500 watt amp for a 400 watt RMS sub - precautions I need to take?

[js09 10+ year member]

Just want to make sure I wont blow the sub out. I have a 12" 2ohm kicker CVR and this amp (500 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms).

What do I need to do to make sure everything will be fine? Thanks fellas.

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[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

Just want to make sure I wont blow the sub out. I have a 12" 2ohm kicker CVR and this amp (500 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms).
What do I need to do to make sure everything will be fine? Thanks fellas.

Something to keep in mind is that it will be an extremely rare occurence that your amp will ever output 500w while playing music. Actually - it's more likely that it will never output 500w while playing music.

Additionally the Kicker CompVR is a really capable sub for its pricepoint and kicking it up a notch above and beyond its RMS rated input capability (assuming that the signal being fed to it is clean) shouldn't result in anything detrimental happening to your sub.

But as far as what you need to do?

Set the gain on your amp according to this method and call it a day. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsup.gif.3287b36ca96645a13a43aff531f37f02.gif

 

[NJTStang11 10+ year member]

Yea you should be fine as long as you dont go crazy on gain/bass boost.

Most amps wont actually do that power and even if it does a CVR should take 500rms all day long.

 

[js09 10+ year member]

great.. thats what i was hoping for =) thanks for the help prowler

 

[js09 10+ year member]

one quick question before i wire everything. the amp says '500 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms'. I'm looking to run my 2ohm CVR at 2ohm as well so it it gets up to 500 watts of power (that's what i'm shooting for, right?).

the CVR manual is saying the dual 2ohm subwoofer will generate a 1ohm load if the coils are wired in parallel or a 4ohm load in a series.

how do I get the in a 2ohm load, or am i confused here?

thanks.

 

[NJTStang11 10+ year member]

one quick question before i wire everything. the amp says '500 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms'. I'm looking to run my 2ohm CVR at 2ohm as well so it it gets up to 500 watts of power (that's what i'm shooting for, right?).
the CVR manual is saying the dual 2ohm subwoofer will generate a 1ohm load if the coils are wired in parallel or a 4ohm load in a series.

how do I get the in a 2ohm load, or am i confused here?

thanks.

uh oh. You bought the wrong sub.

A single 2ohm subwoofer can only wire to 1ohm paralled or 4ohm series.

A single 4ohm subwoofer can only wire to 2ohm paralled or 8ohm series.

If you haven't opened the sub try and exchance for a 4ohm subwoofer. If you havent opened the amp, try and get something 1ohm stable or that does around 400-500 @4ohm

 

[js09 10+ year member]

dammit, ill try and exchange the sub then.

if i used it anyway though, i'd have to wire it with a 4ohm load, which means i'd only be getting 310 watts with this amp, correct?

 

[js09 10+ year member]

wait a sec though - what if i wire it like this? http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/ca/learningcenter/car/subwoofer_wiring//Mono_1-2ohm-DVC.jpg

or is this kicker sub have a specific way of wiring it? i only have 1 sub im working with here.

 

[NJTStang11 10+ year member]

wait a sec though - what if i wire it like this? http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/ca/learningcenter/car/subwoofer_wiring//Mono_1-2ohm-DVC.jpg
or is this kicker sub have a specific way of wiring it? i only have 1 sub im working with here.

Thats being wired in series. See how it says 4ohm at the terminal on the amp?

And yes, if you wired it at 4ohm it'd play at whatever your amp is rated at for 4ohms instead of 2ohms.

 

[blimblam 10+ year member]

dual 2 can only do 1 or 4 ohm.

dual 4 can do 2 ohm or 8 ohm.

so if you want to get a 2 ohm load, either get another dual 2 cvr or go and get a dual 4.

 

[Macklessdaddy 10+ year member]

Just want to make sure I wont blow the sub out. I have a 12" 2ohm kicker CVR and this amp (500 watts RMS x 1 at 2 ohms).
What do I need to do to make sure everything will be fine? Thanks fellas.

wire it like this oops my bad i thought he had the 2 ch of that amp not the mono

http://www.crutchfield.com/learningcenter/car/subwoofers_wiring.html?suboptions=2%2DChannel%5F1%2D2ohm%2DDVC&amptype=2%2DChannel

 

[MSW Danny 10+ year member]

go exchange your sub for a dual 4 ohm and you'll be set