Need help choosing an amp O.o

[Mugen 10+ year member]

Well, I asked on subwoofer forums about a new 10" sub, and was told It'd be better to go ahead and upgrade my amp, then get a new sub. So, my current sub is rated 250rms, 350 peak, and it's a 10" PowerBass (not really the greatest, but not that bad either). I want to upgrade to at least a 10" Infinity Kappa Perfect VQ, maybe even a 12". Either way, the infinity is rated 400w rms, 1600w peak! So, what amp should I get that would work great for my current sub and my future sub (I only plan on one sub, so I wouldn't need any more than a 2ch amp, right?).

CURRENT SUB:

http://www.caraudio-store.de/PB,B1054,Powerbass::::1129::::c1af1916.html

FUTURE SUB (most likely):

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-TpiTTlnfpj6/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=520&I=108PER10VQ

I currently have a Crunch PZI4125 (4 channel, 125w per channel, at least that's what it says) bridged to my sub (only 2 channels obviously).

Click to read more...

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Either way, the infinity is rated 400w rms, 1600w peak!

Peak power is meaningless. Completely ignore it.

(I only plan on one sub, so I wouldn't need any more than a 2ch amp, right?).

Correct. You could either bridge a 2-channel amp, or purchase a mono amp.

What is your budget?

 

[Mugen 10+ year member]

I don't want to spend any more than around $150 really. I could maybe go a little higher.

 

[Mugen 10+ year member]

Also, if I had, say a 1200w amp with 600w on each channel, but my sub was rated for 900w. One channel at 600w obviously wouldn't power it fully, but 1200w would be too much. Would it even matter? Would the sub just draw no more than what it's rated for (in this case, 900w) or would it just blow from trying to push to much power?

And those are just hypothetical numbers, I just want to know if having an amp more powerful than your speakers would be bad, because I don't know if it FORCES the amount of continuos watts it puts out, or if the sub just takes what it needs.

EDIT:

Hifonics ZX4000

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=13113

1 x 400 Watts @ 4 Ohms

Is that a good brand? Should I expect to actually get a full 400w, or will is it rated higher than it's actual output?

 

[Mugen 10+ year member]

Anyone?

 

[Mugen 10+ year member]

 

[wilzyx 5,000+ posts]

Anyone?

just becuase your amp puts out 1200 watts rms doesnt mean it always has to put out that much power, that what gains are for. you could set that amp to do as little as 2 or 300 probably or the full 1200 watts.

 

[wilzyx 5,000+ posts]

i say get an amp that will power your future sub nicely and just turn your gains down with your current sub.

 

[Mugen 10+ year member]

I don't really know what I'm looking for though. What are some good brands? I've never bought a good amp before (I have a Crunch PZi right now).

 

[Mugen 10+ year member]

Hmm, I think I found the amp I want (it looks pretty cool, and I think it's a good brand because I didn't find anything negative searching on here).

http://www.cardomain.com/item/POWTS9802?ref=deal

Power Acoustik Plasma TS980-2

2 channel, 220w/channel. Before I buy this (I know I can get it for $110 shipped, maybe lower if my dad's source has it), I want to know what you guys think //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[shiipseki 10+ year member]

ebay

 

[Mugen 10+ year member]

Unfortunately, it's not on ebay (it is, but it's all buy it now, and with their $30+ shipping...). My dad owns a store, so he can usually get stuff a little cheaper, but sometimes he can't :/

I'll just get him to look monday.

 

[Mugen 10+ year member]

I just remembered something, my mids are hooked up to my current amp (sub is bridged on channel 1 and 2, mids are on 3 and 4). At least, there are wires connected channel 3 and 4 (I didn't hook it all up as it is now). How should I go about hooking all this up now? My mids (which are stock) need power, but how do I put them on whatever they were on before I got my current amp? Sorry, I know I ask a lot of questions.

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

If you also want to power your mids you will need a 4 channel amp.

 

[Mugen 10+ year member]

http://www.cardomain.com/item/POWSL41000

Will that be enough to power 400rms Kappa Perfect10 VQ and my stock mids? What if I upgrade my mids? Will it power them if I get better mids? If so, then that's probably the amp I'm gonna get.

Thanks for the help guys!