Just picked up a JBL BP1200.1 for $60

[jragusa 10+ year member]

Don't have it installed yet, but going to use it to power 1 12" Type R.

Older product, but from what I've read it's a quality amplifier.

Good for $60?

Click to read more...

 

[infamous_e46 5,000+ posts]

yes and be careful it will easily destroy a type r

 

[jragusa 10+ year member]

Oh, that wouldn't be good, ha. Can you tell me how not to destroy it? This is my first system I'm setting up.

The sub actually has it's own fuse on the terminal, will that help?

The type r is capable of 600w rms (4 ohms) and that's the max output (4 ohms) by the amplifier. So how will it get ruined?

Should I just not play at full volume or is there something more.

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

If I remember right, they do not have a subsonic filter on them, and i don't remember if they have a built in set version or not.

If you are just careful with the adjustments you will be fine. Remember that just because it says max output does not mean the amp will do that, and it does not mean to crank the gain control on the amp all the way up to get that power.

 

[stl_314 10+ year member]

Pro-rabbit- I am pretty sure that amp does not say msx watts it say and does 1200 rms

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

Pro-rabbit- I am pretty sure that amp does not say msx watts it say and does 1200 rms

He is talking about 4 ohms. Also no amp does rated all the time. Also, an amp will do rated in a perfect world. However a car is not a perfect world. Most of the time amps will do around 75-85% of their rating on a daily basis.

 

[stl_314 10+ year member]

t based off max watts like some other brands

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

t based off max watts like some other brands

Most ratings are "max" ratings. Consider what I just said over all. Most amps will not do rated every single time you play your stereo. Which means you are not getting their claimed "rated power" regardless if it is max rated or rms rated. There are far to many variables to consider when discussing output.

Even the same amp in different setups will have different results. Lets say I have a 1200D that I clamped to do 1100 in my car. Then I sell it to you and clamp it at only 900. Does that mean I lied to you? No. It means your electrical setup, impedance rise, or some other variable was different then mine and caused a loss of overall output. Now take that same amp and put it on my test bench with a dummy load. then it will do 1300.

Maybe that will make it a little more clear...maybe not..lol

 

[stl_314 10+ year member]

Sio then wouldnt that defeat the theory of using a dmm to set gains?

I never thought it out til now, but that makes sense and it would make setting the gain by ear more practical than a dmm

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

Sio then wouldnt that defeat the theory of using a dmm to set gains?
I never thought it out til now, but that makes sense and it would make setting the gain by ear more practical than a dmm

Yes and no all together. When you set your amp with a DMM think of it as setting it to the make possible output. So you have created a safe zone to ensure you are not clipping or damaging product. If you do it by ear there are issues can arise that you may not catch the first time around. All though many have done that method for years with minimal issues. At the same time many have tried to set up amps by ear and destroyed good product in the process.

 

[stl_314 10+ year member]

So then let me ask your opinion

If your amp does 2000 rms, and your sub is rated at 1000 rms but can take more (ie hdc3) would you recomend using aaaa dmm or would you set it by ear til it sounds good. No oscope involved

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

Personally i would do it by ear at that point but at the same time I have been doing this for a very long time and am very confident in my ability to do so. For a customer of mine, I would highly suggest using a DMM to set the gain around 1200-1500 that way there is a nice safe zone and should eliminate all possible options of clipping. Assuming the head unit is set right, the enclosure is good, and there is a sufficient electrical setup to back up that power.

 

[VisceralSound 10+ year member]

When I ran my Type R, I used an MRX-M100 @2ohms (1000rms) and I'd say it probably got like 700-800 of the rms (just a guess) and it took it like a champ.