Power Output Calculation

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

I thought it may be better to create a new thread here for this subject.

Here's my question:

I have an Alpine PDX 1.600 which is a mono amp rated at 600W X 1 into 4 ohms and 600W X 1 into 2 ohms.

My question is if I have 2 (two) 10" subs rated at 300W max each @ 4 ohms and I wire these 2 subs in parallel resulting in a 2 ohm load, what is the max power (wattage) going to EACH sub from the amp? My understanding is that the 600W max output from the amp would be halved, or 300W max into each sub at 2 ohms. Is this right or wrong? Calculations would be helpful! Thanks!

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[93dakota 10+ year member]

That would be correct but what you really need to be looking at is RMS. The 600W X 1 2Ohm is in RMS so if the subs are rated in Max power you are going to be over driving them by almost double the power that they can take.

 

[csu87 10+ year member]

you are gonna get 300 rms to each sub.

600wrms/2subs=300wrms each

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

OK, that was what I thought, however, 93dakota seems to be saying the exact opposite? If they are truly getting max 300W RMS then I should never be in danger of overdriving them.

 

[SicAudio 5,000+ posts]

93dakota is 100% correct you said the subs are 300 max, so based on that you are gonna be giving the subs 2 times the power thay are rated at, what subs and model do you have? just so we can advise you correctly. do they say 300 watts rms or 300 watts peak? if they say peak then your amp is too much for them.

 

[schackel 10+ year member]

no they are saying the same thing.

RMS=Root Mean Square which means it is the average playing wattage.

so the RMS on the amp will be 300 on each sub.

the MAX or PEAK is probably 600 watts on each sub.

Since you are going by MAX instead of RMS like oyu should, i will give it to you in your terms...You will be doubling the max power on each sub. you will be putting 600 watts to each sub but your subs will probably blow with 300 watts on each.

long story short, you will blow your subs

 

[TKCARAUDIO 10+ year member]

93dakota is 100% correct you said the subs are 300 max, so based on that you are gonna be giving the subs 2 times the power thay are rated at, what subs and model do you have? just so we can advise you correctly. do they say 300 watts rms or 300 watts peak? if they say peak then your amp is too much for them.

Well these 2 are 100% correct.

You take

600 watt rms amp

300 max 150 rms subs

The subs are only good for 150 RMS 300 max.

If you take the Amp and turn down you could be ok but watch what and how you do

 

[schackel 10+ year member]

and if you dont get that then just hook it up, it will be soooo great!!!!!! hahahahaha

GTFO

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

93dakota is 100% correct you said the subs are 300 max, so based on that you are gonna be giving the subs 2 times the power thay are rated at, what subs and model do you have? just so we can advise you correctly. do they say 300 watts rms or 300 watts peak? if they say peak then your amp is too much for them.

Per the specs (Polk Audio MM2104 10" Subwoofer) each subwoofer is rated at 600W peak at 4 ohms. So it appears that with them wired in parallel, although the impedence is halved to 2 ohms they should adequately handle the power output of the Alpine PDX 1.600. However, I had thought that due to the parallel wiring they would only be getting 300W per speaker.

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

no they are saying the same thing.RMS=Root Mean Square which means it is the average playing wattage.

so the RMS on the amp will be 300 on each sub.

the MAX or PEAK is probably 600 watts on each sub.

Since you are going by MAX instead of RMS like oyu should, i will give it to you in your terms...You will be doubling the max power on each sub. you will be putting 600 watts to each sub but your subs will probably blow with 300 watts on each.

long story short, you will blow your subs

These are Polk Audio MM2104 10" subs...per the specs (I had it wrong) they are rated at 600W peak per sub.

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

Well these 2 are 100% correct.
You take

600 watt rms amp

300 max 150 rms subs

The subs are only good for 150 RMS 300 max.

If you take the Amp and turn down you could be ok but watch what and how you do

These are Polk Audio MM2104 10" subs...per the specs (I had it wrong) they are rated at 600W peak per sub.

 

[nineball 10+ year member]

you will be fine but i would still set the gains conservatively. the subs are rated at up to 300rms each, so up to 600rms for the pair. that amp will do a bit over 600 (my 1.1000 birthsheet says 1251 and my 4.100 says 132 per channel).

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

Definitely 50-300W RMS, 600W peak power handling. Guess I was getting the two mixed up! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

you will be fine but i would still set the gains conservatively. the subs are rated at up to 300rms each, so up to 600rms for the pair. that amp will do a bit over 600 (my 1.1000 birthsheet says 1251 and my 4.100 says 132 per channel).

My ears are not what they used to be (yes, I'm over 40 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif) so although I like it semi-loud at times and I am a big bass fan, I don't drive them to the point they are shaking the ground...I try to keep it under control. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

you will be fine but i would still set the gains conservatively. the subs are rated at up to 300rms each, so up to 600rms for the pair. that amp will do a bit over 600 (my 1.1000 birthsheet says 1251 and my 4.100 says 132 per channel).

Yeah, checked my spec sheet and and they seem to be sticking to 600W X 1 RMS continuous.