Sub wiring help

[crosfire35]

Hi everyone im new here and i just purchased a Kenwood KAC 5204 amplifier and a JL audio micro sub with enclosure. I believe the sub is the 8w1 but im not 100% positive. But the main question is how to wire it i have no idea about any of the ohms and what not, I would greatly appreciate some help.

Thanks, Sam

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[SmartAsss 10+ year member]

First step is to find out what "ohm" your sub is. you can find this in the owners manual, on the jl website or where you bought the sub..

 

[crosfire35]

Im not exactly sure what ohm it is, all I know about it is its a JL audio 8.1 micro sub. I read online that its 4ohms, but even then i still don't know if its a dual voice coil. Please help!!

Thanks sam

 

[brynm 10+ year member]

If you have a multi-meter you can find out for sure what it is. If not, from what I have been able to see from a quick google search is that they used a 8w1-4 in those which is a single 4 ohm coil.

JL Microsub - CARSOUND.COM Forum

The 8.1 model used a single 8W1-4 in a resistively tuned ported enclosure.
The 8.2 model used two 8W1-8 in a resistively tuned ported enclosure.

The 8.3 model used three 8W6's in a sealed enclosure.

All three models present a 4 ohm mono load (the 8.3 can be rewired to 1 ohm by changing the coil connections on each W6 from series to parallel).

Best regards,

Manville Smith

JL Audio, Inc.

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/pdfs/8W1_BDS.pdf

 

[IDSkoT 5,000+ posts]

If you have a multi-meter you can find out for sure what it is. If not, from what I have been able to see from a quick google search is that they used a 8w1-4 in those which is a single 4 ohm coil.

JL Microsub - CARSOUND.COM Forum

http://mobile.jlaudio.com/pdfs/8W1_BDS.pdf

If he doesn't know what an Ohm is, I doubt he knows what a DMM is, or even has one.

OP: Your speaker's manual should tell you what impedance it is. Impedance is measured in 'Ohms'.

 

[brynm 10+ year member]

If he doesn't know what an Ohm is, I doubt he knows what a DMM is, or even has one.
OP: Your speaker's manual should tell you what impedance it is. Impedance is measured in 'Ohms'.

I read that he didn't know what impedance his sub was, not so much what an ohm was. Although I'm sure there is a large number of people on the site that don't know the definition of an ohm beyond it's the SI measurement of resistance or impedance.

 

[IDSkoT 5,000+ posts]

I read that he didn't know what impedance his sub was, not so much what an ohm was. Although I'm sure there is a large number of people on the site that don't know the definition of an ohm beyond it's the SI measurement of resistance or impedance.

I'd be most people on this site don't even know what 'SI' means. Haha.

I think it'd be better to extend your assumption to: "And don't know there's a difference between resistance and impedance". =P

 

[crosfire35]

I actually do have a multi-meter... Im going to look up how to check my sub for the ohms or whatever. But im pretty sure its a single voice coil 4ohm so can someone tell me how to wire that up rite quick haha.

Thanks Sam

 

[SmartAsss 10+ year member]

Well if the sub is a pre-built package and only has one speaker terminal its most likely single voice coil. (just because I would think that jl would not want you to take it apart to rewire it)

so thats the case you will want to bridge your stereo amp to a single channel, this should be clearly marked on the speaker terminals of the amp. You will have a one + and one - wire if you've done it correctly, the + goes to the + or red terminal, the negative goes to the other. This will give you a 2 Ohm load per amp channel (not real important to understand at the moment but defiantly do some reading about the subject here.. Basic Car Audio Electronics

You will want the "LPF" switch turned on position, the gain (input sensitivity) should never be set to max. Half way or a little more is about typical for most systems, read that site and read about the "gain".

 

[crosfire35]

Thanks! Thats exactly what i was looking for. Ill post again when its all wired up and tell how it sounds!