Testing at 12,5 or 14.4 volts, big deal?

[buggsson 10+ year member]

If two amps, mono blocks are rated as having the same RMS output, say 1300 W, would there be any difference in what comes out of the sub if they are tested at 12.5 and 14.4 volts respectively?

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[dragnix 5,000+ posts]

amps make more power at 14.4v and if your car is on then it should be running at 14v

 

[qkassidyw 10+ year member]

amps make more power at 14.4v and if your car is on then it should be running at 14v

Thats not necessarily true, some amps use regulated power supplies (i.e. JL amps and Alpine PDX) which will put out the same amount of power at different voltages. BUT most amps use unregulated supplies which WILL give you more power at higher voltages.

 

[stopdrpnro 10+ year member]

generally the more power you can get the better. as mentioned before unregulated amps will put out more power. regulated amps while you won't see an increase in power will run alot cooler with the extra voltage.

if the amp rated at 12v is unregulated u should expect around 15-20% more power depending on it's efficiency.

 

[dipitydoo 10+ year member]

the unregulated amps will output more power at higher voltages, provided that you can keep your voltage from dropping at those power levels...

 

[buggsson 10+ year member]

the unregulated amps will output more power at higher voltages, provided that you can keep your voltage from dropping at those power levels...

Yes, this is what I wanted to see, I guess that is the issue, having the car to keep the power at 14 volts, I thought most cars had more like 12 volt systems? I'll have to check that out. But if I cannot count on my car being able to keep the voltage in the 14 volt realm and the amp is tested at 14.4 volts, then I will expect the output to be less than the stated RMS? Not considering the efficiency of the amp (thinking now primarily of digital mono amps. here).

 

[x2o 10+ year member]

Yes, this is what I wanted to see, I guess that is the issue, having the car to keep the power at 14 volts, I thought most cars had more like 12 volt systems? I'll have to check that out. But if I cannot count on my car being able to keep the voltage in the 14 volt realm and the amp is tested at 14.4 volts, then I will expect the output to be less than the stated RMS? Not considering the efficiency of the amp (thinking now primarily of digital mono amps. here).

I'm thinking that digital mono amp statement is going to bring in the heat on this thread. If I remember correctly from when I first joined, there was a huge war that no amp is truly digital and etc.

Anyways, a car battery is "12v", but the alternator charges the system at 14-14.5v from most of the times, so if the amp is not pulling too much current from your system you ideally could see those 14.4v ratings.