Under powering subs?
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=36584
Printed Date: October 31, 2024 at 6:35 PM
Topic: Under powering subs?
Posted By: shott8283
Subject: Under powering subs?
Date Posted: August 01, 2004 at 9:40 PM
I was always tought to over power a sub and turn the amp down...you should always try to meet the RMS handling on the sub...but i often see cats running 500 watts to a sub that can handle 750 RMS ...normal? good? is this ok? if so this new system for my truck can save me alot of money ..
Replies:
Posted By: xtreamcc
Date Posted: August 01, 2004 at 9:50 PM
ok, underpowering subs is possibly the BIGGEST load of bullsh*t you'll ever hear. If underpowering a sub would cause damage then every time u turned the volume down you'd be f**k'n up your sub. In all actuallity you could push 1 watt to a sub that handles 2000 watts and it wouldn't effect the subs performance.
https://www.bcae1.com
read the stuff on that site! It will answer TONS of questions for people gett'n into car audio's actual technical persectives.
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02 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Monster System on its way.
Posted By: Ravendarat
Date Posted: August 01, 2004 at 9:55 PM
The actuall act of underpowering your sub doesnt hurt the driver. Its that people will under power a sub and then crank the gain on the amp and the volume on the deck and clip the sh*t outta the system because they feel they should get a ton of sound outta there $150 sub/amp package. Underpowering doesnt hurt a sub, dumb a***oles who dont listen do. Installers and salesman will tell you its bad to underpower a sub because its easier than trying to explain clippin to some ghetto kid. Im not saying your a ghetto kid, im just saying that people make generalizations and thats probally why you got told that line.
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Posted By: xtreamcc
Date Posted: August 01, 2004 at 10:00 PM
thats a good point that I forgot about there Raven. Too many of these little ghetto punks that know nothing about stereos yet try to teach a course on it to their friends are what has totally screwed up so much audio equipment.
------------- "Shiny chrome when used in conjunction with bikini models is particularly effective in inducing brain deficit disorder"
02 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Monster System on its way.
Posted By: archemedes
Date Posted: August 01, 2004 at 10:09 PM
underpowering usually means over distorting
Posted By: losone
Date Posted: August 01, 2004 at 11:59 PM
underpowering = clipping the shh out of a low power amp, which in turn sends a square wave(ranther than a sine wave) to your drivers. This kills you drivers real fast! The more power you have, the cleaner signal you'll be able to provide you drivers & make them last a long time at loud levels.
Posted By: shott8283
Date Posted: August 02, 2004 at 12:55 PM
awesome fellas.....perfect answer..... just asking because the way i was tought and what i have been seeing....two different things.....just wanted to clerify it.... and that site... bcae..... awesome site...thanks fellas
Posted By: ice4life8269
Date Posted: August 02, 2004 at 1:28 PM
yup, if you don't have enough power goin to the sub, and try to turn the gain up to make it "bump", thats when it sounds sh*tty and the distortion WILL mess up the sub. weel said arche!
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