4 ohm load or 1 ohm load?

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Minimum wattage is only there to give you an idea of how much power you will need to get the sub moving enough to produce audible output across its usable frequency range. It's only stated for planning purposes and gives you an idea of the efficieny of the sub. It in no way is a limit. You COULD run less power to it, you just wouldn't get usable output, but really low power, even fully clipped, isn't going to damage the speaker.

Clipping becomes a big deal around the thermal power handling of the sub. Run a clean signal from a 300W amp to a 300W sub and all is good. Badly clip the 300W amp and it is capable of producing more than 300W and a ton of distortion. The distortion isn't what will kill the sub, but the high wattage that is effectively mostly DC will by exceeding the thermal limits of the sub.

 

[dkguitarist 5,000+ posts]

ok i gotta ask tho, where did you learn everything helotaxi? i envy you.

 

[soulstace 10+ year member]

Thanks for clearing that up for me guys. I'm sure it will help the original poster as well.

 

[justinschmiidt 10+ year member]

run those dual 4's down to 1 ohm and wang on 1200 watts

 

[mtdewelf 10+ year member]

as said, ohm load will not affect SQ of sub. Understanding that a amp doesn't put out RMS power all the time is important, if your volume is only 1/10th the way up your sub isn't getting shit for power, so underpowering won't hurt anything, cept maybe your pride lol

You've had a great response(helotaxi/DK) compared to most noobs and should be VERY greatful, questions like these usually only get a couple //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif for responses.

 

[soulstace 10+ year member]

as said, ohm load will not affect SQ of sub.

But it does affect efficiency, correct? By that I mean lower impedence has more efficiency, and higher impedence has less efficiency.

 

[seg_representin 10+ year member]

Thanks for all the replies everybody...really helped me on my decision, but i'm still not exactly sure what i'm gonna do. I think i'm just gonna get some sound deadener and then if i have some extra cash then i'm gonna get that amp and sell the one i have now cuz i haven't used it for very long.

 

[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

But it does affect efficiency, correct? By that I mean lower impedence has more efficiency, and higher impedence has less efficiency.

Efficiency isn't relative to impedance. It depends on what class the amp is.

There are plenty of "high current" mono amps (class a/b) that are horribly inefficient.

It just so happens a majority of the low impedance (2/1 ohm) amps are class D, that is what makes them efficient.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

But it does affect efficiency, correct? By that I mean lower impedence has more efficiency, and higher impedence has less efficiency.

The efficiency of what? The sub or the amp? The amp is actually lees efficient at low impedance because more current flowing through the power supply and output stage means more power lost as heat for the same power output. The sub doesn't care one way or the other. If you were to wire a dual 2 ohm coil sub for either a 4 ohm or 1 ohm load and apply 500W into that load, the voltage and current would be the same on each coil of the sub either way. The same power would be applied and the sub would move the same amount.