Powering 3 subs on a budget

[onearmedbastard 10+ year member]

OK so maybe youve seen my post in the subwoofer section about me powering 3 subs. I have 2 Rockford P3 12"'s 500 RMS 4 Ohm DVC and looking to get another one soon.

Well thanks to Prowler773 (kudos) I found out I need an amp running at 1500W @ 4 Ohm to the able to power 3. What is a good amp at that power that is also good to your wallet? Should I get a mono, 2 channel, or muti? Thanks.

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[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

It would be cheaper to get an amp that's capable of about 1600WRMS-1700WRMS @ 1 ohm, instead of 1500WRMS @ 4 ohms. The reason you'll need about 1600WRMS-1700WRMS @ 1 is because you'll be introducing a 1.333 ohm load. If you run 2 of the subs in series/parallel, and then parallel the sub into those that is.

 

[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

This should explain a little better. If you need help, IM me on AIM @BlacGrandAm

 

[alex3kicker 10+ year member]

Question- can a DVC 4 ohm sub be wired to a 2 ohm amp? thanks

 

[nuboot 10+ year member]

yes it can

 

[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

Yes, on the 2 ohm amp question, it can be wired to 2 or 8 ohms. Parallel or series.

 

[diminishedpower 10+ year member]

This should explain a little better. If you need help, IM me on AIM @BlacGrandAm

I'm pretty sure your not suppose to do that. im pretty sure the only way you can wire 3 dvc 4 ohms in any useful way is series one coil like you showed for 2 out of 3 but for all three and then parrallel the other and you get a final ratting of 2.67 ohms.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

I'm pretty sure your not suppose to do that. im pretty sure the only way you can wire 3 dvc 4 ohms in any useful way is series one coil like you showed for 2 out of 3 but for all three and then parrallel the other and you get a final ratting of 2.67 ohms.

I was wondering this myself that if it were possible to successfully get a 1.3xxx Ohm load out of three DVC 4 Ohm drivers then wouldn't it make sense for RF to supply a diagram for that in their wiring wizard?

I know that EVERY possible combination isn't shown as there are some possibilities that nobody would ever bother to use (such as a nominal 16 Ohm load using a pair of DVC 4 Ohm subs) but it sure seems much more likely to get good power when using a 1.3xxx Ohm load than using close to 4 Ohms after factoring in box rise...

 

[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

Let me explain this. (I could easily be wrong though.) 4 ohms with 2 ohms, makes a 1.333 ohm load. If you series 2 of the DVC 4 ohm subs, you get an 8 ohm load on each sub, if you parallel those 2, you will get a 4 ohm load. If you parallel a single DVC 4 ohm sub, you get a 2 ohm load. So now you have a 4 ohm load, and a 2 ohm load, if you parallel those, you get a 1.333333(continued) ohm load. Sounds right to me, but as I said, I could be wrong.

 

[diminishedpower 10+ year member]

exactly and you gotta think amplifier doesn't just see final load it runs through the wires consecutively, with that load the sub on the right is going to be getting more power than the ones on the left which will mess everything up and tuning impossible

 

[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

True, I guess I didn't factor that in...

 

[diminishedpower 10+ year member]

yea thats why you dont do that every sub should essentially be wired the same, cause the fact that ya you CAN do other impendences but your going to be feeding your subs weird amounts

 

[diminishedpower 10+ year member]

o and to answer the original posters question you cant do 2 channel unless you get a specialized amp becaus you''ll be running at 2.67 ohms which is to low to bridge for most amps, best owuld be just get an amp that has the switching power supply so you get the same power no matter what resistance, or at least i thought those were around?

 

[diminishedpower 10+ year member]

Sorry for so many posts, keep thinkin, a mono amp that does 2k at 2 ohms would be a great amp also

 

[onearmedbastard 10+ year member]

thanks for the help but can we go to my question about finding a good amp on a budget