any benifit of running 1/2 gain @ 1ohm vs. almost max gain @ 2ohm?

[Force-fed]

title sums it up, I have a db a7 2000.1, sold the db k7 that it was pushing and I am looking at a sundown sa 12, just wanted to know if I should get the 2ohm dvc and run it at 1ohm, or get the 4ohm dvc and run it at 2ohm. the amp is 2000w @ 1ohm, 1000w @ 2, any benefits of 1ohm at 1/2 gain vs. 2ohm almost maxxed? thanks!!!

car is a tdi wagon, big 3, big battery, stock alt

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[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

The gain is not a power output knob. You can turn down the gain but maxing it out is a bad idea.

 

[Force-fed]

I got that, guess what im trying to say is, if I go with 1ohm, once its tuned should the gain be lower than it is with the current sub @ 2ohm, if so, is there sound quality difference noticeable between 1ohm and 2ohm, or should I just shut up and buy the 2ohm dvc sa12 and be happy

 

[DARKHART 10+ year member]

The impedance of the driver should have nothing to do with where the gain on the amp is set. The amp's gain is simply there to match the output voltage of the headunit before it to it's inputs to where it produces the most unclipped output.

 

[los33 10+ year member]

Why max the gain and risk overheat/clipping?

Just get a 1 ohm, its easier to get more power out of if needed. Gain wont have to be used as much then with a 2 ohm load.

 

[Force-fed]

Gotcha, i know the gain isnt a volume knob, was wondering if the 1 ohm sub would make a difference, if there was a benefit in goin with the sub's final impedance at 1ohm vs 2ohm

Thanks again

 

[Jeffdachef 5,000+ posts]

Gotcha, i know the gain isnt a volume knob, was wondering if the 1 ohm sub would make a difference, if there was a benefit in goin with the sub's final impedance at 1ohm vs 2ohm
Thanks again

its simple, lower ohm load, the amp sees less resistance, puts out more power and the sub is pushed harder. Higher ohm load, more resistance therefore less power comes out. There are no sound quality advantages from 1 ohm to 2 ohm to 4 ohm since this is for subwoofers where total harmonic distortion is not even noticeable, if anything your sub's gonna sound a lot better with more power to control excursion at a lower impedance.

Even at 2 ohms you never want to max out the gain knob. There is no guesswork here, max, 1/2, 3/4 are not magic settings you just leave at. You have to properly set it at the appropriate level, not just leave it at half or lower just because your ears agree with the setting. You might want to take a crash course on gain settings again.

 

[argenis69 10+ year member]

At 1 ohm in your configuration, you'll get more power and it will have less distortion.

 

[TheUnderFighter 10+ year member]

You're not competing in sound quality, you will not notice a difference between 1 and 2 ohm. I'd rather run less power at 1 ohm than full power at 2 ohm.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

The gain knob should be in the exact same position for both settings.

sqrt(2000x1) = 44.7V

sqrt(1000x2) = 44.7V

 

[Force-fed]

The gain knob should be in the exact same position for both settings.
sqrt(2000x1) = 44.7V

sqrt(1000x2) = 44.7V

Correct, if i was trying to put close to 2000w to 1 sa12, but im not

Currently sqrt(1000x2)= 44.7

Sqrt(1200x1)=34.64

Goin from a d4vc to d2vc, amp is 2000 at 1, clamped @ 1836w at 1

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Correct, if i was trying to put close to 2000w to 1 sa12, but im notCurrently sqrt(1000x2)= 44.7

Sqrt(1200x1)=34.64

Goin from a d4vc to d2vc, amp is 2000 at 1, clamped @ 1836w at 1

In that case get the dual 4 ohm and run it at 2 ohm. That way if you ever want to add another woofer you can drop the load to 1 ohm and be fine.

 

[Force-fed]

Thanks for the input guys, went with the dual 2, no room for another so itll be just 1