quick and probably dumb question for you guys

[tcguy85 10+ year member]

i just put a set of rsd comps in my car on a kicker zx550.2. i set the gain using a dmm with a -3db 1khz tone. i set it with the volume on my head unit at 45 out of 63. i set it at 24.5 volts which is 150wrms at 4 ohms.

now i was playing music at a pretty good level pretty loudly around 38-40 on the head unit. i put the leads of the dmm on the terminals on the amp and it was jumping around of course but in the low to mid teens. i did the math and 15.5 is only about 60 watts at 4 ohms. i know there is impedance rise and all that. but it seemed really loud for such a low wattage. so i guess my questions is are my comps really only seeing about 60 watts or so at that volume(before impedance rise)?

if so thats sweet.

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[headbussaboi 10+ year member]

I heard some say that you should set your gain with the speaker/sub hooked up but I could be wrong. It seems right though because if you set it with just the MM, where's the load?

 

[casper97ta 10+ year member]

due to the dynamic nature of music, unless you are playing tones, you will probably never see the full 150w.

X2.. As Jordan said, music is dynamic. That is why you use a straight tone to set the gains. When playing music you will never reach the levels you set, therefor your equipment is safe.

 

[req 5,000+ posts]

youd be surprised at how much actual power your speakers are dissapating.

real world wattage and on paper wattage are a whole different can of worms. my horns are prolly only actually seeing like 10 watts at full volume in real life.

most tube amps in home only do like 8w @ 8 ohms and the speakers running off them will pelt out some sound.

its all about the install man. not really anything else. sure - power is helpful - and so is high end equipment, but ive done installs with low end shit (like 500 total cost) that have sounded pretty good.

 

[tcguy85 10+ year member]

ok thanks guys. thats what i thought. i just wanted to make sure i was safe. i'm glad that it's getting crazy loud off of such little power. it'll keep the speakers safe.