been happy with the output, and the amp runs only warm. Plenty of subwoofers will get loud enough on this power. Of course, if you're willing to spend twice as much money, having two amplifiers would be better, specially if you listen primarily rap, dubstep, etc, anything with "synthetic" bass. Power is cheap, it's easy and cheap to run 1000watts to the sub stage these days.

 

[denim 5,000+ posts]

So you're just covering your butt, got it.

No, not so much. It is the problem with the market now, people widely assume when sub woofer "A" is ratted for 1000 watts, then it MUST be able to take or it MUST need 1500 to 2000 to get loud or preform. Many companies perpetuate that idea, leading the majority of inexperienced to think it is ok. Those are the ones who usually blow the sub woofer and then blame the sub woofer, not thinking about why or what they might have done wrong in the installation. So when we have a sub such as the Dcon (non-SPL leaning), there are a number of factors that go into play here.

 

We have to rate the sub woofer accordingly to it's thermal comfort zone and where it is performing at it's best with out risking failure, while taking into account the market perception of needing 50 - 100% more then ratted power to get the driver to preform like on youtube. No, I am not ignoring headroom, that is a different subject matter when relating to how to rate a sub woofer. So yes, plenty of people are running more then ratted on their Dcon's with zero issues. But, the mass majority of them have a good understanding how to apply that power and how to set their amplifier gains and when to know that the sub woofer is being stressed past it's point of intended design.

 

Something also to think about is too many people with daily driver systems, look a these mega power SPL competition systems and think they can do the same thing. For example, we have a high power competitor, Steve Mead (no "e", Camaro with 4 x Zcon 15's), who is sniffing a 160 on the mic and has a 5k amp on each Zcon. Now, this is not his daily driver, and people really like the videos of this fiberglass bodied car fluttering when he is in the lanes or testing. With his install (serious electrical system), even with the serious Texas heat, he is rarely reaching thermal limits now. What can happen is a non-competitor see's that video and think it's ok to do it in their daily driver. 99% of the time, those daily driver installs do not remotely come close to the same electrical system. In addition to that, many times gains are not set correctly or the amplifier is not receiving the proper current, or it's a very cheap amplifier. Taking all that into account, daily driver installs are played for many more hours then serious high power competition installs are played, allowing much more heat to build up in the sub woofer. In no way am I saying there are people competing with the Dcon's, but it all has to be taken into consideration when we rate a sub woofer. Essentially, if we warranty user mistakes or lack of knowledge issues, we would not last very long.