.5 ohm to 1ohm effective efficency change?

[timma100 10+ year member]

Currently running a single Crescendo BC2K at .5 ohm.. Considering a move two strapped with a 2ohm total load putting 1ohm on each amp respectively. I know total power draw will increase, but efficency will also significantly increase. If my current electrical is supporting the .5 ohm load with no issues, would this be a sound upgrade path? Or would the better option be a single amp capable of 4 or 5k at 2ohm? (Viking 5k for example)

Thanks for any input!!

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[n2audio 5,000+ posts]

I'd ask Crescendo. And report back if you get an answer.

A quick search didn't find a manual or any efficiency info.

 

[timma100 10+ year member]

I'd ask Crescendo. And report back if you get an answer.A quick search didn't find a manual or any efficiency info.

It would be easy to figure out if it were a static load, but something as dynamic as a speaker ("box rise" can be thought of as the magnetic field of the motor inducing an opposing current into the coil, creating a reactive resistance load felt by the amp) this will increase as coil movement / excursion increases.. if you've ever noticed low excursion burps drawing excessive power, that's one reason why.. anyway.. now that my rant is over.. I guess there's only one way to find out

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

I had a Banda and liked it. They're good for the price. I am interested to see what Crescendo would say about adding an amp an running 2 ohm though

 

[timma100 10+ year member]

I had a Banda and liked it. They're good for the price. I am interested to see what Crescendo would say about adding an amp an running 2 ohm though

From Crescendo

*"Running the BC2000 @ .5ohm you are looking at roughly 250A of current draw producing around 2800watts. With 2 BC2000's @1ohm each you are looking at roughly 400A of current draw producing around 4400 watts. Hope this helps."

So it looks like 80% efficency at .5ohm, which is very good..

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

From Crescendo
*"Running the BC2000 @ .5ohm you are looking at roughly 250A of current draw producing around 2800watts. With 2 BC2000's @1ohm each you are looking at roughly 400A of current draw producing around 4400 watts. Hope this helps."

So it looks like 80% efficency at .5ohm, which is very good..

I'm guessing they're accounting for impedance rise then.

 

[timma100 10+ year member]

I'm guessing they're accounting for impedance rise then.

Yeah they must be, however his calculations for the two amps with 1ohm load equate to a lower total efficiency than running one at .5 ohm.. 400A for 4400Watts @ 14V is a 21.5%ish loss, while 250A for 2800Watts @ 14V is a 20% loss...

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

Then that's really weird, doesn't sound right

 

[timma100 10+ year member]

Then that's really weird, doesn't sound right

Indeed it doesn't, unless the amps have enough overhead power-loss that running two is enough to outweigh the improved efficiency. Or he was pulling numbers out of the air.

 

[Massive spl]

No one amp at .5ohm will be just as loud as two amps 1ohm... I've been there done that done do it... Only way it will be louder is 2 amps .5ohm each

Get a single amp like a 3.5-4K and run it at .5ohm... As long as you don't go full tilt hammer time effiency will still be there.

 

[timma100 10+ year member]

No one amp at .5ohm will be just as loud as two amps 1ohm... I've been there done that done do it... Only way it will be louder is 2 amps .5ohm each
Get a single amp like a 3.5-4K and run it at .5ohm... As long as you don't go full tilt hammer time effiency will still be there.

Seems likely given the information provided, instead of low impedance I was considering a used Viking 7k 1ohm version and running it at 2ohm. Or the same with a Viking 5k, just to give some Brazilian amps a try

 

[shizzzon 10+ year member]

Clearly those were numbers assumed with a resistive load regardless of how durable that is.

Like Massive SPL, 2 amps at 1ohm are better than 1 at 0.5ohm but cost much more.

They aren't much different in dB output to the price difference but efficiency and sound quality is much better.

That's what makes brazilian amplifiers good is efficiency and damping factor when comparing to running any other amplifier below it's rated output.

Make sure you understand how to use a brazilian amplifier before doing so or failures are more likely.

Different brazilian amplifiers have different parameters to follow and their own quirks due to "cutting corners" on some things.

Since late 2015, Soundigital and Taramp's have been pushing the envelope to develop the best quality brazilian amplifiers for the market.

In this case, it is the Soundigital Evolution line and Taramp's DSP line.

However between the two, Soundigital currently has designed their line more suited for subwoofer use without any precautions to follow.

Not lacking far behind, Taramp's is currently about to release the first bass line out of Brazil from the big 3 buildhouses down there.

I say 2016 should be exciting year. Also, a chinese company about to land here in the US, VE Audio, is about to start offering built in DSP's on their amplifiers that is controlled from Apple or Android Phones.

Their Class D amplifiers already have insane damping factor ratings and very nice onboard components for the SQ crowd.

Taramp's has also announced they are starting to build amplifiers for the Home Market including Bluetooth Input Signal capability.

I say finally, these large companies are building with what customers want in the time they want them.

 

[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

Clearly those were numbers assumed with a resistive load regardless of how durable that is.
Like Massive SPL, 2 amps at 1ohm are better than 1 at 0.5ohm but cost much more.

They aren't much different in dB output to the price difference but efficiency and sound quality is much better.

That's what makes brazilian amplifiers good is efficiency and damping factor when comparing to running any other amplifier below it's rated output.

Make sure you understand how to use a brazilian amplifier before doing so or failures are more likely.

Different brazilian amplifiers have different parameters to follow and their own quirks due to "cutting corners" on some things.

Since late 2015, Soundigital and Taramp's have been pushing the envelope to develop the best quality brazilian amplifiers for the market.

In this case, it is the Soundigital Evolution line and Taramp's DSP line.

However between the two, Soundigital currently has designed their line more suited for subwoofer use without any precautions to follow.

Not lacking far behind, Taramp's is currently about to release the first bass line out of Brazil from the big 3 buildhouses down there.

I say 2016 should be exciting year. Also, a chinese company about to land here in the US, VE Audio, is about to start offering built in DSP's on their amplifiers that is controlled from Apple or Android Phones.

Their Class D amplifiers already have insane damping factor ratings and very nice onboard components for the SQ crowd.

Taramp's has also announced they are starting to build amplifiers for the Home Market including Bluetooth Input Signal capability.

I say finally, these large companies are building with what customers want in the time they want them.

Mmmmmmmm Soundigital //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif

I like the tallest one the most