head room - how much = too much?

[brian84corvette 10+ year member]

hey all.

im pondering ideas about what amp range ( rms watts )

to move up to.

this time tho, I believe I want a little more headroom than now.

as I have bxi1206d - and its a great amp and all,

but its probly only giving off a hair over 1K rms.

my sub is re sx 18.

in a ported box 5.4 cubes after port and sub disp.

so basicly im feeding the sub exactly what it states it can take.

but I have a sneeking suspicion that it can actually take more.

id feel comftorble giving it 1500w ?

on a side note to this topic - I am purchacing upgraded alternator tomorrow

so electrical will not be an issue, having 120+ amps at idle / 220amp full tilt.

so I doubt I could possibly drop below 13.5v anymore once installed.

that being said - power should be nice and clean ( I hope at least )

so that means I can send more power to sub right?

is 1500w on my re sx 18 too much ?

is 1800w too much ?

what do yall think?

Click to read more...

 

[thegreatestpenn 5,000+ posts]

I had the RE HC (older model SX) and I gave it 1500wrms and it took it no problems. The good thing about having a larger than needed amp is you can always just turn the gain down. Just because you have a 2000wrms amp doesn't mean you have to use all of its power. So go big if you know you'll be upgrading later on

 

[brian84corvette 10+ year member]

good to know thanks !

I guess I need to read up on setting the gain properly then

when its time to get big amp.

 

[Rashaddd 5,000+ posts]

I'd get a 2k amp or so for an re sx

nothing wrong with extra power as long as you know what you're doing

 

[dcole18 5,000+ posts]

your gonna have too much headroom with that 18" //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[brian84corvette 10+ year member]

your gonna have too much headroom with that 18" //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

haha - actually in my little *** car -

the 18" and amps leave hardly any extra room.

need to have windows down to fully "bump"

hahaha. - I should experement with the top off also.

should be able to hear it coming up for blocks like that.......\

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crazy.gif.c13912c32de98515d3142759a824dae7.gif

 

[dcole18 5,000+ posts]

that was a joke from a previous thread

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

hey all.im pondering ideas about what amp range ( rms watts )

to move up to.

this time tho, I believe I want a little more headroom than now.

as I have bxi1206d - and its a great amp and all,

but its probly only giving off a hair over 1K rms.

my sub is re sx 18.

in a ported box 5.4 cubes after port and sub disp.

so basicly im feeding the sub exactly what it states it can take.

but I have a sneeking suspicion that it can actually take more.

id feel comftorble giving it 1500w ?

on a side note to this topic - I am purchacing upgraded alternator tomorrow

so electrical will not be an issue, having 120+ amps at idle / 220amp full tilt.

so I doubt I could possibly drop below 13.5v anymore once installed.

that being said - power should be nice and clean ( I hope at least )

so that means I can send more power to sub right?

is 1500w on my re sx 18 too much ?

is 1800w too much ?

what do yall think?

"Headroom" is power that is never used, by definition. So, you are not looking to gain headroom, just usable power, the opposite of headroom really.
The answer to how much headroom is too much... when your wallet says no more, or your sanity creeps in and tells you that you are well beyond the point of diminishing returns. Otherwise, there is no ceiling for headroom. But the answer to your question is, when the coil starts getting stinky. That's when you back the gains off, and call it headroom.

 

[C3 Customs 10+ year member]

"Headroom" is power that is never used, by definition. So, you are not looking to gain headroom, just usable power, the opposite of headroom really.
The answer to how much headroom is too much... when your wallet says no more, or your sanity creeps in and tells you that you are well beyond the point of diminishing returns. Otherwise, there is no ceiling for headroom. But the answer to your question is, when the coil starts getting stinky. That's when you back the gains off, and call it headroom.

I like that...well said

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

I like that...well said

Thankyou.

 

[nauc 10+ year member]

I like that...well said

its all that fresh, cool air in Pismo, doesnt make you stupid //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif