Different subs different wattages

[sbelew 10+ year member]

Ive posted a few questions on here about installing my own system in my truck. Ive gotten some great suggestions and responses, which of course has led to more questions. I am wanting sound quality, i want the bass to hit hard but not shake the earth.

About subwoofers, The MBQuart RWE-302 was recommended to me. it is a dual 2 ohm and requires 500 watts RMS, the next one, a JL Audio 12w1 single 4 ohm, requires 150 watts RMS, and finally the 3rd one, which is sold locally here, a Powerbass S12d dual 4 ohm requiring 300 watts RMS. Now given the difference of the 3 in wattage and ohms, what makes one better then the other? Is the MB Quart going to be louder? Will the JL Audio sound better? Is the Powerbass junk? What is the difference in wiring the MB to 1 ohm as opposed to 4 ohms?

This also leads to amp questions? which one? more power? mono or dual channel bridged or a 5 channel? Match the amp brand to the sub or speaker brand? A person can drive themselves crazy trying to figure out what to buy.

Maybe I am beating this up too much, but i am just trying to understand the differences in equipment. Could I please get some different explanations and opinions? This stuff is very interesting to me, but i am not rich. I cannot afford a lot of trial and error. I kinda need to hit this on the first try. So thank you for reading this and all responses will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to all

Steve

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[winkychevelle 10+ year member]

pick the sub you want then worry about ratings. buying based on power handling is pointless unless you have the amp already and need to match the ohm load and power handling to the sub. ohm load is resistance in a perfect amplifier every time you halved the ohm load you double power yet very few actually ever come close to this.

my pick

mb quart wired to 4 ohm

sundown 100.2 bridged at 4ohm

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

About subwoofers, The MBQuart RWE-302 was recommended to me. it is a dual 2 ohm and requires 500 watts RMS, the next one, a JL Audio 12w1 single 4 ohm, requires 150 watts RMS, and finally the 3rd one, which is sold locally here, a Powerbass S12d dual 4 ohm requiring 300 watts RMS.

Ratings are not requirements, suggestions or any other such rubbish. They are limits. That is the MAX continuous power that the coil of the sub can safely dissipate.

Now given the difference of the 3 in wattage and ohms, what makes one better then the other? Is the MB Quart going to be louder? Will the JL Audio sound better? Is the Powerbass junk?

None of those questions can be answered without taking the enclosure into account. Power rating and impedance have no bearing on quality or sound quality.

What is the difference in wiring the MB to 1 ohm as opposed to 4 ohms?

It depends on what amp you go with. All a dual voice coil affords you is more flexibility when trying to match subs and amps.

 

[sbelew 10+ year member]

I should be able to fit a 1 cubic foot box under the rear seat after some seat modifications. So what would be the difference with the MB if i ran it on 500 watts versus 250 watts?

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Probably around 2dB. Hardly enough to care about.