4-channel Bridged vs. 2-channel

[lohman 10+ year member]

To power a set of components, what's the difference between bridging a 4-channel amp (such as this) and running a 2-channel amp (this)?

Click to read more...

 

[TeoTorriatte 10+ year member]

Only difference that you will have to adjust two gain knobs with the bridged 4-channel... that's it.

 

[Hintzyboy 5,000+ posts]

active vs. passive
edit, nvm. nothing really

Bridging a 4-channel amp will not give you an active setup.

The only real difference is that it will probably cheaper to get a small 4-channel amp and bridge it for the same power as a higher-output 2-channel.

 

[dumple 5,000+ posts]

yea get the 4 chan and go active but if not then there is no point in buying the 4 and bridging it when the same can be achieved with just buying the 2 chan amp

 

[lohman 10+ year member]

Reason I was looking at the 4-channel is that from my price searching, that 4-channel offers a much better value then a 2-channel at 150w rms...

 

[dumple 5,000+ posts]

your not confined to alpine amps or crutchfield are you? You can find way better deals on better amps other places

look into sonicelectronix.com woofersetc.com ikesound.com ebay.com many more out there those are the ones i can think off of the top of my head

 

[lohman 10+ year member]

your not confined to alpine amps or crutchfield are you? You can find way better deals on better amps other places look into sonicelectronix.com woofersetc.com ikesound.com ebay.com many more out there those are the ones i can think off of the top of my head

Oh no, I just used them to link the examples //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[dumple 5,000+ posts]

oh ok well take a look on those sites

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I typically go with bridged 4-channels since they generally are a little cheaper than a 2-channel of equivalent (and sometimes less) power into 4ohm. The trade-off is that 4-channels are also typically a little larger, and the majority of them aren't stable into 2ohm when bridged (which normally isn't a problem for a front stage).

 

[jrwalte 10+ year member]

The other advantage with the 4 channel is you can go active in the future if you want. You'd have to replace the 2 channel or buy another one.