Watts to a sub
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=48516
Printed Date: April 29, 2024 at 6:45 AM
Topic: Watts to a sub
Posted By: bmoney
Subject: Watts to a sub
Date Posted: January 24, 2005 at 8:16 PM
I've been told that it is just as bad to under power a sub as it is to over power it. I've also been told it's ok. Can I send 22W from my deck to a 120W sub until I get an amp? Will I hurt the sub or the deck or both? I know the sub won't sound very good unless it gets proper power, but is it safe in the mean time? Also, can someone explain what "clipping" means and how/why it happens?
Replies:
Posted By: bmoney
Date Posted: January 24, 2005 at 8:16 PM
I've been told that it is just as bad to under power a sub as it is to over power it. I've also been told it's ok. Can I send 22W from my deck to a 120W sub until I get an amp? Will I hurt the sub or the deck or both? I know the sub won't sound very good unless it gets proper power, but is it safe in the mean time? Also, can someone explain what "clipping" means and how/why it happens?
Posted By: Alien509
Date Posted: January 24, 2005 at 8:52 PM
well see what happens when you have insufficient wattage to keep the sub powered then your voltage *can* slip to dangerous levels where most likely your deck will fry instantly or not live very long. Clipping is simply where there is not enough voltage to complete a beat, this causes the voice coil to heat up very quickly ----> to put it in lamens terms if you underpower wattage then you are risking frying your hardware at critical points.
Posted By: kfr01
Date Posted: January 24, 2005 at 9:05 PM
Your head unit is -not- bridgable. It will damage the deck if you try to run the sub off the deck power. It is not safe in the meantime. The sub would be fine. The deck would not be. I can't stress this enough. This would be a horrible idea.
Whoever told you it was just as bad to underpower a speaker was totally wrong. Underpowering ITSELF doesn't harm speakers. People that PUSH amplifiers into distortion and clipping harm speakers. To be sure you don't do this, try to get reasonably close to RMS rating.
If you want information about clipping and underpowering see the page on this excellent site: https://www.bcae1.com/ dedicated to just that issue. He's a little less than nice about it: https://www.bcae1.com/2ltlpwr.htm he sums up the page with "idiots blow speakers, not low power."
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Posted By: bluetruck
Date Posted: January 24, 2005 at 9:08 PM
you "can" do this. you shoudlnt tho. it isnt good for the deck or the SQ. why hook up more stuff that will sound like crap? just wait till you can afford an amp. (like $30 for a cheapo)
Posted By: pimpincavy
Date Posted: January 24, 2005 at 9:23 PM
Its perfectly fine to underpower a amp, as long as you are not pushing the amp to clip. I woulndt run a off the HU, like kfr said, it cant be good for the HU itself. If you are looking for a amp, I have a memphis 250W im not using, if your interested in buying it send me a PM.
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Posted By: stevdart
Date Posted: January 24, 2005 at 10:12 PM
Someone said you "can" do this. If that is meant that it's within your ability to actually do it, then yes, you can pretty much do anything. But for the purposes of advice on this forum, no you "cannot" do this. 1. It means bridging the deck channels which will fry the deck. and 2. You will have so little power going to the sub that you will invariably turn the deck into clipping levels, which could destroy your sub.
Posted By: heavilymedicate
Date Posted: January 24, 2005 at 10:47 PM
Some pioneer decks are bridgeable on the rear channels. Better be sure you got one of those before you try it though...
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What will you get for Christmas, bad boy? Coal........or Visonik?? - stevdart
Wow, is everyone clueless and lost in the dark? - uthinkuknoaudio
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