I have a little dilemia at the moment i'm not sure weather to get a 4 channel or a 2 channel amp to run my splits up front. My splits are VDO HPC 1700 150rms/300max.
The amps i'm torn between are the cadence Q4000 and the Q3000. My main concern is that if i get the Q4000 i will be bridging it and running as 2 channels, but this will be mono and i was just wondering how much will this affect my overall sound. Thanks in advance.
You might want to read this little tutorial https://www.eatel.net/~amptech/elecdisc/stermono.htm but what do you have in the rear? Do you plan on hooking them up in the future? If so I would buy the 4 channel and only use 2 of the 4 channels instead of bridging them. But if you don’t plan on hooking up the rears in the near future then I would go with the 2 channel.
I only have come crappy VDO 2way 6x9's in the back which i don't intend on hooking up seeing as i'm not the one that needs to hear them. So it is primarly front stage. My only worry was the power side of things.
The Q3000 is only 2x100rms which i think should do the job. On the other hand the Q4000 is 4x60 or goes 2x200rms mono. But there is a possiblitly down the track of upgrading the rear stage. So mainly just worried about getting clean power to the splits.
If you don’t have intentions of hooking up the rears then I would go for the 2 channel. It will supply your speakers with the proper power and you will get better sound running stereo vs. mono.
I'd suggest going with a 2-channel amp as long as you have no intentions of putting better speakers in the back.
You may not think you listen to them (the rears), but try turning the fade all the way to the front speakers. That's what you'll be getting. Having speakers in the rear help balance the sound in the cabin of the vehicle and give you better overall sound.
You
can wire a 4-channel amp to just run the front 2 speakers (keeping full stereo) assuming you have 4ohm speakers up front, here's how...
When you bridge the amp you are left with 2 channels, usually marked on the amp as Front and Rear. But that is only words, you can make it Right and Left by simply changing what you send to the amp (input). Instead of sending it Front right/left and Rear right/left inputs, just send it Front Right and Front Left inputs. Here's how to do it...
1) Hook up the Front Right RCA headunit output to the amps Front Right and Front Left inputs (use an RCA Y-adapter if needed).
2) Hook up the Front Left RCA headunit output to the amps Rear Right and Rear Left inputs (use an RCA Y-adapter if needed).
Now the amp is only getting Front channel (left and right) output from the headunit.
3) Hook up the Front Right speaker to the Front bridge.
4) Hook up the Front Left speaker to the Rear bridge.
You still have stereo sound (Left and Right).
That's it.
I just wanted to let you know how to do it in case the 4-channel was cheaper then the 2-channel. But I'd still suggest the 2-channel for simplicity.
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Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
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Thanks guys you been a great help. Well either way is a safe bet. Just depends on the budget in a few months time but more likely than not i will be going for the 2channel option as i'm in no hurry to upgrade the rears.
no probs, glad to be of help
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Squirrel
"No more Cpt. Kirk chit chat"
If its too loud, then you're too old
Donate to the12volt.com