Best way to wire this system?

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=22031
Printed Date: July 21, 2025 at 3:53 AM

Topic: Best way to wire this system?

Posted By: deckdout2
Subject: Best way to wire this system?
Date Posted: November 27, 2003 at 9:46 AM

This is what I have. (1) 2-channel Kenwood KAC-X520 amp......Ratings are as follows

POWER RATINGS
-	Bridged Power Output at 12V (1kHz, 0.5% THD): 360 Watts x 1
-	Bridged Power Output at 14.4V (1kHz, 0.5% THD): 500 Watts x 1
-	Maximum Output Power: 1000 Watts
-	Power Output at 2 Ohms, at 12V (1kHz, 0.5% THD): 180 Watts x 2
-	Power Output at 2 Ohms, at 14.4V (1kHz, 0.5% THD): 250 Watts x 2
-	Power Output at 4 Ohms, at 12V (20Hz-20kHz, 0.05% THD): 90 Watts x 2
-	Power Output at 4 Ohms, at 14.4V (20Hz-20kHz, 0.05% THD): 125 Watts x 2

I also have (2) 12"Kenwood Dual Voice Coil KFC-XW1225dB Subs, Impedance: 4 ohms + 4 ohms

My question is this.......What is the best way to wire to get the most out of this system? Currently I have it setup in a Parallel Circuit, bridged at the amp to (1) channel. What is my Impedance now, and what is the amount of power I'm getting out of this? How Stable is this setup? I'm sure it's 2 Ohms at 500w, but just double checking. Also, what do you experts recommend? Is this the best setup? Why is my amp cutting out at louder volumes? Should I turn down my gains and frequencies? I'm not an expert at adjusting the settings, so I might have any one of them a little too high, but I do follow instructions very well, so would anyone be able to tell me how much I should adjust my settings to? Any assistance would greatly be appreciated.

Deckdout

Replies:

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: November 27, 2003 at 10:06 AM

You amp is cutting out because if you have 2 DVC 4 ohms in parallel, you have a 1 ohm load on the amp and this will overload the amplifier as it is not 1-ohm bridgeable. In fact, your amp is a 4-ohm stable amp when bridged, so your subs will actually work well with it if you wire them correctly. You have to wire them in SERIES-PARALLEL. Either connect both VCs on each sub in series (to get 8 ohms) then put these sets in parallel at the amp (to get 4 ohms) or leave the subs in parallel as they are now (which is 2 ohms) and wire them in series at the amp (to get 4 ohms.)

If you leave it as a one ohm load like you have it now, the amp will eventually fry.

Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: November 27, 2003 at 10:14 AM

The series parallel recomendation above will work. But you could also parallel the voice coils on each sub and just wire them to the amplifier. You will get the same amount of power (250 watts per sub), but I heard from an audio engineer that it is a little easier on the amplifier hooking it up this way. Just be sure that if the subs are sharing the same enclosure, that the input signal to each channel of the amp is exactly the same (not stereo, but mono).

-------------

Posted By: deckdout2
Date Posted: November 27, 2003 at 10:24 AM

Thanks for the quick responses on the wiring guys..........Currently, each sub is in it's own enclosure. When you state that I need to wire them in Series-Parallel, and that it can be done at the amp.........are you referring to leaving it as it is, and to not bridge it at the amp? So you're saying to wire each sub to their own individual channel right?.......While leaving it setup as (+)to(+)to(+), and (-)to(-)to(-)........at the subs to amp.

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: November 27, 2003 at 10:32 AM

Yes, you could wire each sub to its own channel as you and Steven describe and be safe. Or, if you want to bridge it and the subs have their VCs wired for 2 ohms, connect them in series like this:

(+) from one woofer to (+) amp bridge connection. (-) from first woofer to (+) on the second woofer. (-) from second woofer to (-) bridge connection.

Posted By: deckdout2
Date Posted: November 27, 2003 at 10:39 AM

DYohn, which way would give me the most power?

Posted By: deckdout2
Date Posted: November 27, 2003 at 10:42 AM

Also it is a Dual Voice Coil, would this setup still bridge it down to 2 ohms, and if yes how would I do it?

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: November 27, 2003 at 11:01 AM

The power would be the same either way. The amp is 250 watts X2 @ 2 ohms (which would be each sub on a seperate channel) or 500 watts X 1 @ 4 ohms bridged. Same thing, so it is simply a matter of how easy it is for you to make the hookups.

You cannot get a 2-ohm total load with 2 DVC 4-ohm subs. Your choices are 16 ohms (all four VCs in series), 4 ohms (series-parallel) or 1 ohm (all four VCs in parallel.) OR, if you wire each sub seperately to its own channel, each sub can be either 8 ohms (series) or 2 ohms (parallel.)

Posted By: deckdout2
Date Posted: November 27, 2003 at 11:20 AM

You've been a great deal of help, I appreciate it...........Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Deckdout