Is 2x2ohm or 1x4ohm better?

[rideac1 10+ year member]

I have a SoundStream vga 800.2 which can do 2x400rms at 2ohms or 1x800rms at 4ohms. I am running 2 mbquart 12's which are about 250-300rms dual 4ohm vc.

Is it better/worse for the amp to run them separate at 2ohms at 400rms or series at 4ohms 800rms?

I figured that with lower ohms would be a little worse for the amp, even though it can handle it. opinions?

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[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

it really doesn't matter but with subs you might just want to send them a mono signal.

 

[rideac1 10+ year member]

it really doesn't matter but with subs you might just want to send them a mono signal.

I ran them stereo since I had them which is a couple months, today I decided to wire them mono just for sh*ts and giggles. They seem to be a little cleaner and louder, they are setup totally for sq: sealed and fiberfilled.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

I ran them stereo since I had them which is a couple months, today I decided to wire them mono just for sh*ts and giggles. They seem to be a little cleaner and louder, they are setup totally for sq: sealed and fiberfilled.

if they sound better mono then just leave them at that. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

im surprised it made a difference when you bridged, it but hey, thats nothing but good news! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/thumbsupwink.gif.129404938effda6ad9cca39e7f4b58a3.gif

 

[rideac1 10+ year member]

I did change some stuff on my HU, to get it clearer and a better eq curve through the whole low frequency path. It's probably mental about the loudness/quality, but my friend also mentioned it, I think its mostly the changes I made on my HU. Anyone familiar with the Alpine cda-9811? It has a few settings, but mostly to give a certain low band such as for a tuned box, which works backwards for my sq. I can't get it to sound how I want, and I dont' have an eq, which would work wonders.

 

[GCAdidas13 10+ year member]

there is less THD (distortion) at 4 ohms than at 2 ohms

 

[SSS 18734 5,000+ posts]

there is less THD (distortion) at 4 ohms than at 2 ohms

but not enough to make a noticeable difference

 

[rideac1 10+ year member]

That's what I was thinking, I just looked through the manual, it doesn't say at which ohm level, but it's

 

[GCAdidas13 10+ year member]

psychoacoustics, man, it's all in the psychoacousticss

 

[hdave 10+ year member]

4 ohms bridged is like 2 ohm stereo in terms of thd and the amp heating up and whatnot, thats why u cannot run at 2 ohms bridged...... i think

 

[rideac1 10+ year member]

I know you shouldn't/can't wire it for 2 ohms if not applicable, but I'm just wondering which way would be better if possible, as mentioned in my first post.

My amp gets farily hot running stereo at 2ohms, I thought it may be possible it would run cooler/better in mono.

I think your right though.

 

[Raven 10+ year member]

Wiring voice coils to a higher resistance will produce a higher motor strength. So now you've successfully gained a little BL while keeping the same amount of power. It is my belief that this causes the most noticable difference. I used to have DVC 4ohm subs and I got the same results.

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

Wiring voice coils to a higher resistance will produce a higher motor strength. So now you've successfully gained a little BL while keeping the same amount of power. It is my belief that this causes the most noticable difference. I used to have DVC 4ohm subs and I got the same results.

Really? Where can I find some info on this?

As for the guy saying the amp gets hotter at 2ohms, that is really really simple. Have you taken basic Physics, the highschool course? Well, in that course we learn that heat is an unfortunate byproduct of energy. Well, since P(power)=IV, and both I and V can be substituted for a formula that has R in it, we can show that with lower resistance and a constant voltage or current, we will see more power, so inturn, more heat.Cha-ching! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/greedy.gif.5a53e6246569d7ab79867170f3b06629.gif