seriers/parallel why not?!

Why is it that you never see a series-parallel connection it's such an easy way to run a stable system you could have 4 -4ohm speakers and run them series-parallel and receive a 4 ohm load still. now this would be easier with low wattage subs because you still have 4 subs to use but wouldn't it seem more conveinent?? I am sure there is a reason for this...SQ suffers for some odd reason or something but I have yet to figure it out.   Anyone else have any say in this??

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           Ryan
-=SoundStream Junkie=-
Parkin' Lot Pimpin' 4 Life

*shrug* most people don't use enough speakers to make series-parallel setups usable.
a couple pair of components.. okay, one per channel to fade, or straight parallel and bang. 2 ohms.
most people use 2 subs. no need to do anything fancy there either.
If it eases your mind though I ran series-parallel in my Festiva, with 4 ahrd dome tweeters, 4 soft dome tweeters, and 4 5" midranges on a single 2-channel Orion 2125SX.
Then I ran a pair of parallel-wored DVC 12" subs in stereo on an orion 280GX amp.
Worked just fine for me. gave me 2 ohms for subs, 2 ohms for mids, and 8 and 16 ohms for tweeters, respectively.
I'll be running 4 DVC subs, 4 ohms per voice coil in my Jeep as well, which will once again need a series-parallel layout for a decent load unless I end up grabbing an Orion 225HCCA. Then I'll just run straight parallel and shoot for a .25 ohm load.


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-GlassWolf
Pioneer Stage-4, Orion, DynAudio, Fi

Less control over the system is the biggest factor. Also you lose fade control from front to back.

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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Really I am not talking about component sets since I understand you want to be able to control all aspects of your mids and highs, but for people running DVC subs why not? Especially if they have only a single 2 channel amp....they really shouldnt have just one 2 channel in the first place if they are running 2 DVC subs w/4ohm voice coils but just for arguments sake.  I did some researching though and found that alot of musicians and some home theater uses a lot of series-parallel schemes.  Just thought I would make some conversation.....was really bored last night.

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           Ryan
-=SoundStream Junkie=-
Parkin' Lot Pimpin' 4 Life

>they really shouldnt have just one 2 channel in the first place if they are running 2 DVC subs w/4ohm voice coils

that's exactly what they should be using. then you get a stereo 2-ihm load and max power output from the amp for the two subs.

Anyway yes I'm aware with home theater as well.. that's one of my other passions :)
www.wickedcases.com/HT/
Home Tehater is quite a different beast from car audio though.. I see people drop half a mill on dedicated listening rooms or theater rooms for a home.. easy. and you don't see things like bi-wiring or bi-amping in car systems very often. Different world entirely it seems.


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-GlassWolf
Pioneer Stage-4, Orion, DynAudio, Fi

>that's exactly what they should be using. then you get a stereo 2-ihm load and max power output from the amp for the two subs

I disagree, yeah stability with a 2 ohm stereo load is is getting you max power but I prefer to run two seperate amps each sub wired in parallel bridged mono to get a 2ohm load. I have run two DVC subs all parallel, bridged mono to a soundstream 700sx at a total impedence of 1/2ohm, and then ran them each of them 2 ohm stereo, and the output is so much greater but at the same time running the amp so much harder.  Thats why I was wondering about series-parallel connections.  Especially using 2 DVC 2ohm subs.  But anyways I see your point and I see mine.  I guess It all depends on the size of the amp also in the idea that you have to have enough power per channel to run a DVC sub, or run your amp at 1/2ohm which really isnt "ideal" for many amps.

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           Ryan
-=SoundStream Junkie=-
Parkin' Lot Pimpin' 4 Life

Okay if you're going to approach it that way, costing twice as much to get two amps, then ideally the best solution is to run a mono amp per sub, at a 4 ohm load.
This will yield the highest sound quality as running 4 ohms will improve damping, s/n ratio, reduce heat, etc.
However, sometimes more power can be a disadvantage as it forces you into higher power classes for competitions.
I ran 2 DVC subs on a single amp in 2 ohm stereo in my old competition car, and it won me most everything I entered.
That was with two Cerwin subs and an Orion amp. 320WRMS total. hit over 150dB with a perfect C-weighted curve in that car.
Granted at the time I ran that setup nobody really made mono sub-amps then. everything was 2 or 4 channels.
There are inherant issues to running separate sub amps too though, theoretically anyway, such as balancing them.
If they aren't perfectly balanced, you'll end up having the subs fighting each other to an extent as they won't be moving the same volume of air with the same amount of force simultaneously.
This is arguable though, as is the phase variance introduced by using two subs side by side since they aren't on the same linear axis.


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-GlassWolf
Pioneer Stage-4, Orion, DynAudio, Fi