the12volt.com spacer
the12volt.com spacer
the12volt.com spacer
the12volt.com spacer
icon

2 Amps, 3 Subs?


Post ReplyPost New Topic
< Prev Topic Next Topic >
Need 2 b lower 
Member - Posts: 29
Member spacespace
Joined: April 12, 2005
Location: United States
Posted: November 13, 2005 at 1:23 AM / IP Logged  

I was just wondering if it was possible to set up two memphis power reference amps 1000/1 to run 3 jl 12w6v2's?

I was going to do 3 seperate amps but do not have the money, and i cant even think of where to start on the wiring of 3 subs off of two amps. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

stevdart 
Platinum - Posts: 5,816
Platinum spaceThis member has made a donation to the12volt.com. Click here for more info.spaceThis member has been recognized as an authority in Mobile Audio and Video. Click here for more info.spaceThis member consistently provides reliable informationspace
Joined: January 24, 2004
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Posted: November 13, 2005 at 4:47 PM / IP Logged  

Start with what you know about what power the subs want and what power the amplifiers will supply.

Your ultimate goal is to put an amp on each sub, so knowing that the subs are DVC 4 ohm, you know that the choices of wiring are going to be either 2 ohm or 8 ohm.  So you know that when you get that third amplifier you will be powering each sub at 2 ohms with 600 watts each.   That's a little above what you should be giving each sub but it's possible with a careful setup.

So for now you want to see if you can put two subs onto one amp, the third sub onto the second amp, and get an equal amount of output to each sub.  You can do this by running one amp at a 1 ohm load... https://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/woofer_configurations.asp?Q=2&I=42

The two subs will get 500 watts each.  Run the second amp at a 2 ohm load...

https://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/woofer_configurations.asp?Q=1&I=42 ...and that sub will get 600 watts.

Be particularly careful with the amp that is powering two subs as it will be max'd out at 1 ohm.  When you do get that third amp, put each sub onto an amp at 2 ohms each and the amplifiers will perform with better specs (than at 1 ohm).  This temporary measure will at least get you very close to the same power to each sub.  It would be best to have the enclosures in the sealed category (as suggested in the manual at 1.25 cu ft) with the overpowering these subs will get.

Build the box so that it performs well in the worst case scenario and, in return, it will reward you at all times.
haemphyst 
Platinum - Posts: 5,054
Platinum spaceThis member has been recognized as an authority in Electrical Theory. Click here for more info.spaceThis member has been recognized as an authority in Mobile Audio and Video. Click here for more info.spacespace
Joined: January 19, 2003
Location: Michigan, Bouvet Island
Posted: November 14, 2005 at 1:12 PM / IP Logged  
Need 2 b lower wrote:

I was just wondering if it was possible to set up two memphis power reference amps 1000/1 to run 3 jl 12w6v2's?

I was going to do 3 seperate amps but do not have the money, and i cant even think of where to start on the wiring of 3 subs off of two amps. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Seeing as I am not terribly familiar with those subs, I will assume that they are dual 4 ohm voice coils. I am also assuming the amp is 1 ohm stable, based on the reply of stevdart, below.
stevdart wrote:

Start with what you know about what power the subs want and what power the amplifiers will supply.

Your ultimate goal is to put an amp on each sub, so knowing that the subs are DVC 4 ohm, you know that the choices of wiring are going to be either 2 ohm or 8 ohm. So you know that when you get that third amplifier you will be powering each sub at 2 ohms with 600 watts each.   That's a little above what you should be giving each sub but it's possible with a careful setup.

So for now you want to see if you can put two subs onto one amp, the third sub onto the second amp, and get an equal amount of output to each sub. You can do this by running one amp at a 1 ohm load... https://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/woofer_configurations.asp?Q=2&I=42

The two subs will get 500 watts each. Run the second amp at a 2 ohm load...

https://www.the12volt.com/caraudio/woofer_configurations.asp?Q=1&I=42 ...and that sub will get 600 watts.

Be particularly careful with the amp that is powering two subs as it will be max'd out at 1 ohm. When you do get that third amp, put each sub onto an amp at 2 ohms each and the amplifiers will perform with better specs (than at 1 ohm). This temporary measure will at least get you very close to the same power to each sub. It would be best to have the enclosures in the sealed category (as suggested in the manual at 1.25 cu ft) with the overpowering these subs will get.

If you are absolutely set on having three woofers, and with the gear you have specified, yes, you can reasonably safely run two amps to three woofers, if in a slightly "overpowered" situation. The amps, rated 1000w into 1 ohm, should produce approximately 700-750w into this load, two amps will provide approximately 1400-1500w, divided by three woofers, will nail your 475-500w per woofer power capacity. Amp matching will not be a problem, just raise the gain on each amp a little bit at a time (first one, then the other) until you have reached the output capabilities of the amps, or the input capabilities of the woofers. It's the same rules as setting the gain on one amplifier.
To wire this, forget the woofers are DVC. LOOK ONLY AT ONE COIL PER DRIVER. Wire these three voice coils (one from each woofer) in parallel to one amp, for a net load of 1.33 ohms. Now do the same with the remaining three voice coils - wire them in parallel to the other amp. This will (to a small extent) raise your damping factor, increase your efficiency, lower the power output available from each amp by a small amount... None of these are necessarily bad things, either. I stll recommend the sealed enclosure route, though.
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."
ssnds 
Copper - Posts: 169
Copper spacespace
Joined: August 15, 2005
Location: United States
Posted: November 14, 2005 at 4:37 PM / IP Logged  
i myself would go along the lines that haemphyst put forth.
SSounds
oxygen65 
Silver - Posts: 252
Silver spacespace
Joined: August 19, 2005
Location: United States
Posted: November 15, 2005 at 1:36 AM / IP Logged  

just go with another sub, trust me it is going to make your life a lot easier, then you just run 2 subs to 1 amp

its gonna be louder anyways


Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.

  Printable version Printable version Post ReplyPost New Topic
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

  •  
Search the12volt.com
Follow the12volt.com Follow the12volt.com on Facebook
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 • Copyright © 1999-2024 the12volt.com, All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy & Use of Cookies
Disclaimer: *All information on this site ( the12volt.com ) is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular use. Any user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and use of this information. Please verify all wire colors and diagrams before applying any information.

Secured by Sectigo
the12volt.com spacer
the12volt.com spacer
the12volt.com spacer
Support the12volt.com
Top
the12volt.com spacer
the12volt.com spacer