subs and ohms

[globalminds_ent 10+ year member]

Has anyone did a high ohm build? Did the higher ohn load really help with sq? Rip to friend he had two ol school kicker comp 15s in a sealed box. The 8 ohm one wired down 4 on a mtx 600watt amp it was pretty loud. But i don't remember it sounding that much better tho

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[brian84corvette 10+ year member]

only reason to wire to high ohm load is to use 2 chanel class ab amps in bridge mode.

 

[globalminds_ent 10+ year member]

So bass sounds no better at higher ohms at all seems like it should be more clear, more clean

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

What is your reasoning behind it being clearer?

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

To ask a question, what should be an audible difference in an amp rated at 1000 watts rms at 1 ohm with a thd of 1%. And another amp rated at 1000 watts rms @ 4 ohms with 1% thd? Clarity of the sub stage is more defined by the speaker and it's enclosure than ohm load

 

[globalminds_ent 10+ year member]

To my understanding more resistance the better the amp can control the signal, making bass more precise, Im not gone sit here and act like i know how it works. But why are 8ohm speakers used in almost all professional applications?

 

[globalminds_ent 10+ year member]

But what if is a better amp and wouldn't a better Amp increase sq of an enclosure?

 

[wickedwitt 10+ year member]

To a discerning ear, even sub level output differences are distinguishable below 2ohms. For most people, it isn't. That said, if you are asking about clarity, you may have a discerning ear. Try to find a solid amp that has good output at 2ohms, then get sub(s) that will make a final load of 2ohms. You should be safe from sound quality issues, so as long as you have a good enclosure and set your xover properly.

 

[Side Show 10+ year member]

Thd

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

Ohm's are not constant in any application. A sub stage is more dependent on enclosure. A ****** sub stage with the Holy grail of amplifiers will sound like a ****** sub stage. Amp can't fix a bad driver or bad enclosure.

 

[globalminds_ent 10+ year member]

2 ohm and half ohm didn't sound too different too me ive never ran at 4 ohm or 8, just wondering if anyone has ever did it, and was it better. I understand that a good box goes a long way with sq, but shouldn't running at a higher ohn load make it sound even better?

 

[garychoffmann 10+ year member]

I've ran at 4 plenty of times, 8 doesn't make a lot of sense in the 12 volt world. Given everything is a constant. If you are running a dual 2 sub at 1 ohm. On an amp designed to run at 1 ohm with a low thd. And then rewire to 4 on the same amp you would notice a huge lack in ooutput. Changing the ohm load itself does not make a large difference. Quality of the amp/sub combo does. If you are saying that a company can not design an amp to run at 1 ohm, that is just as clean and controlled as another amp running at 4 ohm.... I'd have to disagree.

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

If you are saying that a company can not design an amp to run at 1 ohm, that is just as clean and controlled as another amp running at 4 ohm.... I'd have to disagree.

I'll say it. Low impedance loads like that are very strenuous on electronics, and the lower you go with impedance the larger other small things become as a percentage of the overall load.

Higher is always better for SQ, efficiency, and just being easier on equipment, but for practical reasons most folks compromise.

Another interesting phenomenon (search for the 7K amp roundup thread) and you'll see that the high voltage amp was louder than many high current amps that put out more power.

Yeah, most people can't tell the difference, but then again most people around here's definition of music is a soft-clipped sine wave and some 80 IQ high school dropout grunting about committing crime and his imagined ****** conquests..... slowed down.