Help.....2 ohm vs 4 ohm

[joshpoints 10+ year member]

I have a related question. I posted it once before but I can't remember which thread it was related to. Let's say your amp is running 200 watts at 2 ohms and you have a 4 ohm sub wired to it. I've heard people say that the sub is getting double the power, or is acting like it is getting double the power meaning 400 watts because of the ohm difference. Is this true.

I realize that you guys said 200 watts from 2 ohm amp to 2 ohm sub is = 200 watts from 4 ohm amp to 4 ohm sub.

But what about the situation listed above?

 

[Savant 10+ year member]

Originally posted by NKC I sold the Silver L7(DVC 4 ohm) already.....for a really hefty price

 

I hooked up the Black L7 (DVC 2 ohm) and wired it series....so it's at 4 ohm right now...

 

I dont really know how to set my system but ****>>> I have the gain set about half way and it pounds the same as the (DVC 4ohm) which was running at 2 ohm....

 

I really thought I was gonna get less power to it but I was wrong.....

 

**** RF amps are pretty good stuff....

Thanks for all the input guys but I guess testing it out is always the best solution....

 

I might try wiring it parellel some other time but i dont want it to blow....

 

The only difference I found between the two is definately SQ.....but I'm still running in the sub so time will tell...

Is it 'better' SQ now? I'd think it would be since you are at 4 ohm now instead of 2... If it's worse, I'm confused //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

And, if you have the gains 'low' (1/2 is kind of low, in a good way).. I'd not go to 1 ohm.. you would have to turn the gains down more to lower the output to match the 'volume' you have now... if it's hitting loud enough for you, leave it be.. Just my suggestion.. Like I said before, you might not have been running that much to the dual 4 at 2 ohm.. and, actually, some amps run the same output (or close) at 2 and 4 ohm.. not sure how, but I've seen some rated that way.. perhaps your amp doesn't care about 2 or 4 ohm load?

Anyway, sounds like you are bumpn'.. so just be happy and enjoy //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Savant 10+ year member]

Originally posted by joshpoints I have a related question. I posted it once before but I can't remember which thread it was related to. Let's say your amp is running 200 watts at 2 ohms and you have a 4 ohm sub wired to it. I've heard people say that the sub is getting double the power, or is acting like it is getting double the power meaning 400 watts because of the ohm difference. Is this true.

 

I realize that you guys said 200 watts from 2 ohm amp to 2 ohm sub is = 200 watts from 4 ohm amp to 4 ohm sub.

 

But what about the situation listed above?

K.. here is the deal.. the amp provides a certian 'upper limit' based on what the resistence of the load is.. Normally, as the resistence goes DOWN the total upper limit goes UP.. So, the ratings are based on the load... That is, you amp can say it's 200 rms at 2 ohm, but that means nothing to a degree.. what does it say is the rms at 4 ohm? I'm guessing closer to 100 rms..

In that context, you could hook up a 500000 ohm sub to your amp (not really sure it's a good idea, you might blow it immediately or it might do nothing, I'm not sure) and that does not mean you have 200 watts at 2 ohm (because you aren't at 2 ohm.. you 'would' have 200 watts 'if' you were at 2 ohm, but you aren't..)..

In general, the relationship to resistence and total avialable power is, as the resistence goes down, the power goes up.. if you "half" the resistence, you "double" the power.. So, in your initial example (200 at 2 ohm with a 4 ohm load) the sub would only get about 100 watts, not 400.. if the amp said "200 at 4 ohm" and you put a 2 ohm load on it, THEN you would head toward 400 watts..

Hope that helps..

 

[joshpoints 10+ year member]

Originally posted by Savant K.. here is the deal.. the amp provides a certian 'upper limit' based on what the resistence of the load is.. Normally, as the resistence goes DOWN the total upper limit goes UP.. So, the ratings are based on the load... That is, you amp can say it's 200 rms at 2 ohm, but that means nothing to a degree.. what does it say is the rms at 4 ohm? I'm guessing closer to 100 rms..

 

In that context, you could hook up a 500000 ohm sub to your amp (not really sure it's a good idea, you might blow it immediately or it might do nothing, I'm not sure) and that does not mean you have 200 watts at 2 ohm (because you aren't at 2 ohm.. you 'would' have 200 watts 'if' you were at 2 ohm, but you aren't..)..

 

In general, the relationship to resistence and total avialable power is, as the resistence goes down, the power goes up.. if you "half" the resistence, you "double" the power.. So, in your initial example (200 at 2 ohm with a 4 ohm load) the sub would only get about 100 watts, not 400.. if the amp said "200 at 4 ohm" and you put a 2 ohm load on it, THEN you would head toward 400 watts..

 

Hope that helps..

So in order to get the 2 ohm rating you must wire the speakers so that they are in a 2 ohm load. An amp does not put out a 2 ohm load with a 4 ohm speaker. It would put out a 4 ohm load.

 

[Savant 10+ year member]

Originally posted by joshpoints So in order to get the 2 ohm rating you must wire the speakers so that they are in a 2 ohm load. An amp does not put out a 2 ohm load with a 4 ohm speaker. It would put out a 4 ohm load.

correct.. the amp 'sees' a certian load, based on the subs.. the amp is rated to 'handle' certian loads.. 4 ohm, 2 ohm (sometimes) and 1 ohm (sometimes).. depends on the amp..

 

[NKC]

Thanks alot for the help guys...

The Sq did get worse.....cant really explain why....maybe it's becuase it's the older version L7...

But either way, i'm still very happy with the extra cash and the still bumping system....