Ohms, Using Resistors With Woofers?

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Printed Date: April 20, 2024 at 1:52 AM

Topic: Ohms, Using Resistors With Woofers?

Posted By: Silvrefox
Subject: Ohms, Using Resistors With Woofers?
Date Posted: April 23, 2007 at 9:16 AM

I have recently come into possession of 2 12" compvr subs. I have a Fosgate x1000.1. The issue is they are dual 4 ohm voice coils, so I'm either lookin at a 4 ohm load or a 1 ohm load. The amp maxes out at 2 ohms. Any way of wiring up resistors or any other suggestions to make 2 ohms happen besides the obvious get different subs solution?

Replies:

Posted By: the12volt
Date Posted: April 23, 2007 at 9:20 AM

The simple answer is either use the subs you have or purchase new ones. Adding resistors will be of absolutely no benefit with the subs you have.

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Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: April 23, 2007 at 11:11 AM

I second volt's answer, but in addition to what he said, ANY resistor you add will only use power, that the amplifier is producing, without improving your situation in the slightest. If you have, lets say, the woofers wired for one ohm, and you add a one ohm resistor in series, to bring your total load to 2 ohms (optimal for the amplifier) you will be dissipating one half of the produced power in the resistor... 500 watts! Not very sensical, now is it? Same thing applies if you parallel a 4 ohm resistor with 4 ohm (wired) woofers... Go ahead and do it, but good luck finding either a 1 ohm or 4 ohm resistor, rated at 500 watts! posted_image

The increased power output from the amp will never be seen by the woofers, since the resister will be converting ot to heat.

Wire the woofers for a total load of 4 ohms, your total output will be LESS THAN 3dB difference. If you are not competing, you will NEVER notice it!

If you ARE competing, that 3dB could be the difference between winning, and going home as first loser, and then, if you don't want that to happen, then follow volt's recommendation of buying the woofers you need for the load you require.

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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."

Posted By: Silvrefox
Date Posted: April 23, 2007 at 12:58 PM

haemphyst wrote:

your total output will be LESS THAN 3dB difference. If you are not competing, you will NEVER notice it!

Now that I can live with. I appreciate the answer fellas.

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BOOSH!!