How do I bridge my amp?

[corruptedkid 10+ year member]

How do I bridge my new Amp to my JL Audio subwoofers? I dont need specific instructions but just a rough idea. Id ont really know what it means to "bridge it". So if someone could please help me, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

----Cody

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[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

What amp do you have? and what sub? these are important things we need to give you an acurate answer.

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

"Bridging" means combining 2 channels into one. You need a stereo amp that's designed to allow bridging both channels together. Instructions will be in your manual.

 

[OdieTRP 10+ year member]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but can 2 channels of a 4-ch amp be bridged for the sub while the other 2 are used for front speakers?

 

[rippinitup7 10+ year member]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but can 2 channels of a 4-ch amp be bridged for the sub while the other 2 are used for front speakers?

yes!

 

[thismightbepat 10+ year member]

actually, on most amps yes u can do that. Just make sure the amp's description says something along the lines of "3-way ready" (2 channels for speakers + 1 bridged for sub = 3 channels)

 

[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

It doesnt matter if it's three way ready. A four channel amp has four transformers in it. Just make sure you bridge 1&2 or 3&4. and use what ever isnt bridged for the other speakers.

 

[bigred78797 10+ year member]

Are u talking about bridging multiple mono amps or a single amp.

 

[OdieTRP 10+ year member]

Alright, here comes part two. Will the bridged channels have a lower impedence, i.e. 2 ohms, while the other two channels stay at 4 ohms? If so the wattage will be at the 2 ohm rating going to the sub(s)? Does this also mean that there will be more distortion going to the sub? That's not a big deal since it's bass but I'm curious nonetheless.

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

Alright, here comes part two. Will the bridged channels have a lower impedence, i.e. 2 ohms, while the other two channels stay at 4 ohms? If so the wattage will be at the 2 ohm rating going to the sub(s)? Does this also mean that there will be more distortion going to the sub? That's not a big deal since it's bass but I'm curious nonetheless.

Bridging doesn't change the impedance of the load - that's determined by the speakers or subs. But, the minimum impedance (lowest ohms) the amp can handle usually doubles when you bridge an amp. Like a 2 ohm stereo amp usually can handle no less than 4 ohms bridged.

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

It doesnt matter if it's three way ready. A four channel amp has four transformers in it. Just make sure you bridge 1&2 or 3&4. and use what ever isnt bridged for the other speakers.

Transformers? lol. No..

Amps must be designed to be bridged. One of the channels must be inverted 180* internally so that the ouputs will add together. It's so common though that I doubt any commercial amps today don't have that feature.

 

[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

oh.. hehe

 

[corruptedkid 10+ year member]

ok heres what I have.

SUBS: 2 JL Audio 10W0-8 10" 8 ohm 125 watts sub woofers.

AMP: Eclipse EA2212 50Wby2 Amp Variable Crossover.

hope that helped!

Thanks

---Cody

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

Yes, that amp is bridgeable. Put the two subs in parallel (plus to plus, minus to minus) and connect them to the amp in bridged mode. Usually that's from the plus output of one channel and the minus output of the other.

 

[percept 10+ year member]

+-+- bridging would be connecting the positive wire of your sub to that first plus and the negative wire to the SECOND minus....basically youll have the wires connected where the arrows are: ---->+-+-

 

[truz05 10+ year member]

VERY old thread I know. but my question starts where it leaves off.

this is a 5 channel amp. i'm bridging it to amp only the front speakers.

I only have my sub and front channel rcas (2 sets total)

do I need to run the rear rcas (3rd)

my guess is yes, and that would be why i'm not getting sound to my left speaker

 

[truz05 10+ year member]

bump

 

[truz05 10+ year member]

bump again. in the middle of installation