How to Look for an Amp

[duddy11]

Hi, I know this may be a stupid question, and I am kinda unsure how to ask it, but here it goes. Keep in mind I know very little about car audio //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif. I am looking at buying the Rockford Fosgate Power Series T2's, and the wattage it needs is 1000RMS and 2000 Peak. Now, lets see if I can word this right to you guys. When i look for an amp, do I look for a 2000 watt rms amp and run it at 2000 watts? since that is what the sub is rated for, or since its 2000 watts RMS it would actually be 4000watts? Im kind of unsure how amp work. I always thought to find the true peak power of an amp you just double the RMS rating and boom. The reason I ask this is because I want to get the Rockford T2001BD amp that is rated at 2000watts RMS, and at 2 ohms this amp is putting out 1500 watts RMS, so will that be overpowering my sub since it's only 1000 watts RMS? do I have to match up the RMS's or can I go above the RMS as long as it doesn't go over 2000? How does all this work? I hope I asked the question clear enough. Thanks guys.

Click to read more...

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

There are many things that are going to make a difference here.

First off, the sub you are looking at has a peak of 2000 watts which means for short bursts it can handle that power. It should not be used all the time at that range.

That being said, you will want an amp that produces 1,000rms.

You have numerous factors you have to look at though. The box (sealed or ported) and the wiring configuration. Many amps will produce different amounts of power depending on what ohm you run the set at. The lower ohm (2-ohm 1-ohm, etc) will cause the amp to give more power but some amps are just not capable of keeping up with that for long and will go into protect, overheat, or even die. This is why it is important to know the amps limitations before purchasing the sub. Most subs will offer "d2 or d4" configurations if it is a dual voice coil. What this means is that D2= 2ohm voice coils and the D4 is dual 4 ohm. This allows for differnt loads on the amp.

The reason I mentioned the box is because porting a box usually will allow it to sound "louder" than sealed on the same amount of power.

Oh and most importantly! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wave.gif.002382ce7d7c19757ab945cc69819de1.gif welcome to the forum //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[duddy11]

Thank you for your quick reply. I have another quick question. I have seen people with a 1000 Watt peak and 500 rms, and they used an audiobahn 500 Watt peak amp to power it. Now is that sub getting powered fully? It's meating the 500Watt rms requirement correct? I think i'm thinking about it like this, the amp is putting out the full 500 watts it can, and the sub only needs 500 for the constant rms. Am I thinking too hard about this or am I wrong. lol I guess I kinda confuse myself. thanks for the help. also is it alright to go a little over a subs recommended rms? does the rms always double and put out a bigger peak? or is it always going to be 2000? ( Well on my sub anyways). also the amp I want only puts out 750Watts rms at 2ohms, but it's not enough to meet the 1000 watts rms, so 1 ohm, well the rms rating for my amp at 1 ohm is 1500 watts, that's why I asked if its alright to run the rms above the recommended level.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

Lots of questions in there *grin*

Many companies underrate the subs and the amps. So it may say 1,000 rms but may actual produce 1200rms. Me personally, I don't like that because it means that it is that far off from the reference, but for most situations, it is a plus.

Search Gain setting and read up on how to properly adjust your gains. I don't want to confuse you, but you could have a (going extreme for sake of demonstration) 4,000 watts rms amp and run it at 1,000 rms. It is all in the adjustment of gains.

If I didn't answer that to your understanding, ask again or shoot me a PM.

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

use your eyeballs //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[duddy11]

Hey I see that some amps only put out a certain amount of watts at 14.4 volts or 17 volts. I thought a car battery only put out 12v? Can someone explain to me how to achieve 14.4 volts or 17 volts? Thanks.

 

[Pl8er 5,000+ posts]

Hey I see that some amps only put out a certain amount of watts at 14.4 volts or 17 volts. I thought a car battery only put out 12v? Can someone explain to me how to achieve 14.4 volts or 17 volts? Thanks.

Different alts. can put out different amounts of power. You can setup an electrical system to run 16v. Most cars are going to run 12.8-14.4.