Amp Size
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=32489
Printed Date: May 13, 2024 at 2:45 PM
Topic: Amp Size
Posted By: silverbullet_00
Subject: Amp Size
Date Posted: May 21, 2004 at 5:17 AM
If I have a 2000w sub, should I be getting a 2000w amp or do I go a little bigger?
Replies:
Posted By: pimpincavy
Date Posted: May 21, 2004 at 6:59 AM
Posted By: thepencil
Date Posted: May 21, 2004 at 8:55 AM
Use this approach. You can always turn the gain down if the amp is too big for the sub. On the contrary, you can not do the same on the reverse situation.  ------------- Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it.
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: May 21, 2004 at 1:50 PM
What sub? Make and proper model #, this alone will determine the amp.
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: May 21, 2004 at 2:58 PM
silverbullet_00, is this question about the same Audiobahn equipment you asked about in your previous threads? Didn't you get the answers you needed in those, or is there something elase you are asking? ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: silverbullet_00
Date Posted: May 21, 2004 at 3:18 PM
DYohn] wrote:
ilverbullet_00, is this question about the same Audiobahn equipment you asked about in your previous threads? Didn't you get the answers you needed in those, or is there something elase you are asking?
I will be using the subs as listed but I just recieved an Audiobahn catalogue and seen a few subs that might interest me. The reason I posted the original question here is to find out how big of an amp I need to get full output of a 2000w rms amp. I know nothing about this stuff and have been spending some time in here trying to learn. Sorry if it seems that I am double posting but that is not my intention. This topic is totally different then what I posted before. That was about the size of box and port sizes I needed.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: May 21, 2004 at 3:24 PM
2000 watts RMS = 2000 watts RMS. 2000 watts PEAK = who knows. So, as long as RMS ratings are given, simply match them. If your sub claims it can handle 2000 watts RMS, purchase a 2000 watt RMS amp. If RMS values are not given, the equipment is a piece of crap don't buy it. Audiobahn claims all their ratings are given as RMS. I can tell you from personal testing that this is not always true. But, since it is what you have to go by, then certainly go by their published data. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: silverbullet_00
Date Posted: May 21, 2004 at 3:40 PM
OK, thanks for the info. That is what I was trying to get at. I didn't know if it was good for the amp to be pounding at full potential or if it would be better to go with a bigger amp then needed and tune it down a bit so it wasn't running at max.
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: May 21, 2004 at 3:54 PM
silverbullet_00 wrote:
OK, thanks for the info. That is what I was trying to get at. I didn't know if it was good for the amp to be pounding at full potential or if it would be better to go with a bigger amp then needed and tune it down a bit so it wasn't running at max.
Yes, what you are asking is a very important question and one sure to generate controversy, but in general there are two things to remember: 1) it is very rare that anyone except SPL competition cars actually run equipment at max output, and 2) RMS ratings are the top average output at rated distortion levels, and generally leave 20% to 30% head room available (until you hit "peak") for transients. So, if you use RMS ratings (assuming they are accurate) and set up your equipment properly, you should have plenty of head room without exceeding the equipment's capabilities. Using larger amps to gain headroom is a technique best left to the pros, since it places severe operational limits on your equipment in terms of how you set it up and what operating bands are safe. Remember too that it is a myth that a gain control will limit an amplifier's power output. It does not. Any amplifier is designed to produce full rated output no matter the position of the gain control. Gain (actually input sensitivity) is simply used to match the amp's input stage to the voltage being generated by whatever is driving it. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: silverbullet_00
Date Posted: May 21, 2004 at 4:46 PM
Just a sidenote also, I do plan on doing some SPL comps. This is another reason I am trying to learn as much as I can about it all.
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