I need to buy an amp! please help!

[fyrspray 10+ year member]

hey! I have 2 12" kickers that supply 800watts each and I was wondering whats a good amp that I could check out? I'd like to get a 1600 watt amp (to max them out) right now I have a 300 watt amp that I used to use for for 2 10's but I'm planning on hooking that up to my front speakers and buying a new amp for my new subs, but anyhoo, all help is appreciated! ^_^ thanks

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[paikiah 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by fyrspray hey! I have 2 12" kickers that supply 800watts each and I was wondering whats a good amp that I could check out? I'd like to get a 1600 watt amp (to max them out) right now I have a 300 watt amp that I used to use for for 2 10's but I'm planning on hooking that up to my front speakers and buying a new amp for my new subs, but anyhoo, all help is appreciated! ^_^ thanks

No, you don't, you have 2 12" kickers that HANDLE 800watts each...//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

That 800w, is it RMS or max/peak? It'd be great if you can tell us what model they are.

Also, you don't HAVE to give them max RMS handling power if it's in a ported box. Perhaps a 1200w amp might be more than enough for 800w RMS subs in a fairly sized ported box.

If you want it in a sealed box, then you'd need the grunt (more compression, etc, etc).

 

[fyrspray 10+ year member]

ya, handle, sorry >.

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(you might want to copy and patse this in notepad)

and ya, I'm not sure what model they are... all i know is that they are 12" kickers :\.

 

[fyrspray 10+ year member]

ya, handle, sorry >.

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and ya, I'm not sure what model they are... all i know is that they are 12" kickers :\.

 

[paikiah 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by fyrspray ya, handle, sorry >.

 

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and ya, I'm not sure what model they are... all i know is that they are 12" kickers :\.

can't make it out... but I'm guessing two ported chambers. DOes it have big gaping holes for air to vent out of?

can't help you much if you dont' know the model... does it say 800w max? THen it's probably 400w RMS (you shouldn't care about max figures much).

On the subs, are there ONE set of terminals (+)(-) or TWO sets of terminals? (+)(-)(+)(-)

It really would be hard to advise you on amps if you don't know what load the subs are (2ohm/4ohm).

 

[fyrspray 10+ year member]

Originally posted by paikiah can't make it out... but I'm guessing two ported chambers. DOes it have big gaping holes for air to vent out of?

 

can't help you much if you dont' know the model... does it say 800w max? THen it's probably 400w RMS (you shouldn't care about max figures much).

 

On the subs, are there ONE set of terminals (+)(-) or TWO sets of terminals? (+)(-)(+)(-)

It really would be hard to advise you on amps if you don't know what load the subs are (2ohm/4ohm).

it's a custom box, bu my friend said it's a slotport box... and it has 2 sets of terminals, compvr I think is what it is...

 

[paikiah 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by fyrspray it's a custom box, bu my friend said it's a slotport box... and it has 2 sets of terminals, compvr I think is what it is...

2 sets of terminal PER sub?

well, if the box was custom made to that sub, then the box might perform very well.

I have no experience with Comp VR's, but they are known to give you a pleasant level of SPL. I think knowing that it is comp VR's should give you enough info already.

Kicker's website has the 2003 on lineup, and it's stated that you can get it in either 2 or 4ohm DVC.

ask the person you are buying it from.

if it's 2ohm DVC, you will either end up with 2ohms or 0.5ohms

if it's 4ohm DVC, you will get either 1ohm or 4ohms.

In the case that the subs are 2DVC, you will need to get an amp rated 800w RMS @ 2ohms mono (half ohm mono stable amps tend to be costly)

For the 4DVC, it's either a 800w RMS @ 1ohm or 800w RMS @ 4ohms.

You could get a slightly more powerful amp and lower your gain level, or you could get a slightly underpowered one, as the subs will be in a ported enclosure (need slightly less power than max RMS figures)

Hope that helps~

 

[fyrspray 10+ year member]

Originally posted by paikiah 2 sets of terminal PER sub?

 

well, if the box was custom made to that sub, then the box might perform very well.

 

I have no experience with Comp VR's, but they are known to give you a pleasant level of SPL. I think knowing that it is comp VR's should give you enough info already.

 

Kicker's website has the 2003 on lineup, and it's stated that you can get it in either 2 or 4ohm DVC.

 

ask the person you are buying it from.

 

if it's 2ohm DVC, you will either end up with 2ohms or 0.5ohms

 

if it's 4ohm DVC, you will get either 1ohm or 4ohms.

 

In the case that the subs are 2DVC, you will need to get an amp rated 800w RMS @ 2ohms mono (half ohm mono stable amps tend to be costly)

For the 4DVC, it's either a 800w RMS @ 1ohm or 800w RMS @ 4ohms.

 

You could get a slightly more powerful amp and lower your gain level, or you could get a slightly underpowered one, as the subs will be in a ported enclosure (need slightly less power than max RMS figures)

 

Hope that helps~

ok I've found out what I have, and I have an amp now... but I'm REALLY thinking of upgrading to xxx's but anyhoo here's what I got:

2 12" kicker comp VR's then run 800 max and 400 rms

a kenwood 1000watt amp to power the subs

front infinity speakers (I'm pretty sure they are 160watt each)

and a 300-400watt memphis amp to power those

please tell me if there's anything wrong with this set-up

 

[paikiah 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by fyrspray ok I've found out what I have, and I have an amp now... but I'm REALLY thinking of upgrading to xxx's but anyhoo here's what I got:

 

2 12" kicker comp VR's then run 800 max and 400 rms

a kenwood 1000watt amp to power the subs

front infinity speakers (I'm pretty sure they are 160watt each)

and a 300-400watt memphis amp to power those

 

please tell me if there's anything wrong with this set-up

components usually need about 50w~100w RMS, and I only know high-priced components like the CDT eurosport that takes 150w RMS. Again, I think you might have confused yourself with the power figures. To calculate amp/speaker compatibility, it's better to use RMS figures (usually half of peak power).

I'm taking a wild guess that the Kenwood's rating would be RMS 1000w @ 4ohm mono. If this is the case, your comp VR's should be 4ohm DVC. Getting 2ohm DVC subs would overload the amplifier. (Lower your gains if you want the subs to last)

With the 300~400w memphis amp, it's a little vague on what the actual ratings are. You'd need to post a figure like

100w x 2 @4ohms

200w X 2 @ 2ohms

400w X 1 @ 4ohm mono.

That would make life easier. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

Upgrading to an XXX would be an incredible departure from entry level subs. Do be aware about the enormous power the XXX requires, and the ohmload can get quite frustrating for some, with the wrong amps.

If you got yourself a 1200w amp, it'll draw about 80A at high volumes, something a stock alt should not be able to keep up with for a long period.

 

[fyrspray 10+ year member]

ok i got everything till you said

Originally posted by paikiah If you got yourself a 1200w amp, it'll draw about 80A at high volumes, something a stock alt should not be able to keep up with for a long period.

 

[paikiah 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by fyrspray ok i got everything till you said

If you got yourself a 1200w amp, it'll draw about 80A at high volumes, something a stock alt should not be able to keep up with for a long period.

Alright, most alternators on stock cars do not produce high volumes of current, about 70~90A (slightly higher on American cars).

I said 1200watts need 80A, because most of the people who use the JBL1200.1 (real life at about 1300+w) has told me that it really draws about 80A, even though the stated max draw is at 114A. It might draw close to max with sine waves/test tones.

If the current draw is higher than what the alt can produce, you're asking too much from it and may fila on you after a length of time. How long, no one knows.

If you can't supply that much current, the voltage will decrease and you'll get less out of the amps.

I dont' think you'll be using that much of power constantly as the current draw of amps will differ according to what you demand from it.