4 Channel amp wiring question

[Croat23 10+ year member]

I want to get an Orion XTR 800.4 amp. It puts out 200x4 @ 2 ohms, 100x4 @ 4ohms, or 400x2 @ 2ohms. The sub I'm planning on getting is an Image Dynamics IDQ12" (Dual 4 ohm voice coil since I want to run the amp at 2 ohms). My question is this....Is it possible to use 2 channels to run the front 2 speakers at 2ohms and use the other 2 channels to run the back 2 speakers and the sub @ 2 ohms? I know I saw some kind of device in my crutchfield catalog that allows you to convert 2 channels to 3, but my main concern is, would it be some how possible to run the speakers at 2 ohms even though they are 4ohm speakers? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but this is the first system I'm putting together and want to get it right before I go and purchase everything. Thanks in advance for the help.

Mike

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[Steven 10+ year member]

I would actually get another 4 channel amp for the front and rear speakers and use this amp just to run the Sub.

Get a 2-ohm DVC sub and wire each Coil to one of the bridged channels. This will run each voice coil in the sub at 400 watts @ 2-ohms.

 

[Frraksurred 10+ year member]

Wouldn't he be running the VC's of the same sub with two different signals? If I'm understanding you correctly then his VC's will be working against each other. Correct me if I'm mistaken, that's just how it reads.

If I were you (Croat23) I would use the 4 ch for the front and rear spkrs and get a mono amp for the subs. D class amps put out more punch in the right freq range for subs and they are typically less expensive. The IDQ12's are 350w RMS, 750w peak. Sooo... I don't know what to suggest if you want to go Orion, but you could get a JBL BP600.1 and with properly set gains have plenty of amp to grow with for negligible cost (aprox $230). If you don't want a systym that looks like a crossbreed, then display your Orion and hide the JBL ( just give it air). //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

God bless you.

 

[Steven 10+ year member]

Yes he would have to feed the same signal to both coils. but all thats needed for that is a couple of Y adapters

he should end up with:

Right channel RCA --> Y-Adapter --> both right channels on amp

Left channel RCA --> Y-Adapter --> Both left channels on amp

This way the Amp is receiving both right and left signals, and the subwoofer is getting the same signal in both coils.

most 4-channel amps are just two 2-channel amps in one case.

So using this set-up you could also use 2 separate amplifiers, as long as their RMS and MAX output are the same

JUST MAKE SURE THE GAINS ARE EQUAL.

 

[Trixter 10+ year member]

Either way he will have to get another amp so why not get a mono for the sub?

 

[Trixter 10+ year member]

[...So using this set-up you could also use 2 separate amplifiers, as long as their RMS and MAX output are the same

JUST MAKE SURE THE GAINS ARE EQUAL. [/b]

Actually, I'm looking at getting another Punch 200ix and doing just that. Presenting a 1.33ohm load per amp off of my 3 HE2's.

 

[Croat23 10+ year member]

Thanks for the help guys....I got another question for you then. I'm trying to conserve as much space as possible in my trunk, so I'd really like to avoid getting another amp. Would it be possible for me to run the front 2 speakers and the sub with that orion amp and run the back 2 speakers off of my head unit? Don't know if it really matters, but the speakers I'm planning on getting are Infinity Kappa's and I think their RMS is 2-100. If this isn't possible, what other alternatives do I have without getting another amp? I'm willing to get a 10" woofer instead of a 12" if I have to (The RMS of the 10" IDQ is only 200 I believe (Max 500)).

 

[Trixter 10+ year member]

Originally posted by Croat23 Thanks for the help guys....I got another question for you then. I'm trying to conserve as much space as possible in my trunk, so I'd really like to avoid getting another amp. Would it be possible for me to run the front 2 speakers and the sub with that orion amp and run the back 2 speakers off of my head unit? Don't know if it really matters, but the speakers I'm planning on getting are Infinity Kappa's and I think their RMS is 2-100. If this isn't possible, what other alternatives do I have without getting another amp? I'm willing to get a 10" woofer instead of a 12" if I have to (The RMS of the 10" IDQ is only 200 I believe (Max 500)).

What you said will work.

You could also take the left and right channels and send it to that respective side's front and rear speaker to provide a 2ohm load for 2 channels. Then bridge the other 2 channels and send it to the sub for another 2ohm load.

In the past I have noticed that in doing something like this the sub tends to draw power away from other speakers when using only a single amp for all. But if you want to save space then go for it.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif